ilikepsych

What kind of work would your partner like to do in higher ed? Getting a job at the University could be one way to go: http://careers.umich.edu/search/ Otherwise, you could look into nearby universities: Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College.

Thank you for clarifying and for your insight. My assumption was based on the posted interview dates on UCLA's website (2/16-2/17): https://www.psych.ucla.edu/graduate/prospective-students/application-instructions, and the assumption that UCLA cognitive area follows the norm of having a formal interview day, followed by a round of offers. This situation seems likely, as one person posted on the results section that he/she was admitted to UCLA's cognitive area. You are correct in saying that the areas typically function independently, hence my disclaimer that I cannot speak for cognitive psych. Moreover, in response to the OP 's question, my disclaimer was specifically targeted at the fact that I received the official letter the same day I received an informal offer. I also intended to say that if you were admitted, you probably should have received the official letter. I am not implying that all offers have gone out. I will say there is an error on my part for making it seem like all offers have gone out for all areas. According to the website, the quantitative area schedules interviews individually with applicants. Hence, the date in which you could receive an offer is less clear, and it is very likely that quantitative applicants are still receiving interviews. The OP is asking about the cognitive area, which seems to follow the typical trend: formal interview date, followed by a decision. If UCLA follows the norm, it is assumed that if you did not receive an invite to the interview day that an interview offer after the official date is less likely, although not impossible. One would not know whether UCLA is still extending interview offers for the cognitive area unless someone, such as yourself, shares the information on this forum or receives it from an internal source. And that's the beauty of this forum--one person's information may not be accurate based on their limited knowledge and experience, but another person can clarify and provide new insight into the question at hand.

I can't speak for cognitive psych, but I got a letter detailing the funding package from the developmental area the day I found out I was admitted. This was in mid-February, and so I think all letters should have gone out for all areas by now if you were admitted.

Even after you graduate, see if a professor is willing to collaborate with you on an independent study project. Maybe reach out to professors who have data sets on topics that are related to IO (doesn't have to be IO specific... maybe even social/personality psych), and see if they'd let you play around with the data to see if you come up with something. You just have to prove that you have serious interest in IO (through work experience, for example, and even better, research related to IO), and that the professors you've worked with can say "Yes, this person has what it takes to conduct research." For what it's worth, one of my friends got into a pretty prestigious IO psych program without much IO-related research. She has a strong stats background, which I think helps for IO. She was doing some research related to social/personality psychology and was able to link it to why she wants to pursue IO (she is an RA and also has two independent study projects, but only one of them is related to social/personality I think). Ultimately I think her research background justified her research interests, and her research interests fit well with one of the professors in the program. As long as your research experience justifies what you want to study in grad school, and a professor sees that you're a good match with his/her interests, you should be solid without a heavy IO background, I think. I never took developmental psychology, yet I got into developmental programs, lol. My previous research is focused on development, though, so that worked out well for me.

I may be an outlier here, but I would say don't settle on a place that is not your first choice (it's a different story if you feel like your second choice is also a great fit, but from what you described, it doesn't sound like the case). I know sometimes you just want to go to a PhD program just for the sake of getting started on your PhD, but if it's not the right fit, you may be wasting more time there than if you had just waited. Your PhD is the last degree (probably) that you will get in your life. You want to be happy and proud of where you are. I say this because my friend was in a similar situation as you. He was rejected from his top choice school, and only got into one PhD program. Great funding (like, crazy good), amazing advisor, but the research interest match was so-so, and the program is new (they've only had one cohort graduate). Long story short, he feels that nothing is keeping him there (again, research interest fit was not great), and he will be leaving the program and reapplying to his top choices. His advice to me was "don't settle."

My guess is waitlist? I also went to an interview and heard that another interviewee got the spot. I haven't heard back yet, so I must be the alternate. I think mid-March is a good time to contact her for an update. At that point, students probably have declined some of their offers, opening up spots for others.

One of my friends heard back almost immediately after the interview weekend for CCN (all areas had their interview weekend on 2/16-17).

It's preferable for your undergrad GPA to be 3.75+, but that certainly doesn't mean that a 3.44 GPA will disqualify you. However, I would strongly advise then that you achieve GRE scores that are in the 75th percentile and above to demonstrate that you are ready for graduate-level work. Also, given that your background is in biobehavioral health, it might be a stretch to justify why you would want to pursue an I/O program versus a health psychology/biopsychology/cognitive psychology/developmental psychology program. If you have poster or paper presentations in the research field that you want to go into, then you can make a case for why you want to pursue I/O. Do you have any work experience in industry that might justify why you want to pursue I/O? Also, what is the quality of your research experiences like? There is a difference between being someone who merely enters data, and someone who enters the data AND uses the data to develop an independent study project, or collaborates with the lab on a project that will result in publication. If you are merely entering data, making copies, etc. without engaging in rigorous research, it's definitely time to start working on an independent study project, preferably in I/O. As you're applying next year, one thing I would think about is the quality of the PhD program you will attend. In other words, don't just settle for "any" PhD program. You want to go to a program that is well funded, has lots of resources, and is actively producing research. These programs have the network that you need post-graduation. If you know you want to go to X school, then take another year to strengthen your application and reapply. I have had friends who regretted settling for a program simply because it was the only PhD program they got into that year--they're now leaving with a Master's and are re-applying for PhD programs at top-tier schools with lots of resources. Don't be afraid to take a year off to strengthen your application! A lot can get done in a year. I spent three years as a math major before deciding it was the wrong path. I switched my major to psychology in my fourth year, and as I was getting my coursework done in psych, I was also doing and put out 8 poster/paper presentations that same year (5 already presented, 3 accepted). The motivation and enthusiasm for my research field showed, and I got into some top-ranked programs. In addition, I spent a lot of time networking with professors at other universities, and got a letter of rec from a professor at a top-ranked school (I did summer research with her).

If you have an outstanding acceptance, I would say do not go unless you are seriously considering this program. In fact, I went to a recruitment weekend this past weekend and absolutely fell in love with the program, and decided not to attend an upcoming interview weekend at another school. The interview is just four days away; I set this interview up in December, back when I had not heard from my top-choice programs. I emailed them today explaining that I had an amazing experience at X school and will be accepting their offer of admission. I also explained that I did not want to take a spot from another deserving student, and thanked them for their consideration. They understood and wished me the best. I should note that I had to pay for the flight first (they did not book my travel for me), so I'm taking a hit on the flight (non-refundable). It sure beats traveling 10 hours each way for a school I know I'm not going to attend.

I don't know about the Psych + Women's Studies program specifically, but I do know that most (if not all) of the psych areas have their interview/recruitment weekend from February 16-17. Travel arrangements are currently being made for CPEP and developmental invitees, and I'd imagine the other areas as well. I suspect that they're waiting for responses to see who is attending, and they're trying to fill up all the interview/recruitment weekend slots before sending out rejections.

A google doc would be great! Good idea. It would be great to have it alphabetized too. But here is the list with my updates and Stauce's. Informal interviews: Berkeley (all depts sent out invites in December) Formal Interview invites: Arizona State Uni (clinical) Berkeley (date??) UCLA (Developmental) Fordham (clinical) John Jay (clinical) University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (CCN and Biopsych) University of Maryland-College Park (clinical?) UNC Chapel Hill (clinical. rest?) U Penn (clinical?) Nebraska-Lincoln (clinical) Northern Illinois University (clinical) NYU (Social) Northwestern (Social) Penn State (Developmental) University of Virginia (Community) Acceptances: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (CPEP and Developmental) University of Minnesota (I saw social psych. are the rest out?) Ohio State (Social) UC Santa Cruz (Developmental) Rejections: Berkeley (through website not portal) UCLA (social) Carnegie-Mellon (E-mail) University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (CPEP) UNC (website not portal)

Personally, I did ask about invites but phrased it in such a way that indicated that I was really interested in X school, but I have received interview invites from schools Y and Z and wanted to make sure that if invited, I would be able to attend X school's interview day. However, I only asked this question if my POI reached out to me for an informal interview over the phone or demonstrated lots of interest in having me join their lab. All of the schools I've been invited to are paying for travel costs. I don't think it comes off as impatient--if anything, if you phrase it as I did above, it makes you sound like a competitive applicant because so many places want to interview you!

Oops, it says that in your signature; I didn't see it at first! I'd hang tight. It seems that admissions decisions have gone out later this year (at least for developmental... last year people heard back before Christmas. I didn't hear back until January 10th). Perhaps everything is pushed back this year. Also, I had an informal phone conversation yesterday with UVA, and they said that I'd hear back for a formal interview in the next 1.5 weeks. Great...except that the interview weekend is Feb 8-10. That literally means I'd be notified 1-1.5 weeks before the scheduled interview weekend. So unless it's the week of the interview and you haven't heard anything, I'd say to sit tight!

Did your POI contact you for an informal interview over Skype or on the phone? If not, I'd imagine that it's unlikely that an interview invite will come. My assumption is that they are waiting for students to respond to their interview invites and are still trying to coordinate. If students indicate that they aren't able to attend, that opens up room to interview more applicants. Once they have filled up all the slots, I'm assuming that's when the rejections go out. How many interview slots depends on budget (not sure if each area has their own budget, or if it's a department budget), too, and I think they're trying to coordinate to bring as many people as possible before they send out rejections.

In November, did the professor specifically say that he/she intends to invite you but is just waiting for department approval? (i.e., something like "If your application advances to the next round of recruitment, you will be invited to interview weekend; therefore, I am asking you to save the date.") It could be that at the committee level, they decided to not extend an invite to you. You could perhaps follow up politely and say something like, "Hi, you mentioned in November that I should save the date for a formal interview, and I am writing to follow up and see if the department has finished extending interview invites. I'm very much interested in this program and had hoped to get an invitation based on our previous correspondence." I wouldn't try to say something that directly implies the professor went back on it--academia is too small, and what is said goes around.