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EileanDonan

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  1. Upvote
    EileanDonan reacted to PsyDuck90 in Psych Grad Life: Debates on day-to-day issues and future directions   
    Honestly, if I didn't have a spouse, I don’t think it would have been very manageable. 
  2. Like
    EileanDonan reacted to psych_student4391 in USA Fall 2022 Clinical/Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    Yes! The discord server is anonymous. We offer peer review but take measures to ensure members’ privacy. And there are a few PhD students on there that offer advice and answer questions, as well as repeat applicants who are more than willing to share what they’ve learned from previous cycles. The server has been a very positive environment where members can find resources, as well as get feedback and emotional support and encouragement from peers navigating the same space. 
  3. Upvote
    EileanDonan got a reaction from RebeccaPsych in Personal Statement Tips   
    I’m definitely no expert here, but last cycle I used an anecdote from one of my clinically-oriented positions as an introduction, from which I pivoted into my graduate goals. I had one POI comment positively on this, as well as on the generally well-written prose. Can’t understate the importance of the last point!
  4. Upvote
    EileanDonan got a reaction from Psyche007 in Personal Statement Tips   
    I’m definitely no expert here, but last cycle I used an anecdote from one of my clinically-oriented positions as an introduction, from which I pivoted into my graduate goals. I had one POI comment positively on this, as well as on the generally well-written prose. Can’t understate the importance of the last point!
  5. Upvote
    EileanDonan reacted to PsyDuck90 in "What are my chances?" 2022   
    It's about that time where we are seeing multiple students asking about their chances of getting into a program this next app cycle. Rather than having many threads about the same thing, it will be easier to have all these questions in one place. 
  6. Like
    EileanDonan reacted to voluntconvertere in USA Fall 2022 Clinical/Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    I didn’t post to discourage people from applying this cycle entirely, only to bring awareness to a trend and offer a very worrying example which I am almost certain is not the only one. I really hope my post encourages others to more thoroughly evaluate programs and think critically about how they are operating. Full disclosure: I am not in an ideal financial situation so the idea of paying lots of money to have my application tossed out really didn’t sit well with me and I wanted to know what my chances actually are. Also finding out if it’s a worthy investment for potentially 7 years of my life. 
    I heard it from a student going on internship, they also went to my undergrad so I think having that in common helped them to open up.
     
    My advice for getting this kind of information is to contact a potential PI and ask for current grad student contact information they may be willing to share, or look at their pubs and contact grad students that are co-authors, or if the program has an updated website look on the lab page and reach out to lab members directly.
    I asked to chat over zoom, and asked for honest answers to questions like “what is the culture like their?” “How did the department respond to COVID? To the BLM protests and the violence against AAPI?” “Is diversity discussed openly or is there a ‘diversity day’ in classes?” “What are things you would like to change?” “What are things that are changing? How do you think this will impact the program?” “How does admin communicate with students? With faculty?” “Did you feel prepared for practicum? Internship?” “What were classes like?” “We’re you able to take the classes you wanted to?” “How did the PI/other faculty/ admin handle conflicts?” “Have students left the program? Was this related to the program or other life events? How supportive was the PI/admin?” etc.
    Another thing I have found to be helpful is looking into syllabi, when the classes are offered and how that maps on to the programs of study.
     
    Again, hope this helps others interested in applying to think critically about the programs we are applying to and maybe save some time and money.
  7. Upvote
    EileanDonan reacted to voluntconvertere in USA Fall 2022 Clinical/Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    Those intending to apply this cycle: there is trouble brewing in a lot of departments right now. I strongly encourage getting in touch with grad students for honest opinions if you can. Those who have recently graduated if possible since they can’t face retaliation. I’ll post an example. 
    I have had contact with a student who just graduated from an R02 because I was interested in applying to the program. I was surprised how strongly it was discouraged by the student. The reasons they gave:
    - The DH and DCT are highly criticized for their handling of the COVID pandemic and responses to racial tensions.
    - Both the DH and DCT have openly lied to current students and applicants.
    - DH is being relocated outside of the department.
    - DCT is being asked to leave because they were holding up TLLPs, annual reviews, grades, supervision, basically everything, and not responding to students and engaging in some retaliation.
    - Classes are being dropped after students are enrolled. Apparently this can impact practica and internship placements.
    - Classes are not sufficiently rigorous to prepare potential clinicians. The student said everyone had a 4.0, but not everyone was a competent therapist, and that generally the classes were at or below an undergraduate level (they went to an R01 for undergrad).
    - Entire programs of study have been thrown out and now students who entered the program for those programs/tracks are getting general training instead of specific training. So students who came for specialist training in ASD treatments  don’t have the opportunities they were promised or can’t take specific, relevant classes in the program handbook because they haven’t been offered in years.
    - Faculty sitting on committees are holding up milestones, not giving edits or feedback, or requiring entire projects to be redone at the last moment, or “not supporting students in continuing” in the program.
    - Multiple students have left the program in the past month alone (June, 2021).
     
    All this from a program with a 10-year APA accreditation. Be very, VERY careful this cycle. From the sounds of it loads of programs are struggling financially and some may even be closing. They still may take our money, though.
     
    You can DM me for the program or more details, although this seems to be a trend. I’ll try to come up with a list of questions or something if it would be helpful.
  8. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from Psyche007 in Looking for Friends to go Through the Application Cycle Together   
    Welcome back!
    Technically my third year, too, I hope something finally sticks for us! ?
  9. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from Psyche007 in Looking for Friends to go Through the Application Cycle Together   
    A bunch of us applicants from last cycle started a discord to discuss various aspect of the process; I'll drop a link here if anyone is interested.
    https://discord.gg/89KAgeTS
  10. Upvote
    EileanDonan got a reaction from SoundofSilence in Looking for Friends to go Through the Application Cycle Together   
    For what it's worth, I'm holding off until after the semester starts. Many POI's don't know until the fall (although I have seen a couple of mine indicate their status already).
  11. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from SoundofSilence in Looking for Friends to go Through the Application Cycle Together   
    Welcome back!
    Technically my third year, too, I hope something finally sticks for us! ?
  12. Upvote
    EileanDonan got a reaction from CheesecakeFactory04 in Looking for Friends to go Through the Application Cycle Together   
    A bunch of us applicants from last cycle started a discord to discuss various aspect of the process; I'll drop a link here if anyone is interested.
    https://discord.gg/89KAgeTS
  13. Upvote
    EileanDonan reacted to topsailpsych in What's your age when you apply for graduate program for the first time and when you get into one?   
    I'm a career changer, so my path has been a little circuitous.  I first applied for a clinical psych PhD program at 24 and was rejected.  Applied for clinical psych PhD again at 25 and was rejected again.  Applied to a grad cert program in positive psych at 26 and was accepted.  Completed that an applied for a counseling psych PhD program at 28, was rejected for PhD but accepted into the MEd program.  I applied for clinical and counseling psych PhD programs this past fall at 30 and was rejected by all.  I have had virtually no research experience through everything, so after I complete my MEd next month I'm going to spend a year doing research and hopefully publishing like crazy then applying again this fall at 31.
    Everyone has a different path to graduate study.  If you feel you're ready to commit yourself to a graduate program now, there's no harm in going ahead and applying.  If you feel you need a few years of a break from school, there's no harm in taking some time away and returning in a year or two or ten...  Finances can certainly complicate decision making, but you'll make the decision that's right for your situation.  And truly there's really no wrong path to grad school.  Your path is your own.  Good luck!
  14. Like
    EileanDonan reacted to Itsrainingoutside in 2021 Cycle - Lessons, Advice, and New Plans   
    For me, I applied to 12, interviewed at 3, was accepted to one and accepted that offer. I'll say something that I think helped me, and I'll definitely echo what was said before about knowing your area of interest. I felt that during my interview with the PI who accepted me in comparison to the other interviews I had, I was able to most clearly articulate my research interests and paint a picture of what I'm interested in in a way that demonstrated I am knowledgeable about the area I want to study. A lot of PI's are able to sniff out depth of interest and knowledge in a subject because they are experts themselves in a similar topic (hopefully, because you should apply to PI's where you have a good research fit). So rather than saying, I'm interested in XYZ, be able to say I'm interested in XYZ because of this this or this specific aspect of this topic. To me, that's always been the most important thing is being able to paint a picture to a PI of what your work will be like and what kinds of things they will be helping you with. That being said, with my other two interviews, that was the aspect of what felt off to me when I did interview at those places. I don't think I communicated this information as well. 
    Something random I also think that helped: my research topic was similar to other students in the lab, but not the same. I noticed a lot of the PI's students focused on similar phenomena within the same disorder. My interests were definitely along a similar vein, but looking at a different phenomena within that disorder. I guess the point would be, I would think maybe PI's don't want all of their students to necessarily study the exact same thing? And bringing something slightly different that what they are already doing but that's definitely within their capability to study, might be refreshing for a PI. This is something that, again, I don't necessarily think I had at the other interviews I did. 
    Congrats to everyone for making it through this rough process, it's hella defeating. 
  15. Upvote
    EileanDonan got a reaction from Itsrainingoutside in 2021 Cycle - Lessons, Advice, and New Plans   
    Hi folks,
    Now that we're finally coming down from the last cycle, I thought it might be helpful if we processed the things we learned and experienced.
    For those who were rejected, what do you wish you had done differently? What particularly caught you off guard? What do you plan to do this year to boost you for the next cycle? Etc.
    For those who were accepted, was there anything about your approach to applying/interviewing that you felt really boosted your candidacy? Anything you think future applicants should focus on? Etc.
     
    I'll start; for reference, I was not accepted.
    One element of my interview prep I should have bettered considered was developing specific ideas for what I would do for my thesis/dissertation. I realize this degree of specificity may or may not actually come up in conversation with a POI, but you really don't want to be unprepared here should it be brought up. Do you have to necessarily narrow it down precisely? Probably not, but having a general hypothesis, population, and basic methodology is preferable. You should also be able to defend why you would pursue this idea, and how it builds upon the lab's work. Similar to the above, be prepared to defend why your particular research focus/foci is important to the field; if you're aiming for clinical, be prepared to explain why studying X is useful for better understanding and treating patients (whether you actually plan on going into practice or not.) I think there is something to be said for having clinically-oriented work/volunteer experience, especially if it's relevant to your research focus. While this obviously comes second to doing research, having stories to share that were more "human interest" was useful and relatable. These are specific things that came up for me; otherwise, the usual advice about reaching out to POI's before submission, prepping a bunch of your own questions, familiarizing yourself with the literature, and practicing interviewing with someone are also things I would echo. My own application prep suggestion: looking at the backgrounds/CVs of your POI's current grad students is the best, most realistic sense you're going to get of what you should be doing to develop your candidacy in a given POI's eyes. Not saying that you need to be worried about making yourself a carbon copy of the advisees (unless they actually do seem weirdly cookie-cutter?...), but if, for example, everyone had experience with XYZ software before applying, then it would be worth determining how you could get that experience yourself if you haven't already. Or if they all have experience with ABC population, and you don't, see about spending some volunteer time with that pop in the coming months (e.g. want to go into forensic psych? Volunteer as a prison tutor or as a tech in a juvenile detention center.) Have they all done an undergrad thesis? If you haven't, push harder to get your own name on pubs/posters in your current lab. This coming cycle, I'll be pushing to vary my technical skills, continuing to work through the literature for study ideas, and I'll also be putting more effort into reaching out to POI's ahead of time in the fall.
    Feel free to share any good thoughts!
  16. Upvote
    EileanDonan reacted to fafsaavoidant in 2021 Cycle - Lessons, Advice, and New Plans   
    I was an alternate in two different programs, and didn't get either slot, which really was a punch to the gut. I wish I'd applied to more programs (I only applied to five), and I also wish I'd avoided the big name schools entirely-- there's something to be said for schools that are really good, but aren't as well known. I also don't know if I did a good enough job relating my current career (I'm pivoting) to the programs I was applying for. Frankly, I think my first denial messed with my head a bit, and put a lot of self doubt in my head. 
    That said, I'm taking a break. I was admitted to a masters program, and that will hopefully help me the next time I do my applications. Best of luck next time, everyone!
  17. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from fafsaavoidant in 2021 Cycle - Lessons, Advice, and New Plans   
    Hi folks,
    Now that we're finally coming down from the last cycle, I thought it might be helpful if we processed the things we learned and experienced.
    For those who were rejected, what do you wish you had done differently? What particularly caught you off guard? What do you plan to do this year to boost you for the next cycle? Etc.
    For those who were accepted, was there anything about your approach to applying/interviewing that you felt really boosted your candidacy? Anything you think future applicants should focus on? Etc.
     
    I'll start; for reference, I was not accepted.
    One element of my interview prep I should have bettered considered was developing specific ideas for what I would do for my thesis/dissertation. I realize this degree of specificity may or may not actually come up in conversation with a POI, but you really don't want to be unprepared here should it be brought up. Do you have to necessarily narrow it down precisely? Probably not, but having a general hypothesis, population, and basic methodology is preferable. You should also be able to defend why you would pursue this idea, and how it builds upon the lab's work. Similar to the above, be prepared to defend why your particular research focus/foci is important to the field; if you're aiming for clinical, be prepared to explain why studying X is useful for better understanding and treating patients (whether you actually plan on going into practice or not.) I think there is something to be said for having clinically-oriented work/volunteer experience, especially if it's relevant to your research focus. While this obviously comes second to doing research, having stories to share that were more "human interest" was useful and relatable. These are specific things that came up for me; otherwise, the usual advice about reaching out to POI's before submission, prepping a bunch of your own questions, familiarizing yourself with the literature, and practicing interviewing with someone are also things I would echo. My own application prep suggestion: looking at the backgrounds/CVs of your POI's current grad students is the best, most realistic sense you're going to get of what you should be doing to develop your candidacy in a given POI's eyes. Not saying that you need to be worried about making yourself a carbon copy of the advisees (unless they actually do seem weirdly cookie-cutter?...), but if, for example, everyone had experience with XYZ software before applying, then it would be worth determining how you could get that experience yourself if you haven't already. Or if they all have experience with ABC population, and you don't, see about spending some volunteer time with that pop in the coming months (e.g. want to go into forensic psych? Volunteer as a prison tutor or as a tech in a juvenile detention center.) Have they all done an undergrad thesis? If you haven't, push harder to get your own name on pubs/posters in your current lab. This coming cycle, I'll be pushing to vary my technical skills, continuing to work through the literature for study ideas, and I'll also be putting more effort into reaching out to POI's ahead of time in the fall.
    Feel free to share any good thoughts!
  18. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from Kelso123 in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    I’ve been doing basically this but with RA jobs for the last two years. I’m not sure how much longer I can manage it either. At least we’re in good company. 
  19. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from NotYourMothersGrad in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    My impression is that most positions are at least partially in-person, certainly with the expectation that they will be increasingly so as the months pass. Are you only able to work in your immediate area? I'm afraid that alone will be your biggest problem moving forward; I can spend a week scraping positions from across the country and still only find a handful that are relevant enough to me. Otherwise, just try adding in "remote" as a keyword to your search; every once in a blue moon I'll see one (but again, may very well not be an indefinite expectation).
    Have you tried looking for clinically-relevant positions in your area (psych tech, psychometrist, addiction treatment, forensic-relevant work, etc)? Granted it's not as preferable as research, but at least it's still psych, and you could still consider emailing labs in your area and inquire as to whether they would let you do some volunteering in your spare time (if you're open to that). Make sure to express a direct interest in their area of research and how that relates to your own interests and skills. That would be my back up-option if I were doing this solo.
  20. Like
    EileanDonan reacted to NotYourMothersGrad in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    5 interviews and officially rejected from 4 ? let's goooooo 
    I don't know how to survive another year of this y'all. To get so close and still fail is the worst feeling in the world.
  21. Like
    EileanDonan reacted to Biopsychosocialyzing in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    To those feeling "too" old, I get it, I am turning 35 this summer. I sometimes tell my current PI that I feel sad about not having chosen this career earlier, and he always points out to me how valuable my life experiences have been, how intentional I am and how age sometimes really helps.. Plus he always reminds me that I have my three amazing kids who I love to death and who bring me so much joy (also drive me nuts..) but having a family also taught me how to juggle school, work, research and family and be more organized and intentional with my time. Not to say it wouldn't be nice to be doing this in my early twenties, or even late twenties, but I don't necessarily think it's always a downside to be a bit older. I still have so much time to do what I love, and my kids will be a bit older and more independent once I finish grad school. Plus I feel like a kid at heart lol  
  22. Like
    EileanDonan reacted to shouldhavebeenagoatfarmer in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    Thanks friend. I love working with animals and have loved the farms I’ve worked on so if I ever finally have my full mental breakdown and leave society you know where I’ll be. 
  23. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from nav.psych in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    I spiritually relate to this. And your username.
  24. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from shouldhavebeenagoatfarmer in Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD   
    I spiritually relate to this. And your username.
  25. Like
    EileanDonan got a reaction from LavenderGoat in Advice for applying next year?   
    Hopelessness is a natural reaction to the absurdity and disorder of this process.
    While I haven't quite given up yet, I'm terrified of not getting in this next cycle too. We all know the typical advice for making yourself competitive, but if you follow it to the letter and it still isn't sufficient to garner the attention of programs, how else is one supposed to react? What else is one supposed to do? At what point are you forced to acknowledge that the gates will never open for you, no matter how many moats you might have crossed just to arrive there? Of course this will vary between people, their resilience to the rejection. At this point, I feel like just getting accepted to a program will be the greater accomplishment, not completing one. If only the "powers that be" were seriously attuned to that sentiment (much less bothered to find ways of alleviating it).
    In the meantime, I'm looking for a new lab job currently. I'm also now dedicating a good portion of my free time to developing a project that is entirely irrelevant to my career goals, but actually has a chance of achieving a small piece of fulfillment. If any of you take something away from this - don't let psych and grad school become your identity. It's too fickle.
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