1|]010ls10o
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Posts posted by 1|]010ls10o
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A distinguished professor asked where I applied to, and whether I was invited.
A grad student from a different school did, too. Asked if I was invited to 'a lot' of schools. Be prepared to justify your other applications, and hopefully you have a good response if you weren't invited to many places. -
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14 minutes ago, personallycentered said:
For sure I'm comfortable listing some things. I applied to 15 schools and clinical psychologists (my work research experience was with psychiatry departments) told me to apply to 16 programs if I could. So having that large of a number of schools applied to obviously helped with the number of interviews I received.
I was straight rejected from six schools (mostly all R1), and then wait-listed at four R1 schools (one R2 school), and the one acceptance was at an R1.
And, ya, as you said and others above, it was all about applying to places where I knew I'd have a solid research fit. And yes, having a good SOP probably helped. I worked on it for a few months and my partner (who's in graduate research at a big R1 uni) read it a couple times making sure it was comprehensible and not presumptuous or pretentious (and if my partner wasn't in my life, I'd have for sure just found some other academic-type of person to review my SOP). LORs were huge too, and I of course waived my right to review them, but one of my interviews commented on how fire my LORs compliments were of me.
From my work experience/talking with supervisors and colleagues, I think there are too many extenuating circumstances unique to each school and program to ask why one place will accept a student versus another rejects the same student (POI being assistant versus full, R1 versus R2, the university's sponsoring state trying to decrease or eliminate grad programs to save money, etc, etc). I applied to as many programs that fit with my research goals (and would also waive my tuition/provide stipends) to compensate for this unknown of what's going on within similar (on the surface-level, i.e. R1) psych programs.
Also, not even much of a hot take, if any academic discipline is going to be woke to the well known fact that the GRE after year one of graduate school can not be used as metric of student success, it's going to be psychology. I've heard this from, like, a bijjilion psychology professors (there are your metrics lol). Go get good research experience and good LORs!
Yeah. Numbers aren’t great predictors. I was just stunned by the number of acceptances 9/15 with universally average scores.
Before psych faculty even look at your app, the school removes people from the pile. If someone complimented your fire LORs, that probably helped at step 2 (step 1 is trimming the pool of applicants by the numbers entered into the application form).
Faculty members have told me that they sometimes look at applications they otherwise would not have looked at (ones cut by step 1) if they knew one of the recommenders, or knew you worked for a well known researcher, or if you reached out to them prior to the cycle.
So, yes, “good SOP, good LORs, and research fit” are important. But did you have any connections or did you network with the POIs? This is a critically understated aspect of the *application* process that is in line with what all of us agree with — including my post on this page from Friday — that numbers aren’t everything.
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1 hour ago, hopefulgrad2019 said:
My quant score was even lower than this persons (159 V, 5.5 writing) and a 3.2 undergrad GPA. I’ve been accepted to a R1 school for clinical psych PhD. Acting like it’s a number games is very wrong. “Stats” get you through the door but it’s your interviewing skills and general likability that actually gets you offers.
"Acting like it’s a number games is very wrong. “Stats” get you through the door but it’s your interviewing skills and general likability that actually gets you offers. "
Lol, I've said basically this in my previous post a day ago. I'm aware it's not just stats. This person's # of interviews makes that very obvious.
56 minutes ago, McMurphy said:Absolutely this. During my last application round, I had 2 years less research experience and my GRE scores were not nearly as competitive. However, I still managed to land a few interviews, 1 of which at a prestigious university, thanks to my research fit and my SOP (definitely didn't have any connections to any of the programs). Ended up being first alternate at that program, which I think was largely due to my very luke-warm interview. It wasnt terrible, but I definitely didnt have the interview skills I do now and I think that is what hindered me the most.
Stats absolutely help get you in the door, but excellent stats will not compensate for a poorly written SOP or a presumptuous personality.
Must've been an amazing SOP. I'm aware it isn't all stats, hence my question of what made the person stand out during the materials/invite process.
1 hour ago, JoePianist said:They had a mentor with good connections.
This sounds most likely, and is a good guess to why the person was invited to the interviews (i.e., aspects before interviewing skills and general likability play a role)
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4 hours ago, personallycentered said:
Interviewed with 9 programs, wait-listed at 5, accepted at 1 (all counseling psych). First time applying.
GRE- around 155 Q and 154 V or something like that and a 4 on writing.
2.5 years of full-time research assistant work (2 different uni's) post undergraduate. These jobs were flexible so that I could take late afternoon coursework to earn an MS in psych during these 2.5 years (was non-psych undergrad).
A couple national conference poster presentations.
POIs and programs I thought I'd be perfect for I got rejected at and the one acceptance I received was to a top program that was by far my biggest reach. Keep on making that plan! I extensively planned and only made it into one program with a straight acceptance, I can't imagine my results had I put any less effort into all this...
Do you mind listing your institutions (2 degrees, research experience) and also the schools you applied to? Or minimally, the prestige/reputation of the PIs you worked with or of the programs? How much networking you did beforehand?
I’m shocked you had 9 interviews with those scores. Many schools would’ve cut you round 1. If you managed to be invited so many times, there hypothetically should be something excellent with your application, so what made you stand out?
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5 hours ago, ninjasub2 said:
This is a genereal question for anyone that was accepted into a program this year:
what were your GRE scores?
how many years and what kind of research experience did you have?
any publications or independent projects?
trying to plan so I definitely make it in next cycle ?
You're going to have a bad time if you think that it's about metrics. They'll help, but not as much as you think unless you had basically nothing. Given that you had 6 interviews, it's not your metrics.
I have excellent metrics and experience, but...yeah. It's my personality. Or my writing. Or maybe I'm ugly, hahaha. It's good to work on it, but don't think that'll be the formula to get you into a program.
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25 minutes ago, Waiting272 said:
Any one got news from TC Columbia for clinical psychology post interview? The initial invite letter said 3/1.
Nothing yet. I was told they would meet and notify even earlier.
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2 hours ago, JoePianist said:
I think that’s actually a good point, from what I know of faculty now
Can you tell us more?
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6 minutes ago, hopefulgrad2019 said:
They wouldn't of wasted their time inviting you to interview if you weren't being considered. I can't speak to this specific university but most programs want diversity in their incoming cohort, not interview weekend. There's a lot of reason why people aren't given offers, despite having all their interviews go really well. Everyone who's invited to interviews is qualified for a spot in the program and a lot of times faculty have to split hairs to actually choose who the best person is. A lot of times it can come down to, "Can I see myself working with this person for the rest of my and their career?" so your personality fit with your mentor can be just as important as research fit.
Yeah. Ton of reasons. Splitting hairs. It's difficult to prove. I just hope you realize 'personality fit' is largely determined by race/ethnicity and culture. And it's clear what type of 'personality' is desirable.
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10 minutes ago, ninjasub2 said:
Considering how well all 6 of my interviews went... I’m thinking I wasn’t ever really being considered since the beginning.
Same. Doesn't matter how well you think it went. All of my interviews went extremely well. You're pre-ranked and there's often very little you can do to jump ranks unless you're charming af and your swagger is on a hundred thousand trillion
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I wrote a SOP that two grad students at elite phd programs said was exceptional. My letter writer read it and thought it was complete trash conceptually and wanted me to rewrite it completely. He was at a loss for words for how bad it was, and had almost no feedback to offer because it didnt fit his prototype of what a SOP should be. He nonetheless wrote a strong letter about how great I was as an employee/researcher.
Still got invited to interview at great programs, and other faculty members thought I wrote extremely well -- that my SOP 'cLeArLy sToOd oUt' and that my prose 'JuMpeD aT thEm'
My point is that not all people will agree with whether a SOP is good. It can still be good. Just in a different way.
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9 hours ago, ninjasub2 said:
So I had an interview and during the entire weekend, my POI spent the most time with me out of all of her candidates by far and kept telling me I’m a good fit for the lab. She sent me an email yesterday stating that I wasn’t accepted because I didn’t have enough research experience. Interview weekend went perfectly for me and she acknowledged that in the email as well. Anyone have thoughts on this? I’m just confused because if my research experience was a fundamental issue, why was I even invited to interview? she already knew my experience from my application. Also, I’m a POC- could I just have been at interview weekend as a diverse candidate so the interviewee pool didn’t look so white?
That stuff happens all the time.
Acceptances speak louder than invitations -- even if they claim to have a diversity initiative, just look at grad student demographics. This entire field, higher-tier programs especially, is dominated by white people who come from elite institutions. Even the POC generally have great educations or well off parents.
That said, there's no good proof of discrimination, just admitted student demographics. Anyone sending in an application gives admissions councils so many areas they can disqualify you for.
Their favorite and first one to offer is usually, 'other applicants have slightly better research fit' -- lol, as though that wasn't apparent in the CV + personal statement.
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2 hours ago, CHOUFLEUR said:
Is anyone familiar with/have heard things about how much the ranking of psychology programs matter when it comes to continuing in academia/wanting to apply for faculty jobs in universities after graduation?
Very important from what I've heard/read. My impression is that most TT positions in 'good' universities are taken by graduates from 'better' universities. E.g., if you want to teach at a top 50 school, you better graduate from a top 10 school. Etc.
Hoping someone can provide more detail than what I'm saying, because I'm interested too.
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Did anyone hear back from Columbia TC for clin psych post-interview?
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4 hours ago, Keyz said:
I had this happen too FOUR times. Once in person where the professors said they loved me and I’d be a great fit, THEN the other three through email about how it was such a pleasure and how impressive I was and had a great fit....
*waitlisted at every one*
Therefore I am sending you good vibes and hoping that you will receive good news unlike me!
Gotta say sweet words to keep your sidepieces happy enough to stick around.
Would you be okay being a backup plan if they didn’t flatter you? Less likely. I don’t blame professors for that strategy but I’m done taking their word at face value.
Been waitlisted or rejected after compliments too many times.
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Got that generic reply back. Asked 2 other candidates about it, they got basically the same.
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While most people would (correctly) argue that undergrad institution doesn't matter, it does. I was recently at an interview and nearly 80% of the other applicants were from Ivies or schools that were near them in rank. If your POI grew up in the American education system which values those types of rankings, (which are often dependent on SES + generation + social capital), if they don't explicitly state it, they at least have an unconscious bias about it.
This bias is also shown when you see how many people from tenure track positions are from upper tier schools. It's not fair, but it's how this system works.
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since this is necro'd already, does anyone know whether the funding between phd programs (counseling + clinical) is shared between departments? did anyone who was interviewed for counseling hear about whether this is the case? i asked clinical profs and they didn't really provide a clear answer
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9 minutes ago, checkingmyemail said:
You're bold af, lol. But don't feel bad, 2 PIs never responded to my e-mails, and I feel some kind of way after other PIs have responded... idk. This sh!t sucks
Wait what's the risk in your opinion? My brain isn't working
6 minutes ago, ventiamericano said:Ok wait, literally same LOL. My PI said that I could e-mail her in the meantime and I'm literally trying so hard to not just e-mail her questions. UGH, when WILL THIS PROCESS JUST END??? I swear the not knowing is worse than knowing you got rejected, waitlisted etc.
Damn, I asked some hard questions to one of the grad students of the lab. Hoping this doesnt burn me. AHHHHHH
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Sent thank you emails to the people I interviewed with, and stated that they're my #1 choice.
No response. RIP. Will be a week until I hear back, minimum. Just gearing up for cycle 3, sigh.
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2 hours ago, FreudEgg said:
I'm glad it worked out!! Sorry about your frustrations with the other interviews/ process. Like @dancedementia, I've had many similar experiences (but when applying for jobs), and the whole whoever-you're-interviewing-with-already-has-picked-someone-else-for-the-spot - thing is way too familiar for me. It is SO disappointing, but looking at it as prep, prep, and more prep has been helpful for me as well. I think I have tweaked something each time actually.
Btw just got officially rejected, so, haha
PH.D Interview questions you received and some responses
in Psychology Forum
Posted
What did you guys say for these questions? I had a PI (the person I applied to) say she reserved the second interview just for all my questions. I tried asking her to ask me questions, but she insisted on having me ask her questions. The first two interviews I had with her (phone, then 1st in-person) were all conversational. Second wasn't natural at all. Did you guys just go down a list of questions that were posted here?
What did you guys say for strengths/weaknesses? (preferably for people who were accepted to programs)