Steph93

Could you PM me?! @Neposydko Thanks!

@_kita Thanks! I'm still debating whether or not I should retake it, just because of my low verbal score. I don't know exactly where to look up the PhD student profiles. Most often, I can see the grad students for a program, but it doesn't normally show their background or CV. Also, a lot of the PhD programs offer a master's within the PhD that you complete by the end of your second year, so it seems almost unnecessary for me to go through the hassle of adding an extra 2 years and more loans to do a master's that I could complete within the PhD. I think my biggest concern is being taken out of the short stack of considerations or not even having my application looked at because of one score.

Hi @daisy_may, I know it's been a while since you posted this, but was wondering what your credentials were both times you applied?

@Professor2211 @Jay's Brain Hi! I finally took the GRE yesterday, and ended up with a 151V/158Q. I unfortunately was pressed for time in the verbal section, which I believe makes up for part of my score. I also found that as time passed with my studying and practicing, my scores started to decrease (I think this was the result of burnout and mental exhaustion). I know you both said earlier not to worry until I took it, or not to worry at all, but I am wondering if now that my scores are lower than anticipated, do I need to worry? Should I retake it, or should I dedicate the next 3 months on making the rest of my application the best it can be?

@_kita I want to apply for a PhD. In the US, you can go straight into a PhD with a Bachelor's, though in Canada you need to complete the Master's first, so I'd be applying for a few (2-3) schools in Canada for a Master's that would continue into a PhD, and the remaining 13/14 schools would be a PhD in the US. All other aspects of my application are great! GPA 3.8, 5 poster presentations, an Independent Honor's thesis (and a LOR from my supervisor), involvement in 3 different labs all related to neuropsychology, and an offer to move to San Diego after graduation on a specialized visa (I'm Canadian) to work (paid) as a Lab Manager and Research Coordinator (2 different labs), both of which I will be receiving LORs from my Supervisors. Overall the 3 LORs I have are from 2 clinical neuropsychologists and 1 Psychology Professor. As I was focused on the GRE, I haven't started with my SOP's or emailing POIs, but I am planning on starting this next week and having my SOP reviewed multiple times by my supervisors. In addition, I will only be applying to schools I have found faculty who are a good match for me (I've already cut a few schools off my running list because I wasn't able to find professors I'd want to work with). Most schools do have averages, and mine is just near the lower-end of that average. For example, some schools post averages from previous years of a combined V+Q of 314 or 312, and I am at 309, or a combined average of 67th percentile. Note that these are averages, which mean some students who had lower obviously were accepted. I had been studying for the GRE since March, and this was my second time taking it. My scores, within about 3 months of studying, went up to 160V and 158Q, but then started to drop off down to the 151/158 area. I believe it's mental exhaustion and burnout, but I don't necessarily have the time to take some time away from the GRE and then get back into it to rewrite if applications are due around Dec 1. Most schools I've been looking into also say that the GRE is only one part of the package and that it should not make or break you, but as you said, I don't want it to be the reason I'm cut off a short stack ultimately. Part of me is hesitant to invest the $1500-2000 to apply to all these schools this year and risk not being accepted because of the GRE, but the other part of me says just take the risk (it is, after all, a risk because it could be hit or miss). Any advice is welcome!!

I just took the GRE yesterday and got 151V and 158Q... Want to apply for Clinical Psychology and not sure if I should retake it or not. I'm interested to see some people's responses here!

Hi @DrGirl, awesome, thank you! Was that your overall GPA or major GPA? And if you don't mind me asking, how many schools out of the 10 did you receive offers from? Our credentials seem pretty similar so I'm just trying to get a better idea of how your experience was with similar credentials to me! Thanks!

If you wouldn't mind me asking @DrGirl, what were your credentials like? A lot of mentors and other students I work with have consistently told me apply to between 10-20 schools if I want to cast a wide net and not take the chances of getting rejected everywhere and having to take another year off to reapply. Thanks!

@Jay's Brain Thank you! This makes me feel a lot better. I think I definitely do have a strong background, especially given that I was flexible enough to relocate and gain additional experience in San Diego in a huge neuropsychology research hub. Not only has it given me more experience, but it's assured me even more that this is the field I want to be in. I actually did my B.Sc. at York University! I will be applying to University of Victoria. How exactly do York and UVic differ in terms of their teaching perspectives? I am not sure I want to do another 7 years at York, and am leaning towards schools in the US so I can do the combined Master's and PhD (some US schools would allow me to do this in 5 years or so) whereas pursuing a PhD in Canada requires the Master's first which would be minimum 7 years. Thank you again!

Thanks @Professor2211. I guess I'm just worried that if my GRE scores stay around 156V/160Q that this won't be high enough scores for clinical psychology. Quite a decent amount of schools I am hoping to apply to have admissions outcomes that are up around 161V/160Q. I don't want this to be the only factor to hold me back from being a competitive applicant, and I know they say that graduate schools review your application as a whole and the GRE is only one factor, but it still seems worrisome to me. Am I worrying too much? Will it really hold me back?

Hi all, So after taking two years off after completing my B.Sc. in Canada, I'm preparing to apply for graduate schools for a clinical psychology doctoral program specializing in neuropsychology. I know these sorts of programs are extremely competitive, so I will likely be applying to 18-20 schools, but thought I would post some of my application credentials and get any advice from anyone willing to give it! Education: B.Sc. with Honor's in Psychology, Minor in Biology. Completed an Honor's Thesis in my final year in cognitive neuroscience. GPA: Overall: 3.3 (first 2 years of B.Sc. were as a Biomedical Science major, which I did not enjoy, and my GPA reflects this). Major GPA: 3.8 Last 2 years/60 credits: 3.8 GRE Scores: Psychology Subject GRE: 750 (91st percentile) General GRE (taking this in the next few weeks, likely will be around 156V/160Q/5.0AW) LOR: 2 clinical neuropsychologists (Honor's thesis supervisor and current work supervisor; both on admissions committees for CN programs at 2 different schools), 1 supervisor who is also a clinical psychologist (supervisor from Developmental Psychology lab mentioned below) Experience: 4 poster presentations Honor's thesis (supervised by a clinical neuropsychologist, see LOR above) and Independent Research Project (supervised by Neuroscientist) Volunteered at 2 hospitals, 3 different research labs in my last 2 years of undergraduate studies Moved from Toronto, Canada to San Diego, California after graduating with my B.Sc. to work as a Lab Manager in a Developmental Psychology lab and then as a Research Coordinator in a Neuropsychology lab (multi-site project; still currently here - see LOR above). I guess I am worried that my GRE scores will make my applications less competitive. I feel as though my applications are well-rounded elsewhere and my time off and additional experience has helped me. I do not have any location preferences and will be applying all throughout North America. Any and all advice or insight is welcome! Also, please don't hesitate to mention any schools that you guys know of which are very reputable for CN! Some on my radar include: SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program, Drexel, Boston University, Northwestern University (Feinberg), University of Florida, University of Houston, University of Wisconsin... Thank you!!

Hi everyone! I'm fairly new to the Grad Cafe, and am looking into a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (to start in Fall 2018), specializing in the field of neuropsychology. I am Canadian, but will be applying to schools all throughout North America. I don't know much about schools with this program in the United States, and was hoping some of you could shed light on some good schools with a great clinical neuropsych program. What are some of the schools you applied to for a clinical neuropsych program in North America and why?

Hi everyone! I'm fairly new to the Grad Cafe, and am looking into a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (to start in Fall 2018), specializing in the field of neuropsychology. I am Canadian, but will be applying to schools all throughout North America. I don't know much about schools with this program in the United States, and was hoping some of you could shed light on some good schools with a great clinical neuropsych program. What are some of the schools you applied to for a clinical neuropsych program in North America and why?