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I used Arial 11pt font for one of my applications because the website stated explicitly that it needed to be no more than 2 pages in length, with no less than a 1" top margin. I intend to use Times New Roman 12pt font for the rest of the applications provided they do not have a page limit! I don't think Arial 11pt font is too small, it's pretty comparable to times new roman 12

My SOP is similar in that in order to discuss my motivations for pursuing my desired degree, I need to give a bit of personal background. So I've been having the same question as you OP and would like to hear people's answers!

Hi all, I was hoping to hear some thoughts on my GPA. I was a double major in biology and psychology. Because of the bio major my GPA is lower than I would have liked (sitting right above a 3.5). I did well in organic chemistry but generally not so well in biology and awful in physics (a C). My in-major GPA for psychology is a 3.78 but none of the applications I have begun to fill out request this information. I took the GRE last month and got 162 V (90%), 164 Q (87%), 6.0 AW (99%). Do you think my GRE score will make up for what is lacking in my GPA? I am not applying for clinical programs, by the way (mostly social and ed psych PhD programs) Also, I don't have very much research experience. I worked for 3 years in a biology lab in undergrad before realizing I wanted to go to grad school for psych. So I worked 1 semester in a cognitive psychology lab, graduated this past june, and now am working in a developmental psych lab. I have no presentations, no posters, no publications. Will I be terribly disadvantaged throughout the application process because of my lack of relevant research experience/pubs?

Along that line, do you think it would look bad if I list a professor (I need to pick my top three) without having contacted them?

I had this exact question a few months ago and could not find anything online that was helpful LOL Basically, it was a very informal conversation where I was asked to share a little more about myself/my interests/ how I found my path to psychology and why I want to pursue a graduate degree in the field. Then we talked about the PI's research projects, and I was able to ask him whatever questions I wanted to (policies about authorship, funding, mentorship, what kinds of projects I would be helping him on, etc.). I think the point of the call would just be to find out how you would fit in their lab if you were to join it (including current projects, future projects, opportunities for growth) and what kind of mentor they are. It was very casual and laid back. I want to stress that it will more likely than not take on a very conversational tone because I did not know what to expect at all and so I was freaking out a little bit. So don't get too nervous - but still read some of their work so you can ask intelligent questions if you have any just from the standpoint of showing curiosity and interest in learning. I did not dress up but that is because I was calling from work and at my job we dress very casually. Although if I had the chance to go back and do it again I still wouldn't dress up lol, I was just wearing a nice shirt. To further the point of not needing to be wearing a suit-and-tie, I once had a skype interview for a lab manager position and the PI was wearing a pajama tank top so.... you do not need to be all decked out in your best professional clothing.

So i've come across this diversity statement prompt at some of the schools I am applying to and am struggling with what to write about. I am a queer woman of color so I could write about the intersection of those identities but psychology is a pretty liberal field and it feels weird to tokenize myself, and my research interests are not really connected to either my queerness or my womanhood (though I do want to work with people of color). A thought I had was to write about being a survivor of child abuse. When I was a kid it was largely emotional and physical and now it is financial/emotional abuse/cyber-stalking. I wouldn't touch upon the ongoing nature of the abuse in the essay but I'm wondering if this is too taboo to talk about? It is a very real part of my life that has shaped who I am and I'm not ashamed of it but I don't know what kinds of rules there are about this. I know that generally people are cautioned against bringing up mental health issues in their diversity statements because it can make the individual seem like they are unfit for the rigor of a graduate program but I've never seen any advice anywhere about this topic in particular. I would appreciate if people could not quote this post since it's such a personal subject for me Thanks everyone for your help