brainsRus
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Posts posted by brainsRus
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Seems like you have a great deal of experience! Do try to keep in mind that this year's cycle is tight on funding so some schools and programs may not being accepting any students. Please make sure to double check with the program websites or potential PI's for that! Sometimes if the department isn't funding a student, the PI may be able to fund you based on their recent and incoming grants....so that may be worth checking as well. It also can depend on your research interests and fit in the lab. It looks like you're reaching high for prestigious names but don't discount schools like CUNY that have excellent researchers studying your topic of choice. (I have a friend there in the drug addiction area).
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I have been fortunate enough to be accepted to TWO programs for Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience....but that has left me in the middle of a big decision that I don't know how to make when the world seems to be falling apart. If anyone has any insight given the information, please let me know!!
Currently located in New York, from California. Neither place would be close, so location isn't really a factor. The one factor is moving to Canada-I would be out of the country, does anyone have experience with a US -> CA move that impacted your research or accreditation before?
Programs: University of Alberta PhD in Psychology. Wayne State University PhD in Psychology in the Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience program. I would be teaching at both programs. The funding is very similar, given the currency conversion. Cost of living is also very similar, given the conversions.
What other kinds of comparisons should I (can I) look for? How did you make your decision? Let me know!
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School: University of Alberta
Type of Program: PhD in Psychology
Acceptance Date: Email from PI on March 4th and official email from department on March 6th!!
- 192020, PianoPsych, -Resilience- and 1 other
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I'm really starting to get worried overall. I have one interview weekend coming up but got rejected from my top choice school that seemed like a very promising acceptance due to all the interviews and communications I had with PI/faculty/students so hopes aren't too high. This is my second time applying, though the most serious as now I will be graduating with an MA in May, and I'm scared this isn't the right decision.
I have such a deep passion for my area of study but these rolling rejections and a negative direct supervisor of my thesis have been haunting me. It's hard for me to write my thesis/do the remaining school work to graduate/teach my class I'm TA-ing for/and even begin to prep for the interview that I do have coming up since I'm starting to feel like someone else more deserving should be in that spot instead of me.
Unsure how to boost up my work ethic again. Is this what burnout really is?! I've never truly experienced it.
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I currently have heard from 2/10 schools and both were positive, resulting in interviews. Still very nervous if those don't go well since I haven't heard anything from the other 8. Just trying to remind myself that no word is probably a better sign than a rejection.
Supporting everyone from afar!!
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On 12/18/2019 at 8:02 AM, neuromorgan said:
AAH! So excited to be able to fill this out!!
School: Notre Dame
Type: PhD
Date of invite: December 17, 2019
Type of invite: Email from PI (Initials JK)
Interview date(s): THIS Thursday or Friday (omg so quick) via Zoom with another faculty member
I got a second interview! The PI (JK) emailed me on Friday 12/27/19 to organize, the professor who is interviewing me (JP) replied Sunday 12/29/19, and the Skype interview is tomorrow Monday 12/30/19!
I'm hoping the speed at which these interviews are coming is a good sign ?
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36 minutes ago, terrycherry said:
Did anyone apply to any Canadian schools? I heard that there's less competition there, and I haven't seen many people mention it. Maybe they're just not handing out interviews yet?
I applied to four Canadian programs. No news yet for any interviews or indication on timelines from PIs.
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On 12/19/2019 at 8:56 AM, fake187 said:
@neuromorgan did Notre Dame give any indication about whether there will be formal interviews? And did you skype with this PI before submission?
I did Skype with the PI before I submitted my application! My interview was today and all the formal interviews are over Zoom. They invite people to their campus AFTER they have put out offers so its not as stressful for students and more of a recruitment event.
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AAH! So excited to be able to fill this out!!
School: Notre Dame
Type: PhD
Date of invite: December 17, 2019
Type of invite: Email from PI (Initials JK)
Interview date(s): THIS Thursday or Friday (omg so quick) via Zoom with another faculty member
- MGA87 and pizzarollgotbusted
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The best way to be personal in a personal statement is to make it academic. How did your personal experiences make you want to study these things academically? Be super brief on personal information like that because it can be a sign of immaturity if you write too much about yourself and not enough about your academics and why you're a good fit for the field instead.
For example, I want to study episodic memory, specifically how and why we forget lived events in order to help inform interventions that might help improve the lives of those with enduring memory problems at any age. That's my personal turned professional/academic as I have episodic memory problems myself and have a fascination with how the brain works because of my own experience.
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It seems like you may have missed the most appropriate window to reach back out to the PI but you still can! I was in contact with PI's before applications as well and I made sure to email those who initially responded within 24-48hrs of submitting my application. It is a great way to remind the PI of who you are/that you talked/that you want to work with them/to look out for your application.
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Those applications are in and now we wait! Here's a thread for us to gather together in anxiety, stress, and encouragement.
Here's a little template we can use:
School:
Type: PhD/MA/MS/etc
Date of invite:
Type of invite: Mass email, email from PI, phone call, etc.
Interview date(s):
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On 11/6/2019 at 7:53 PM, itsannat said:
Hey Y'all,
I am not applying this cycle but I plan to apply to cognitive psych/cognitive neuroscience programs next year.
Background on me: I took two years off after undergrad to do research in a neurology/neuromuscular lab that is highly regarded but, as a result, I haven't done as much "actual" psychology work. I'm particularly interested in neurodegeneration in aging and using neuroimaging to identify correlations in the change in volume of different structures in the brain and cognitive functioning. By the time I apply I will have at least one poster and a paper in publication at a top tier journal.
Questions: How far in advance are y'all reaching out to PI's and what have you said to them about yourself before you actually submit any applications?
Any advice about applications is appreciated!
I reached out to PI's starting in September/October with a personalized email template to each of them. I told them a bit about what I have been currently doing for research and expressed my interest in working with them, specifically asking questions about recent publications or saying my interests that seemed to align with theirs. Luckily with these emails I got on Skype calls with 4 potential PI's and have had great conversations that gave me a confidence boost to finish out the application season.
Here's to hoping for acceptance!
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Where are you applying? I still haven't finished my Statement of Purpose and I'm getting REALLY nervous about that.
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Hello!
I was hoping to gain some insight on any tips and tricks for Skype interviews before application submissions.
I am applying to PhD's this cycle for Fall 2020 admission (fingers crossed!) in the field of Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience, Psychology with a focus in memory studies, etc. and have been lucky enough to secure some Skype chats with potential PI's to talk about overlapping interest, my background, and other PhD related topics of conversation. Since I have not applied yet and that is a few months out, does anyone have any tips for what to talk about or ask during these meetings? How formally should I prepare? Keep it more laid back to show how I could fit into their lab culture or professional to show more of my skills and technical abilities?
Any advice would be appreciated!
Best,
Morgan Glover
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19 minutes ago, samman1994 said:
I got a job when I first applied to schools. I really do like my job and the people I work with, but a PhD is my real goal. I am attempting to see if I can defer however, since by the time I go to school, it'll be less than ~10months, which doesn't look that great on a resume. Plus, this is my only industry job in the field I am looking to go into, so getting that experience and reference is incredibly important. Furthermore, I am told I will be getting a promotion this summer, and this company is pretty generous with their wages, so I am getting some pretty good money coming my way this summer as well. All in all, while I am eager to pursue my PhD, but deferring a year for my career will benefit me both now (money) and in the long run (resume building).
All that being said, my ultimate goal is a PhD. So if I cannot defer, then I will choose my PhD over my current job.
One final thing to note: For my PhD, I do get a stipend (varies by school), so won't have to pay out of pocket for anything or take out loans (if I spend within the budget provided). So while having plentiful savings is good to have, it is not crucial. For a Masters, savings are crucial unless you want to go into a lot of debt. And student loans stick with you for life. I'd highly look into what @insert Psychologist said. So I think you should take that into serious consideration as well before you pursue your Masters (maybe even don't go even if you can't defer).
Congrats on your successes!
I am on the same page with the end goal being the PhD, which is why I think this is a struggle right now. I also love this company and it has fostered such profound growth within me and if I can grow within it even further for a year, it's hard to pass up. Between a rock and a hard place for sure.
I'm going to go ahead and submit my final two applications in Master's programs in cheaper living areas and cross my fingers for funding (and responses before NYU is due)!
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40 minutes ago, insert Psychologist said:
Why NYU in particular, is there a POI who does research in what you want to do? Personally, I wouldn't leave your current job unless I got accepted into either a fully funded masters or a top 10 school in the field. This may not be your case but I got accepted to a masters at NYU and I was looking at 100k+ debt which is never worth it in Psychology.
If you are truly set on NYU, I'd do a masters at a cheaper school and then try my best to get into NYU's PhD. My peers tell me they have good funding at that level.
There's a few POI's who's research I REALLY see myself sticking with in the long run.
That makes sense. I had applied to mostly PhD programs and unfortunately have been rejected to all of them. NYU was an MA and I was accepted but they didn't offer any funding.
I do actually have two more Master's programs that I've already had letters of rec submitted to, so I think I'll maybe go ahead and submit those in. Queens College and U of Hartford. Cheaper cost of living and maybe funding?!
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1 hour ago, rising_star said:
If I were in your shoes, I would defer. Why? To give myself a chance to save up some money and get better prepared for NYU. Might there be an option for you to take some graduate courses part-time in California in the next year to help prepare yourself for NYU?
Totally understandable. Unfortunately no, nothing in California that I can do graduate-wise. There were no offerings in my area for my related-field.
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Hi! I am in MAJOR need of advice! Here's the sitch:
I live in California. I work for an educational non-profit that I LOVE and care for deeply. I was given an unofficial job offer last week to take over our region as a Regional Manager (making a salary, full-time hours, management experience) for minimum of a one year commitment.
DAYS later, I receive awesome news! I have been accepted into the Masters of Arts for Psychology with a focus in Cognition and Neuroscience at NYU!!! NEW YORK OMG! I have dreamt of New York for nearly ten years now and even applied to NYU for my BA out of high school (which I got rejected to). This has been my dream of dreams and it is REAL now.
However, I would be a transplant student moving miles and miles away, not knowing anyone, with not nearly enough saved up to steadily live. I am not afraid to work hard to get to where I want, because I've already worked hard to get to where I am. I am really battling with myself if I should attempt to defer my admission for a year and possibly take the unofficial job offer (it's not promised yet) or risk it for my dream of studying what I want where I've always wanted. WHAT DO YOU THINK?!
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Hello all!
I have applied to several (9/12) schools for my PhD in Neuroscience and related fields and am anxiously awaiting the admissions information. Texas A&M U sent an email for the PhD in Neuro program saying I'd hear back in early to mid January, so I'm freaking out even more right now. Has anyone heard back from TAMU yet??
Thanks,Morgan~
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I am SO glad I'm not the only one who's freaking out already!
We're pretty much in the same boat, OP.
Program of interest: Neuroscience
Research interest: Behavioral, Cognition, Learning & Memory, Social Neurosciences
Schools looked at: Everything. I have a 186 list of schools that I'm narrowing down one by one. I just graduated with my BA so I am either applying for Masters OR PhD. Hoping for PhD but I don't have a great GPA which leads to....
Number one worry about applying: Everything. But mostly my numbers. I am retaking the GRE and restudying so I can have it be more competitive and compensate for my GPA. My CV/resume is pretty stellar and I'm just hoping that'll help me along!
Psychology/Neuroscience PhD Universities in Canada and USA?
in Psychology Forum
Posted
I can drop a few names below and make sure you check out their collaborators! (Note, this is from my personal experience and not broad to cover all the US/Canada)
(USA) University of Notre Dame- Dr. Joshua Koen
(USA) Wayne State University- Dr. Jessica Damoiseaux, Dr. Ana Dougherty
(Canada) University of Toronto- Has a whole memory research group
(Canada) McGill University- Geriatric Medicine group (there's a fellowship as well)
(USA) Washington University in St. Louis- Dr. David Balota, Dr. Denise Head, Dr. Zachariah Reagh, Dr. Mitchell Sommers