OpenMindKim

For Cognitive Psychology programs: This is what helped me gain acceptance despite a relatively empty application. Others may have had differing experiences - read what is most relevant to your application profile. What worked for me was demonstrating enthusiasm and a definite plan in line with the research that I would be potentially conducting at a school (In my statement of purpose and interviews). What was also vital was the stellar recommendation the professor of my current lab gave me when my PoI inquired further into me. I cannot stress how important your letters of recommendation will be, as they will be what sets you apart from other applicants if the rest of your application does not do so already. So: 1. Show enthusiasm and fit for the type of research done by the professor/department you look to get into. This requires you to read into the literature they publish, and understand how to demonstrate that your experience fits, or has otherwise helped you develop a basis for interest in that field. Demonstrate in your statement of purpose by showing your fit instead of telling it, and demonstrating your strong desire to be a part of the program and school. 2. Develop strong relationships with your professors, especially one with the professor of your lab if you are in one. Do NOT let this be the intimidating and difficult part of your application. Personally I am an incredibly anti-social and awkward person. My friends could describe me as a hermit. Compensate for whatever you lack in by gaining a passion/drive/determination in what you potentially don't lack in. I lack in good social skills, and wouldn't know where to start in talking to a professor; what I did instead was focus on the areas of research or topics in class that I found myself interested in. I found my awkwardness and anxiety tended to disappear when I focused on my own interests instead of worrying about what to say next. Do what works for you, but either demonstrate your enthusiasm, talent, or willingness to participate to your professors. For example, if you have a course with a professor you are seeking a recommendation from, raise your hand, participate, ask about things you are genuinely interested in. I should also note that if you are a particularly nervous person (and awful at public speaking and interviewing like I am), you should practice what you want to say in an interview or to a professor. This sounds disingenuous, and robotic, but what I do not mean is to memorize a script. A conversation will never flow like a script. I recommend preparing for the types of questions and possible directions your conversation will go in. Create large, blanket questions that a professor could ask (What are your research interests?), and then use your potential answers to these questions as a basis to answer more specific questions (What do you hope to achieve in my lab? Why are you interested in working in my lab/department/program?). For me, being nervous causes me to blank out on my initial discussion points. Memorizing these basic starting points for answers helped me to demonstrate that I was well-versed in my prior areas of research and my career aspirations. Sorry that was so long, I just wanted to try and share with people who may be in a position like me what worked for me! My qualifications were very much lacking. I do not have a thesis done, any papers published, and only one experience with only one year including this semester. Here's how my application looked: GPA: 3.24 GRE: 165 (95%), 155 (59%), 5 (93%) 1 year of relevant experience in a lab (no papers published). Relevant course experience. What set my application apart was my fit for the programs and the recommendations I managed to secure. Please, if you have further questions, ask me! I am by no means an expert, but I will try and help people with what limited experience I have.

One advice I want to give to all of you, especially if you are applying for a PhD program in Cognitive Psychology (as this is where my personal experience is most relevant): Just apply anyway, and do your best despite what you believe holds you back on your application. A few months ago, I asked for advice on the GradForums and showed people my GPA and explained my relevant experience. Everyone advised that I not apply during this admission cycle to PhD programs, and to instead look into Master's programs. Here's how my application looked: GPA: 3.24 GRE: 165 (95%), 155 (59%), 5 (93%) 1 year of relevant experience in a lab (no papers published). Relevant course experience. Forget all that junk. I took this advice to heart, and asked for input on how to start this process from the professor in the lab that I had just joined that year (my only relevant experience outside of class to add to my application). He balked at the idea, and explained that a Master's would be incredibly financially draining, and offer little support to me down the line. He inspired me to aim higher, and told me to forget about the negative portions of my applications, and gave me an emboldening evaluation of how I was a good fit for Cognitive Psychology research. He inspired me to apply despite my lack of qualifications. Of the six schools that I have applied to, I have received an interview at 3 (Binghamton, Rutger's, BYU), been accepted at 1 already (Binghamton), been rejected from another (Notre Dame), and am currently waiting on replies from 2 more schools (Stony Brook, CUNY). From my experience in visiting admissions forums, asking questions on this forum, and viewing applicant data at PhD programs, I believed my chances of even receiving an interview was lower than 1%. I ended up receiving interviews from half of the schools I applied for. I was completely expecting to receive rejections from all of my schools, and was already making plans to work as a Research Assistant. The lesson here? Apply anyway. Go through that process with vigor, and secure those relationships with your professors. Talk to them, be engaged in what you want to do, and show your enthusiasm for why you want to do it. Do everything you can to make your application a strong one, despite not having much to show for it. Do not lie, but do show how relevant what experiences you had are, and how much of its application that you understand. Luck definitely plays a huge role in your admissions process, from the spots that will be open relevant to you in a school's department, to whether or not you receive an interview or acceptance, but don't let that discourage you from trying your best. Honestly, I believe what worked best for me was demonstrating my fit and desire to want to be a part of these programs. I demonstrated this by having a solid plan in place on the type of research I wished to do, and showing my desire to research and further understand a process related to the lab I had been working in. I truly did not believe I was qualified, I truly still believe that other applicants would have better experience and qualifications than I do for all of these programs. But it doesn't matter. What matters in the end is that you receive an interview or an acceptance letter - so demonstrate that you ARE that qualified and well fitting candidate. I don't have a single paper published, or my name on any of the research in my lab - I've only been on for an year, including this semester. I don't believe I am remarkably talented, or even remotely experienced in the field of research I was in. But I still persevered and found an enthusiasm to draw on in the line of research I was in. Hell, the road to my application alone was incredibly uncertain. Finding my 3rd recommender was a difficult process, and the professor who eventually wrote it was at first hesitant to write me one as he believed I was aiming too high considering my qualifications, and didn't know enough about me to write me a recommendation. But I persevered, I explained my intentions and desires in the field, abided by his instructions, developed a deeper relationship with him through correspondence afterwards, and was able to convince him to write my letter of recommendation. These letters of recommendation are perhaps the most crucial component of your application if you are not the most qualified student. You need to develop these relationships and secure these recommenders so that the positive portions of your application, and your fit, talents and determination as a student shine through. If that was too long to read: 1. Apply anyway. 2. Develop a strong relationship with your recommenders, or at least show them why you are a good student. 3. Do not get hung up on the negative parts of your application.

I've been thinking about applying to Master's programs, but I've heard horror stories about how the debt often makes it a final stop for some people. How should I prepare myself going down this route? Ideally I'd like to apply to programs that can provide me substantial financial assistance.

Reading everyone's GPA's and research experience is a bit disconcerting, but here it goes. My GPA: 3.24, Major GPA (including courses such as Organic Chemistry): 3.16 GRE: Taking them tomorrow, expect above 160 for Q and V, and above a 4 on the writing section. My research background other than extensive courses in Psychology is one semester currently of cognitive research, with another lined up for the spring semester (2017). I'm expecting two strong letters of recommendation, and one average one. I explicitly understand that I am the applicant at the bottom of the barrel (if I'm in the barrel at all) and that my chances are slim if not non-existent. I'm looking to apply mostly to SUNYs (I currently attend one) and CUNY PhD programs in Clinical Psychology and possibly Behavioral Neuroscience. Schools include: CUNY Baruch, SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Stony Brook, but I'm looking to broaden my reach. What are my chances at this point? I understand I am basically making a hail mary pass at this point. My transcript does reflect an upward trend, however. Should I be looking into Master's programs instead? Or is there a slim chance I'll make it in somewhere?