K31D1Psych

Yay! So awesome. Another great example that supports what I'm saying. Thanks for the response and this hope!

I agree the GRE is useless... I think it needs to really be brought to light. I was almost down 1k just trying to take the GRE, travel for it, get materials, and get an assessment from various doctors to get the disability accommodations. My current documentation through disability services wasn't enough. On top of that, they do not let disabled students register until after the forms are approved for accommodations, which can take even more months. So the whole process for me took almost 8 months, and by that point the registration slots were almost all filled. There was only 1 slot left to take the GRE in time for program deadlines-- I had to travel 2 hours away for the only availability at 7 in the morning. It was the only slot open for the next few months. There's another catch: the forms have to be from within a 12 month period, so by the time the process was done and the test could be scheduled, the 12 month period was almost up. So I'd have to redo the assessments again. I pulled an all nighter because I had to leave me house by like 4 AM, hardly functioned, and didn't receive my full disability accommodations. ETS skimps on accommodations and calls certain accommodations "standard" to accelerate the review process. Of course it's their pre-determined standard and not my standard from what my doctor determines. I would have missed the program deadlines otherwise because anything more than their "standard" will take longer to review, which is what I qualified for. If anything more than their "standard" is rejected, then you have to redo the process all over again. I was forced to not take the risk and opt for half of the accommodations I've been getting in school for 5+ years because everything took so long, despite me starting the process in the early spring. I most likely would have been accepted for the full if the process wasn't so long. It gets worse and worse the more I describe what happened. And... I was sick during it. I had to stop in the middle to take an antibiotic. ? I had a 3 year long infection that wouldn't go away, so I was very sick. To think I could go into even more examples of how the GRE is nothing but a useless created barrier. Mind you, I have a 4.0 GPA, 3+ years research, 9 scholarships, a research grant, 3 years teaching college level, and a ton of other things I don't want to go into. My GRE verbal and quant was dreadful. All of this and you look at one day? I just think about all the people who have these dreams and worked so hard and long only to face unfair barriers that could get them automatically thrown in a pile where they aren't even considered, and it breaks my heart. It has clear social class, gender, disability, and ethnicity biases. Many programs are indeed discussing this year as a "trial" to see if it will remain optional. We will see how seriously they take their "diversity" claims. They claim they support diversity then weed out more disabled and BIPOC students this way than they seem to care. People may try to claim I am an "outlier" because I am such a strong applicant and did so bad. First, does that mean it's okay to keep doing this knowing it impacts certain oppressed or underrepresented groups because "oh it's just a few people!"?? Second, it is less of an "outlier" problem and more that it literally has processes built in that weeds out certain types of people based on money, disability, accommodations, the set up, etc. regardless of qualifications. It's not "just a few" at all. The fact that they are suddenly doing something about it during a pandemic and that it took this long is also frustrating. It's like they suddenly cared the moment everyone else had difficulty taking it but didn't when certain groups have always faced barriers like this. If anyone from a program is reading this who can take a stand for underrepresented and oppressed groups, do it.

Maybe not "fight" but I think the persons response above nails it. I had a PI reach out to me and explain that when there are more faculty wanting a student than there are slots, certain faculty get priority depending on their status in the department (tenured, nontenured, etc).

OSU had formal interviews yesterday on the 6th. I think your assumption for that one is correct. That's the only one I can comment on though. Good luck!

I am actually looking into MA/MS programs right now (there aren't many PhD programs that are any later at this point), but the person below me did mention Purdue. Yes, they are correct, that deadline was moved to Jan 15th Thanks! Other than that, Master's programs have deadlines Jan-Feb, though I think that is a given, and I am not sure if this information is helpful if someone already has their Master's degree. But hope it helps! Editing to say I meant to respond to the above poster asking me about the programs. Oops!

Thank you ? Lost my cool for a sec there. I appreciate it, and I appreciate the encouragement. Out of nowhere, I found one with a Jan 15th deadline that is actually somehow a great fit with my research interests! And thanks to everyone here for the reflections, advice, and shared thoughts/perspectives. I hope it opened the conversation and helped others dealing with this too. Happy holidays and Merry Christmas everyone.

Potentially!

Thanks. That helps. It's a nightmare for me right now haha. I am really kicking myself for only applying to 6, but I kept an open mind and applied to a range. I just didn't want to (and couldn't) apply to any programs I wouldn't actually be happy to attend if it were the only one I was accepted into, and I couldn't afford more than that. I got fee waivers for most programs. Five different schools I wanted to apply to were not accepting any students at all this year because of the pandemic. I had to cut my list way down to the 6 that were still admitting students. And 3 of my 6 schools have Jan. interviews on their website, so I am pretty sure I am 50% out, including my first choice (UK). Some of them are on the results page I have over 3 years research work + project managing experience in 3 different labs, 3 years asst teaching in college psych and English courses, 4.0 GPA, 9 posters (both national and regional), manuscript, 6 invited addresses/panel discussions/webinars, an honors thesis, 3 clinical internships, poster presentation award, 2 travel grants, university research grant, 9 scholarships, board committee member for international org., etc. etc. and great fit with research interest in labs. I figured I had a bit of a disadvantage from people who could still afford or access to take the GRE somehow in this pandemic mess and score well, who had publications, more research, etc., no matter how much I tried to do but didn't think I'd have 0 interviews. I didn't have scores to report and they were either not accepted or optional, so I didn't think it mattered. I just feel terrible. My LOR were from: assoc chair of dept/PI, one of my disability studies professors in another field but I took 5 courses with her and did an ind. study project with her relevant to psych, and the 3rd was the executive director of the org I am in. My thesis advisor couldn't write my letter anymore (hospitalized with severe presumed Covid) so I had to ask the director the week of to write one for me. So I only had one letter who could speak to my research more directly. I don't even know if he is ok. It has been up and down for me. Sorry this got long. It is just sooooo hard! And I can't imagine how other people are feeling with the variety of circumstances going on right now. We can do this.

Is anyone else severely struggling a lot more than they thought they would with this process...? I was fine when I submitted them, and up to about two weeks afterwards, but I am not fine now! I am truly happy for everyone here and am excited for the next generation of mental health professionals and researchers. Yet I have 0 invites. I am trying not to get down, but I did not anticipate just how terrible I would feel for the holidays. My grad student mentor said to take time for myself and my family. It's hard

I did too. Personally, I think everyone did to help them sort through all the applications.

They apparently also sent out a mass rejection (I think, according to a different topic). I only just received an email yesterday from the graduate school that said they are reviewing my application. I am not entirely sure what it means but maybe they aren't done yet.

Yes I’ve been asked to interview. The problem is I’m more interested in working with teens and adults. But I figured this can’t hurt, and I’ll still technically be working with ages up to 18. It’s considered a part time job only, thats all im applying for. I’m just not sure if I should reveal I wouldn’t be able to continue much once college starts back up.

Hello! I am an undergrad seeking clinical experience. I currently work for a lab, have had some interns, but I may take a job this summer. Before I do, I want to ensure it will be valuable maybe, because I’m having a hard time choosing if I should do my intern NOW and not take the job or do my intern in the fall and take the job then quit or lower my hours when I go back to college in the fall. It is called youth peer support specialist. According to the description, I would, “provide support to youth with severe emotional disturbance, support youth empowerment, assist skill development, transition and community integration, and work collaboratively with those involved in their care.... the youth peer support specialist is a person who is willing to self identify as a peer who has received treatment for mental illness and/or substance use and has made progression in their own treatment.” They are trained and certified through a program by the state. Thoughts? Would it be weird to just do my intern in the fall, and take the job? But then that’d mean I’d have to awkwardly quit or lower my hours and discuss it with them when college starts back up.