[Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!]

On 6/16/2018 at 12:23 AM, ResilientDreams said:

Hi everybody!!

I will also be applying to psychology graduate programs for Fall 2019. I'm actually still an undergrad and don't graduate until May 2019, so the amount of experience everyone in this thread has is a bit daunting, but I'm kind of excited to see how everything turns out. And you all sound like very impressive and accomplished people and I wish you all the best of luck!!

A bit about me:

Program of Interest: PhD Developmental Psychology/Master's in Experimental Psychology and then on to a PhD in Developmental Psychology

Schools of Interest: Definitely applying to: University of Virginia, University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, William & Mary for master's (my undergrad institution), Wake Forest for master's; Interested in exploring further: Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland--College Park, Boston College (My list is still in formation so if it seems wacky that's why. Suggestions welcome.)

Research Interests: early social cognition, theory of mind, pretend play and its impact on children's cognitive development, first language acquisition, interdisciplinary connections across domains of development (particularly language development/social development), impact of language use on child/infant visual perception

Educational Background: Psychology B.S. (with a linguistics minor) '19

Things I'm Not Worried About: --4.0 Psychology GPA, 3.88 overall GPA (I do have one more year of school left though)

--Have been heavily involved in two research labs related to my interest areas--one since freshman year and the other since sophomore year

--Am currently working on my honors thesis about pretend play & theory of mind (so directly related to my interests)

--Have not been published before, but was a coauthor with my professor on a paper that was rejected (I feel that I can't really help that it was rejected, but at least I have the experience conducting the data analysis and writing it up.)

--Am planning on submitting an abstract about my honors thesis to a conference sometime in the fall

--Have very close relationships with my professors and so should have positive recommendations

--I absolutely love what I study.

Things I'm Worried About: --GRE--my verbal scores are either right on the mark or a point or two higher than the median for most of the programs I'm interested in, and writing is right on the mark, but quant is 2-3 points lower...I honestly ~don't~ want to take it again because I already studied quite a lot with multiple different prep books. I simply am not that great at timed math. Never have been. For context, my SAT going into undergrad was pretty similar and I got a tutor to focus just on math and when I retook it my score was actually lower.

--Experience--I threw myself into research as much as I could and I took every opportunity I had, but very unfortunately a publication did not come of it. And since I'm going to be compared to people who already have a master's, perhaps that will be an issue.

Anyway, I'm a newbie so any advice is appreciated, including what to do if this application cycle doesn't work out. (I see some of you have worked as research assistants. What has that been like?)

 

 

I wouldn't worry about your GRE. I interviewed at some of the schools you listed and they are definitely more interested in your research fit and experience. 

If this cycle doesn't work out, it sounds like you have great experience for a full-time research position so I would keep an eye out for job postings in the winter/spring as a back-up. Also, reach out and make connections with potential PIs (if your current PI knows them, have them put in a good word) through email or even better, attend a conference and meet them! SRCD and CDS are next year, so that will be too late for this cycle, but definitely take advantage of it if you end up applying next fall!

[Advice on securing post-bacc paid RA opportunities?]

The Cognitive Development Society listserv (https://cogdevsoc.org/listserv/) often posts full-time paid positions. There are probably other similar ones for other areas of psych too. Most fall positions will already be full by now, but if you're looking for something later, they all tend to pop up during the winter/spring. 

Ask people (professors, grad students, lab staff, etc.) who are in your area of psych. These positions really depend on how much funding is available to the PI so it's good to have insider info about current staff leaving a position or if a grant is coming through to fund a new person. You can also look on lab websites and try to find out how long current lab managers/research staff have been there. I think most lab managers stay for about 2 years before heading off to grad school so you can get a sense if they might be leaving. Also, incoming junior faculty often get start-up money for a lab manager so it's great to make connections with post-docs or people on the job market! 

People love hiring someone they already know will do a good job, so the best way to get a full-time job is to volunteer in the lab you want to work in first. My lab always considers the current unpaid RAs before someone totally new. You need to go above and beyond what you're required to do (e.g. data entry, coding, running subjects) in order to prove yourself though. Anticipate what the grad students and post-docs need and make their lives easier because PIs will often consult them before hiring.
It can be financially difficult to volunteer without the guarantee of a job, but if you do some research into the lab first about potential funding, you'll have a better shot. I didn't know about my PI's funding situation before I started, but I mention to our RAs that we try to hire from within and when there will most likely be paid opportunities. I had been out of school for several years with no research experience and asked to volunteer twice a week, while I waitressed on the other days. After a few weeks, they offered a part-time lab manager gig and once a big grant came through, I asked to become full-time. The person who eventually took over my job was an undergrad RA in the lab for a year. He knew I was planning to go to school soon and made it pretty clear that he was interested in taking over.

Hope that helps!

[New York, NY]

On 5/16/2018 at 12:15 PM, maria24 said:

HI everyone,

I'm moving to NYC this week for a grad program at Columbia (living in the Morningside Heights neighborhood), and I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for places to shop around the area that are similar in price to Walmart? I'm basically starting from scratch for my apartment and need kitchen stuff, cleaning supplies, etc. right away. I also have a tight budget, hence the need for Walmart-like stores where I can pick up everything I need. Any input is appreciated. Thanks!!

 

There's a Target in Harlem, but it's on the east side! 

[University of Maryland (UMD) - Fall 2018]

Hi! Human development PhD here. 

[What's your age when you apply for graduate program for the first time and when you get into one?]

I applied last year when I was 27 and didn’t get in. I’m 28 now and will be starting grad school at 29!

[let's have a stressed-out area!]

I'm waitlisted at what I thought was my top choice. The more time goes on, the more I convince myself that I don't even want to go there. I'm not sure how much of that is based in reality or if it's just a defense mechanism. My second choice is quickly climbing up to first choice because the PI and students there have been so great and supportive during this process. At the same time, I'm so stressed out about the decision process that I'm finding it really difficult to respond to the PI's emails because I just don't know how to convey how grateful I am, but at the same time I can't make a decision yet. 

Also, I currently work in a lab and just cannot get anything done these days. 

[Accepted by 1 program, not in love]

10 hours ago, 1996kayden said:

(Reposting in the psych forum for additional opinions)

So I was accepted off the waitlist to the one Developmental Psych PhD program I got an interview at (CUNY Grad Center). The research interest isn't an exact match, but I could probably shape it enough to be okay with it and I would gain skills in tech that I need (eye tracking). 

My main issues are that the stipend is crap for living in NYC ($26k, though with savings I have I would be very able to supplement this) and that the classes are at the center in the middle of NYC and the lab is on Staten Island. The first thing anyone tells me when I mention this is the horrible commute (often 2 hours each way when the subway and ferry cooperate) and that there's no good place to live that's in the middle of those two locations. I also have a car and am terrified of figuring out how to have a car in the City. If the research was exactly my interest I would be more willing to look past these issues.

I feel like if I took a year or two off and did more relevant research to my interests and gained experience in eye tracking and neuroimaging I could get into a better program with closer research interests.  I don't really know CUNY's ranking/prestige, but I gather it's not fantastic (insight on this would be appreciated). One of my main hesitations is that I don't have a job currently that would allow me to get more experience in those technologies (though I do have a job and could continue to support myself after graduation this May) and I am hesitant to reject the offer without a research job in place. I did receive an email today about a possible post bac through the NIH, so that might be an option...

I also don't want to be the jerk who keeps the program and the waitlist waiting until the April 15 deadline. But there's no guarantee I'll know about a job by then...

I had an interview for a post bac fellowship that I LOVED the research for (and just found out I didn't get the position) and after seeing a program I love, I feel like I'd be settling for this PhD program. I don't want to get a year or two into it and realize I don't like the decision I made.

Advice?

 

It sounds like you'd be settling for this program, which isn't a good way to start graduate school. 5 years is a commitment and if you're not going to be happy there, you shouldn't go! I don't know too much about CUNY, but I visited last year and decided not to apply because I didn't have a great sense of it for what I wanted to do. Also, it seems like funding in general (not just the stipend) is limited, which could hold up your research. My main concern was that the job placement didn't seem very good for academic positions after graduation. Prestige and ranking count for something, but it seems like who you're working with matters most. Does your PI have a good record with their students?

On the other hand, yes, the commute to Staten Island is annoying, but depending on where you live it might not be quite 2 hours. Brooklyn might be a good option in between the two campuses, depending on which train you're off of. I also know people who drive into Staten Island for work, which is faster but tolls are a bit expensive. 

I took several years off to lab manage and this really helped gain the research experience I needed for grad school. A lot of PIs also look for students who have taken more time to immerse themselves in research. It's hard to do this fully as an undergrad because of classes and even if you do an independent project, you see so much more of the process working in a lab out of school. I started off volunteering (because I had no research experience) and working a side job to support myself. It's not ideal, but this eventually turned into a full-time position. Also, if you end up volunteering/working at a place you're interested in going to grad school at and you prove yourself to be a good researcher, your chances of being accepted there are much higher because it's less of a risk for the faculty if they know how you work. 

On another note, what kind of research are you interested in? I know an incoming professor who is looking for a lab manager...

 

[Person I interviewed with got in]

10 hours ago, worried2018 said:

ok.. it's been a week past when they said I'd hear back by... would it be appropriate to reach out..? .. or should i stay put and drown myself in ice cream? haha

I’m in a very similar situation and I’ve decided to stay put and drown myself in ice cream. I don’t think it’s wise to reach out unless you are under a time pressure to make a decision. A week past is not very long in the grand scheme of things and sometimes there is a lag between the PI and the department in terms of communicating decisions. I’m preparing myself for alternative options and if my program comes through, it’ll be a nice surprise!

[UW Developmental PhD]

I had a Skype interview, but was later contacted by the POI and told that they wouldn’t be moving forward with an in-person interview. I know people who have been accepted after interviewing so sadly, I think you can assume that you’re not being considered any longer. It was a top choice for me so I was pretty sad too!

[Major indecision about attending program - advice appreciated]

I would recommend emailing your second choice POI and discuss what kind of studies you actually want to do. Maybe she doesn’t do that now, but would be open to it? Also, are there any other faculty in the dept that you would want to collaborate with or may have that expertise? If so, and your POI leaves, you might have the option to follow her or stay in that program depending on how far along you are at that point. You could even bring it up the possibility of what would happen if she changed locations. It’s a very reasonable concern.

[When the school tells you to basically accept another school's offer?]

1 hour ago, LolJustAdmitMe said:

Awwww :/ try not to get discouraged. People have described the game of admissions to practically be a crap shoot, meaning you could apply with the same credentials and get in easily next yr and wonder why the previous year was SUCH a hassle. Also, I’ve noticed this with myself, all the schools I thought would be easy to get into, I spent MUCH less on the application and ended up getting rejected, as well. I even asked one of the “easier” programs to get into why I was rejected and they told me it was JUST my personal statement. Looking back I realized I assumed they would just let me bc of my qualifications and literally forgot to put enough effort into the full application. Of course this may not be your own issue but next time around (if you have to reapply, which happens) broaden your scope of schools and areas you’re willing to study in. It can help with the admissions process (it’s helped for me at least getting onto waiting lists and not flat out rejected).

I’ve said too much. Lol 

This is all true and don't lose hope! Last year, I applied to 8 PhD programs and didn't hear a word from anyone. Half of them didn't even answer my inquiry emails before applications were due. I applied to 10 schools this year and had in-person or Skype interviews with 7 schools (1 I also applied to last year and heard nothing). You never know what's going on behind the scenes (e.g., you may be competing with someone the POI already works with/has connections to, lack of funding, etc.). 

[Bring notes to the interview?]

I've been bringing a notebook to all of my interviews. I have notes on questions to ask and and outline of things I want to mention. However, I've found that I mainly check this on breaks and I haven't needed it too much. I think it could look bad if you're constantly referencing notes, but I've had my notebook out at most meetings so I can write down ideas or details that the faculty mention. I quickly glance at my notes on talking points sometimes, but I make sure not to be obvious about reading from them directly. My current advisor said this would be okay, and I've received several offers so far so it can't have hurt me too much!

[Fall 2018 Psych PhD Interviews (not clinical)]

37 minutes ago, CB14 said:

Has anyone heard from NYU or the Graduate Center? 

Which programs?

[What did your mentors do for you in the application process?]

My mentors have been incredibly helpful in this process! They wrote me great recommendation letters, gave me feedback on my application materials, suggested faculty to apply to and gave me insider knowledge on what those people might be looking for in applicants, and generally have been cheering me on the whole way. My main advisor encouraged and funded me to attend a conference before the application season so that I could network with potential PIs. They also have been helping me prep for interviews. It's really made me realize how important it is to have a good mentor with your best interests at heart!

[Advise for my upcoming interview]

One thing to try to keep in mind is that PIs are not trying to quiz you on their research. Obviously, you should be familiar with the kinds of questions they're interested in and perhaps theories they reference, but mainly so you can articulate how you might extend their work. I get ideas for this by looking for the open questions in the discussion section of their articles and I try to incorporate things I'm more familiar with into how I might address those questions. It's also helpful to look at the kinds of methods they use and try to find out what kind of resources they have so that you can propose something that it's actually feasible in their lab. If something about their work comes up in the interview that you aren't familiar with, you can always ask, show interest, and if possible, think critically about it! I've heard that in some rare cases, faculty can purposely try to throw you off by asking your opinion on some random theory. If you're familiar, that's great, but if not, they're also just seeing how you respond to the challenge. 

In my experience so far, most faculty just ask what kinds of questions I want to investigate with them. Sometimes they ask what specific IVs and DVs I think would be most interesting to look at but they don't expect you to have a full-fledged study perfectly planned out. One thing I keep hearing from my current advisors is that they really want someone who is great at articulating the research they've already been involved on. They understand that this is something that comes with training and they know you haven't been trained on their research...yet!

[POI not mentioned in interview email?]

3 minutes ago, FeministPsychologist said:

Thank you, that definitely helps! The email I got didn't even mention my POI though. Do you still think it's okay to reach out to my POI? I don't want to appear presumptuous because on the program's website it says that the faculty collectively decides who is invited to interview day. 

Thanks, and congrats on all of your interviews as well!!

My emails didn't mention my POI either. I think it was just a form email that went out to all interviewees in the department (not just one POI). From speaking with faculty, I get the sense that it is often a collective agreement, but ultimately your POI has the final say and I think it would certainly be appropriate to reach out and thank them directly. They probably had a meeting to discuss potential candidates and your POI likely vouched for you. I think sometimes the department will say that it's a collective agreement, in some cases to deflect any awkwardness if they reject someone and the POI has a close connection to that candidate. If you want to DM me, I can send you the email that I sent to a POI. It's really short and to the point, but she ended up giving me some more details and advice for the interview that I didn't receive from the department email. 

[POI not mentioned in interview email?]

You're stressing out for no reason! Four of my interview invites came from the department rather than the POI. I responded promptly to the department, but in most cases (but not all) I ended up also reaching out to the POI directly to thank them for the opportunity and let them know I would be attending or very interested in visiting on alternative dates. I don't think that reaching out to the POI directly is required, but in my experience, it seems to have been very appreciated and helps to establish a more personal relationship with them. Congrats on the interview and best of luck!

[Fall 2018 Psych PhD Interviews (not clinical)]

1 hour ago, psychlifer said:

Does anyone know if University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Visit Day is actually just an Interview Day? 

It's probably safe to assume that it's an interview if they haven't formally accepted you. Two of my interviews were referred to as a "Visit Day" and a "Recruitment Day," but neither actually accepted me yet so I plan to prepare for an interview.

[Done with decisions]

8 hours ago, Stauce said:

Here is a link of an editable Excel document we can use

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hJFI7od93wXNHfLiUl0pv4lPUsueRmVg_6N85xgFQd8/edit?usp=sharing

Can you change the settings so everyone with a link can edit?

[POI Skype and interview contact question - please help!]

23 hours ago, Looking4help said:

After a Skype interview with a professor, she said she would get back to me by the end of the week (I am assuming about a formal in person interview) but she did not get back to me then or the week after. Is it okay if I email her and ask for an update. I know it is a no but I just wish she would formally say she is not inviting me. 

If she specifically said that she would get back to you by the end of the week, I think it would be fine to follow-up. It's been a reasonable amount of time and I wouldn't say it's definitely a no if you only Skyped a couple weeks ago. 

[Fall 2018 Psych PhD Interviews (not clinical)]

3 hours ago, Sushicat1221 said:

I was wondering how long everyone waited until they contacted either the admissions page or their POI regarding if they got rejected or not? I've seen one person get an interview for this school which is in 2 weeks - should I assume I didn't get in? I thought that I would at least get an interview seeing as I was able to meet the POI previously and that they know my current supervisors, or that she would at least send an email saying she couldn't take me. I don't want to seem impatient and bother them, but I would really like to know if I got rejected.  

I would err on the side of not asking about the status of your application. The PI who I currently work with advised against this and said it would be more appropriate for her to reach out regarding my status. She also told me which POIs I should assume already sent invites. If you work closely with anyone who might have inside  info, I would suggest asking for their advice first! 

[Fall 2018 Social Psych PhD/Master applicants]

12 minutes ago, Stauce said:

Yeah, I don't know about you guys but I have had informal interviews with three but not a single formal invitation yet. I am surprised. Do things usually develop this late or am I just unlikely to receive an invitation?

I’m inclined to say that there is still hope! I applied to 10 schools, 4 of which I don’t think sent invites yet. My current advisor said my POI informed her that this schools was sending out next week.

[PhD Fall 2018 Applicants]

1 hour ago, Stauce said:

Anyone know if every formal invitation is preceded by an informal conversation/interview? Or is that just a practice that some faculty engage in?

I think it definitely varies by faculty. I received 3 formal invites so far, one from a POI who I have never been in contact with (and I missed the application deadline!). I've had 2 additional post-application Skype conversations, though nothing formal from those yet. It seems like some faculty tend to do this when they have more potential candidates than interview invites available and need to narrow it down. My current PI doesn't care to do pre-interview conversations unless the applicant requests it, though appreciates a "heads up I'm applying" email before applications.

["DM me your POI" thread]

12 minutes ago, hg92 said:

I would be so grateful if you can DM POI for NYU social psychology as well!

or if anybody has heard from Dr. Jay Van Bavel's team at NYU just let me know in the Cognition and Perception area. 

 

 

Isn’t he social?

[Fall 2018 Psych PhD Interviews (not clinical)]

9 hours ago, Cognition001 said:

I have received a few interviews and one "unofficial" acceptance to U of Minnesota, the PI I want to work with contacted me and said I was accepted without an interview. Is this normal I thought an interview was always required? I did skype with him before I submitted my application so I'm not sure if he counted that as an unofficial interview. Either way I am extremely delighted since I am really attracted to his lab. 

 

Also - has anyone heard back from NYU - I know their interview weekend tends to be early February so I figure the interview invites were sent out by now can anyone confirm this? 

NYU C&P and Social Programs met before the holidays. It’s possible that some interviews have yet to go out officially but you most likely would have heard at least about a Skype interview at this point. C&P does 2 interview weekends on 2/23 and I think 2/16.