Jump to content

PianoPsych

Members
  • Posts

    64
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by PianoPsych

  1. Your profile looks strong to me! Research fit (and personality/work style fit, and funding) should matter the most, and I wouldn't worry about shooting too high. Some people who get into Psych programs do so without a formal Psych degree (I know 2 in my area who come from non-psych backgrounds). It might mean some extra time catching up on coursework, but judging by your experience with TAing and self-learning I don't see a gap there either. With your background you might approach psych with innovative lens and that would be a plus for your application. (i.e., I would recommend situating your research and interests within social/personality/positive psych theories/findings, like you mentioned, but also discussing how your economics/sociological background will be a strength). If your psych recommender focuses on your readiness and potential for psych grad school, that would further strengthen your app. I may be out of the loop, but I think some schools are waiving the GRE Psych requirement to avoid disadvantaging students like you. Good luck ?
  2. University of Minnesota Twin Cities- Personality, Individual Differences and Behavior Genetics PhD
  3. Hi! I don't live in MN yet- but have you tried applying to Como Student Community Cooperative? It's one 10-20 minute bus ride away from campus. They are very family-friendly, and you can get a two-bedroom place for $930~1000 per month, all utilities included (this price is extremely cheap for Minneapolis). Apparently the place is quiet, safe, with a really nice community feel. As a grad student applying with a partner, you will be given first priority out of the applications. That being said, this place is popular so I don't know if you'll get in for sure. I applied a month ago as a single grad student, but I am in the process of sorting out alternative accommodation plans- so if you did want to apply, let me know and I'll see if I can get them to swap my place in line with yours (If/when I do get a place confirmed elsewhere). Other neighborhoods that I was recommended (I also don't have a car) include Marcy-Holmes (west of I-35), Southeast Como, Stadium Village, and Cedar-Riverside on the West Bank (I'm currently considering this). I would avoid Dinkytown- the undergrad area- as I heard it's loud and unsafe. As for your partner, there are a lot of theaters around Minneapolis, so that's one avenue.. Hope this helps!
  4. I'm so inspired by all you amazing people! ? I asked about supports for health issues (gastric issues/tiring easily) in my interview and luckily my PI was very supportive. I did have difficulty bringing up my learning disability (mild ADHD) though. Anyway, the supports (deferring, leave of absence, insurance) are similar for physical or mental health. Because of how semesters work in the Southern hemisphere, I have around 10 months between undergrad and grad school to work on my physical and mental health. Really hoping this will be enough- I'd feel terrible cancelling on my PI and prospective roommates etc.. I don't know if I'll need to take a leave of absence mid-program- does anyone know if international students (like me) are able to stay in the states if they take time off?
  5. Work/life balance is huge so I would be honest to my POI about this. Wouldn't want you to start your program feeling burnt out! Especially if the next 4-5 summers will involve research work anyway (I don't know if this is the case but assume so).
  6. So excited for you! If it helps at all- if you know you'll accept there eventually, then you know. ? I can definitely relate to this. The lack of authenticity (even when writing my statements during the application, being extra nice to LoRs etc) is exhausting. Have you spoke to current grad students about this? Some can be real with you- and I really appreciated them. And I don't see how your complaints are stupid- they seem valid and helpful for others in the forum to see. Nor privileged- privileged or not, we all suffer and that's what binds us together.
  7. There is a lot of talk about GRExit these days, I think the issue is complex because the grad school application process, and grad school itself, is inequitable at every level (LoR writers, school, grades etc) and not just the GRE. A partial solution would be to adjust costs for the tests and applications by income, but I don't know how else to go about it. There are so many applications that schools use the GRE as an easy screening tool- disregarding your Master's degrees and more relevant credentials like stats papers that take more time to find and don't fit into a neat percentile for comparison. Although schools do ask for explanations for low GRE scores, it's still extra work. What I found most helpful in this forum was the support and the people who actively work to help address inequities (you know who you are ). Because they are the ones to make real changes before the system makes its slow changes years later.
  8. UMN decisions have been made I believe- welcome weekend was this past weekend. I'm sorry to hear that, I can see the utility of standardized tests but yours sounds like a case where they should have taken your Master's into consideration. The tests and applications are so expensive too
  9. Working on my physical and mental health which I neglected last year to focus on research (needless to say- it's not worth it!). I'll also be doing a mix of TAing, RAing, volunteering, and distracting my friends (who are already doing Masters/PhDs) at my current uni haha. But the workload should be pretty light. Not sure about you all, but I'm pretty lazy about preparing for the program (reading papers, brushing up on techniques, etc). Sounds like current students recommend against this? In June I'm planning a month-long trip to Melbourne to do some volunteer work for my advisor's collaborator. I love the city and feel like the experience will be very informative for the topics and projects I want to pursue during my PhD ?
  10. Hey team, I got in to Minnesota, and plan on attending! So glad the wait is over ?
  11. Thanks! Do you know if this is the same for PIB? My anxiety levels go through the roof every time I check my emails ?
  12. For Columbia, word is that invitations have already been sent out. I've applied to the same PI as you, and have not heard from them.
  13. Looks like OSU have already sent out some acceptances (two posters on page 10 of this forum, from what I can see) Also waiting on UNCG (some invites for clinical psych seem to be out but yet to see anything for Social). And yes, heard from UMN last week for PIB; Social might differ though.
  14. Hey that was me- will be DMing you soon! I thought there was another formal interview stage following this one (turns out there isn't), which is why I didn't post it here. Sorry! School: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Type: PhD (Personality, Individual Differences, and Behavior Genetics) Date of invite: 1/7 Type of invite: Email from POI Interview date: 1/9 (note: no formal interviews at UMN) To others- also feel free to DM me for POI.
  15. Aww thank you for the support- I've used up my reactions for today but it's a heart react from me. I'm sure I'll stand out to someone too- that part sounds a whole lot like dating hahaha
  16. Waiting on Minnesota here. Congrats ? I was rejected on the other hand due to research fit, which hurts (I was debating leaving this out to keep the mood up but it's best to be honest, hey?) but it's helpful to know where I stand and what I need to work on should I apply again. I expect to be rejected from other programs for similar reasons, and I envision a lot of productive soul-searching (and unhealthy ruminating.. lol) in the meantime.
  17. Congratulations to those who have received interview invites! Sounds like 12/20 will be a big day for us ? it's nerve-wracking for me when I see my schools pop up here/in the portal of interview invites and I have not received news from them, I'm sure I'm not alone though!
  18. Hey- sorry for the late reply. All good- it's nice to be able to do something while I wait on my applications lol. I'm not sure if I'm qualified enough to answer your question, (@Psygeek or @t_ruth if you see this feel free to pitch in!) but I think writing involves a combination of "big-picture" stuff (the structure of your journal article, the story you want to tell, the findings you want to emphasize, the take-home message) and detail (paragraph transitions, punctuation, sentence structure, etc). Both are skills you can develop. Good writing habits are also paramount--you may wish to check out "Atomic Habits" or "How to Write a Lot" for starters. There are tons of articles and books on writing. I often just write down what's on my mind, then go back and edit. The editing process is where most of the organization happens, and I spend a lot of time working on re-organizing the details of my writing. (For this reply, I spent maybe 5-10 minutes writing and another 5-10 minutes editing). For the big-picture, I like to leave my writing for a few days, and come back to it with a fresh perspective (friends, colleagues, peer-review students etc might also be helpful here). Hope this helps!
  19. Hi, thanks for starting this thread! Almost all the programs I have applied to are social neuro ? with a sprinkle of personality neuro and pure social! Btw- there are a couple of people over in the Social/Personality psych thread applying to soc neuro programs (at least 4 if not more IIRC) if you wanted to come say hi over there!
  20. A small tip for Skype interviews- make sure your profile can be found via search (I disabled it due to bots in the past and didn't think to re-enable it!)
  21. I see, that's tough. I do believe analytical skills can be learnt but sure, you might be less naturally inclined to that kind of work. A lit review is quite analytical though, you are analyzing the links between papers and uncovering the main themes that emerge. Lit reviews can definitely be published in high-impact journals too. Does your position require you to publish empirical work?
  22. Is English your second language? Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help, whether you're expected to write well or not. You'll probably find others share the same difficulties. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. I've found that I got better at writing as long as I read a lot and wrote a lot (this is from Stephen King haha). I would recommend reading books on writing and getting as much written feedback on your writing as possible. "Write it Up" by Paul Silvia is great for pubs (he is from Psychology, I'm not sure how relevant it is for IR and political sciences though)- I'm sure there are others. There are probably journal articles on how to write journal articles for that matter. Lastly, are you doing well mentally? I can't fathom writing well when I'm feeling down or extremely stressed out.
  23. Congratulations, this is such great news ? I hope to hear about how these go, I'm sure they will understand if applicants get nervous (I do too!) Me too, yay! I have no idea what to expect, I guess I should just make sure the camera and audio setups work ahead of time, I don't really know what else I can control! ?
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use