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Modulus

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Everything posted by Modulus

  1. I wouldn't say it's common here in the States (at least not among those I know) but I am actually in this situation. Just make sure you know your University and department rules regarding committee members for your thesis/dissertation so you don't get a nasty surprise that your external mentor cannot serve.
  2. Hey folks, if anyone has any ideas of what someone who is not eligible to reapply for GRFP should be looking at next vis-a-vis other fellowships/grants before trying for an F31 in a few years, please let me know. Clinical Psychology - Personality and Individual Differences research focus.
  3. Anyone else get four reviews? VG/E, VG/G, VG/VG, G/G Well, that's disappointing.
  4. This is an important question you are asking yourself. Do not take it lightly. Many individuals who believe they are 100% committed to and excited for their doctoral studies don't end up completing their degree. That is not any sort of judgment on them. In fact, I really commend people for making the choice to leave if grad school isn't serving them living their best life (there can be some real stockholm syndrome/sunk cost fallacy at play in the academy). I don't think it's at all dumb to reject a funded offer if you think you'd be happier doing something else. I'd argue it's the smartest thing you could do, probably. Not trying to encourage you to turn it down, but just to give yourself permission to consider a different path as a valid option.
  5. I think you should definitely let them know. You will have to submit the transcripts anyway. I have no idea how it would affect your admissions status since it is a Master's degree program, but comparing it to undergraduate work is it possible (although I am not sure how likely) that an offer can be rescinded based on a significant deterioration in performance in the latter half of one's senior year. What was your GPA in the Master's program at the time you applied?
  6. This will likely be specific to your field and the program itself. It is not unheard of for individuals to begin in a masters program and reapply to the PhD program from there. Sometimes this can be done rather smoothly. But if you are established in your current field, you may want to consider just waiting to reapply altogether.
  7. I cannot possibly imagine they would rescind your offer for this as economics is completely unrelated to your intended program. If you wanted to reach out about it, I would kindly say something like, "I wanted to just make sure my records are accurate with your program and I wanted to let you know that my undergraduate major was in "Electronics", as per my transcript. My application materials somehow reflect Economics. I'm sorry for any inconvenience."
  8. Pittsburgh is pretty LGBTQ+ friendly city. However I definitely get a strong cis, white gay male vibe from the traditional gayborhood (Shadyside), but have not heard of any specific negative experiences from transmasc folks I know. Let me know if you have any questions about particular areas/locations and I can try my best to give you my perspective as a queer (white, cis, femme) woman.
  9. I am assuming you mean a different subject from the area of your Bachelor's Degree? Any advice for the direction to take and how difficult the transition will be would be specific not only the field you are interested in entering but also the field from which you came.
  10. For me, this came in a flash--I had for years (and three application seasons) thought I was interested in one area. I could talk passionately about it in abstract, but struggled to come up with specific ideas. I figured those would come in grad school, but they were certainly a limiting factor in interviews. When I pivoted to a different area, the difference was immediately apparent. This area was one I'd been naturally drawn to and was already engaged in research in. It wasn't a theoretical disposition--it was a proven passion, and each article I read percolated new specific ideas in my head. From my experience, it's important to figure out what that is for you. Read literature--lots of it, and start out more broadly or in areas tangential to what you aim to study--and follow your interest that way, instead of seeking out papers that fit a preconceived notion of your interests.
  11. As @PokePsych said, there are not very many "evolutionary psychology" programs. Like other niche subject areas such as "forensic psychology", researchers who take an evolutionary approach are formally in a variety of of psychology's subfields including biological/neurological, development, and clinical psychology. I would not spend too much time considering whether the field as a whole is "competitive" (virtually all reputable PhD programs are), but instead look at the average qualifications of accepted students are at the universities/programs which house the faculty members whose work most interests you.
  12. You may want to look into the NIH Loan Repayment Program, just for some information about options which currently exist for scientists with student loan debt (can be used for housing, I know that). (I personally do not plan to take out loans.)
  13. I was called out (just gentle teasing) by my mentor who was able to identify me on here when browsing. This faculty member's impression is that some faculty might glance on here--especially if they have given informal interview offers with strict instructions not to pass widely--but very few would spend any significant amount of time here. I know for sure that there is at least one DCT on here for a clinical psychology program. I won't call them out, but they are clear about their role and position and are not pretending to be a student.
  14. Probably not very helpful at this point in OP's diss, but I wanted to bring up for anyone else visiting this thread that a pre-registration can be a saving grace in these situations. There are lots of reasons to consider pre-registering your research (whether you're running clinical trials or not), but one that is often understated in these conversations, but which my own mentor brings up often is that it protects you from this sort of never-ending research rabbit hole. Whether that's from picky editors and reviewers, supervisors or co-authors, or even from your own drive to run "just one more analysis" or "but what if I..." until you've spent 3 years ABD, you can always say "That is beyond the scope of the project I pre-registered." Of course, this doesn't actually limit you if there is a crucial point you did not consider beforehand and a good rationale for post-hoc testing, but it can be protective all the same.
  15. If you do decide to go for a Master's, look into programs that fund their students--William and Mary, Wake Forest, and Villanova come to mind.
  16. It is a cram test. You will do very well if you have talent for rote memorization. If you do not, you will struggle. Fortunately, a lot of programs do not require it. (And I have on good authority that you may do well by just not taking it even if they say they do... but I personally did not risk this.)
  17. In my current role, I serve as a mentor and direct supervisor for our laboratory's undergraduate research assistants. Undergraduate students--even the most industrious, bright, and well-intentioned--do not have the same degree of experience in the academic and professional world as graduate students and faculty. At this stage, they likely need a great deal of scaffolding in addition to clear expectations, and progress monitoring. My advice would be to first set up a meeting with your supervisor to discuss this problem and clarify your own role. Mentorship is typically a two-way street, in which a mentee actively seeks advice and guidance and the mentor provides it in return. If this is intended to be your role, it may be that they students are unsure of how to engage in a mentor-mentee relationship and @Sigaba's advice to meet with them one-on-one could be helpful. If they still do not seem interested, that might be teh time to bring this up and open opportunities for other students in the lab. However, if your role is intended to be supervisory, you will need to create structured expectations. Are the students receiving course credit for their involvement in the lab? Are they seeking recommendation letters? Provide examples of the work that will achieve these desired outcomes and support the students in their efforts to move toward these goals. It may be difficult to restructure this as the students seem to have received little or no feedback regarding expected communication frequency, but it can help to be a bit honest with them--say that you are sorry that you were not clearer before about your expectations and show understanding of how the current situation was one reached by miscommunication--but also firm about what everyone's roles are going forward.
  18. It sounds like when your situation is uncertain, you have some urgency to achieve understanding or resolution. I second @Sigaba's advice to practice "right-sizing" of disclosure and to reduce communication to less frequent, but more dense and comprehensive e-mails. I notice that throughout this thread you seem to be looking for direction or reassurance--perhaps because you are not receiving it (or not receiving it as quickly as you might like) from your mentor. You may find these thoughts and feelings easier to navigate and tolerate using the principles of acceptance and commitment therapy. This is a short but great book that takes you through these strategies with various self-reflective exercises. This could work very well with the journaling strategy previously suggested.
  19. Are there any Clinical Psychology PhD students here who navigated applying for GRFP? I would love to pick your brain if so. In a related question, do you have to choose a Primary Field that matches your degree program exactly? For example as a Clinical Psychology student, if my research fell into a basic category (e.g., Cognitive, Social, or Personality), could I just indicate that category as my Primary Field? Additionally, how important is your undergraduate GPA? Specifically, can multiple first author publications, great rec letters, and the passage of time overcome a 3.3?
  20. No problem and thanks! Feel free to PM me with any questions about the application process in general or UGA in particular.
  21. I think it's going to depend on the PI. I had an undergrad transcript with a number of computer sciences courses on it and prior IT employment, so I think that worked for me. I actually learned R on the job. I think my potential and existing skill set was a bonus, but probably would not have gotten me a programming-focused position. I think a basic project up on github would be great. (Consider adding data visualization as well). And put those MOOC on your CV somewhere. If you can talk in detail about what you learned and demonstrate it, why not? Someone really looking for a data analyst (instead of a general RA with data analysis skills) is probably going to search for a traditional programmer/CS graduate and/or go the technical interview route. I'd bill yourself as 'tech-saavy' and' Python fluent', but still, with your ultimate goal, gear your applications toward getting general research experience.
  22. In my experience, many labs are very disorganized when it comes to formal data management. Skills regarding managing and cleaning data are essential and will take you very far on their own. I'm an R person (who should be using my time to learn Python too), so in R terms, learn the tidyverse and the principles for data organization. You will thank yourself later. (And so will your mentors and lab mates). Data visualization is probably the next skill. On the more programming-heavy side, experience working with big data (including interfacing with data on a SQL or noSQL server) or machine learning approaches are particularly attractive draws.
  23. Learning R and/or Python is a great use of your time. You will be miles ahead of your cohort (and many of the faculty). It can't hurt that it also makes you marketable as a data analytics professional outside of academia as well.
  24. Glad to hear it went well. I hope you can get to start the program of your dreams next cycle. Did your program indicate whether or not you would receive any preferred status in a future round?
  25. My two cents from applying to clinical psychology programs FOUR times and having a wholly different experience this time around: Selecting Programs Apply to the maximum number of programs for which: You can make a compelling argument for research fit with a faculty member (see below for further fit discussion). You can honestly imagine yourself attending. Do not overthink this one, but don't under-think it either. If you find yourself considering something as a "safety", but when you imagine yourself only getting that offer, you feel like you would consider reapplying, you might want to drop that one from your list. Your individual budget/finances allow. If possible, do not geographically limit yourself. Apply to fully-funded, accredited (APA and/or PCSAS) programs. If you stray from this advice, your mileage may vary and the rest may not apply. Attempt not to "pre-rank" the programs in your mind, either by your own assessment of who/what/where you think you'll like, or by relying on some external ranking system. PhD programs are not "ranked" like undergraduate programs. Beyond funding, consider the research productivity (quantity and quality) of the particular lab you are entering and the post-docs/tenure-track positions achieved by recent grads. Review program and faculty websites to ensure your intended mentors are considering taking students this round. Unless the faculty member’s web page specifically says they do not want applicants to reach out, send a brief, polite e-mail expressing your interest in applying (and/or inquiring as to whether they are reviewing applications for their lab). If you find yourself at a conference or talk with faculty members to whom you are applying, you may make a polite, quick introduction there instead (or additionally). You want your name to ring a bell when they read applications. Applications and Interviews Fit is everything. Research fit. Do your research on your research interest. As others have said above, there is a huge difference between a candidate who can talk about how they want to work with "kids with anxiety" or "study drug use", and a candidate who is familiar with the specific literature in their area of interest (especially that of the faculty member to whom they are applying to work with). It is even better if you can prove your ability to conduct research in this specific area. (More on that in a later section.) Re-iterating from above, but don't apply to programs you (or others) perceive to be "high-rank" or "prestigious". Apply to work with individual mentors who happen to be employed by specific institutions. Consider the fit of "your list". This is something that I personally really struggled with in my previous application cycles. While it made sense to me why I was applying to so many "different" programs/mentors (I was originally interested in the forensic area, which is admittedly not as well defined as others), I know that it made it harder to tell a clear story about what I saw next in my life. Don't present yourself at a fork in the road--know which path you're traveling down. If an interviewer (or application) asks you to list other programs you are applying to, you want them to say "Oh yeah, that makes sense, my colleague so-and-so is there." Personality and attitude. You will be spending more (waking) time with the folks in your lab than probably anyone else in your life for the next 4-6 years, so both your potential mentors and lab mates are considering this. They want a sure thing. This means walking a fine line so that you're not too stiff and formal and hard to read, but also that you avoid any sort of faux pas. Be you. Don't be afraid to mention hobbies or interests outside of academia. There are labs/mentors out there who really want someone who has no life outside of their research, but if that isn't you, don't pretend it is. Don't be formal, don't be informal. Be appropriately collegial. Be the best version of you. My recommendation is to talk to those who know you best. Ask about how you present yourself. Ask for honest feedback about things you typically do and say that may not bother them, but that they can probably see as red flags. My friends and mentor both heard from me, "Be completely honest. Is there anything you see me do or say that you want to say, 'Oh no don't do that in an interview!', even if you really think I know better than to do that." The answer will hopefully be something small, like "you wring your hands when you're nervous" or "sometimes you talk too quickly", but even if it's big business, you'd rather know sooner than later. Scores open doors, but your CV is the key. I think everyone knows that you need to have a good GPA and GRE to get into grad school--but this is really only important in the first stage of application review. I think (hope) it will become less important there too--and have seen movement towards that as programs begin to realize that these scores (especially those from standardized tests) do not uniformly reflect potential to succeed in graduate school and have systematic biases that work against individuals who have already been marginalized in other ways (i.e. racial minorities, low SES). Some universities say that they holistically review all applications and have no strict cut-offs. This might be nominally true, but I don’t think it changes the base advice. If one of these scores is particularly low, you're going to want to have an explanation if asked in an interview. You additionally will want at least one of your letter writers to be able to speak specifically to how it is not a true reflection of your performance and potential (more to come below). This is one place where connecting with faculty before submitting your application can also help—essentially you want to have a reason to be pulled from the initial pile of applications into the smaller pile that undergoes full review. More important in showing your ability to be a productive, successful graduate student is proof that you are already producing and succeeding. While it is possible to gain admission to a Clinical Psychology PhD program without presentations or publications, applicant pools are becoming increasingly, almost impossibly competitive. The vast majority of fellow applicants on my [ten] interviews this season were Master’s degree students/recipients or laboratory managers/research staff in positions which allowed for independent research contribution. Choose your letter writers wisely. Anyone can write a nice, positive letter that suggests you’re a relatively stable, capable human. Do not include more than 1 letter of this generic quality. For at least two of your letters, you want a writer who can and will go above and beyond to provide specific examples that show your potential and indicate true enthusiasm for your future career. Relatedly, do not choose writers solely based on the prestige of their position or institution, or even their eminence in the field if they cannot speak specifically about you. The admissions committee is reviewing your CV, not theirs. For example, you should choose the pre-tenure, direct supervisor for your undergraduate honors project instead of the famous emeritus professor whose class you took alongside 250 other students. I’ve got lots of insights on this, but these are the main points. Feel free to PM me with any questions about this grueling process.
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