meep95

I posted this in "The Bank" forum as well, but afterwards realized that the people in this forum have probably actually completed the background checks as opposed to the people in that forum just receiving offers. I hope its okay that I double posted! Anyway, here is the original: I ask this not because I have some criminal activity or lied on my application. I recently had a terrible experience with a job offer that required me to do an additional background check throughs company called Hire Right. This company was supposed to check my work history and verify that I worked where I said I did. I filled out their application form to make sure all the information on there was correct (they upload my resume to their data base). Soon after, they kept contacting me, insisting they needed proof via pay stubs or W-2 forms that I worked a volunteer (i.e. unpaid) position an unpaid internship (despite the fact that this was unpaid and in fact a practicum though my school), proof of employment for my university (which I never claimed to have worked at, and simply wrote that I attended this university for my undergrad). Also, they contacted my potential employer and said they could not verify a previous employer despite not asking me for any further verification. I sent several forms of proof (pay stubs and references) about this previous employer when my potential employer contacted me about it, but Hire Right still insisted I never worked there. I did not get the job because this awful system made it seem like my application was dishonest. Basically, I was offered an amazing assistantship but now because of this experience I am very worried that I may have to do a similar background check of my employers and will lose the offer. Most schools I have looked up say they only do a criminal background check. I have no issue providing reference or anything like that for my previous employers, but I am worried that my valid information will be misrepresented again. I do not want to contact the school about their background check process because that might raise a red flag for them that I was being dishonest or am trying to hide something (which I am not, but I would rather not give off that impression). Those of you who have gotten assistantships, what was the background process like for you?

I have a professor at my school who teaches a lot of LGBT studies classes, and she has her PhD in History. She just focused her research on that area in particular. Its different than English for sure, but something to look into maybe

I'll check his book out for sure! Thank you

I would consider looking at more schools that will allow you to do part time. I would worry that if you do have another episode that it may effect your studies in a way that you would need to redo the semester or would not make the grades to stay in the program. Make sure you are able to see mental health professionals regularly and can schedule time for yourself to relax. Once you are accepted to a program you want to go to, I would maybe tell your advisor once you know them better and ask them to keep it confidential. but that way they will be able to support you and be more lenient if you start to have prodromal effects, or maybe be able to notice the effects sooner before an episode. Definitely don't let this stop you from pursuing your dreams though I don't know if you are on medication, but I have worked with clients who find the right medication for them and are able to be just as successful as anyone else, so long as they take them properly. This is always a potential option as well.

My undergrad didn't have a great stats program. I have to take another intermediate stats course as a pre-requisite to my other classes for grad school, and i feel like I hardly remember how to do stats from when I took it a few years ago. I know how to do basic SPSS stuff like descriptives, frequencies, ANOVA's, etc. But the actual math not involving SPSS and how to read scientific sentences has me worried. I also have a great assistantship lined up, and will involve some research so I want to make sure I am prepared for that as well. Do you guys have any programs or videos or math youtube channels you would recommend to refresh myself over the summer?

I'm not asking for guarantee's, I am asking if anyone has had this happen in their experience. Of course internet strangers can't guarantee anything, I'm just trying to gauge the likelihood of this happening.

bump

I know I am applying for MA not PHD but similar program so I thought I would share here too! I just found out I was accepted to CWU with an assistantship that covers everything!! I'm incredibly excited. It is my second choice school, but I think I will end up going here because my first choice apparently only has the funding to offer an assistantship for one quarter, which was not advertised on the website (After that it is all on the applicant).

I just found out I got a full assistantship which I am very excited about! I received an email from the program director of my major. I am planning on accepting. However, the graduate school web page (not my program's page) says they do not actually announce award recipients until after April 15. is there any chance that they could revoke this award? I am just nervous of accepting to this school and then suddenly after april 15 finding out that I don't have the funding necessary, especially since it is out of state. does this ever happen?

okay thank you! I am in psychology. My advisor is pretty great so I don't think he would try to shaft us. It would probably be the same order as we have decided for the conference then, with my advisor being last

bump

I still haven't heard back from anywhere, but I am supposed to soon. i thought we could create a fun thread with cute happy pictures or funny memes or what not! please post below ? i thought i would start with this cute puppies doing the literal limbo, as somewhat of a tribute to our aforementioned limbo

this one is a bit funny, i think University Of Toronto Occupational And Environmental Health, PhD (F17) Rejected via E-mail on 1 Mar 2017 A 1 Mar 2017 report spam Half because I like the program, half because I'm trying to get out of the burning bus that is America. Send help (or Justin Trudeau)!

I have no idea about your chances, but yes you should definitely have accomplished some research (at least a poster presentation). I still think evolutionary psychology is relevant, particularly in studies about nature vs nurture. so it would probably be a lot of comparison about personality traits or survival mechanisms, I am guessing.

I have a project I am presenting at a conference soon, and for that conference I am first author, and I have two more partners as well. Since this is technically an independent project, my advisor said not to list him. I am curious though, since we are planning to try and publish this in the future, would my advisor then become first author? Or is that more on a case by case basis of what is decided within the research team. I haven't actually published before since I am an undergrad, so this is unfamiliar territory.

- you break down crying in your boyfriends car because you friend got into your number 1 choice but you were rejected - checking email gives you anxiety - you plan your life around worst case scenarios like working fast food the rest of your life (despite the fact that you've never worked fast food and have a "adult job" now) - procrastinate using grad cafe, which just causes more anxiety

That would make attending interviews chaos though, because all interviews would fall along the same few weeks instead of more spread out. Ive had 6 interviews since january, only one of which had to be Skype fortunately. This wouldn't be possible otherwise, and the school's wouldn't get a feel for applicants and visa versa.

Any updates? Thinking happy thoughts your way!

I accidentally wrote "suck as" instead of "such as" in my SOP. ugh

I haven't heard anything! Although all I see are early pre interview rejections on the results page for me, so I'm still holding out hope. Although I applied to a school's MA program, and interviewed on the 24th of January. As far as I can tell, no one has heard from this program yet. However, my friend applied for the same school's PhD program, interviewed Friday, and found out today that she got in. It is the same department evaluating interviews. Also, she found out via email, and they told us we would find out via snail mail

I may do that. Its extra confusing though, because they said they would start to notify people on February 24th, but that the notification would be by snail mail. So its possible it is still in the mail. But they notified their PhD students via email. I'm not sure why they use different methods

Congrats! I was also going to add that John Hopkins is somewhat well known or prestigious, but specifically for their medical doctorate program. Their other programs are not necessarily as good. It sounds like you made the right choice

So I applied to a school's MA program, and interviewed on the 24th of January. As far as I can tell, no one has heard from this program yet. However, my friend applied for the same school's PhD program, interviewed Friday, and found out today that she got in. It is the same department evaluating interviews. Why has no one heard from MA yet?? I just want to know if i got in anywhere!!! Does anyone if it typically takes longer for MA to be notified or something? The school is University of Northern Colorado btw

i would say about 500-600. My most expensive application fee was $100, and the least was $30. I applied to 6 schools. There were also about $80 transcript fee's, and GRE scores

Does the MA offer funding? If so, (and its accredited) then definitely take it. But having a MA in mental health counseling will allow you to use your degree, not like the person above said. The mental health field is one of the fastest growing because there more and more clients each year, and being a lisenced counselor lets you earn more an practice therapy. After your MA, if you can always apply to Phd programs and try to get funding that would be wayyyyyyy more affordable than a PsyD. PsyD's are so expensive. They are not valued as much as PhD's either. However, if you have no desire to teach or go into academia, having a PhD is much more expensive. Personally, i would go with MA, but its up to you