PsychApplicantFall2019

I have the Microsoft Surface Book (bought the original version refurbished when I started my RA position 2 years ago). I've used a lot of different computers, including macs and more powerful pcs, but besides being light/small, having a beautiful screen, and top tier wireless connectivity, its pen and tablet mode paired with Microsoft OneNote has totally replaced my notebook (and habit of printing pdfs), providing an ideal space for just sitting down and *thinking* (or reading) about stuff, beyond the coding/writing tasks typically done on computers.
At least in my niche, either data analysis isn't very intensive at all, or programs that *do* use intensive data analysis (e.g. cognitive neuroscience, which often depends on performing complex analyses on high-dimensional data sets) tend to maintain computing clusters that run all the computations for you faster than any reasonable laptop might. More broadly, computing these days has become much more cloud-based. Activities like reading, organizing, and preparing papers, writing and executing code, and so forth all happen more and more often in your web browser or otherwise remotely instead of on your own system.
In this context where it's not so important to vest computing power in your own system, what's important? I'd say that it's a fast and comfortable interface with remote resources. You want a very good and fast internet, a screen that's sizeable and easy on the eyes, a responsive/comfortable keyboard, etc. I also prioritize portability, and have shed a much more powerful but bulkier laptop because a smaller laptop with poorer performance but better ergonomics did a better job. Oftentimes, the experience is actually most seamless with a desktop paired with a good/big monitor or set of monitors and keyboard. In this sense, the laptop just complements that by replacing the desktop when you're on the move. So I prioritize portability even more because of that.
One added functionality that I've additionally prized is being able to use my laptop as a notebook for taking notes, thinking through problems, or annotating papers/books! It's critical for science work imo and until I had the system I had now, I had to rely on less seamless alternatives - like paper or separate tablets requiring me to spend more time transferring information, printing/scanning things, or being dissatisfied with tech not really designed for the stuff I was trying to do. That's why I sprung for the surface book instead of a mac or other windows-based laptop. I think that the surface book is an amazing device; it's totally transformed my relationship with technology and ideas in general. The surface pen is the first I've used to actually feel *better* than using an actual pen on paper, and with Microsoft OneNote it's totally replaced my collection of Moleskins. Now that there are a lot of tools to interface Windows with unix/terminal systems (there's the Linux Subsystem for Windows, and more than that, Moba XTerm, which imo is better than any terminal tools I've found for the MacOS), I feel like I can recommend the surface book and devices like it wholeheartedly to anyone who'll listen.

@theremixtocognition I am also applying Cognitive Psychology. I also have noticed that there are very few people talking about it in on the forum. Why is it making you nervous?
I have been following the developmental, social, and the neuroscience threads because it seems far more relevant than clinical/counseling. This forum sometimes makes me wish that clincial/counseling was an entirely separate discipline. 

I'll be at Cornell in the Department of Human Development!!

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!

This question may be better suited for a different thread.

I keep checking this website as if it will make the next few weeks pass by more quickly...

I can think of a few reasons why profs might be reluctant to provide feedback. 
(a) lots of requests, very little time. May be harsh to say, but it's not the POI's job to mentor or coach applicants.
(b) sometimes the request is really an attempt at appealing the decision under the guise of asking for feedback. Replying is inviting an argument.
(c) sometimes people actually aren't receptive to candid feedback and respond rudely.
(d) the weakness might be something the candidate can't easily improve over a year like "your GPA is bad" or "you said something offensive in an email, and even if you don't do that next year we won't change our mind."
(e) profs are people too. The reason might be something they feel awkward telling you or that is hard to phrase. For example, being interpersonally awkward at the interviews, or you were good but not great. May also overlap with (d), e.g., "Get smarter" or "have a better personality" isn't terribly actionable and nobody wants to be a dream crusher.
(f) maybe your references weren't glowing and it would breach confidentiality to tell you that.
Some of these reasons overlap with more general reasons why employers don't like to provide feedback to rejected job candidates.
 
 

Does anyone know if anybody heard about acceptances from UNC Chapel Hill after interviews?

I keep checking this website as if it will make the next few weeks pass by more quickly...

I keep checking this website as if it will make the next few weeks pass by more quickly...

I keep checking this website as if it will make the next few weeks pass by more quickly...

I keep checking this website as if it will make the next few weeks pass by more quickly...

I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been accepted to a program that I would be happy to attend. I also just submitted a manuscript that I have been working on forever. But, the process is not going to be over for at least a month, and I am dreading everything. I am so ready for this to be over. 

I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been accepted to a program that I would be happy to attend. I also just submitted a manuscript that I have been working on forever. But, the process is not going to be over for at least a month, and I am dreading everything. I am so ready for this to be over. 

I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been accepted to a program that I would be happy to attend. I also just submitted a manuscript that I have been working on forever. But, the process is not going to be over for at least a month, and I am dreading everything. I am so ready for this to be over. 

I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been accepted to a program that I would be happy to attend. I also just submitted a manuscript that I have been working on forever. But, the process is not going to be over for at least a month, and I am dreading everything. I am so ready for this to be over. 

I just got accepted into a school and I am ecstatic. I know I won't be accepting the offer because the funding isn't right but I got in, y'all......... *does a mini jiggy* *insert twerk emoji*

I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been accepted to a program that I would be happy to attend. I also just submitted a manuscript that I have been working on forever. But, the process is not going to be over for at least a month, and I am dreading everything. I am so ready for this to be over. 

I feel incredibly fortunate. I have been accepted to a program that I would be happy to attend. I also just submitted a manuscript that I have been working on forever. But, the process is not going to be over for at least a month, and I am dreading everything. I am so ready for this to be over. 

mmm if your boss is a prof per se then you should just follow his lead
if you're not in clinical, overall the admissions process is pretty individualized/people-focused and contacts w/ relevant profs in the labs you're interested in can pull quite a bit of weight
am p sure one of my writers for instance directly contacted at least a couple of the POIs I was interested in working under; course this was a bit more than a month ago when the process was far less developed
honestly this whole convo is giving me the feeling that maybe clinical and non-clinical psych applicants might do better with their own forums; there seems to be a really big divide in culture

This not actually what’s going on. The US is currently in a partial government shutdown. Over 60% of government employees are not furloughed or working without paychecks. That is because the DOD (by far the largest federal employer) is funded for fiscal year 2019. 
To to the point, though, the problem with the TSA right now is that the employees are required to work during the shutdown (most government employees are just not currently working). A lot of TSA agents are calling out sick, so it is causing airports to close TSA check points are dramatically increasing the wait time to get through the checkpoints. 
I also want to point out that the TSA employees are not exactly working without pay. They will get paid retroactively when the government reopens. It can definitely be hard on families who do not have a lot in savings, but they aren’t working for free. 

@NeuroNerd101 I didn't apply to UCLA, but there has been some discussion about it in the Developmental Psychology thread.
 
@HAC @Hk328 @InfiniteLoop Thank you for your tips!
 

How much does everyone plan on reading before the interviews? I kind of feel that the ideal would be to have read every paper/book written within my area of interest. Obviously, that is not the expectation! So, how much is the "good enough" to sound knowledgable about the PI's work and the field? 

I just have to contradict your negativity here. It's not "weird" or a fluke that you have 6 1st author conference posters/presentations and a year of TAing. It's awesome and shows how capable you are. Don't diminish your accomplishments. And if tons of people sung your praises and reviewed your materials, it's because they believe you belong in a graduate program. 

@junior313 Similar to what @1996kayden has said, I am under the impression (I don't actually know for sure) that different schools handle rejections differently. It seems that a few have sent the rejections around the time that they extended interview invites. My guess is that the ones that don't do this are going to wait until the official admissions offers are made and send the rejections then. 
My personal opinion is that you should not ask about your application status at any point unless there is a really good reason to do so.