cogpsych94

Hi all,
I wanted to start a thread to allow us all to share our thoughts and reflect on this application cycle now that it is almost over. This was my second time applying to Counseling Psychology programs, and I know that I have learned a lot about myself (and the ridiculous admissions game) through this process. 
To give you a bit of background, my first application cycle, I applied to 6 programs (all CounPsy) and though I had a mix of preliminary and in-person interviews for 4 of them, I was eventually rejected from all. I was devastated, and literally had mental breakdowns every few days. So, I really understand the struggle of having to wait, but never getting the news you want. 
This time, I applied to 17 programs (yeah I know, it is a lot!). I interviewed at 9 - one of them being a School Psychology Ph.D. program - and out of those, ultimately was rejected from 1, waitlisted at 1, and received offers from 7.
Based on my experience, I want to share a few thoughts and pieces of advice: 
Rejections do not determine your self-worth. Please do not feel like you are not qualified/smart/unique enough if you did not get in. I say this because my first time applying was last year, and I have not really gained any more relevant experience since then. I didn’t even change my personal statement besides 2-3 sentences. I improved my interview skills a little bit, but the big difference was where I applied. Which brings me to #2. Last time, I was picky about location/perfect fit. This time, I chose to apply to places where I would actually bring something new to the lab/POI, and I was flexible about location as well. You might think “I would never go here”, but sometimes the interview will change your mind. That happened to me with multiple programs this time. So my advice for both new applicants and applicants who are applying again, is that do not be stuck to one area if it’s possible. Of course, family/partner relocation and finance might be something you have to consider with this. Submit apps early! I submitted materials a month in advance in case I missed anything. Of course, if this is not financially possible for you, then try to review the checklist of materials for each school multiple times. This will give you enough of an idea to fix something if needed.  If you can’t afford to interview in person, don’t. Out of my 9 interviews, I did 6 over Skype/phone (although one of them didn’t have in person interviews). I was accepted to 5/6 of the programs I interviewed at on Skype, and 2/3 for the ones in-person. In fact, one of the programs strongly discouraged Skype interviews, and still ended up accepting me in the first round. This goes to show that your interviewing skills can sometimes matter more than your in-person presence. And if you do get in, you can always visit during dates that are more convenient/cost-effective as well. Be proud of yourself for completing and submitting your applications. That is a difficult task in itself. If you got to the interview stage, congratulations on that as well. No matter what the result, don’t give up on your dream of getting a Ph.D. I hope this reflection can be insightful to folks in some way. If you would like to ask any questions, I’d be happy to answer! 
It would be awesome if all of the wonderful Ph.D. applicants out here could share their reflections as well I’m sure you all could bring much more to this conversation! 

adcomms will see you as someone who thinks that a "low-ranked" university is in the top 40 and that's how they'll deny you. your pretentious attitude aside, any experience is good experience.

Good Afternoon,
I was recently waitlisted post interview at my top choice.
I have confirmed I would like to stay on the waitlist. I would like to stay relevant in my POIs mind.
What would anyone suggest emailing for a status update?

Princeton University Philosophy, PhD (F19) Rejected via E-mail on 26 Feb 2019 ♦ A 26 Feb 2019 report spam very sad, bigly sad, the most sad, yuge sadness.  

Princeton University Computer Science, PhD (F19) Rejected via E-mail on 1 Feb 2019 I 25 Feb 2019 Was my safe school To anyone that gets a rejection from an Ivy League and says it was his/her safety school: we could never, in a million years, be friends.

actually, it does for some people whether they here sooner or later; something with jobs, moving, housing contracts, families that may have to relocate, etc. I do know people who had to turn down offers because they arrived early April and there was no way to 'reorganize' their life again on time. Was almost in that position myself last year.

Every grad student, post doc, and faculty member has told me not to make any decisions until I've gone on all my interviews/visit weekends and have full funding offers but strangers on the internet talked to "experts" who think it's rude so I guess I have to pick now ?
It makes no difference if you get off the waitlist today or in 2 weeks or in 1 month. Calm down. 

I can’t help but reference the Yale drama from a couple of days ago.....
This response strongly sounds like “THEY ARE MY OFFERS [!!!!!!]” lmao ? 
I personally (and basically every expert I work with in the field?) think it’s absolutely inappropriate and inconsiderate to hold on to more than 2 offers at any given time. It’s a jerk move, but you do you, boo!

I don't think people are holding offers just to hold them. People are deciding the next 5-6 years of their life. It's going to be slow. I have 3 offers right now + another interview + a waitlist... No idea where I'll be or if I'll go. I have major concerns about each and need to figure out which issue worries me the least.

Hello,
Not sure if anyone who read this initial post and commented will see this, but I just wanted to circle back to this thread to express my utmost gratitude to everyone who provided their insights and opinions to me during what has been a very, very trying year.  I am so thankful for this thread and for the GradCafe community as a whole.  After a lot of deliberating, I decided to reapply to programs and aimed for ones that were fully funded, seemed to have high-quality training, and had a mentor/lab that was a great fit.  It was not an easy decision, and I knew that in many ways, the easiest and perhaps shortest option would be to stay at my current program and try to make it work with the help of outside mentors and research opportunities.  Yet with the encouragement, support, and guidance of my external mentors/supervisors, family, and this forum, I felt that this was ultimately the right decision and that if I did not get interviews, I would be happy knowing that I at least tried my best to better my situation.  I was surprised and extremely grateful that programs did not discount me right away and instead invited me to take part in their interview process.  Although I was very nervous to have to explain my story, I felt much more prepared, driven, and confident this interview cycle.  In some sense, my current situation contributed to a nothing-to-lose and everything-to-gain mentality.  
I am so relieved to say that I will NOT be returning to my current program this fall and that I will be headed to a new program that I hope will give me a strong foundation upon which to build my career.  If any of you ever finds yourself in this situation and would like to PM me, please do not hesitate to do so.  I know that each situation is unique and that the decision that made sense for me may not make sense for others.  Once again, a huge thank you to all for weighing in and for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences with me.  

Alright, I know it’s a stressful time... I’ve been there not that long ago. My main point was about the question of *brand* of clothing.  I’m sorry if somehow this came off as mansplaining; I’m simply trying to share what was supposed to be helpful/assuring commentary about the fact that “most interviews don’t care about things as trivial as clothing brand.” I agree that this issue commonly evokes anxiety among many women (and women of color), and that there are tons of factors that historically bias interview settings against women (like the wedding band issue). I’d argue and hope that clinical, a field now largely dominated by women, has become sensitive to these things and most interviewers won’t consciously use bias (my opinion, but there may be literature that says otherwise). Implicit bias is obviously a different question, but I’d argue that as the issue of bias is at the forefront of social psychology today that the elevated awareness can help interviewers override any implicit associations that we might have. 
 
Anyways, take my comment as you will. I may have been too brisk, but my point still stands as something meant to be helpful about the particularly important issue of not spending $$$$$ on interview outfit(s). 
 
Best of luck with the interviews. It’s an exciting, but stressful time. Just remember you were invited for a reason.  

idk I feel like it’s pretty classist to say that someone who is wearing a sweater over a suit should be looked down upon. like I think that type of thinking veers into dangerous territories where individuals are blamed for their inabilities to have things that signal material wealth when theoretically all applicants should be taken for who they are.
I don’t think anyone should have to cater to standards of respectability because often times those standards of respectability have been used to police and silence different racialized, gendered, and other marginalized bodies so like using that as a determining factor of what someone brings to the table is pretty fucked up in my opinion (granted i don’t belong to an admissions committee but still)