hey-yo-psych

If your track record is good, they can easily assume having Real Analysis in your Fall Semester lineup means you will ace it. Right? I highly suggest prioritizing GRE study and research over taking a difficult summer class. The good work you do over the summer will be reflected in your letters and the months you spend studying for GRE are SOO important. GRE is not just used for admissions but to make you competitive for institutional fellowships. Going out of your way to take Real Analysis is going to be misdirected in my opinion (and if you are considering creating another transcript to send off from another school - it will be extra expensive and time consuming during the application process). I also suggest making Fall 2016 one of your lighter semesters in terms of course load because applications take longer than you expect them to.

I am entering a PhD program doing quantitative methodology in a social science field, and I have the option to pick up an MA in stats en route to my final degree. On paper (where I will be attending), the stats vs applied stats degrees do not look very different to me. There is a non-thesis option for stats and it is possible for me to duplicate a theoretical stats curriculum while receiving an applied stats degree. Essentially, the difference is all in the name (although it is possible the adviser led experiences will differ). Are there any real differences between the two? Doing quant methods, I feel I am already in an applied field, so I wonder if the ROI will be higher on my degree if I call myself a theorist for my masters or stick with applied.

This is not a perspective that will help you be successful. Why would any school accept anything less than the best they can get? That is what is necessary for maintaining a good reputation. Fix your grammar and stop peddling mediocrity. o.O

Well, one person I know rejected a couple PhD program offers to safety schools that she realized weren't right for her and ended up doing an RA position to build up some experience. After that, she went on to apply again and got into her top choice. I don't think it is a bad idea, but you have to evaluate your application realistically and think about what parts need to be strengthened. There are a lot of ways to make yourself attractive to PhD programs, and you just have to know what they are looking for at the institutions you are pursuing, in terms of skills, stats, experiences. Find the right balance in the amount of time you are willing to spend building up your CV. Names are really unimportant unless you are working with a colleague of a POI who can vouch for you.

... >_> ... I have already accepted an offer. haha

Still interviewing but having a promising cycle so far. I only chose schools where I got nice emails back from a PI I was specifically interested in. On the one hand, it gave me a good shot at best fit schools very early, but I have had some surprises. Biggest surprise was being invited to a great school because of a POI that was not on my radar. Also, learning about a lot of VERY interesting people during my interviews. I also realized how much location matters to me. I still suggest a very concentrated approach in narrowing down on specific POIs very early, but If I had to do it again I would sprinkle in more schools with excellent locations or high prestige just in case there was a stray research interest I could have missed.

Anyone heard either way from Davis Perception/Cognition/Neuroscience? The acceptances on the results page are all from Developmental so far.

I would consider applying for a masters in an area surrounded by strong PhD programs. State schools like that tend to be excellent feeder schools (see my PM for one tip). I would also consider applying for a research manager position, which will also allow you to build up some research experience and skills. At the same time, I would spend this year building up skills in programming and quantitative psychology (see if you can take some extra uni courses). I would do an intense search of quant programs and email the interesting ones at the start of summer to see if they are looking.

I heard they will not notify anyone of anything until March, and that is still some step in the process before interview. Putting it that way, April 15 is certainly looming over this decision process.

They extended their already late (by US standards) deadline to Jan. 31. I've basically heard back from all my US schools unless I was silently wait-listed (lookin' at you, Davis & Ohio). Anyone else a little bit on edge about Canadian schools for experimental psych?