8BitJourney

*flips table* Are you serious?!! Bout dang time!! Medical schools have has that for years and my med friends do not understand why psychology still has individual apps.

Reading some of the winning essays/CVs and my imposter syndrome is back in full force especially since I'd be applying with a counseling psych research background and will probably only have papers in prep (3 possibly, 1 first author) by the submission deadline. Any past winners from counseling or clinical psych fields? The one's on Alex Lang's site, while incredibly useful as a template, are leaning towards statistics and I'm my lab leans more towards outreach and intervention research.

Wait are you applying to grad school in the fall/upcoming cycle? Depending on what sub-field of psychology that you're applying for, a summer won't be enough. It also depends on where you're located as some programs are region specific. So I have a few questions: 1) What region are you in? Northeast, South etc 2) What field of psychology are you aiming for? What are you interested in? 3) Why not apply for lab manager/paid RA positions? 4) Are unfunded/volunteer positions an option?

Congrats!! I know its tough but see it as doing good for both yourself and your POI as you could be releasing the offer to someone who has this school as their top choice (someone on this forum did this for me actually!)

I think the LCSW/LMSW would be a great bet. A couple work at the Medical Center I am currently at in the child and adolescent psychology/psychiatry division and not only are they fantastic, they're fully involved in both research and clinical aspects, and supervised mainly by clinical psychologists actually. I also feel like it could be a great springboard if you ever decide to reapply for grad school so a SW degree is marketable from what I've seen.

If you have the pre-reqs and some research, then working as a paid RA or lab manager would outweigh a masters and make you more competitive (particularly if you can push for a first author publication). I really understand wanting to be done as soon as possible as I also applied straight out of undergrad (posters, nih grants, and 3 years of research) but I didn't get in and was a much stronger applicant my second go around working as a coordinator (saved some money too). The masters sounds ridiculously expensive and I'm assuming the 80k from UHart is just tuition before interest? If so you'll probably be hitting 100-120k with interest, fees, travel, conference spending etc.

UConn is very competitive (2-4% acceptance rate I think) and has great faculty so you'll definitely be in a good position in a few years (just survive the snowpocalyses XD). Congrats again!

Congrats!!! Hard work does one day pay off. Where will you be going if you don't mind me asking?

For everywhere I interviewed at (all fully funded competitive programs) had a case by case basis motto for masters but aside from one program most preferred that time off from undergrad was spent as a full time RA or coordinator. If it's expensive and you can't guarantee a pub/presentation and very strong LOR then a masters doesn't seem worth it even if it allows you to shave a semester or 2 off your PhD. Hth

Ditto! I'm onboarding to my lab early to get a jumpstart for the semester but till then just ironing out my 6-year plan! Lol my neuroticism is starting to frighten even me. I'm sure you'll love your visit, especially since the weather is improving now. Maybe try union square, forbidden planet, the new chocolate museum, and St Marks street for interesting window shopping. Raine's lawroom is decent for boogie drinks or barcade if you want a miv between a dive bar and old timey arcade!

NYU counseling I've heard that CA has a strong program so you'll get great training!

That isn't my field so I may be mistaken but i believe most people go for a clinical/counseling psychology program that either has a neuropsych track or neuropsych faculty and then specialize through externship, internship, and postdoc. After they become Board certified neuropsychologists. For example I know both uMass Boston and Drexel have something akin to neuropsych tracks in the clinical psych department but you wouldn't have that title upon graduating; you'd just be a clinical psychologist till you specialized.

Thanks! Same to you too! It was a 50/50 split but the counseling program is closer to home which I really need right now, though it's hard getting out of the 'clinical is king' mentality. Where will you be heading if you don't mind me asking?

Officially jumping ship from clinical to counseling but will be working alongside you guys in spirit. Best of luck to those still waiting! Also feel free to pm if anyone finds themselves in the same boat. I know the switch can be difficult.

Congrats!!

I was in the same boat as you (waitlisted everywhere; it bites I know!). I was told at 2 out of the 4 places I was waitlisted at but for those I was first alternate so I'm sure that they really wanted to keep me available in case the person ahead of me rejected the offer. The other place I was waitlisted at simply said I was waitlisted and they weren't sure how likely an offer was. I would say wait a while and then politely inquire if the waitlist is still active and while re-stating you interest ask what the possibility is of joining the lab at that point.

I listed both POs I was interested in but only if I had the relevant background research and could tie that to current/future projects. I wouldn't call it a personal statement btw as I've had POIs equate that with college essays (apparently the SOP is different and more academic). Anyway while I tried to be creative in the execution of my SOP I think it should always come back to your research interests. You can have those qualities show up through examples (i.e I saw a gap in how recruitment was low for single parent mothers in our depression study so I got a grant to look at the effect of a campus volunteer childcare on participant retention. Being from that demographic I understood the financial burden and methodological strain such factors can have). That could encapsulate all three of those traits without ever mentioning any by name. So think of the SOP in layers and tell 1 but show both. Magoosh was one of the better resources for me so I van help with that unfortunate :/ but best of luck!

I was first alternative on the waitlist for 2 programs and got in off 1 and may be accepted off the other so it can happen. Though on gradcafe I saw someone who said they were #12 and got in I think.

Drink and make some (harmless) mistakes? But seriously congrats and its a common occurrence for something like this to happen. You could always email school #1 saying that you have an offer but wanted to re-state your interest and just wondering how far along the process is. When you have an answer (or even before) you could email #2 and sincerely thank them but say that you want to make sure you weigh all your options as both programs are fantastic but will get back to them as soon as possible. Also, unless you're waiting on more information to decide between #2 and #3 I would suggest you release one of your offers to others on the waitlst.

Well a bit of perspective. The counseling program I applied to regularly sends their students to highly competitive clinical internships where they learn alongside clinical students (I don't remember any students I spoke with doing any less than 2 hospital/VA internships). So while it wouldn't 'rank' with clinical programs its very rigorous. If we're talking about clinical programs Ivy league (Harvard or Yale) vs Antioch then yeah 'ranking' matters but its more a measure of quality and quantity of research productivity (but honestly Ivy league comes with a whole 'nother set of complications). If you're trying to decide between 2 R1 juggernauts like UNC Chapel Hill and UCLA for clinical psych relying on rankings are pretty meaningless. Funded vs Unfunded is an entirely different issue. I refused to apply to unfunded and needed 2 cycles to get an acceptance but I'm so happy I did so. But I have hang ups about money and debt. However, not only are my options better but I was able to network A LOT over the past year which I can see helping with the internship and postdoc process. Working for another year in a lab and networking or going the master's route to mask your uGPA would be my advice.

Lol don't give me a heart attack! I was like 'wait the deadline moved up by months?!?' Obviously I'm kinda slow today though. But good luck! I'll be throwing my hat into the ring next year. BTW what's GEM?

Congrats! Accept verbally if you're sure but only turn down the other offer when you get something in writing. It's not often but funky things can happen with funding and admissions committee. Email your poi with a short but very greatful email saying that you loved the program but for you future pursuits another program aligned better.

I was waitlisted at 3 schools, was organizing my plan B and finally got my first offer from one (which I've grown to adore, especially after meeting more of the lab). Its extremely hard and deflating and I feel your pain but people do get off the waitlist even in the final stretch.

Yo I just saw that! I was like seriously dude? You need to compensate that much by trolling a results page?

Another shout-out to UMass Boston acceptances, if you could pm me that would be great. I'm on the waitlist (female POI) and want to know if I should hold out hope.