Yep

Start the program

My background: applied to counseling and clinical fully funded Doctoral programs. Some PSYDs are emergency schools
 
my experience:
Research match is EVERYTHING in these programs (not PSYDs). It doesn’t have to be word for word but if you can articulate how your research to this point can transition well to the POIs work, that will impress during statement reading and interviews. Publications and presentations help but you don’t NEED them to compete with others.
Interview day is formal. I went through multiple interview through out this process and watch many applicants shoot themselves in the foot by over sharing, asking questions that you can find online, and did I mention over sharing. Also, if your staying with someone or get chances to talk to people in your POIs Lab, ask about their research and go into detail with them. This is very important. I have 4 different POIs ask during the interview, did you get a chance to talk to anyone in my lab, did they tell you about their work with me and their own, what did you think of it and how does that fit with what your wanting to do?
be realistic, some schools are too hard for you to get in. if you don’t match the averages the accepted students have significantly then X out the program. If you get that through your head now, it will feel better than later down the line when you get 5 rejections from “reach” schools in the first week of December.
Big picture Idea:
the acceptance Stats to funded R1 programs are very low. Like as low as 3% and maybe as high as 12%. No luck is involved! If you got the interview you passed the “are you worthy phase”. Means your qualified, competitive, and unique. Good luck to everyone next year who didn’t make it.
 

Honestly rankings for doctoral programs are fake. No way can a website or an organization can actually rate a PhD program. Take the fact that full tuition + stipend is a better indicator of the quality of the program and it’s values.
 
this is just general advice. For example, in clinical\ counseling psychology doctoral programs, Columbia university TC is a school people want to go to due to the name merit. However, it  is an unfunded program as well. Most professionals in the field say that schools matter to a certain degree but the debt one takes is much more impact on your life in the program and after.

In New York, this is relevant for most schools at least from my perspective. Teachers college has name merit but overall isn’t the same prestige and quality as other Ivy League schools. In psych PhDs there, they are also a unfunded program. I would suggest really doing the math. The massive debt in comparison to earning potential might not be worth it. Even better, deferring and focus on funded programs is a great idea. Just my two cents

Honestly rankings for doctoral programs are fake. No way can a website or an organization can actually rate a PhD program. Take the fact that full tuition + stipend is a better indicator of the quality of the program and it’s values.
 
this is just general advice. For example, in clinical\ counseling psychology doctoral programs, Columbia university TC is a school people want to go to due to the name merit. However, it  is an unfunded program as well. Most professionals in the field say that schools matter to a certain degree but the debt one takes is much more impact on your life in the program and after.

Honestly rankings for doctoral programs are fake. No way can a website or an organization can actually rate a PhD program. Take the fact that full tuition + stipend is a better indicator of the quality of the program and it’s values.
 
this is just general advice. For example, in clinical\ counseling psychology doctoral programs, Columbia university TC is a school people want to go to due to the name merit. However, it  is an unfunded program as well. Most professionals in the field say that schools matter to a certain degree but the debt one takes is much more impact on your life in the program and after.

In New York, this is relevant for most schools at least from my perspective. Teachers college has name merit but overall isn’t the same prestige and quality as other Ivy League schools. In psych PhDs there, they are also a unfunded program. I would suggest really doing the math. The massive debt in comparison to earning potential might not be worth it. Even better, deferring and focus on funded programs is a great idea. Just my two cents

In New York, this is relevant for most schools at least from my perspective. Teachers college has name merit but overall isn’t the same prestige and quality as other Ivy League schools. In psych PhDs there, they are also a unfunded program. I would suggest really doing the math. The massive debt in comparison to earning potential might not be worth it. Even better, deferring and focus on funded programs is a great idea. Just my two cents

Honestly rankings for doctoral programs are fake. No way can a website or an organization can actually rate a PhD program. Take the fact that full tuition + stipend is a better indicator of the quality of the program and it’s values.
 
this is just general advice. For example, in clinical\ counseling psychology doctoral programs, Columbia university TC is a school people want to go to due to the name merit. However, it  is an unfunded program as well. Most professionals in the field say that schools matter to a certain degree but the debt one takes is much more impact on your life in the program and after.

Honestly rankings for doctoral programs are fake. No way can a website or an organization can actually rate a PhD program. Take the fact that full tuition + stipend is a better indicator of the quality of the program and it’s values.
 
this is just general advice. For example, in clinical\ counseling psychology doctoral programs, Columbia university TC is a school people want to go to due to the name merit. However, it  is an unfunded program as well. Most professionals in the field say that schools matter to a certain degree but the debt one takes is much more impact on your life in the program and after.

Hi everybody
I hope that wherever you are in the world that you are safe and doing okay. This is a stressful time for the world, and to sound very self-focused, it's been also hard to juggle thinking about next steps in our academic careers. March/April time is really when things either come together or fall apart for us trying to get into PhD programs. In the midst of COVID and the world, society, families, friends all preoccupied with it, it does kind of seem to hampers our current academic success or struggles. I guess I am hoping that this message reaches those people who have either figured out where they will be going and to commend you on how far you've come, because it has not been an easy journey. But at the same time, I want to tell those people who are still figuring it out or just, honestly, so frustrated with the system and looking for something to keep you going.
PhD is just one of those things that is very hard to explain to other people why you are working so hard to get into these programs, why you love what you do that you essentially give up a normal life, what it really means to get into a (or many) program(s) that you are really happy to attend, among other things. It's so hard not to give up. It's so hard during undergrad to stay up one more night preparing for an exam or paper, it's so hard caring about the GRE even though there is no place in academia for it, it's so hard not to be named a co-author on a paper even though you did most of the work, the list could go on and on. I hope this message gives you some piece of motivation to keep going, because we all have been there. We all have asked ourselves these questions and felt down, sad, self-depreciating, depressed, anxious, and sometimes all you can do is cry. But I hope that you keep going and don't give up on your dream to do PhD! It's your dream, keep working hard for your dream
Congrats to everybody who has gotten into the program they wanted to get in! And I hope people still pursuing PhD that you don't give up, you can do this!

As an applicant this year who got admitted, I was very worried that funding will be an issue. If you read on the results page, some people have noted that this pandemic has caused faculty to lose a spot that they were expecting. I feel bad for the students who had to deal with that type of rejection because it isn’t really a rejection.
thankfully, I was given full funding. To comment your concern, I think if anything, unless funding was pulled, applicants with acceptances are taking their offers rather than deferring considering the fear of these changing next year. Why risk less funding next year when you have a spot now and can solidify funding. of course, all of us are at the mercy of our programs because funding is not guaranteed. Just my two cents
 

If it makes you feel any better, I imagine that most people won't defer their acceptances. I know I'm not! It might even be less competitive as people may decide not to apply in the fall if they did not have enough time to study for the GRE, get publications accepted, etc. So if you feel you will be in a good position to apply this fall I think that the current situation could actually work to your advantage.

Yes ask! Don’t worry, programs are still running and making decisions. Let them know the situation and you are holding an offer and want to make a a decision.

As April 15th gets closer and closer, I'm feeling anxious but also sort of relieved. It's been such a long waiting game that no matter the outcome, I'm sure I'll feel better having an actual answer. I still have the tiniest glimmer of hope that some good news might come my way but it's unlikely. Ready to focus on next cycle and kick some butt! 
Hope everyone is hanging in there!

What!? The numbers are in your favor!! Keep us updated on the results 

What!? The numbers are in your favor!! Keep us updated on the results 

What!? The numbers are in your favor!! Keep us updated on the results 

Ehh, both programs are expensive and can be considered crippling. 3rd option is you wait a year, build your cv, and attempt to get into a funded program. If that is not a possibility and you are ready for the looming debt your gonna take, I think either one will be fine. Which POI do you enjoy more? How was the students in the program, how’s the environment. Focus on those questions.

Start the program

Start the program

Start the program

Don’t go to Fordham if your goal is to get into PHD programs. You can get the same opportunities working as a RA somewhere and not go into debt.
 
i know SDSU is a very competitive program that does help its students move to the next step.
if I was to retake my masters, I would look for programs that have doctoral programs above them in big public schoool university settings. KU, Kentucky, MIZZOU etc
 

As a faculty member, this week has been overwhelming and chaotic for us all. Given how scared and uncertain students (and faculty) have felt this week, having recently learned of the existence of GradCafe it occurred to me that hearing from a faculty member might be helpful to some of you and so I planned to start a post expressing my support. However, upon seeing this thread, I wanted to address the initial poster's concern first and then share my thoughts (albeit - I am just one perspective).
My university, like so many, has moved to online-only instruction until mid-April, at minimum. I teach a graduate cognitive assessment class. Even if it were possible to teach test administration online (which I doubt anyone could do well - I certainly cannot), my students have to share some test kits with each other plus given the interactive nature of cognitive testing, it would be impossible for my students to administer a test battery and not touch objects that the testee also touches. #WAISIVCOVID19Outbreak is not the hashtag I want to follow my students or I, because we have an obligation to, above all else, do no harm. The skills-based aspect of my course will be on hold until we can resume in-person instruction. That means I, and my students, will need to be flexible regarding making up the missed classes, but I am willing to give up part of my summer to make sure my students are prepared in the way they need to be.
Let's hope that we're out of the woods by August! That said, as current students, prospective students, and students who will be entering a program in Fall 2020 - it is not your job to worry about how the COVID-19 crisis will affect your education. I understand may of you will worry, and that's okay - but your professors are and will do everything they can to make sure your education continues as planned.
All that said, I hope everyone is okay. For those of you who had to leave campus abruptly, I am sorry. For those of you who had spring-break plans cancelled, I am sorry. For anyone who is scared - you are not alone. For anyone who is angry about this disruption - you are not alone. I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a student or future student right now. Most (I want to believe all of ) your professors are doing the best they can. I realize that may not feel like enough, but it's the best we can do right now. Please take care of yourselves and if you are feeling anxious about the fall, do reach out to current faculty or POIs. We're here.
 
 

Your not going to get red-flagged for asking a question lol