wannabeschoolpsych

I feel similarly, but I am sucking it up because I think it will just cause more trouble for them and potentially make me seem difficult right from the start. The main this is that I know they go to a lot of trouble to organize everything in advance, and to have to create extra work of having someone come get you at a hotel doesn't feel good to me. Plus, as others have said, this is your chance to talk to someone about the program, and also, they are watching you to report back. If they don't get a chance to get to know you, they might not have much to say on your behalf. It might make a difference that my interview is in a very big city with bad traffic where it would really be a pain, but I think that unless you really have a serious issue, that sucking it up is the way to go. Who knows, it might not be that bad. I'm also hoping for something more than a couch, but I will take what I can get.

From my past experience, opting to book a hotel may put you in a slight disadvantage. Specifically, you'll be missing a key opportunity to bond with a current student in the program. Yes, you will have opportunities to speak with students during interview day events, but the home-stay provides a more personalized opportunity to discuss your host's experience in the program.
If possible, I'd suggest trying to push yourself to do a home-stay for your top-choice programs, but request a host who can provide a private sleeping room due to your sleeping issues you described. 

As the poster above said, you know yourself and your ability to function best! However, there are some significant benefits to staying with a graduate student.
The most advantageous is being able to chat with a current student more informally. While the conversation from the airport all the way until the end of the weekend won't be 100% about the school and program, it's a more calming environment to ask questions, hear about someone's experience, and get a small glimpse into what life is actually like there (e.g. where are grad students living? where do they get their groceries? distance from campus?).
Saving the money is also a huge plus. Interview season is relatively expensive and cutting costs by staying with a graduate student could make it possible to spring for an extra comfortable journey home. I've had grad students offer small snacks or even bagels in the morning before interviews, though I wouldn't say that's universal.
More logistically, it's nice to have a graduate student host who can direct you to where you need to go for interview and social events. Depending on the layout/location of the school, it can be overwhelming navigating transportation and "simple" things like building room locations on your own. It was significantly less stressful having someone who kept an eye out for me, let me sit in their office on a break, and was there to show me how to navigate an unfamiliar bus line. Coming onto campus from a hotel can get expensive and may be confusing unless you have very detailed instructions, which I have to admit is not always the case.
In short, I'd recommend it for the insight, the cost-cutting, and stress reduction. 
 

Worries: I only applied to one school. This is the first time I've applied to grad school. It was very overwhelming and I am not sure I did it right. I had an argument with admission because they kept losing my documents. We went back and forth through email several times to straighten it out. Hey, at least they'll remember my name. ? I spoke to a professor and we were not a match for research. Her profile talked about behavioral challenges and students with disabilities (which is my jam) but she didn't want to talk about any of those. But she said she did want me to meet her teaching assistant. Also, I got tongue tied and said some stupid stuff because I was nervous. Anyway, What if I do get in and get too overwhelmed? My brother said it can't be more overwhelming than teaching elementary school , which is what I'm doing now., because at least I can pee when I need to and I'm already working 10+ hours a day. Hahaha. Low bar. My GPA sucks. My GRE scores are better. My essay is too long and I thought i twas so original and unique to me but now I think it was just generic bullshit. My letters of reccomendation are from a professor, college advisor and mentor, and the school psychologist I work with in my current job. The letters are positive but not spectacular. I just really want to stop thinking about it. Also, I really need funding or I don't see how this will be possible financially. Ugh, I'm am not looking forward to being college poor again.
Excitement: Moving to a new city. Peeing when I want to. I finished and submitted, which I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to pull off. I did it.

Good luck! Hopefully we hear back soon. The wait can be so frustrating. I also applied to some clinical programs and most of those are already sending out invites ?

Hi! I have one interview so far for University of Tennessee, but I don't think most of the schools I applied for are as competitive as the ones you did. I'm not that familiar with those on your list. I applied to UT, UK, and UNC for school psych and Eastern Kentucky and Spalding for clinical. I'm happy to share my info with you though. I had an  unimpressive but not bad gpa in undergrad, BS in psych. I got a master's in health administration and had a gpa of 3.89. I took the GRE a few years ago, 151, 151 and a 4 on writing. I don't have any research experience (eek), but I have an interesting employment history that I'm hoping helps me out. I worked for several years in group homes with adults with developmental disabilities. I then worked for Children's protective services for a while. Now I'm the program supervisor at a community mental health organization and oversee a day program, work program, community services team and group home all for people with developmental disabilities or mental illness.
From what I've read, they look at GRE and have cutoffs, but if you are excellent in other areas they will usually look past the GRE. That's the schools I've applied to, anyway. Obviously I'm no expert, but I think you sound very competitive. Good luck! UT and UK were my only programs due on December 1st....I've heard from Tennessee like I mentioned but nothing yet from UK.

Worries: I'm afraid I'll tank my interviews and that I was too ambitious with my school selections. I was rejected from my top choice and now I'm afraid I'll fare the same with the other schools I haven't heard back from (even though I know they send out interview notifications in January). 
Excitement: I have 3 interviews! There is still a good chance I'll get into grad school at a good institution. 
 

Happy birthday! To celebrate, you should give yourself a break from this website ? hope your day is lovely

It's my birthday today guys. 

Hi Everyone! I applied to a few programs both in school psych and clinical psych. The school psych programs are University of Utah (one of my top but the biggest change and move since I'm in FL), James Madison University (Combined clinical and school), University of Virginia, and UNC Chapel Hill. I also applied to Michigan State, Ohio State and UNC Chapel Hill for clinical psych. 
This wait is killing me too!! It's exciting to hear some of you have already received interviews! At least we're mostly done with the application process (waiting for LOR was so anxiety provoking!). Good luck to everyone! 

Hi! I am applying to EdS program for Fall 2019. I hope to apply to PhD program after I finish EdS because I do not think I am qualified for PhD candidate now. I have applied to University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Florida, University of Washington, Ohio State University and Lehigh University. And there will be three more schools in January. 
I used APA website to search for APA-credited programs. Although they are all PhD programs, I think it is better to choose a school which provides both EdS and PhD based on my academic plan. And then I just used school websites and program handbooks to learn more information ( curricula, professor's area of expertise, etc. ).
It is great to know there are other people who are applying to school psychology, too!
As an international student, I am quite nervous since it seems that some programs haven't admitted international students in the past.
Good luck to everyone! 

Worries: My training and the vast majority of my experiences are in a related field (special education) but not directly in the field I am applying to (school and clinical psych). I sometimes feel this could work in my favor and give me an edge but, most often than not, I feel worried that I will be overlooked. My GRE scores are solidly average (and I worked very hard for the meager scores I got!). I, too, am 30 and I have a lot pending on this decision in this stage of my life. I applied only to out of state programs in an effort to diversify my education as all my degrees as from the same university. I often worry that my application is not good enough and that all of the hard work I've put forth the last few years, including changing careers, would have been for nothing. 
Excitement: I have quite a bit of experience in research (8 years total, the last 3 full-time) and all of my professional experience has been in my area of interest (autism). My husband has been extremely supportive and has graciously agreed to move wherever I am accepted. I had the opportunity to speak over the phone and exchange emails with some of the POIs, who showed interest in my experiences and potential. I am definitely (cautiously) hopeful!!

I love this thread! 
Worries: I only applied to two PhD School Psychology programs because they were the only ones I was really interested in and it’s all I could afford. My GRE scores aren’t amazing and I don’t have a lot of research. Will I even get invited for an interview? Will I be able to move out of my parents’ house and be financially okay?
 
Excitements: I am proud of myself for even trying and applying. I know that my strength in my application is my work/volunteer experience. I have had some really good conversations with some professors and a grad student at one of the schools I applied to. I will graduate with my bachelor’s in May!!! If I end up getting accepted somewhere, I will begin a new adventure in a new place and work toward my passion of helping children.

Dear diary, the days are endless... LOL

Worries : I have applied for Doctoral Degree since 2015. I got into Brown for a Master degree in 2017. Reapplying again for 2019 hopefully I can get into a doctoral program. I was an international student, and my undergrad GPA was not good so I didn't get in any school for Dr program until Brown offered me a Master program which I accepted. Before that, I worked in a cancer research institute for 4 years instead of focusing on what I really wanted to research, so it may hurt my chances of getting into research group I want. ( I want some research to deal with bones.) I took the chance for my master's degree to work with bones as well but 2 year degree not much can be achieved. I am currently applying to MIT and Columbia and this nerve wrecking.
 
Excitement : I just met up with a professor I want to work with in MIT and I am very grateful for the people who showed me around and the professor for giving his 15 min of time to talk to me. I have hopes but I'm trying to not get it too high because I dont want to deal with bad disappointments later! I also emailed Professor in Columbia and he said he is also lookin forward to my application because my skill set is more of a biological side instead of engineering side. So cross finger, getting into both would mean alot to me! 

I love this thread! 
Worries: I only applied to two PhD School Psychology programs because they were the only ones I was really interested in and it’s all I could afford. My GRE scores aren’t amazing and I don’t have a lot of research. Will I even get invited for an interview? Will I be able to move out of my parents’ house and be financially okay?
 
Excitements: I am proud of myself for even trying and applying. I know that my strength in my application is my work/volunteer experience. I have had some really good conversations with some professors and a grad student at one of the schools I applied to. I will graduate with my bachelor’s in May!!! If I end up getting accepted somewhere, I will begin a new adventure in a new place and work toward my passion of helping children.

Worries: This is my second year, and I'm really stressed out. I've been keeping asking myself what I'm going to do if I didn't get in again? Try a third time? I'm not sure I can handle the stress one more time. I'm also worried about my references if I didn't get in again. Who will be willing to write me recommendation letters three years in a row? I couldn't ask any of my professors/supervisors to do that for me. 
Excitements: I know this is my passion and I really want to do it. I'm not afraid of anything that's waiting for me in grad school. I also have contacted some POIs in my field and had  relatively good email exchange with them (I think), and they were being really encouraging. I have decent GPA and TOEFL (as an international student), and some pubs. I truly hope I can get in one program and hope everyone who's been trying and working hard for it finally get in the programs they want. Fingers crossed! 

I'll throw mine in!
Worries: I'm coming straight out of undergrad, and I don't nearly as much experience as some already do - I've only done a couple semesters' worth of research, and I have no presentation experience. I have one authorship credit...but I'm seventh in line, so not exactly going to knock any socks off. My GRE definitely could have been better (anyone else find that their Powerpreps didn't give an accurate expectation for the real thing?). I only applied to three programs due to narrow interests and familial restrictions; this won't change much, if at all, for future admissions cycles. I'm concerned that I did not articulate well enough why I chose my particular interests and goals. It's basically guaranteed that I'll get rejected this cycle, and due to my narrow range of possible schools and the competitiveness of my chosen programs, I'm concerned I'll ultimately never make it into a program..
Excitements: My GPA is actually pretty decent, especially my major GPA. I'm also graduating in a week and a half! 2/3 of my letter writers actually volunteered to write my recommendations, and the third was more than happy to oblige. I'm looking forward to focusing on getting practical experience next year - I have an internship lined up starting next month, and I'm looking to join another lab (interviewing for one tomorrow!). I'm genuinely interested in my field (clinical psych), I've heard encouraging things from professors, and feel that I actually have the potential to do well. So...time will tell.

Worries: My GPA is so ugly that I don't think any place I love will take me. This is the biggest issue. I am applying straight out of undergrad from a prestigious institution, but I don't think that's going to help my case that much. I only have a few poster presentations -- no publications. My GRE scores are fine but not excellent. My parents did not attend college and know nothing about higher education, so it's been tough to navigate how this all works and approach professors during this long process. I'm dumb and didn't apply for NSF. My mom always tells me that everything will work out and I will get in, and the fact that she belittles how competitive these programs are worries me even more. Another big fear of mine, even though it is entirely out of my control at this point, is that my letters of recommendation are mediocre at best. And finally, not getting any interviews at my dream schools while I think about all of the time and money I wasted...
Excitements: My undergraduate research was not in my field of interest. But I have taken several classes in the area, so I am thrilled to potentially finally work on a project I adore. I am proud of myself for asking advice from my professors. I had a professor who is famous in my field help me out a lot and offer to write me a letter of recommendation without me asking, and that was one of the happiest moments of my year. I adore my undergraduate institution, but I have lived in the same region of the country nearly my entire life, so the chance to move elsewhere is also exciting. I think I have articulated my research interests in my SOP well.
/endrant

I love this thread! 
Worries: I only applied to two PhD School Psychology programs because they were the only ones I was really interested in and it’s all I could afford. My GRE scores aren’t amazing and I don’t have a lot of research. Will I even get invited for an interview? Will I be able to move out of my parents’ house and be financially okay?
 
Excitements: I am proud of myself for even trying and applying. I know that my strength in my application is my work/volunteer experience. I have had some really good conversations with some professors and a grad student at one of the schools I applied to. I will graduate with my bachelor’s in May!!! If I end up getting accepted somewhere, I will begin a new adventure in a new place and work toward my passion of helping children.

Hi everyone! I decided to create a thread for the peeps applying for school psychology programs for Fall 2019! What schools are you applying to? Are you going for an EdS or PhD program? How did you pick your programs? In general, how is the whole process going for you all? I hope I can get people to add on to this because it would be nice to have people to relate to haha.
I am personally applying for PhD programs. My finalized list (so far) includes: Northern Arizona University, University of Memphis, University of Washington, and University of Virginia.
I am excited to hear about everyone else!
 

I don’t want a lot for Christmas....just a 9/9 acceptance rate.

Haha I’ll take even just one ☝️ 

Oof, everything everyone's said is so real.
Worries: Coming right out of undergrad and not having any publications, I'm concerned that I look inexperienced. I also found two minor typos in my writing sample after I already submitted my apps ? Also worried that I'll feel like I'll have wasted a lot of time and money if I don't get in, since apps ended up costing more than $700. Also worrying that if I get in, I'll feel/seem really inadequate and not as qualified as other grad students in the cohort.
Excitements: I love classes and academia, and if I get in I can't wait to interact with other students who are just as passionate as I am! Plus delving deeper into theory and getting the space to really pursue the research that interests me. 

Worries: I submitted my applications early, but I think I could have made them much better if I had sat with them longer. I think I forgot to explain more clearly and precisely what I wanted to do in the future, and perhaps spent too much talking about what I've done in the past (with the assumption that my future will look similar to my past). I'm also trying to balance getting into a good school and ending up in a good location. After some bouts of burn out and depression, I'm afraid that grad school will only make my mental health worse. On top of that, I'm doubting my abilities to succeed in the field that I aim to go into, and I'm also doubtful that I'll definitely enjoy the work I plan to do. 
Excitement: Since I'm aiming to leave my undergrad institution, I'm excited to meet new professors and be in a new environment. I'm also excited for the possibility of changing my interests a little. I think I've gotten too deep into what I expect myself to be interested in rather than what I'm actually interested in, and a new environment might provide the motivation to take more risks and try new things. I thrive in collaborative environments and working closely with other students, so I'm excited to meet new colleagues as well.