ellieotter
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Posts posted by ellieotter
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Hey guys, I have waited to email POI's to see if they are accepting students till this month since they're more likely to know about funding. Some of my POI's have indicated on their website if they are accepting a student but I have decided it's time to bunker down and get to writing out good email drafts to send out to all my POI's in the next week.
Does anyone have any tips on what I should include in my "reaching out" email? I don't want to send a novel but I want to get across how interested I am in working with them. Secondary note, does anyone have any tips on what I shouldn't include when writing them out? Thanks!
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Just an update for any of those still trying to register. I kept trying over and over again for over an hour this morning and finally was able to select a seat that matched the right time/day that the calendar had available. Don't give up hope, just keep refreshing those screens!!
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I talked to them last Thursday. They said there was nothing they could do on their end. Tried getting them to register me via phone and they said they use the same system we do to register so to not risk it until the issues are resolved...at this rate it seems like that isn't going to be happening before my applications are due...sigh
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If anyone is still having trouble scheduling a test, like myself, just called prometric ten minutes ago and the system is still having issues. It would be great to take the test, you know, before application season is over...sigh. Anyone else have any luck?
side note: some seats of availability popped up for me but the woman I spoke with said don't even bother, trying to reserve it could mess up and not even go through with all the problems they're having. -
Hey guys, I've been having an internal debate about whether or not to spend money on a GRE prep course. I've taken it once before and did average on verbal, great on writing, but absolutely AWFUL on the quant section. I've used Magoosh & ETS prep books to attempt to study but I just feel I learn with an "in-person" environment where I can ask questions for problems I don't understand.
My question is, has anyone taken a GRE prep course like this? Did it help? Or would you recommend a live-online prep class? I've done a little digging and see Kaplan offers some 8 week in person classes (pretty pricey, but worth it if it really helps) and I am considering doing one in hopes of boosting all of my scores. I really think that if the GRE is as important as many say it is for clinical/counseling psych apps, it will be the only thing that keeps me from getting interviews so I am desperate to fix this issue. Thanks! -
On 6/2/2016 at 0:40 PM, JoePianist said:
Forensic Psychology is a pretty small subfield - why aren't you considering Clinical programs?
The majority of my list is clinical and I'm prepared to just apply to those programs, I just always wanted to go a more counseling based route. My undergrad mentor and my dream grad school mentor both obtained counseling based PhD's and they are forensic psychologists so I think that is what kind of makes me want to go this route instead.
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Hey guys! Planning on applying this upcoming December but I am struggling with school selections. I would really like to go to a counseling program with a forensic background but other than TTU, all I can find is clinical psychology programs with this emphasis. I really wanted to go a counseling route but it seems like I'm running out of options. Anyone know of any FUNDED counseling PhD programs that has a professor/or emphasis on forensic psych? Thanks!
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55 minutes ago, clinpsy said:
You're right, organization is SO important to the process of applications. I used an Excel spreadsheet, and I recently created an example spreadsheet that should help students with their organization in terms of overall planning for grad school applications, application process planning, as well as some tips on organizing reference letter stuff. I've attached it here, but let me know if it doesn't work and I can email it!
Thank you so much! I clicked on the link but it said error, PM me and I can send you my email if you don't mind sending it to me
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Hey all! I have been told organization is KEY when it comes to a successful application season. Does anyone who's been through the application process have any tips or any type checklist they found helpful when they applied? Or anything you would have done differently looking back on how you went about the application process? Thanks in advance!
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4 hours ago, ItsBeckyB said:
Thank you! And best of luck on you're upcoming application season
. We can definitely stay in touch. I'm currently working on setting up my CUNY email account. Once I do, I will PM it to you.
Awesome! I really appreciate it!!
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2 hours ago, FacelessMage said:
I met with the majority of the profs I was interested in working with at conferences prior to applying (I got some good face to face time with them). I had also emailed all of them asking if they were accepting students for the upcoming year.
Oh okay! I've talked in depth and met with my POI at Tech and really clicked but I haven't gotten to asking others since it feels like its too early to ask if they are taking a student. How early would you recommend on emailing them? Sorry for all the q's!
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Congrats on your acceptance! I'm not applying until this fall but would like to stay in touch with someone at John Jay if you wouldn't mind? I am considering applying there this upcoming year.
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On 1/13/2016 at 11:37 AM, FacelessMage said:
School: Texas A&M, Tech Tech, Drexel, University of South Florida, Ryerson Universiy, Simon Fraser University
Area: Clinical psychology
Rationalization: I don't even know, probably more of the "too many qualified applicants" stuff they feed us every year
Comment: Honestly, I'm very upset. I put in so much work in the past year to make myself more competitive (have around 3 more publications than last year, plus 2 more conference publications), and it feels like it was for nothing
Coping tactics: Sleep, binge watching various shows, working on another publication
You applied to quite a few schools I'm interested in when I apply this upcoming year. Did you talk to any professors you were interested in working with before applying to get a feeling for what they were looking for in a potential student?
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On 4/13/2016 at 9:08 AM, ForensicPsych93 said:
I created this forum, and well so far my application stats are rising wanted to know the chances from where I currently stand for clinical phd programs.
As of now I have 5 Poster/oral presentations (One is regional) where I am First author of 3/5 of them second on the other two. I may have several more poster presentation by the time applications come around but so far this is what I have (Just waiting on dates to for conferences). I also have a MA thesis where I am hoping will be published as well as another study. So i'll be submitting 2 papers for pub by the NEXT app cycle. My Masters gpa is 3.8 & Undergraduate=3.5. I have about 3+ years of research experience. I have great letters of recommendation. My top choices are Fordham U, Drexel U, UMass, John Jay, Fairleigh Dickinson, UCONN, Emory. I am applying to more schools but I have close to 4-5 potential professors I'll be applying to work with. Many have published in topics closely related to what I'm currently working on.
I'm retaking GRE this summer -shooting for 310 (or 90^ percentile for verbal). I am very nervous of not getting in because I've been busting my a** this past year to increase my stats (I know others also are) but some post are discouraging to read. ITs hard not to compare yourself to others. Any advice on what else I can be doing. I didn't mention but I have tons of clinical experience as well (I know this doesn't matter as much as research though). But case management for DV shelter (1 yr), Camp Counselor& Tutor (special needs) -2 years.
Make sure that if you plan on applying to Drexel to study for the LSAT since it's a required test if you want to go the forensic route and the Psych Subject test if you plan on applying to John Jay! I don't want to go a law school route which is the only reason Drexel is not on my list, otherwise that would be my top school since it's an amazing program. Good luck!
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Hello all! I am going to start working on my SoP's as soon as possible but as many of you know, I feel like I hit road blocks every few sentences.
My question is, have any of you found a good skeleton or outline on how to set a SoP up? Or how to create a really unique one? This will be strictly for psychology graduate programs so if any of you have experience writing SoP's for psych, help is appreciated. Thanks! -
13 hours ago, OnTheRoadToPhD said:
Since everybody is sharing
I'll join in
Applying for a PhD in Clinical Psychology to John Jay for Fall 2017. Undergrad Forensic Psych GPA 3.89 (from John Jay), Grad Clinical Social Work GPA 3.97 (from USC). GREs V 152 Q 151 AW 4 (I was going for above 150s). Experience: here is the tricky part, I do not have research experience (only classes in undergrad and grad). Work experience: Case Management in DV shelter, Case Management in ACS, Clinical Internship with female offenders on Rikers Island, and currently I work as a Clinical Social Worker in Pelican Bay State Prison (almost 2 years, months away from getting my LCSW). Majority of my time in PBSP, I worked in the enhanced outpatient unit with mentally ill inmates, I also worked in their licensed Correctional Treatment Center (prison hospital on ground) in the crisis unit. My focus is within correctional mental health but also with sex offender treatment (mostly IEX). My letters of recommendation: two academic (one from John Jay prof and another from USC), two professionals (both from Pelican Bay). I hope my application is strong enough to get an interview.
In my previous life, I also have a BA in Business Administration and MBA major International Business (both degrees from UK). I fluently speak four languages (English, Russian, French, and Spanish), and I am 33. But I do not mention this in my application
There is a possibility they will ask why you do not have prior research experience so you probably want to have an answer ready for interview day. My advice is to figure out who you'd like to work with and email them to see how much the value research experience on a CV and go from there. I know John Jay is somewhat different when it comes to advisors but it wouldn't hurt to check in with the ones your most interested in and see how important research experience is to them when selecting new students. One of my top advisor choices told me it's the second most important thing he looks for on an application (first being GRE scores) but I have heard from other students in clinical programs that having one poster was good enough for their advisor. Good luck fellow 2017 applicant
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11 hours ago, PS7654 said:
Here are some people I would suggest looking into for those of you who are interested in clinical psych faculty with forensic and delinquency/criminal behavior interests (some are adult and some are juvenile-oriented):
John Edens, Texas A&M
Chris Barry, Washington State
Paul Frick, Louisiana State
Nora Charles, Southern Mississippi
Amanda Fanniff, Palo Alto
Sue Righthand, Maine
In addition, check out conferences. Even if you don't attend you can usually find programs online. This could show you who is currently doing research you're interested in. I recommend the American Psychology & Law conference, specifically. It was just held last month.
Thank you so much! I have Palo Alto & Washington State but the other schools are ones I haven't checked out yet. I appreciate the help!
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I am also planning to apply this upcoming fall to programs who have an emphasis on forensic science. GPA overall (I have a BA in psych & a BS in forensic science) is a 3.69 but I am not sure what my last 60 hours or overall psych only GPA's are at this moment. I was an intern for a licensed forensic psychologist for 7 months, I will also have been in my current lab that focuses on children with abnormal sexual behaviors for 2 years by the time I apply, and I currently work in a behavioral health hospital that specializes in treatment of juvenile sex offenders. I have also been a TA for upper level experimental psychology in undergrad. I will have at the least 6+ poster presentations (at least 3 where I am first author) by application time and will have strong letters of recommendation. I have not taken the GRE but am studying and plan to take it at the end of July. I really do NOT want to go a masters track OR a PsyD so I am looking to apply at clinical psych programs only.
Advice on what I should work? And any advice on schools that have a specialization in forensics? Or professors who study juvenile delinquency/ sex offending? Thanks!
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Hi everyone! I am looking towards applying this upcoming fall to clinical psychology programs and am seeking advice. I am wanting to specialize in forensic psychology (really big interest in juveniles & sex offending research) and am having trouble finding APA accredited programs where forensic psychology is somewhat prominent in the department. I have schools such as Palo Alto, Fordham, Sam Houston State, University of Alabama, etc. on my list already but I still want to look at every option available.
Anyone have suggestions on some specific schools/professors/labs I should look into?{also, not looking to apply to John Jay so I don't need any information on that school}
Masters Programs in Forensic Psych
in Psychology Forum
Posted
Hey guys! So I am applying to PhD programs for clinical and counseling psych, majority with some type of forensic emphasis, but I am trying to be real about my chances of getting in on my first application cycle.
I will have awesome letters (my LOR's are from pretty well known psychologists in the forensic psych field), a well-written SOP, my GPA's (BA in Psych, BS in Forensic Science) are on the higher end averaging at 3.7-3.9 for overall, over three years experience in two labs, an internship in forensic psych, 10+ conference presentations relevant to my area of interest (half national, have regional & majority 1st author), awards for some research projects, TA experience, and clinical experience for over a year working with juvenile sex offenders.
Only big problem, I am really worried about my GRE scores. I take it this weekend & overall after taking a couple practice tests, I've found that I do really well on the writing section, decent on verbal, but AWFUL on quant. I can't even put on here what I've been getting for quant because it's so embarrassing. I'm nervous such a low score won't even get me noticed so I am trying to cover my bases school wise.
So that being said, does anyone have any recommendations of masters programs w/a forensic emphasis I should look into? I am planning on applying to Drexel's masters but I haven't really looked at any others yet. I'd really appreciate some feedback on schools I should check out!