Rerun

Hi! I don't go to either school but I live in Boston and have quite a good exposure to BU. I would say it's not prestigious, but the school itself is really connected. I don't really have a program that match 100% with what I am looking for, but part of me want to be in BU because I just love how rich each school is in terms of expertise. But that's probably my bias given my interdisciplinary perspective in psych-sociology-religion-public health. Look at the faculty list again and check the research center. And not to mention how much I love Boston, such a lovely place. I'm pretty bias here. But that's from my perspective. Congrats on being accepted at both! RA is also definitely a big consideration. But think again about network in the future too. Many things to consider. Follow your heart and know that you would like to be there for sure.

I definitely think you should apply and give it a try. As someone who has been going through two rounds of school application, it's somehow a matter of chance and luck to get in. Your profile really stands out for a recently graduated person, since you've had the desired research experience needed to start for a PhD. Unless, there's other things you want to try out after this. If you are convinced that being a clinical psychologist is what you want, then go for it. You might want to check if publication is desired. You can also try contacting admission officer and POI to get a sense if your experience is a match with them. Best of luck!

Hello, Thanks for sharing your story here. I believe some of us do have regrets related anything that has to do with PhD application, and so I do here. But it's never too late, and I think your ABA experience looks solid there. My suggestion is, just try-because we never know- reach out to Labs that you are interested to work at, or a professor who has a lab that is related or definitely sounds like your research interest. It's approaching summer and I believe some labs are still working remotely. I did that too and currently having one lab-volunteering position. I started earlier this year. But I am also securing another volunteer position this summer. So keep going, and search that lab. Send email and share your interest. It's good that you can also start thinking into the research area you are looking for. I believe your expertise will be an interest for a lab somewhere out there. I hope the covid19 situation doesn't discourage you to keep working on this. I also never thought to join this forum earlier. but here I am, looking for advice and also sharing experience to others. Good luck! We are all in this together my friend.

Hi, thank you for sharing your excitement despite this situation. I am applying this year and this is my third year of applying, after the first year of full rejection and this year on wait list for one Uni. I have been lagging in my GRE study plan, but yesterday I started to look again at my list of uni to motivate me again. I've been out of formal work for more than a year and graduated from my master's in 2016. I'm fortunate to start my research volunteering before the Covid19, so there's a good slot of distraction each week even I feel that I am not performing super well. I think you should just apply, because based on my experience, it's lucky to get a PhD in one shot, so better start now. You never now what and when luck brings. Good luck!

Thank you for sharing and elaborating the idea. That is true, we need to customize our own list and not solely relying on the top names. Right now I am building my own list too.. not necessarily the big top schools, but the ones that I see would fit my research interest and are the main players in the field. I will check on the researchers who publish in the top conference and I guess that would be give more ideas. Good to have a perspective Thanks again.

Hey, Thanks so much! I am seeing it that way too.. the rejections was terrible, but I have the chance to do it all over again and know how to change the game. Actually before my application last year, I did a whole literature review and already have some names. But it just didn't simply work as I wish. In some papers, I did look on who cited them, and there's many ways to keep searching. Thanks for adding on that! I learn my lesson to make my research interest specifically tailored to the department and professor, because previously I can only say what's my aim without clearly considering what the department might be looking at. Last week I emailed a lab that I've been following, after finding out that they are recruiting for new staff. It's really tempting to go to the "top x" schools, but I am trying to believe that great mentors/professors are what matters the most for a PhD study. Nevertheless, top schools do have more resources and network. So it's a balance between both, but the research match and fit, matters more. Thank you again!

Hello fellow Comm Psych graduate, thanks so much for writing such a long response to my post. It really means a lot to hear from someone with the same background since it's a rare field. Your answers gave me many new perspective in considering my strategies for the next round of application. 1. Yes, I saw the score on the website. My supervisor advice me to apply tp the CRA Vanderbilt because an alumni from my program got in before, so probably my supervisor is referring to the probability of alumni track record. I am not sure if that is necessarily true, but thanks for sharing your perspective on GRE. I realize that I really need to at least pass the 50th percentile. 2. I also learn about this requirement, when looking into Harvard. I have taken Biostatistics during undergrad, but not sure if that would work. I was considering to take online courses in either Epidemiology or Biostatistics, which is what I can afford. But it may not be equal to actually take an in class course. 3. Yes I am in the list serv, and most of the time I really follow on what's going on. I didn't realize regarding the opportunity. Since you mention it, I have been looking into it and see if there are some possibilities that I want to explore, including from past emails. Thank you for mentioning other programs. I actually went to the UMass Boston Global Inclusion and Social Development department, but not sure if I want to be there. I am really interested for the one in Georgia State, which look like something I want to do. Thank you for being so supportive. I am so glad to read your post, it gives me the recovery that I need. Best wishes and good luck for you too!

Hello, thank you for the feedback. In last year's application, i did tailor my statement according to each specific university, but probably it's not the right fit or does not sound strong enough. Right, I am trying to see this as a journey to improve my preparedness in getting into a a PhD program. Hopefully things will work out this year. Thanks

Hey! Thanks so much. Your advice are applicable and I am also looking forward to work on those steps from now. I agree that it's such a learning process to get in, but hopefully it will make us be more prepared to actually be a PhD student. I also agree on your point that FIT really matters. In some applications, I tried really hard to make it looks- FIT, which may not be very strong. This year I plan to apply for more Uni and diversify the locations. Hopefully.. hopefully.. things will work out, and meant to be- sounds like the right term to describe this application process. Thank you again, best wishes! May the force be with us

Hi everyone, This is a painful share but I want to believe that I am (not) alone. I am an International student, M.A. Community Psychology and Social Change in the US. GPA 3.95. My GRE score is very low, between 141-144. It was even 139 on my last test in 2019 and writing 3.0-3.5. I was a lecturer in Psychology for 2 years, teaching various classes for undergrad. I have published in a national journal in my country twice, and waiting for 3 more publication from a conference proceeding this year (International Conference held in my country). My research experience so far are mental health service in primary health care (undergraduate), refugee wellbeing (master), both are qualitative. Others are youth peer health program (I developed an intervention in a rural area, 1 year work experience as health advocate), mental health literacy and culture ( I led the systematic review) and ptsd in conflict affected area (I led the research and received a small grant). In 2018 and 2019 I applied for a Fulbright scholarship in my country and got rejected. I was really sad but try to bounce back and apply for a PhD directly to the school. 2018: Social Intervention NYU, Applied Psych and Prevention Science UMass Lowell, Social Work Boston College, Clinical Psych UMass Boston. 2019: Counseling Psych Northeastern Uni and Sociology Boston Uni. All Rejected (Haven't heard from BU but I saw people getting accepted in the result section.. so yeah). All are in Boston area because my husband is studying here. I am no longer in my country and cannot work to gain more research experience. I also cannot work in Boston since I am on a dependent visa. I am trying to have a publication this year, building on my previous research work, let's see. My undergrad was from back home in a small uni that is not detected by most application system (not the big uni!). I have no fancy experience working in a lab or with a certain professor's research/project. There are not much or probably almost none of opportunity like that back home and back then. The research resource in my area back home is very limited, third world country issue-lol. My master research supervisors are very supportive. They keep sending recommendation letters since 2018, plus letters from my research mentor and my undergraduate research supervisor. Now I am trying to pull myself together and be optimist. I know that I need to put more time for the GRE, for sure.. and try to improve my writing skill. In addition, I probably have to retake IELTS (No resource for Toefl IBT back then), and my score has been average, 6.5. I am still so confused, am I getting rejected because my GRE is very low? Or my research experience is local and only led by myself? Or unclear research interest? Not sure. I am still recovering from this multiple rejection for 3 years in a row-since the scholarship, trying to believe that I will deserve an admission someday. Also, this year I am *planning* to push for full speed, and put some options out of Boston since my husband will graduate. I am thinking to apply for : Community Health Education UMass Amherst, Social and Behavioral Science at Harvard and Brown, Global Public Health NYU, Sociomedicine Mailman Columbia, Mental Health John Hopkins, Clinical/Community Psych UMBC, Community Research and Action Vanderbilt, Clinical Community USC, Population Health Science Northeastern Uni, and 1 in Canada : Mc Gill, Mental Health-in the Psychiatry Deparment. The list is rather ambitious, and probably I look confuse. I want to include Sociology and Health UCSF but there's no funding there. I was thinking of Yale but haven't really learn the research there either. I am trying to start early and looking for suggestions/support, either about my qualificafion or the program that I am looking to apply. Thanks so much for reading such a long story, any feedback is appreciated.