PsycUndergrad
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Posts posted by PsycUndergrad
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13 minutes ago, Yorku2019 said:
I think so, given what I have gleaned from various threads. It seems that, on average, 11.5 - 14.5 = SSHRC Fellowship ('smaller') and maybe 15 and greater = CGS-D ('larger') @crazycatmaniac
I got 11.1 and was waitlisted so 11.5 seems about right for the fellowship cut off.
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I was waitlisted with a score of 11.1. Not sure what committee but I’m in psychology. My score seems super low compared to the winners so I’m guessing I’m probably low on the list.
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Is anyone here from Quebec/ever applied for FRQSC or other FRQ agencies? Specifically for doctoral awards since I know masters is different. I didn’t get it but was ranked pretty high, and I’m wondering if there’s a waitlist (since some people will probably get SSHRC and turn it down). There’s no mention in the letter, so I assume any rejected funds just return to the agency instead of going to the next person on the list.
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I think it’s reasonable to contact them if you prefer those schools over your current acceptance and are holding onto another offer while you await their response.
I think it’s more of a problem when you email them just because you’re impatient or anxious. In that case, there’s no good reason to contact and it will probably not come across well.
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Definitely go for research. PhD programs don’t really care about clinical experience, and the more research the better. I’ve also encountered a lot of clinical psychologists with mixed opinions on ABA (won’t get into that too much!) so those positions might not be helpful to your application depending on which reads it.
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1 hour ago, SchoolPsych27 said:
1.) My undergraduate GPA is 3.82/4.30. Has anyone received admittance to psychology graduate programs with a similar GPA?
Your GPA is fine. It seems like most grad applicants have a perfect GPA, but that isn’t really the case.
1 hour ago, SchoolPsych27 said:2.) During my second semester of my fourth year (I am in my fifth and final year currently) I had several unfortunate things happen in my life, and I ended up tanking academically. I received a C-, a C+, a B+ and two A's. I usually get straight A's, and I a wondering how seriously this will effect my chances of getting in? I have since steered my ship back on course and have returned to getting straight A's.
If it helps, I had some issues in my first semester of 3rd year and got a D and two B+’s. I retook the D and got an A-, got all A’s for the rest of my degree, and was accepted to two Canadian clinical programs. One concern is it could affect your eligibility for tri-council funding (SSHRC, etc) which requires 3.7+ in both of your last two years.
1 hour ago, SchoolPsych27 said:3.) I have worked as a research assistant for three different sociologist, I have worked in a psychology lab and I have help a few TA positions. Is it essential that I get a publication in addition to my current experience?
Publications are not necessary, but I would recommend trying to get some posters/conference presentations if you haven’t yet. Also, you might want to get some more experience in psych. Most applicants will have substantive experience in psychology research and a psychology honours thesis. Think about how you’ll explain your interest in psychology if most of your experience is in a different field.
1 hour ago, SchoolPsych27 said:Is it normal to take a couple years off before beginning psychology graduate school? If I do this, I will be 25 when I begin graduate school, and that feels sort of too late?
Very few people are admitted straight out of undergrad, and taking time off is the norm. In my experience, most people are in their mid-20s when they begin.
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15 minutes ago, mdmhfx said:
I need some advice, have people been reaching out to their POI via email if they haven't heard anything by now? I had a pretty good rapport with one of my POIs throughout the application process, and I know from previously accepted students that this week is usually when interview requests go out. Yesterday I emailed graduate admissions but haven't heard back, and I'm assuming they won't answer. Is this appropriate to send a quick email to my POI, or does it come off as annoying? Do you think I'll even get a response?
For context: I am talking about a pretty small clinical masters program that only gets 30-40 applicants per year.I would wait to hear back from them. Programs don’t always notify exactly when they say they will- people go out of town, or can’t decide which students they want to interview, or there’s a snow day, or there’s a delay in processing applications. There’s no benefit to contacting your POI, just try to be patient.
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Just wanted to pop in with some numbers-based encouragement. If you look at the admissions data at almost any program, you’ll see that students are accepted from the wait list every year. E.g., at UCLA’s clinical program last year, they had to make 14 offers to get an incoming cohort of 8. Most programs have similar numbers.
I know the uncertainty is stressful, but don’t give up hope! A lot of waitlisted applicants get accepted in the first few weeks of April as people start narrowing down their options and making final choices.
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30 minutes ago, neocortical.coffee said:
Has anyone ever heard of funding to visit a school for their open house (I am already accepted). Ontario to BC tickets are currently around $700 ?
I’ve gotten $300-500ish... didn’t come close to covering flights across the country, but still better than nothing! Not all POIs/programs offer it, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
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21 hours ago, s_bellow said:
Anyone here do an MSc in Psychiatry at McGill? Just debating on applying
I know of a few people who have done the program. It can be a good way of getting research experience before applying to PhD programs. A lot of people end up doing masters programs in psychiatry/experimental psych in general before getting into clinical programs.
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15 hours ago, Leafway said:
It seems like the interview process is not as intimidating as people would think. I wonder under what kind of circumstances professors would reject a student who was invited to the interview? I believe everyone would be well-prepared (in terms of answering questions and having an idea of their research plan), behave politely, and show eagerness to know about the program.
Faculty usually interview 3-6 applicants for one spot, so most will rejected even if they’re strong applicants and the interview goes well. A lot of the time it comes down to fit. They’re looking for students that mesh well with the lab, who have similar research interests, or skills that can advance the lab’s research. There also could be practical reasons, like the PI doesn’t get a grant so they choose the 4.0 GPA, multi-publication applicant who is most likely to get external funding.
You would also be surprised by how some people act at interviews. Some applicants are so nervous that they perform poorly, some people are over-confident and competitive, some are unprofessional or do stupid things (e.g. getting drunk at social event).
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15 minutes ago, JoyJoy said:
I emailed potential POIs 3 weeks ago. Only 2 replied, one said she won't take new students and recommended another prof I should contact.
Another said "I will take one student, but I will only interview those who are shortlisted, look forward to reviewing your application"
What do you guys think about the second prof's response?
Overall. I was a little bit disappointed because 1) 5 profs did not respond at all; 2) I was kind of hoping they would say something like you seem to be a strong applicant etc...
There’s no need to be disappointed. Professors are super busy, and they get tons of emails from prospective students. They also don’t know what kind of applicants they get until they review them; you might be a strong applicant, but the profs don’t want to encourage you too much when they don’t know how you’ll compare to everyone else.
Try not to read too much into emails, you’ll make yourself crazy
Each professor communicates differently, and they don’t have time to carefully consider their responses.
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If the programs require GRE scores you won’t be accepted without them, not even conditionally. These schools have hundreds of applicants for very few spots, and won’t take the time to consider incomplete applications.
I think you you have a few things to think about before applying or moving back to Canada. Your GPA for your master’s is quite low for Canadian clinical programs, and you’ll want to be sure clinical is a realistic goal. Also, research fit is probably the most important component, and you’re unlikely to get into Ottawa if no one there works in your area of research. I don’t mean to be discouraging, but the application process is very different from the UK and it’s worth taking the time to fully understand what’s required.
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I have a friend who went there but am not overly familiar with the program myself, so take this with a grain of salt. But it’s my understanding that GREs are not emphasized too much and they will look at your whole application rather than tossing it out based on one component.
But it might be in your best interests to improve your application as much as possible if you’re really aiming for this program. My friend has told me that they reserve most seats for local applicants because the goal of the program is to train psychologists for a part of the country that has a major shortage. If you’re out of province, the standards will be higher.
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7 hours ago, FallGO said:
I have a master's degree in experimental psychology. I'm interested in applying for Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Canadian schools) for 2019 Fall admission. I wonder whether I have to start from an MA, instead of PhD? School websites only vaguely answered these questions. So I want to know what do you guys think!
You will almost definitely have to start at the MA level, unfortunately. There are a couple of schools that admit PhD students (Western, McGill, Concordia, maybe others?), but most don’t. You’ll likely get credit for some of your MA courses- I have cohort mates who were exempt from stats classes because they already had an MA.
When you apply, read the programs sites very carefully. I’ve heard of programs accepting PhD applications, but then only ever accepting MA students. I would only apply to the PhD if the website specifically says to.
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There’s no way of knowing. Some respond immediately, some will take days or weeks, many won’t respond at all.
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Your scores are fine. The GRE isn’t as important as it seems, especially for Canadian schools. You have very strong research experience so I wouldn’t worry unless you have a lower GPA or something.
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I wouldn’t worry if you didn’t get a response. Professors are busy and it’s easy to overlook an email. You can re-send if you want to or if you need to know if they’re accepting a student, but I don’t think it matters too much.
I don’t think emailing is as big of a deal as people make it out to be, honestly. I emailed about half of my POIs, and it didn’t seem to affect my likelihood of getting interviews/acceptances.
With the professor who suggested other potential advisors, it might be a good idea to listen. One of the most important factors in getting accepted is showing POIs that you are a good fit, and it doesn’t sound like she is convinced. It might not hurt to include her on your application, but I would list the others too.
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If Canada is an option, I think Queen’s University has labs that might interest you... it’s been a while since I looked into their department, though, so I could be wrong.
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You have good stats and I think you have a decent shot at getting in. Don’t compare yourself to people on GradCafe- like the others have said, it’s not a representative sample (and people lie on the internet).
My biggest suggestion to you is to apply outside of Toronto.Those schools are among the most competitive in the country (think 300-400 applications for 8 spots) and it’s a crapshoot for even the most qualified applicants. A lot of people fail to get into a program or end up with a less-than-ideal fit because they prioritize location. It’s obviously your choice, but I would advise against it if possible. Other than that, I would recommend just getting more research experience and some posters/pubs if you don’t get accepted.
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Don’t worry yet, you’ve just started. Most labs have their RAs begin with relatively simple tasks. I know it isn’t fun, but they’ll likely allow you to be more independent and take on more meaningful roles after you’ve been there awhile. There’s a lot of turnover for undergrad RAs and many just want to add a line to their CV, so they want to know that you’re reliable.
And don’t put too much pressure on yourself for posters and pubs! It’s great if you can get them during undergrad, but lots of projects don’t work out or get pushed back. It’s most important that you get solid experience, and that will come as the lab gets to know you better
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It’s too bad you don’t meet the (ridiculous) Canadian med school GPA. If you go with PhD, are you planning on applying to the US or Canada? In Canada, a lot of schools require at least A- in your last two years, so your GPA could be an issue there as well. I do know people who have been accepted with similar GPA, though, because they had a lot of relevant research and solid GRE scores.
5 hours ago, grayjay said:I see. Thanks for all the info.
What are people's thoughts on applying to both MD and PhD at the same time? (Given that I will not consider MD/PhD, and that I would be genuinely happy in either). I've come across some people who are extremely opposed to it, and others who see it as do-able.
I don’t really think it’s a problem, but I do think it will be a huge time commitment and take a lot of work. The application process is hard and expensive, and applying to both will be difficult. But if you get started very early it’s probably doable. However, if you apply to any Canadian med schools and happen to get accepted to a PhD program, the deadline to accept/reject your offer will very likely be before you hear back from med schools.
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33 minutes ago, grayjay said:
Thanks for your responses! They were very encouraging. I just started in a lab (literally just started, haven't done anything yet and still getting trained) where I will be conducting phone interviews with participants, shadowing counseling sessions, and working on a manuscript. The work seems really interesting and I think I will enjoy it. I considered applying for Fall 2019 but realized that I probably couldn't get my GREs and rec letters and statements together in time for this December... it just wouldn't be enough time for me to build up enough work to talk about in interviews and enough of a rapport with my PI to ask for a letter... I am a little disappointed about having to wait another year but I'm hoping it will be for the best.
I am on the fence between applying to PhD vs. applying to MD and pursuing a career in psychiatry. I am very clear on the differences and similarities between the two, so any other insight would be so appreciated. My main issue is that I am really into drugs and meds and I would have a hard time letting that go if I were to go into a PhD. But I realize that there are research topics in psychopharmacology that I could pursue with the PhD, and the job flexibility is attractive to me (professor, practice, lots of options it seems). My background has pretty much set me up for applying MD, apart from not having taken the MCATs yet. Wonder if anyone else had to make this decision?
I wanted to go to med school at first.
I chose to do a PhD instead for a few reasons. Mainly, I wasn’t that interested in prescribing meds and really wanted to do psychological assessment. I think I’d struggle to get through med school because I’m only interested in a few areas of medicine, and I would miss the research component of grad school. I also like my sleep schedule so I wouldn’t be able to handle night shifts or working days on end haha
You should really consider the financial aspect. Obviously you’ll have far less debt coming from a PhD program than MD, but you’ll also make much less. If I was more into meds/psychopharmacology, the higher salary would very appealing.
- neurologic and grayjay
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SSHRC Doctoral 2018-2019 Waitlisted
in The Bank
Posted
It just gave my score, and not much else. Apparently if funds become available, I will be “advised without delay.”