EileanDonan

Is anyone including experience that isn't directly psych related on their CV? I've done some generic analyst type work, but nothing that's made a particular difference to my career.

Only one of the schools I'm applying to has explicitly said they won't be requiring it for next cycle. Beyond that, I think it's too soon to say. I'd bet some will, but others won't, especially given the recent vaccine announcement (assuming that works out fine). So if you haven't taken it, I think it's reasonable to start planning on doing so. Just my $0.02

For what it's worth, I didn't send mine where they were not required. Mine were also "okay". I'd rather my experiences and GPA speak for themselves!

Hi Folks, I thought I might set up a place where we can request feedback from our peers should any of us be interested. My PI is being a bit slow in returning critique for mine, so I'd be up to doing a swap with a couple other users for some preliminary feedback. Let's rock it this cycle! ?

Are folks sending off their recommendation links ASAP, or closer to deadlines?

I've had this issue myself a few times, I just make sure to include the zone in all correspondence so we're on the same page.

Does having an existing connection to one of the departments you're applying to (e.g. having a working relationship with a non-POI faculty member) make much of a difference in terms of how you app is viewed? Anyone have experience with this sort of thing?

Awesome! There's not really a wide range of school options for folks like us I think. I'm interested in the etiology of psychopathy/antisocial PD, especially within the context of criminality. Some interest in assessments as well. I'm interested in these topics from both neuro and personality perspectives (both is better!). With that said, we probably won't be overlapping much with our PIs, so I guess we can breathe easier there at least haha. Also a note on differentiating programs for SOP's, have you considered poking around their student handbooks for ideas? Those are pretty detailed.

Yes! Still working on finishing this portion myself. I don't know what it is, but I'm either writing absolutely nothing of worth or completely overdoing it and then having to cut down. It's a bit frustrating too since my interests can be approached from a few different perspectives, and my advisor choices reflect that. I don't know how I'm supposed to do all of this with a full-time job too. ? Also, going by your school list, do you have forensic interests by any chance?

I'd like to concur here and and state that I would support a general psych academic/career life thread if others are open to it as well. I also resonate with the second point as that's exactly where I am. I'm afraid that if I do make it to interviews, will I have to hide my middle ground orientation? I believe that wanting to bridge that gap and have a thorough understanding of both clinically practical and theoretically sound methods is most desirable. I think it's fair to say that if you're going to house your lab in a clinical department, don't be surprised when your potential students want to practice as well!

I haven't personally had reason to reach out to admissions folks on that sort of thing, but it's possible? If you know for sure that your POIs are still accepting, then I would still go for it anyway; pre-interview communication isn't necessarily indicative of final outcomes anyway.

If it's simply a matter of determining whether the POI is accepting this year, I would just email someone in admissions for the department.

Has anyone else had POI's misspell your own name? I'm sure it was a typo, but at the same time, given how much we slave over these responses, the least we could get is something that was proofread in return...

I thank you for this thoughtful contribution, I find it meaningful. I also feel that I have a heightened sense of the "real world" now compared to fresh grads, as I've seen and experienced things (including those that one is generally advised not to include on an SOP) that have had a rather sobering impact on my outlook, for better or worse. I also quite enjoyed the article you included, as it eloquently hit the nail on the head of an issue I've been pondering myself recently; that is, the (ideally!) reciprocal nature of research and clinical practice. While I have no interest in becoming a professor myself, I do hope to maintain a balance of research and clinical work after my PhD. Given that this article is now 14 years old, I wonder how things have changed since its publication? Methinks not very much, although one can hope...but in the meantime, back to my statements...

Nothing wrong with that! There's still a strong possibility this will be me in the next couple months. Just think of the amazing schools you'll have on your list next time around!

Don't let the lateness get to you too much, I'm still waiting to hear from some POI's! I'm afraid my finalized list will be too small, maybe as little as 8. It's hard finding that cut-off point of reach vs. safety schools to include. Sure, I'd like to apply to Yale this cycle, but do I really want to pay an exorbitant fee to be one of 700 ridiculously qualified people?...

Does anyone else here have any schools whose deadlines are 11/15? I effectively have to have everything done in a month and a half because of one school...

I think it's reasonable to just pick 2-3 of your most trusted profs for their input, especially regarding the more academic and persuasive elements of your SoP. Friends and family do make sense for critiquing general flow, but unless they're familiar with your field as well, I would take these with more of a relative grain of salt.

Has anyone else made much headway on their SoP yet? Out of everything, writing this feels like the most herculean task. Does anyone have any recommendations for any sources/examples they've found particularly helpful with this (I've found some, just curious to hear others' input as well)?

UPenn's clinical program doesn't actually say anything about not accepting students (rather to the contrary): link. I think the announcement made by the Arts & Sciences isn't necessarily overarching, as UPenn's physics program also just announced they'll be accepting anyway. Make of that what you will? ?

Personally, I think it's worth giving it a shot, especially if some of your PI's of interest have confirmed that they will be taking new students. I still have 15-20 schools I'm whittling down, and none of those have said they're closing apps for the cycle. Honestly, I feel like clinical programs outright barring new admissions for this cycle are in the minority. And who knows where things will be this time next year! I wouldn't want to rely on things being a total 180 in that regard.

For what it's worth, I had a conflict with a supervisor during a clinical internship I had last year which ultimately ended on a less-than-desirable note. Fortunately, I've filled other roles since then (much better experiences!), which means I can just draw upon them for references. I still keep this internship on my CV, and I've never had anyone directly ask for a reference from that location; my most recent research and clinical experience have been sufficient.

Honestly, the further on this year goes, the more I wonder if it's even worth bothering applying this year - again. This year has been hell for professional development.

I ended up getting reject from the initial one, haha. However, I've noticed that when I get interview it's a sort of "when it rains, it pours" situation (but in a good way)! I ended up getting invitations for five positions around that time, and I'm waiting to hear back about three now. I had a third-round (extra excited about this one) and another first-round today. August has the potential to be very interesting indeed (or very disappointing...)! Bit nervous about how relocation will work, though. Sorry, about the work situation! My current lab only JUST got the funding in to pay me for work I've actually been doing since the fall, which is weird timing considering I'll start a new job soon for all I know. There are some real pros and cons with both spouses being highly ambitious, and self-sacrifice becomes a necessity after a while. Communication is so incredibly vital! Things end up working in "turns" for us as well, and it seems that mine will be next, too. Hang in there!

I'm still undecided - my interest list is almost 30, but I have very little idea of how many of the PIs are actually accepting this cycle. I plan on having the list greatly whittled down by the end of September once I've reached out to more folks. I definitely want to stick to the usual 10-15, although this year has been so weird for me. For all I know, I'll just select a handful I'm particularly excited for and otherwise wait till the next cycle (again). I feel like I'll be ancient by the time I start! On the plus side, there's the potential to save loads on GRE costs this year, so it's easier to afford throwing in a few extra schools.