PokePsych

Discovering nice Asian indie bands and artists. It's a good day. My POI reached out again to express he's still very interested - even though I'm waitlisted :')

Pine tree

It all got down to me being on the waitlist. So I guess I'll be waiting a bit longer.

Could also be that they're just late for real. I had my update on monday that I'm waitlisted (and then yesterday my POI wrote that he's still very interested - so then why waitlist me lol). OK the grad officer emailed me back though. Maybe they have too much going on atm. Just sit and wait. Results will come eventually.

1) your different approach that you could maybe contrast with another approach, that's still legit. Even a new RQ would be OK. It's just how you sell it to some extent. I think the main thing about doing research is that it adds new knowledge - this can be exploring something that isn't known yet, or proving that some findings uphold (also important information). 2) I'd first have it all settled with your committee and supervisor. Then update them.

High pitch

Who did you email? Just curious. It's not cool they don't answer. However, I'd also assume for the worst tbh this late in the cycle. It can only be a pleasant surprise otherwise.

What would be the actual difference, other than supervisor (probably)? Are there any concerns you have regarding the requirements of the OB program? Any skills or approaches you have concerns about? If so, I'd address them with the program and see if it fits. Most likely you'll be able to be in touch with people from both programs. Could you come up with any big objections? As for after the PhD - you'll be hunting in the same job market (OB people end up at psych departments and the other way around - if you want to go out of academics, a OB degree maybe even better), so in that regard, there is unlikely to be a huge downside to pick one over the other. Additionally, the skills are indeed very comparable. I'd personally take it if they're nearly the same - there shouldn't be that many differences especially the programs work closely together and classes overlap a lot.

Depends on the school; but most PhDs in Europe are like a job and funding is tied to a specific project. Money usually needs to be used within a certain time frame. Again - this varies per school, but I know this seems to be the case in most circumstances. It would pretty much depend on how the funding streams work in this case. If it is university-based funding - then you may have a shot, especially if this money is available every year. However, they may also just ask you to reapply next year rather than keeping a spot free for you. If it is grant-based money - then unlikely - as this would mean the supervisor postponing that project you're hired for which they are usually not willing to do. I know in my field (Psych) you generally can't defer admission due to the funding always being tied to a project and most profs would not want to wait longer than maybe a few months if really really needed and they absolutely love you - but it is highly uncommon.

I was 23 when I entered my Master's back in Europe. If I get in this cycle I'd be 26 to start the PhD (and redo a Master's lol), otherwise try again for next year. Age.. well. I know people who are doing a PhD at 21. But had a classmate in my Master's in his 40s who is now a PhD student. Also my supervisor got into psych at the age of 30 after having worked as an English teacher for a long time (wanted to Eduational psych, but fell in love with social). It really doesn't matter. I don't believe in a linear path to life anyway. I enjoy all the weird twisted turns I have taken over the years. But I also know people who are happy their life goes more 'predictable'.

Having worked with my supervisor who we have nicknamed Mr. Spicycoating (OK not in English - this sounds weird in English, but it sorta translates as the opposite of sugarcoating) I know how it feels to get criticism (My first draft of my first proposal in not my first language I got comments like 'This sentence is so hard to digest it gives me reflux.' Thanks man). Second - realize there is no 'perfect' experiment - at least not when you're in the social sciences (I assume you are). There are always concessions to make on the sample (including size and who to include), methodology, etc. So I'd say try to let go of devising the perfect study - this has always helped me as I'm a perfectionist. Concessions, especially if you work with multiple people are also gonna happen. I constantly have to negotiate with my supervisor as he's the type to love flashy findings - and I'm the type that rather does solid research. So I'm often trying to convince him to let go of things that could potentially be flashy. You're now negotiating with your committee - that's cool. It will help you and your project. One of the biggest things you'd have to learn as a scientist is flexibility, negotiation (this is not the same as a compromise though!) and persuasion. It's an excellent opportunity to learn Your feedback has been very constructive - so you should feel happy about that! They didn't say it was a bad idea - just there are some things that need extra thinking! That being said, there are a number of points they want you to address or provide a better rationale for. From what I read, they have some issues with your choice of 'who' you want to study. It seems like this is the biggest problem underlying all things from what you said. Why this group? Could you maybe study the same topic/subjects from a different angle (i.e., story or approach)? Are you very much attached to this specific group? It could also be an opportunity to study something that's maybe more closely related to your PhD goals/topic. This of course depends on your future goals. Honestly, for me, I love criticism. It makes my topic better, it helps my thinking to mature, it makes me aware of thinks or hurdles I didn't think about yet, etc. It's a good thing. I always focus on what I gain from having had the experience (i.e., what did I learn). It always makes my work better in some way (even if it's just in the eyes of others). I try not to be emotionally attached to my work and am getting better at it (thanks to my supervisor lol - love him though). I always say I take my work very seriously, but not myself. I can let go of things of very fast. Plus criticism is part of academic life (*cough* reviewer 2 *cough*) so we all need to find strategies to deal with this. Also having had this criticism and questions now and if you address them - you won't face the same questions at the conference. And even if, you'd know how to answer them! August is still far away, and sometimes things move slow, something things move fast. Don't be too hung up on timelines but just try to move as fast as you're able to - that's what I generally try to do. If you're worried or need to vent - find me in a PM. This is what I go through on a biweekly base it seems.

@Charlie Moon Nop - but if I'm high I don't want to know because then I'd be toooo stressed out lol. So I'd rather just assume at this point I don't make it and make cool plans for next year.

I haven't heard from UBC either. Did you do interviews? Otherwise they seem like the place that just waits to reject everyone after spots are filled up and don't bother in the mean time.

@Charlie Moon There's still one school that has me on silent. But really - that will just be a rejection now.

soccer field

I usually print my papers and get a pen and just start crossing every word that doesn't add value as well as sentences that add nothing extra (including redundancy). Somehow seeing it in print vs. on a screen helps. If you have any sections that are especially long/big in comparison to others but in terms of content are not that different, you should also have a look at HOW you have written things down in the long paragraphs. Can you restructure something there that makes things flow easier and thus shorter? If you need to come back to the same point at numerous times then this is usually a structure problem. I always plan my papers in terms of flow/structure (i.e., which topics I discuss first, sometimes even transitions) and then outline this more or less in headers on my doc before I start writing. I may take a little while to plan (getting faster with it) but it saves a lot of problems and time in the end.

waitlisted on monday lolz. Waiting never ends

Got waitlisted a few days back - so waiting continues. UGh.

Just got waitlisted for UVa social psych. Expected an rejection - but can't the waiting just stop plz

I'm retrying in social psych - although this time around I"m also applying for business schools as I'm doing stuff that is highly related to behavioral economics. Last time around I wanted to become a cultural psychologist - but through my only interview (and through my thesis that was ongoing in the back) I realized I am far more interested in socio-ecology and inequality (especially in relation to trust, competition/cooperation, etc) research. So it wasn't a bad cycle - I learned more about myself and am back on the right path. Everything happens for a reason I'd say.

i got to the conclusion i didnt make it into a phd but also that ive been chasing the wrong topic through my only interview (the only fruitful outcome of this process). On top of that i unexpectedly lost my job. Im in a country not my own far away from most of my friends and i hate everything today. I dont know how to proceed. Fml.

I came to the same conclusion yesterday. Haven't been able to sleep well coz of it.

you know I"m just giving up. Whatever. I'm gonna eat ice cream. Fuck science.

@Charlie Moon For the non contacted one - I lost hope (its my 2nd choice lol). My first one - yeah I had a decent interview, love the place, but they're just shutting me out. Like let me knowwwwww