Tesalyn

Thank you for the response. I am set on getting a PhD. My career goal is to be a professor. I currently work as an adjunct teaching programming classes. I've known for quite a few years that I wanted to get my PhD and become a professor. However, I have a lot of interests, and it took me a long time to figure out which one I wanted to pursue for my long-term career. However, after taking that time, I am confident this is the direction I wish to go. I know my primary interest area is personality psychology. I am already working on reading and becoming more familiar with the field. My primary reasons for considering either a master's degree or second bachelor's in psychology are to take the prerequisite classes that some school prefer and to gain additional opportunities for research and extracurriculars in the field. I am going to pursue volunteering in a professor's lab, and I have begun discussions with a professor whose work I am particularly interested in. But it would be interesting to also have the opportunity to do some research of my own as part of either an undergrad or grad program, particularly if I have to wait a few years (while getting research experience in a lab) to be competitive. Ideally, I'd like to be competitive for some of the best rated schools in my desired research area, if it is possible for me to do so. As eager as I am to get started, it would actually be a lot easier for me to be able to relocate a few years from now.

Hi. I want to apply to PhD programs in psychology. My main interest area is social/personality psychology. I have an undergrad degree in a social science (but not in psychology) and I took several psychology classes as an undergrad. I am currently completing a second masters degree (both in subjects related to technology). My gpa is good, and while I haven't taken the GRE yet, I am studying for it and I typically do very well on standardized tests. I am trying to figure out a couple of things. First is how I can best work to increase my odds of getting into PhD programs in this competitive field. I have already started the process of looking for a psychology lab I can volunteer in. I am unsure, however, whether it would be best for me to pursue a second bachelor's degree, pursue a master's degree, or just take post-bac classes in psychology. I am not able to move until I start my PhD program, so that limits my choices to what is available near me and online. I'm not sure how online programs are viewed if they are from schools like Arizona State University? There is only one university near me that offers a terminal master's degree in psychology with a research focus. It's not a bad school, but not the best either and it's a 1 1/2 hour drive from where I am, which I can work with, but only if that's my best option. I can get a second bachelor's from another university that is a better school. My undergraduate degree is from a top 50 ranked university, but they don't offer terminal master's degrees in psychology or allow for a second bachelors or post-bac courses in psychology. I also am wondering what a realistic timeframe might be for which cycle I should apply for? I'd love to start in 2019, but I am worried I will be a weak applicant for that cycle. I am also worried that my rather varied career and educational history will be to my detriment. Any advice or thoughts are greatly appreciated. Thanks!