menalta17

Thanks for the information? I didn’t receive anything but hey…life goes on. Wishing you the best in the interview process—knock it out of the park for the rest of us!

Has anyone heard from University of Washington's Health Services PhD program, regarding interview invites?? It's been fairly quiet and I can't tell if the folks invited to interview simply don't stalk/use TheGradCafe or if I've lived another day in their application review...regardless I would love to stop holding my breath :/

lol, I've received that same conversation from my advisors as well. The 'if you don't have _____, _____, & _____, you may as well save your money' speech. I'm sure a good amount of people on this forum have sat through that conversation. Idk if you know much about the clinical psych realm, but it's extremely competitive as well. Maybe the poster doesn't have enough experience outside of a GPA in comparison to their competition. You really don't know what you're up against, which is why I'm once again, re-suggesting he/she reapply at less competitive schools (doesn't mean those schools are competitive in general...it just means applying to University of Maryland, instead of Harvard.)

Overall great advice! The only part I would add to is the section about GRE. Most top 30 programs will cut you if you're GRE is too low but this is not true for the rest. My GRE is absolute garbage, I mean HOT, wafting garbage, yet I'm on two waiting lists for 2 Clinical Psych PhD programs (prayers for me). I think it's more important that people pay attention to the school's requirements. Most are forthcoming with whether or not the GRE has a cut off or if they take a more "wholesome" application approach. Lastly, I was actually rejected by Michigan State because they said they wanted to hear more from me in my personal statement (yea...of all things to be rejected for. lol). I though the rest of my app did the talking but it turns out Personal Statements are maybe a liiiiittle more important than we'd care for them to be. But again, great advice and that's awesome you collected data/feedback for everyone! Hopefully people actually use it lol

I'm confused too. Were you applying to PhD programs or Masters? I got into Psych Masters' programs w/a 2.71 GPA, RA experience and HORRIBLE GRE scores. If you were applying to PhD programs then you've got to understand how competitive programs are, how much of a crapshoot of luck they are COMBINED with the ranking of programs you're applying too. You really can't take it personally. I was completely shut out last year applying to PhD programs. All of my cohort members who applied to PhD programs, got in. It was super defeating to even hear them talk about it. But they were smart. They didn't apply to Top 50 programs. They applied to accredited programs that interested them but didn't apply to places that were competitive at all. I did. That was my mistake. This time around I've had more success because I took a page from their book. I'm suggesting if this year doesn't work out, get a job you can deal with and start looking at realistic, less competitive but successful programs and re-vamping all aspects of your application (reading over and rewriting everything). Next year you could probably get into schools without hassle. ****Also as a side note: Out of all my cohort members that went into their PhD, I'm the happiest and most "together". I've got a good job that puts me in the "middle class" at 25. Bought a car this year. I live on my own in DC, etc. And on the other hand...they're all super stressed, unhappy, discuss dropping out daily, have not gotten the hang of adulthood, etc. So it's not always a bad thing to be the odd one out...lol I know it feels crappy now, but you really don't know WHERE you'll be physically and emotionally in a year. You could be happier.

Follow up with them once a month. It's a good time frame to not be too annoying but still in the loop.

I totally understand! There are so many unwritten rules in the game of admissions.

Oh...and a lot of program's admissions committees don't include the application-accepting professors. So...you could've been rejected by a random faculty member that doesn't know your application from the next.

That's disappointing but I would take the opportunity to ask why you were rejected. Especially since you guys started discussing funding (which it could've come down to). I know it's hindsight advice but I've been told several times to never bet on POIs no matter how nice they are because this same situation has happened over and over again since the beginning of email. I, too, had two POIs that seemed SUPER into me and my work and we exchanged emails over the period of a month. I was rejected by both programs. You unfortunately can't get too attached or comfortable :/

*sigh* Both schools I'm waitlisted for stated that they put out there offers. That was last week and no one has even posted on the results page, saying they got in. I didn't think it as possible to be THIS in the dark but I'm officially 25,000 ft below.

I wrote something like: "Hello Dr. ___________________! This is ___________ __________, a Fall 2018 _______________ PhD applicant. A short time ago I received an email stating that I would be considered a __________________ until a (space? spot? whatever you want to call it) opened. Therefore, I am emailing you to confirm and restate my interest in _______________________ PhD program, especially in the event of a (slot? space) opening! The program is my top choice due to ________________________________________, ____________________________________________, as well as ___________________________________. These factors offer very rare and unique opportunities! While I am disappointed that I was not among those initially offered, I am still very excited about the possibility of studying at ___________________________________. Please let me know if you have any questions for me! Thank you for your consideration and please keep me updated! (Your name)" I attempted my best to take out personal info, so it's a bit rough on the edges but this is the general idea of the email I sent.

It's a good sign! Pray funding comes through but in the meantime let him/her know you're definitely down. lol

Fun fact/worst nightmare: I got into a program at UofO that was brandspanking new for Fall 2017. I got in almost effortlessly (my interview was HORRIBLE), was promised funding, and VERY EXCITED about getting my PhD. Fastforward to May, right before graduating from my Masters, I received an email stating funding was not (aka NEVER) secured for the program and I would not be able to apply for scholarships due to the late notice. I got VERY lucky Eugene is filled with gracious people bc I instantly was able to call the apartment I signed with to cry my way out of the lease AND the program must have felt like crap because they offered my application fee back. I let them keep it. I was too devastated to nickel & dime them. I spent the next few months explaining to friends and family what happened and feeling crappy that I got jipped out of a PhD. SOOOOOO...the biggest con I would say of going into a new program is that they don't always have their s*** together, yet and you really are experimental pigs until they can work the kinks out (and then you'd probably have the privilege of watching newer cohorts come in and not deal with HALF of the issues). So there may be times where you are left crap out of luck. Also, a concern for me in retrospect if I DID have the money to fund a PhD would be, "What would this degree mean to my field?" That would be the biggest overall concern. Would it be considered respectable amongst peers? Maybe this won't be your scenario, though! Maybe the program is branched out from another established program, therefore the concerns above wouldn't be an issue. Really look into the program, it's origins, the faculty's experience working in other programs, as well as the curriculum and funding in contrast to other competitive programs! Good luck!

Go with the program you're most drawn to. You can weigh funding, prestige/ranking (if that's something you care about), location and costs of living in that area as well...You can even weigh if you would prefer to stay in that area after networking and completing your PhD. Maybe how well you clicked with the POI/faculty & other students. I mean...it all comes down to you and what's important for you during the next 5, tumoltrous years. Best of luck!

I've experienced the same where people have advised I shouldn't and others say you should. I've personally emailed to restate my interest being I'm waitlisted as well and all she did was acknowledge it was received and thank me. The email, in my opinion, doesn't seem like it can hurt. Especially if it's done ONCE in a brief and concise way that restates your enthusiasm for the program without coming off desperate. There's a delicate method to it. I'm not sure if it can heighten your chances significantly but it definitely can't hurt as long as you're not menacing! Good luck and do what's best for you!