namarie

Looking at the results page, I don't see any listings for your program or for anything related to Psychology at Georgia Tech. It might still be a little too early for some schools. You could always call the department to ask! Best of luck to you!

I might also look at the stats for the programs you're looking into and see how yours compare. Strengthen those numbers, and follow the advice given to you in the above comments about getting more experience and following the labs. Stay positive and work hard!

You're welcome! Best of luck to you!

I don't know much about your specific universities, but I did live in London for about a year in 2011. It's a beautiful city, filled with tons of culture, art, museums, food, etc. London is very expensive, but how that might compare with the rest of the UK, I don't know. When I lived there, the pound was worth approximately $2; I assume that has changed with Brexit and our own political changes. London has great public transportation, they also have an Oyster card you can purchase to use if you are a frequent traveler. It can get cold there, and the humidity can make the cold seep through your bones (I'm from the southeast US, so I know a thing or two about humidity). But I imagine St. Andrews would be even colder than London. It does rain a lot, especially in April. The weather might not be a downside for you, but it is something to prepare for. The culture in London is very different from that of the States. It took me about a month or so before I didn't feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb. The people are always dressed nicely, they speak quietly, they love their football, and when the weather is nice everyone will be outside in one of London's many parks. I would compare tuition costs between the universities and see which one is less expensive. US students are often charged upwards of $35,000 for tuition, and scholarships are competitive. The UK also requires you to prove you will be able to afford your education; this is usually done with a tuition deposit. Last application cycle I was accepted into a prestigious school in London, but I was unable to attend because I didn't have the spare $3,000 for the deposit. The UK will ask on your visa application how you intend to fund your studies (privately funded, government loans, etc). If you're going by cost of living alone, I imagine Scotland would be cheaper to live in than London. Definitely look at flat-sharing in the area around the university you're looking to attend. Know that if you go with private housing, many places in London charge rent by the week instead of the month. If you can comfortably afford living in the UK, I would recommend it. I loved living in London, and if I hadn't run into extenuating circumstances, I would have gone again. You can PM me if you want! Hope this helps and best of luck!

Submitted my application to UGA and was just told today that they expect to have decisions made by April 1. I don't know if I can handle the waiting!

Anonta, I don't know about your field or the research you are doing, so I can't speak to that. But I can speak to the other part of your post: I went through a break up earlier this year. We had been together for 3 years, but I realized that I didn't want to be with that person anymore. I had graduated from undergrad in December, and had decided to go back to my alma mater for grad school. I was so upset when I found out my ex was going to grad school at the same school. I hate the man and never want to see him again, so the idea of running into him on campus was revolting. I struggle with mental illness, and over the summer I experienced an alarming amount of symptoms that I ignored. I didn't want to seem weak or disappoint my professors. So I went back to school. But I never made it to the first day of class. I attended orientation and fell apart in my room. I was suicidal, horribly depressed, lost, and overwhelmed. Thankfully, I had friends there with me who didn't leave until a family member came to see that I got home safely. I called my professor the next day to tell him that I was leaving, and he supported me completely (we are still great friends). I withdrew from the university the day classes started and haven't looked back. I'm taking time for me, getting better, and looking into programs that actually excite me. What I am trying to say is this: if there is even the slightest chance that changing something in your environment will make you happy, do it. I knew I wouldn't be happy at my old university, even with my friends and professors, because it wasn't what I wanted. If moving to a new place and working with someone else is best for you, then do it. Definitely talk it out with your current PI, and put some thought into it. But do what is best for you and your mental health. Your mind is a precious thing, don't lose it! I almost did when I went back to school (no exaggeration). Please keep us posted! <3

I'd give this a 5. I think it's really good!

@sayli According to ETS a score of 2.5 or 3 "Displays some competence in analytical writing, although the writing is flawed in at least one of the following ways: limited analysis or development; weak organization; weak control of sentence structure or language usage, with errors that often result in vagueness or lack of clarity." I think you could work on the development and organization of your essay, as well as the language used. I think it has the potential to be a really good essay if you work on those points! Best of luck!

3 out of 6.

I moved to another country at the start of undergrad, and then transferred to another university (and a different major) back in the States a year later. I hated leaving uni in London to move back to the States: I loved the culture, the diversity, and I was worried that I would drift apart from my friends. Some of the relationships I formed in London haven't lasted, but I still talk almost daily with a few other friends I made while overseas. It's hard realizing what you're giving up to pursue academia. I cried a couple times and asked myself "what am I doing?" over and over again. I went to my new school filled with despair, because I had left behind so many things I loved. But three years and 3 grad school acceptances later, I know it was all worth it. I found something I'm passionate about, and I'll be able to practice what I love for the rest of my life. Do I miss the things I gave up when I left London? Absolutely. I would move back in a heartbeat if I was given the opportunity. But I've come to realize that I wouldn't have been happy if I had stayed. I would have spent more time with my friends, but I would have been miserable in the program. It might be frightening right now, and that's certainly understandable. Grad school is a big change, and it's even bigger when you're moving to another country. Remember that you are getting the opportunity to study what you are passionate about, and not everybody gets the same chance. It might hurt now, but in the end it'll all be worth it. If there are foods you know you'll miss, pack some with you (my mom would send me chocolate sometimes). If you start thinking about a friend or loved one you left, let them know. Snapchat is one of the easiest/best ways I've kept in touch with one of my friends. You can see facial expressions and talk, without the commitment of Skype! Take time to do things you enjoy before you leave especially if you won't have them in the other country. Accept that you might not return with every relationship you left with, and that's okay. The relationships you are able to keep will hopefully be ones you'll have for many years.

It sounds like you have some great research experience under your belt! And props to you for planning ahead and asking questions. It sounds like you're on the right path; maybe ask your professors/mentors if they have any suggestions as well? I don't know much about your specific field (other than it really helps my field out), but you should probably search which schools are 'the best' for your intended grad program. This really helped me get an idea about what types of schools to look at, and where to go from there. Reading other people's posts on this forum were another good place. Think about what you are passionate about (you are going to be doing this for a living), and what areas of research you would like to focus on (it sounds like you might already have an idea). This will give you a starting point to search for schools or professors who are doing work in your field. You might email them and ask if they will have spaces open in their lab for your application season, or if there is any advice they might be willing to share. The GRE is (unfortunately) a big part of the application. I recommend getting the 5lb book of GRE practice problems from Manhattan. Don't ignore your stronger area while focusing on your weaker one. Magoosh is good, and provides a schedule for you to follow depending on how much time you have to prepare. They can be a little pricey, so look to see if they have a sale. Google is an invaluable resource. I have spent hours looking up possible universities based solely on a professor who was conducting research in my field. You might also look at the student doc forum and see if any of their people are looking at the same things you are. Best of luck to you!

When I applied to grad school, I fooled myself into thinking that I would be one of the lucky people who gets accepted to a PhD program right out of undergrad. Big shocker: I wasn't accepted, and I had to scramble to find a few master's programs that were still accepting applications. While I had certainly considered master's programs, I thought I would get lucky and not need them. So learn from my mistakes! When someone says "you might not get accepted to a PhD right out of undergrad" listen to them. They're probably right. Have a plan A, B, and C. Hopefully you won't need a back-up plan, but it never hurts to be prepared. I was left in limbo for about a month and a half, and that was a stressful experience.

I'm not sure about the legalities or anything, but you might be able to find someone to sublet your apartment. A lot of students do that during the summer when they plan to go home but can't break the contract.

Ahh. Thanks! I totally missed that 'per semester' thing.

The school typically doesn't award you an amount that drastically exceeds the cost of attendance. So while the FAFSA determined that you could take out $20,500 if necessary, the university doesn't think you need it. How much is the total cost of attendance at the university?

Definitely sounds like the department has recommended you for admission. But now the grad school itself has to decide if they want to follow the CS department's recommendation and admit you to the university. I hope you hear something positive soon!

I'm not an international student, but there isn't a limit on the places you can apply to. It's just that you pay roughly $200 USD for the GRE, so they give you 4 free scores to send to whichever schools you like (this happens at the end of the test). Take advantage of that, because if you apply to more than 4 (and most people do), it will cost the $27 USD Slagatha mentioned. It's expensive, and honestly the worst part of the process.

I went to London for my undergrad, and I transferred back to the US after my first year. At first I thought it was a good idea; the university I went to gave my a $9,000 scholarship and the rest in loans. So everything was funded and I didn't have to come up with money through private loans, like I would have had to do for my U.S. schools. I can tell you that studying overseas is incredibly expensive. I spent $500 on a visa (which you absolutely have to have, and the application can be quite confusing), $1,500 on a round trip plane ticket (for one semester); the exchange rate is killer, and it is cold. I loved the atmosphere, the city, and the academic culture. It's very different from the U.S. model of education. But overseas funding for U.S. students is very restricted. If you don't get scholarships through your uni, the rest is in loans. There is no work-study, no grants, nothing. I didn't want to leave, but it was too expensive to stay. I was accepted to King's College London for a MSc program. I'm seriously considering going, but my program wants a $3,000 deposit. Definitely weigh your options. I learned a lot from studying overseas, and I would recommend it to anyone who asks. But I would also tell everyone who asks to seriously think about the cost. It's not just London that's expensive, although I'm sure the costs aren't as bad in other parts of the country. Good luck!

I'm sure there are online programs, but the problem with them is that they don't typically offer hands-on research experience that is absolutely vital to PhD programs. Not having that experience is a big turn-off for doctorate programs.

Yeah, absolutely! I just didn't know how to respond to that part, but I definitely understand that makes the decision a lot harder. :/ I hope it works out for you!

I have seen a few universities (UC San Diego, and one univ. in Texas; I'm sure there are others) with MDs as part of their Psych department. I think they use their background in medicine to help further psychological research. I don't know if this is something you would be interested in doing, but it seems that you can go get your MD and then go work in a psych department. I'm not sure if you would be doing more biological research or teaching students, but it's something I've noticed that is being done. From my understanding, those professors perform a lot of "MD type" scientific research and then also work alongside psych professors. I don't think the MDs went back for a PhD though. If you have the medical training from med school, why put that on hold to go back to another form of school? On the same note, I don't think I would interrupt that training (with loans accruing interest) to go get a 5 year PhD. At the end of the day, it really depends on the type of training and research experience you want. If your interests align with one program more than the other, then I'd go with the school that provides you with those opportunities. Finances are very important, but you also need to go with the program that will make you happy. If a PhD will give you the research opportunities and experience you want, then go with that. One of my professors told me that it was harder to get in to a Clinical Psych PhD program than med school (using acceptance rates from both programs at a well-known university). That's something I would definitely consider: I think it says a lot (about competitiveness among programs) that you were accepted to two of the top 20 med schools but PhD programs rejected you. I have the same problem you do: my research interests are so specific that it's difficult to find programs that fit my interests. But if I had gone to med school I would have been able to work in my specific area of interest!! I would just think about what you really want. What makes you excited, which programs might fit your interests better? If it helps, maybe make a pro/con list of accepting med school vs. gambling on a PhD program. Not that you couldn't get in to a PhD program (I mean you got into med school, so you have to have had a great application), but those niched research interests might be hard to find a program for. I'm sure you're thinking hard about which opportunity to go for, hopefully this will help you decide!

I went to WCU as an undergrad. What do you want to know?

Personally, I would stay away from online course, especially in such a research heavy field as Psychology. While you can certainly finish classes for a Master's online, there aren't really any opportunities for you to teach or gain research experience. Having research and teaching experience are absolutely imperative, whether you go in to the field or continue for a doctorate. Even if you go for a job after your Master's and don't perform any research, it's really important to have the knowledge and experience. I don't really know much about distance courses, but I would have the same reservations about a distance course that I do about online: you need the hands-on experiences that courses taught online cannot really offer. If you do decide to go with an online course for master's, choose wisely. If you're looking at online U.S. universities, stay away from Phoenix, DeVry, and other for-profit schools. They aren't worth your time or money. See if you can find one from an accredited university. If you're really interested in U.S. universities, look at the APA website. It can tell you which programs are accredited by the organization. You can go from there and see if the universities listed have online programs.

If you're talking about WCU, then yes, I am. I attended the school for undergrad and asked one of the professors if interview offers had been sent out yet. I was told that they hadn't, but they should go out soon.

congrats!!