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Sepal

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  1. Upvote
    Sepal got a reaction from dakotaS in Volunteering in POI's lab before applying?   
    Try if you have the time and funding to support you. For me, I worked with the potential supervisor for one semester, and during this period, I was involved in the lab meeting, manuscript writing, data analysis. It gave me a better understanding of her mentorship style (which is super important for 4-6 years PhD), lab air and living environment at that town. No matter you are accepted or not, you will have a greater exposure which helps you view things differently. Go for it! 
  2. Like
    Sepal reacted to Waitlistedbuthopeful in What are people's experiences being waitlisted?   
    I'm waitlisted at my top choice and am kind of freaking out. I know waitlisting experiences vary so much across year and program, and realistically the chances of being extended an offer are slim since this program is amazing but I'd love to hear folks'  experiences/impressions of being wait-listed...
    What was it like and when did you finally hear back (with or without an offer)?  How do you keep your spirits up?  Did you re-apply to the same program?  
    ? *sobbing intensifies*
  3. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to paraent in Volunteering in POI's lab before applying?   
    Honestly? Ask the POI / make your intentions known before you volunteer. There's no downside to being straight-up here.
  4. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to dancedementia in Psy.D programs- please help me decide!   
    I'm assuming if you're going PsyD that you're interested in primarily clinical work. In that case, the minuscule difference in "prestige" between two programs won't be a big deal. You'll have access to the same prac sites, and both programs are highly respected in the area. You can't go wrong with either! I remember we talked about Post being your top choice - if you liked the program, go for it! Don't let ideas of "prestige" get into your head
  5. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to pitkin in Declining to reapply next year   
    >>>The PhD for computer science is not considered thatttt long, especially compared to other fields.
    Well, > five years is an objectively long amount of time  That being said, the prof I talked to did say it was cool to drop out after 2 years with an MS if I wanted to, and Princeton is cool with you leaving for upto two years in the middle if you so desire.
    >>>This is a very good program, and you had a lot of rejections. The chances of getting into another program in another year may be just as bad, if not worse.
    It is a great program with some really great ML theory faculty, absolutely. And they're hiring more this year! Absolutely, ML PhDs are just real hard to get into.
    >>And there is no guarantee your experience in the working world will be as great as you think it would be.
    Yes, I understand that, but there exists the itch to see what the big bad world is like. It's also true that I haven't found a job I'd be thrilled with yet, but there are interviews with some exciting startups lined up, so I'll have to take it from there, if I do decline.
  6. Like
    Sepal reacted to warprin in Relieved to have decided ... yet crushed   
    Wow, do I feel your pain. I don't want this to sound hackneyed, but it's true that every situation is unique. Let me share what I've seen and been through in the four years I've been at a small top-rated engineering college, coming from a very small Geoscience department as an undergraduate (4.0 with research experience). I just defended my MS thesis yesterday and am working on a PhD as I type.
    Advisors... I've met two 8th-year PhD students (that's EIGHT, I did not mis-type that) that warned me about older advisors who are less invested in the success of their PhD students because the tenure-track chase was no longer an issue for them. My current MS advisor is similar to what they explained and I have to agree with this. I was also advised not to go to a certain Geology program in Iceland because of someone's direct interaction/work with the faculty there. They simply do not go out of their way to make time for you. Again, this is a general observation. Now, my PhD advisor is new faculty, tenure-track, and plugged into new research and constantly keeps updated and goes out of his way to help his grad students. If it weren't for him and would have gone elsewhere for a PhD. Is your advisor hands-off? Micromanager? That can make a HUGE difference, and you'll have to asses that against your own personality and needs.
    Department resources in terms of faculty and instrumentation... It did not hit me until 1 full year into my MS that research costs can be expensive. What are you researching and what instruments are available to you and what funding do you have? I have three years of RA funding but will pick up a year of TAing, that is typical for PhD students. I know funding is "King" (as they say) but good advisors who write successful grants often have more for students that need it. You have to show your advisor over time that you're making progress and drawing some potentially significant results/conclusions.
    Where? Some people can't picture themselves in Arkansas for five years. This is entirely personal. Are you someone easily affected by your surroundings? By the moods of others? Remember, this is for the long haul. It may take you 3-7 years to complete a PhD degree, for various reasons. 
    Funding and choice of advisor! A solid department is important, one that has faculty that share your interests. I have heard both good and bad things about, say, Oxford from a grad student and an undergrad student. But knowing the reputation it has and knowing that my personality can put up with a lot of nonsense and hassle, I would go there. I know I would have regrets if I didn't. Plus a lot of professors I've spoken with really do think that high-prestige schools can bring you much needed connections. That is, again, a generalization. But at my small undergrad department, I was a stand-out. And *that* helped me get into the school I'm in now. 
    You're not going to be able to anticipate every consequence of your choice. You can play the odds and make a choice based on what you'd tell someone else in your situation to do. 
    Also, your perspective about your experience will evolve over time. Some PhD experiences are relatively straight-forward with little drama and others (and I'm watching this happen now to fellow grad students) have to deal with moody advisors and broken equipment. 
     
    Good luck!
     
     
     
     
  7. Like
    Sepal got a reaction from Sophie Su in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Hi Sophie, Don't worry! As I know (I checked that before), as long as you submit your application on time, other supplementary materials (e.g., official score reports, recommendation letters) could arrive a bit late and that will not affect your application status! I assure you that's not auto-rejection.
  8. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to JoePianist in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    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. 
  9. Like
    Sepal reacted to huskypsych in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    I had one last year and one so far this year. Both times it was explained to me that getting a phone interview means that you meet all the requirements on paper, but the PI wants to ensure a good research/mentorship fit before spending time and resources bringing you out to the in-person. So the questions I was asked were mainly about my research goals/my dream project etc. I didn't feel like I was being tested on my qualifications/rehashing my CV, more just having a two-way convo to determine if there was a possibility that we could have a mutually beneficial mentor/mentee relationship.
  10. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to DevelopingThoughts in Interview scheduling with POI and then......   
    Here’s the insight: it’s holidays and the end of the semester don’t worry and just follow up after a few days 
  11. Like
    Sepal reacted to StatsAddict in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Hello all! I'm new here-- applying mostly to developmental programs. I applied to University of Minnesota’s Child Psychology program, Developmental Science Track; wondering if anyone has heard anything from this program? They only have info on the accepted students weekend on their website— but they don’t say anything about interviewing. Also applied to Georgetown’s PhD in Psychology, concentration in human development: anyone hear anything from them? Any info would be most welcome!
    I thought I’d also share my current interview updates, in case anyone's looking for info on interview dates for these programs: I have interviews for the developmental programs at Missouri (Jan 25), UT Dallas (Jan 31-Feb 1), GMU (Feb 15), ASU (preliminary phone interview), and Notre Dame.
  12. Like
    Sepal reacted to Psych1234 in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Spoke with a professor today who is on the admissions committee, and just wanted to share this since I know everyone is anxiously anticipating news (maybe you already know this too but figured it might bring some peace of mind).
    He reminded me that a lot of factors go into the decision of whether a student gets accepted of not, beyond numbers, letters, GPAs etc. Even when a faculty says he/she is taking a student, sometimes there's already too many students in the lab. If other faculties at the university are more open to taking students that year, the ones who already have a number of students might be less inclined to take on new students. Sometimes the direction of their research is changing, and it's hard to gauge that based on past publications. That being said, you may be a stellar applicant, but things just don't line up during a particular cycle. 
    TLDR: Keep your heads high! Some factors are out of our control. 
  13. Like
    Sepal reacted to PsychApplicantFall2019 in Fall 2019 Developmental Psychology Thread   
    @Yiyu Liu I am not applying developmental but have been following the thread because it is more relevant to me than social or clinical. Even though I don't know you or your whole application, I have confidence that you are going to get in somewhere because you have already received an interview! Getting an interview is a great sign. There is a good chance that you will be accepted to a program if you have been invited for an in-person interview. 
     https://serialmentor.com/blog/2014/1/14/understanding-the-graduate-school-interview-or-recruitment-event
    Also, the neuroscience programs seem to be in a race to send out interview invites first, while the psych ones are going to trickle in more slowly, so keep your head up. You got this! 
    Also, did you get the email from MIT? I think it was sent to everyone. Don't count yourself out for anything until it is official. 
     
  14. Like
    Sepal reacted to xoskwn in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Hi all, I don't have a question or a status report, just a collection of observations in case they're helpful. In perusing this forum, I've noticed the following possibilities:
    Immediate acceptance without interview. Acceptance after interview. Immediate interview invitation without a Skype/phone pre-interview. Interview invitation after pre-interview. Immediate rejection. Rejection after pre-interview. Rejection after interview. Wait list followed by rejection. Wait list followed by acceptance. Additionally, I've noticed the following possibilities regarding notification:
    Mid- to late December acceptance, interview invitation, or rejection by email, phone, or application portal. Early to mid-January acceptance, interview invitation, or rejection by email, phone, or application portal. No rejection until after interview. No rejection until the end of the admission period (in March or April), either by mail, email, or application portal. Finally, I see a few more possibilities:
    Mass emails inviting/accepting/rejecting everyone at once. Individual generic emails. Individual personalized emails, especially from POI. Wouldn't it be nice to know which of these possibilies is likely for each program/department? Feel free to post this info if you know it!
  15. Like
    Sepal reacted to ASDadvocate in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Glad to help! (I had a hard time figuring it out ?) Good luck!!
  16. Like
    Sepal got a reaction from ASDadvocate in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    I made it! Thanks a bunch! That's very nice of you! Good luck to your applications! XD
  17. Like
    Sepal reacted to PsyDuck90 in How important is contacting PI in advance?   
    1. Yes, you want to contact all potential PIs at all schools. The emails should be about your research interests meshing with theirs and asking questions about their current research. You want to make sure that you are not asking questions that are answered on the website or their lab web page. Also, ideally, try to send emails to all faculty at 1 school within the same day or so. That way it doesn't seem like you're just going for your 2nd choice or anything.
    2. You may still have a chance if you don't email faculty, but the purpose of reaching out to PIs is to hopefully establish a rapport so that they remember you when looking at your application. 
    3. If a PI doesn't respond, you should still apply to the school. Some PIs just won't respond to prospective student emails. 
    4. Do not contact faculty after the deadline. If you make it to the interview round, they will invite you to the interview. If you know the interview date has passed and you did not hear anything, you can reach out to faculty for feedback on how to improve your application for the next cycle. 
  18. Upvote
    Sepal got a reaction from reaching44 in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Update about Northwestern: " The applications are in the first round of reviews.  Emails should be sent out later this week inviting candidates to an interview next year. " (Hoather, 2018)
  19. Like
    Sepal reacted to snowbound in Help! MEM from Duke or Yale??   
    hmm, that is a tough decision then... 
    I studied environmental studies and international relations in undergrad. I always felt that I knew a little about a lot, but ultimately lacked any tangible, technical skills to get a substantive job in the field beyond an being an assistant. Hence why I've returned to school for more specific professional skills. 
    I've tended to stay away from energy since my brain just can't comprehend it as well, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I find that Duke's energy focus is more geared towards energy sector jobs and the business/economics behind it. So, completely different skills than what you would've gotten in undergrad. On the other hand, Yale to me seems like while you would still get the economic/business/tech side of energy, you're more likely to end up on the policy end. I feel like Yale looks more at the impact of energy on society, whereas Duke would make you a successful energy sector player (like working for GE). If you're thinking energy in a green building sort of way, I don't think you can go wrong with either program. All of that being said, this is only my opinion on a focus that I'm not at all involved in beyond a short stint in sustainable building. Probably not very helpful at all. 
    I know some Yale grads that are very successful in international climate policy, and others that went into sustainable business and green building. The only Duke folks I know follow more along the enviro law lines, but that's a small sample. 
    Lastly, HUGE congrats on getting into both Yale and Duke... that's an achievement you should be so proud of!! Don't stress. You've hit success, now pick what'll make you happiest. 
  20. Like
    Sepal reacted to ASDadvocate in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Welcome! If you go to the account settings (top right click on your name), you'll see the option for signature on the column to your left.
  21. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to humanisticPOV in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    Most programs consider applicants on a holistic basis; if you have low GRE scores but make up for it in another area (i.e. LOTS of research experience, great recommendations, etc.) you may still have a chance at getting in. This is my third application cycle and I've retaken the GRE each year, scored higher, and then still haven't gotten in (on top of having high undergrad and masters GPAs, good recs, and 3 years experience in an experimental psychology lab). Seems to really be a case by case basis! Don't give up hope, it takes most people multiple application cycles to get an offer.  
  22. Upvote
    Sepal reacted to DevelopingThoughts in Fall 2019 Psychology PhD Applicants!   
    So I was anxious and decided to do a mass email to be POIs I reached out to over the summer/early fall about my status, here are my mix of results 
    Stanford: “We should be done reviewing by mid-January”
    NYU: “We are in the middle of reviewing applicants, youll have an update ‘soon’ “
    Minnesota: “The applications have filtered our way to us faculty, I will be reviewing them soon. best of luck!” (Glad to know I made the filter haha)
    Yale: “Thanks for the update! You’ll hear from me soon”
    Michigan: “Expect to hear from me by the end of the week” 
    UCSD: “Don’t worry, the other UCs are much faster than us (I referenced how other UCs are sending invites already)”
     
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