Social Psyc Researcher

Hi, I am going to be moving to Lincoln this summer to start the Social Psychology PhD program in the Fall. I am also looking for a roommate, maybe we should talk...

I am guessing you may have heard from UIC by now ( I received a letter from them yesterday) but I know they already had interviews. Also, if you are interested in stereotyping I am guessing you may be interested in working with Mary Murphy -- who unfortunately is not taking any students this year.

This thread is amazing and has totally lightened my mood. I was talking to a friend the other day explaining how I was concerned that I may not be getting in AGAIN this year after receiving several rejections, she said -- "I mean how long are you going to keep applying? Maybe you should just get a job, you are qualified for something, aren't you? I mean how much time are you going to waste trying to get in?" It was a good thing we were on the phone because I really wanted to punch her... I also must say that I really really hate, "I am sure you'll get in somewhere." This is especially irritating because it almost always comes from people who have no idea what they are talking about, and it really just comes off as a nice way of saying "your failure is making me uncomfortable, so I am going to try and say something nice and get the hell out of here."

Awesome!

I am sure this doesn't happen too often, but I am wondering if anyone knows what happens if a student is awarded an external fellowship but not admitted to any graduate programs? Can awards be deferred until the next application season or do you just loose the award? What about contacting programs where you were denied as a result of insufficient funding, is that appropriate? (by the way this has not happened to me -- I am just curious)

No

Yes, the application deadline for Fall 2011 funding has already closed. If you apply this September that would be for funding starting in Fall 2012, so you apply about a year before funding would actually be provided.

I don't have any info specifically in relation to the Tufts waiting list but in relation to wait lists in general. Obviously people do get accepted off the waiting list from time to time but there may be several people on that wait list, so it is hard to know how good your chances are. This is my 3rd application season and I have been placed on the waiting list at at least 2 schools each season but have yet to receive an actual admit.

I spoke with Sommers, I am fairly certain Maddox is taking a student but I am not sure about Ambady. I got an email within the last week directing me to the website for their decision but the actual decision did not appear on the website until today. Good luck!

My admission decision just appeared today, but I already knew I wasn't getting in as I talked to my POI at SPSP and found out that he would not be accepting a student this year. Who did you apply to work with?

My partner and I have both applied to PhD programs in Psyc and none of our interview invites have been funded (at least not the travel expenses -- so far we have been responsible for travel costs and then been housed with current graduate students once we arrive).

The the person who posted that they were accepted to Tufts, would you mind PMing me who your POI is? Thanks!

Franks -- I noticed that we have some overlapping research interests, do you mind my asking where you have been invited for an interview?

So, we can check the average GPA and GRE stats for most students accepted into graduate programs/ specific universities... but many of us don't know what the stats are in regards to other important parts of the graduate application. This poll was created to help reveal the numbers in regards to some of these other areas. Let me know if you think I am missing other important factors. Thanks!!

I have been debating about going to SPSP and I think I have decided to go ahead and go, but considering how expensive accommodations are near the conference I am hoping to find one or two other students who might want to split the costs. Anyone out there looking for a roommate to cut costs? If you or other students you know may be looking for a room-share PM me and we can discuss specifics. Thanks!! PS for those of you who have never attended SPSP is awesome...it is like Hollywood for social psychologists, but better : )

Thanks for the info -- Unfortunately (at least in this case) I already have a masters degree in psychology, so this is not really an option for me. For social psychology RA positions it seems like one of the best places to find available positions may be the SPSP list serve. However, these positions are very competitive and often seem to go to people who "know someone." I have applied to MANY of these positions and the farthest I ever got was a phone interview...

Hi socandwomen, I have some overlapping interests with you -- I am interested in the impact of prejudice and stereotypes on legal and social policy, which may involve gender issues, racial issues, sexual orientation issues, etc. My question for you is actually about your RA position, are you an undergrad at PSU? I am beginning to contemplate my options if I am not accepted to a PhD program this round and I am entertaining the option of moving somewhere new to pursue a RA position. I know that it can be difficult to get your foot in the door for things like this so I just thought I would ask in the event that you are not a PSU student. Thanks!

Congratulations to those who have received interviews/acceptances! To those of you who have heard from UVa and Columbia, I am interested to hear who you have applied to work with. Feel free to PM me if you don't mind sharing. Thanks!

Hey, I just thought I would put my 2 cents in since I have a Psyc MA. I feel like everyone on here is giving fairly high estimates for pay and is generally overly optimistic about the job opportunities that are out there. I graduated in 2009 and applied to over 50 research positions and the closest I ever got to a job was a single phone interview (and ultimately I was not offered the position). I have been working as an adjunct instructor for the last couple semesters (at a couple different universities) but the pay is incredibly low...think more like 20,000 rather than 120,000. Granted I am working in the Midwest where adjuncts probably are paid significantly less than on the East or West coast, however nobody in my graduating class has been able to find adjunct work in California (that is where I am from)...in fact they are all impressed that I was able to find such a "good" job. I should also mention that my degree was not from a prestigious school, just a state university. So perhaps you might have better luck finding a job with Harvard or Yale on your diploma...although many universities are not in the position that they can really offer more money to their adjuncts regardless of where their degree is from. Hope this is helpful...

Thanks!

These are awesome! Any suggestions on where I could find listings that are specific to social psychology?

I don't know of anywhere to find this, short of searching individual universities and research centers but I would be interested if anyone does know about this!!

Sorry to crash your post Jillybean, I debated about whether to post a new thread or just post on yours as I am also in need of advice. So here is my issue...I applied to several programs and have been denied from most of them, although I am on the waiting list for 4 of them, and there are a couple I still haven't heard from. As my odds of being accepted are getting slim I have begun looking into other options. I recently met with a professor at a small undergraduate university who is very actively conducting research (she has had 9 pubs in the last year) and she has invited me to come RA for her next year (if I am not accepted). I am extremely excited about her research and I think she would be a great research mentor so I am pretty thrilled by her offer. Today I heard from one of the schools I applied to (but have kind of lost interest in), asking about my application status at other schools and requesting a phone interview. It sounds like I have a pretty good chance of getting in. The program only has this one professor in my area of interest, I am concerned that this professor may not be able to provide the kind of advising style I want (a little bit too hands off), very few of the current students have any publications, and on top of that I am not too thrilled about the location. I didn't know most of these things when I applied but since then I have gotten to meet the the prof and her lab members, and I have realized it might not be the best fit. So the question is if I am accepted into this program, and not accepted anywhere else, what do I do? I feel inclined to turn town the offer and pursue another year of research experience with the super productive researcher but then again it seems silly to turn down an offer (if it is not for another offer). My thinking is that I could make myself a better more marketable researcher in the next year so that I can be a more competitive PhD candidate next year rather than eeking my way into a program that might not be the best fit. Especially since I plan to seek a competitive academic research position after I graduate, being an active researcher and publishing my research in graduate school is very important to me. Anyway just looking for some input...Thanks!

So Anita, Is this based on your experience and the reviews of others? You talked a lot about how other students felt about the advisor but I didn't see you mention your experience with this person. Did you meet them? How did you feel about them? Obviously it is cause for concern that so many others have had difficulties with this advisor, but how did you feel when you met them? More than once i have heard that someone is awful from other people (and while I may have been able to see where the others were coming from) did not share the negative sentiment once I met the person. With that said I would be very hesitant to take the position, especially if you have met them and you still feel the same reservations. I interviewed with one POI and felt awkward and belittled in our conversations (although they said they liked me and showed continued interest in me), it doesn't sound nearly as pervasive as what you are describing but I was kind of hoping I would not get an offer because I didn't think this would be an ideal person for me to work with. As some other posters said, your compatibility with your research advisor can make or break your research career. So while one POI may have overlapping research interests, tons of publications, etc. they may not be as helpful for your research career as a smaller name, lesser know university, etc. if you two have compatible personalities, working styles, etc. Lastly, I am not sure what stigma would be worse... rejecting your only offer or trying to switch to a different program once you have already started. I would think that once you are in you are in and it would be very hard to switch or reapply to another university. Good luck!

Daniela, If you are going to take your lack of acceptance letter negatively than you have got to take your lack of a rejection letter positively. Even if they did send out official acceptances to all their top candidates, the fact that you didn't get a rejection letter (as other non-accepted applicants did) sounds like they may be considering you as an alternate. In most programs (especially good ones) some of the accepted applicants decline the offer for an offer somewhere else (at another good school). They may be holding you application aside to accept if/when one of the accepted applicants turns down their offer. Good luck!!