jlh26

Thank you for the encouragement! I wish you the best too. I definitely love psych but I am looking into options that might be related to the field but will take less time than a PhD. The reason is that I am 33-- I quit my full-time job a year ago to make this career change. Although I don't regret it, a year means quite a bit to me since the early 30s are prime career building years. I'm just not sure I want to keep applying (and then end up getting my PhD in my 40s). So there are lots of things to consider but I am not giving up on finding something psych-related that I will enjoy.

Schools: University of Washington, University of Connecticut, University of Houston, University of Utah, UC Santa Cruz Area: Social Rationalization: I haven't actually received formal rejections yet but I know all of these schools have sent interview invites/admission offers and I didn't get any... Comment: I'm pretty sure my low GRE quant score played a role in keeping me out. Also, the field is super competitive and many who deserve to be in grad school don't get admitted. I assume there were a lot of applicants who are more qualified even though my stats were great (aside from the low quant score). Coping: I was pretty depressed since I only applied to these schools. But I know many don't get in on their first application cycle and so that gives me a little perspective. I'm also looking into other fields that might just require a master's and be a little less competitive.

I think applying is such a crapshoot. Some posters on this thread didn't do great on the GRE and still got offers. I am sure there are people out there with great scores who didn't get offers. For me, I had research experience, great letters of recommendation, a 4.0 GPA, and a well-written SOP. My verbal GRE score was not bad but my quant score was dreadful. I'm too embarrassed to say how bad it was (in hindsight I should have taken a refresher math course). Still, I can do stats (got an A and did fine with stats in my labs) but geometry? No way. I applied to several social programs (only one long shot school) and I received 0 offers or interviews. I don't think I will do another application cycle but if I did I would certainly do whatever I needed to do decently on the GRE. Then I would at least not be wondering if that damn quant score is what kept me out.

I'm applying to social psych programs, not clinical (but also super competitive) so I can't really speak to that. However, I can say that when I was looking at programs and talking with professors, most of them mentioned that they evaluate your application based on your most recent grades. I'm sure some don't but I think many understand that some of us were unfocused or whatever in undergrad but as long there's evidence that we got it together, the application is worth considering fairly. You have great research experience and a lot of other excellent things going for you so I would doubt your undergrad GPA would keep you out (of course I don't know for sure). I'm in a similar situation. I didn't take my first undergrad seriously (in a different field) and my GPA is low. However, I went back for a second bachelor's in psych and have a 4.0. I'm hoping I won't be judged based on my poor performance 10 years ago when my most recent work clearly demonstrates I got it together. I don't know how it will go down but the way I'm choosing to look at it is that if a program rejects me solely based on my low GPA in college round 1, then I probably don't want to go there. Anyway, I think you should stay hopeful. Good luck!

Yeah I would love to know your thoughts on the campus, town, program and professors, etc. Do you know if it's a really difficult program to get into? Feel free to PM me.

I did at least two in each one. In fact, I didn't apply to any place where I only had one POI.

Yeah, that was smart to do. I think I should have done that at both schools. If you're interested in intergroup relations, we probably had the same POI at UConn who isn't taking students after all. I have another POI there but that program is not one of my top choices anyway. UW would be awesome (LOVE Seattle) but I'm pretty sure I won't even make the short list for that one. But I had to try because of you don't apply then you for sure have zero chance, lol.

It sounds like we have similar interests. Good luck to you! U of Washington is pretty much my longshot school so I'm not expecting anything but the program is fantastic. Did you contact your POIs at UConn and U of Washington before applying? I didn't since they posted on their websites whether or not they are accepting students but now I think it would have been a good idea to send a quick email anyway. Oh well. I have emailed my POIs at my other programs.

YES!! I don't know if I will get offers at either place but I'd still appreciate feedback on what it's like to live in both places. Not being from California, my main concern there is the extremely high cost of living. But I'm also curious about the social environment. As for Houston, I know nothing about it and would love to know your thoughts.

Wow! Those are awesome programs. Good luck! My programs: University of Connecticut University of Washington University of Utah UC Santa Cruz University of Houston Arizona State University My primary interest is intergroup relations/social hierarchies and status and power. However, I also like health psych and work in a health psych lab so I am applying to those programs too.

This is my first year applying to social programs. STRESS!!! I have a high GPA, good research experience, strong LORs, a well-written SOP but my quant GRE score is abysmally low. Like, so bad that despite my As in stats and research methods, I think the score could kill my whole application. My own fault since I procrastinated taking the GRE, and didn't bother reviewing/relearning all of the ninth-grade math I have completely forgotten. So I'm preparing to be rejected from all programs I've applied to and trying to determine if I want to do a master's program next year or wait and apply again next year. This is a second career for me so time is of the essence since I'm not 23... Sigh. Damn GRE. But I have no one to blame but myself. Good luck to everyone else, though!