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That actually does make me feel a lot better. While it sucks that some things are just out of our hands....it’s also a relief and it’s not a slight on our application or capabilities. Thank you for the rationale!

I’m afraid on top of the extra applicants POIs will be less apt to take on students. I spoke with someone in the beginning of the September and she was so interested in taking a student but I recently found out that she isn’t so sure anymore and It’s going to take someone to really knock her socks off for her to take someone during covid now I WANT TO CRY

I think this is actually a great opportunity. my research mentor tells me all the time that when she started out her mentor was young and new and it gave her so many opportunities that she's not sure she would have had if she was with someone 'established'

*SIGH* someone I know in the program I'm applying informed me that the PI is going back and forth on whether or not to accept a student (even though we spoke in early fall and had a great conversation and she seemed set on taking a student). I KNOW I'm a great applicant and the match (to me) is pretty darn perfect. I guess I just have to hope and pray that she accepts interviews and I get to do one.

I know for a fact there was a spreadsheet that has what you're looking for that was posted quite a bit last cycle. I'm not sure how much will have changed/stayed the same due to covid though...I'm thinking your best bet would be to find programs that you like with people that you fit with and check their deadlines.

I have the same feeling about it being bittersweet. Experiencing the culture of the program is so much fun and quite honestly...vital to deciding if you want to accept an offer. So I think your idea of visiting if you get an offer is a fantastic one. I'm going to have to say I'll be doing the same.

I agree! As much as I'd like to meet everyone in person, I think doing things virtually has its own advantages. Although I know it's going to feel clunky for some, especially if your wifi decides to go in and out. Maybe there'll be a significant change with these vaccines coming out, but I don't want to get my hopes up yet!

I hate to take up room and create a new thread, but I actually need to have conversation about this lmao. I'm not sure if any schools have said for sure what they're going to do for interviews, but I think it's safe to suspect that they'll be 100% virtual. How do yall feel about this? Do you think you'll benefit from it? How do you think the structure of interviews will be? I've been to an interview ONCE and it was a whole day process, so I'm wondering how they'll format everything virtually. I'm really curious about everyone elses thoughts!

Thanks for posting this! I was literally going to ask people today what they thought virtual interviews would be like....because lets face it... we're going to have virtual interviews. I think when it comes to the students, it could be beneficial to meet with a group of students for a student panel. It doesn't have to necessarily be all of them or even a lot, but a group of 3-5 phd students would be helpful especially if they have different experiences/different insight. I think a virtual campus tour is a must. Even if it's pre recorded and maybe available before the meeting and also available to keep.

Yes it’s a PhD program! I just had no idea if it mattered if it had been years since I’ve actually been in school. And the OBM faculty specifically states they place value in people with work experience because of the subject matter of the program but I definitely want to try and get this second faculty so I’m going to message her again! Thank you!

...and?

I've been totally slacking when it comes to applications. I really need to beef up my SOP and update my CV, but I think I need to finalize the people that are writing me a LOR. 1) A past professor and current research advisor. This will be a very strong letter. 2) My past BCBA (who can also speak on my knowledge of behavioral applications since I'm applying to a phd in behavioral science) from a behavior tech job I had last year. This one won't be as strong because she told me she isn't used to writing LOR, but she would talk me up and detail what kind of worker I am. And I KNOW I should have a second faculty member that knows what kind of student I am but I graduated almost 3 years ago and apart from the one I haven't kept in touch with any. I did connect with one on linkedin (i took a class in 2014!!! which was so long ago, but the professor was influential in my life at the time and I know I was a great student.) I sent her my cv after she told me she'd be happy to write me a LOR and I haven't heard from her since. I don't have her email, so I need to make sure I remind her over linkedin and make sure she's still on board with writing me a letter. If she doesn't respond/doesn't want to my only other option is my Office Manager. Do you guys think having a second faculty is absolutely necessary? The PhD/researcher I'm applying to works in OBM and I have a feeling having someone that can speak on my skill when working a blue collar industry job may hold high value, but I'm still kind of worried that I NEED a second faculty.

@spring2000I second this! I had two really good informal interviews with people and it's only because I had a connection. I can't say for sure how things would have played out if I didn't have that connection, but it's my first year having an informal interview so early, and it's only obvious that having a connection can help. Honestly it can hard to gauge anything through email, so I would continue focusing on your applications and remember that someone's response to your inquiry says nothing about you!

AHAHA okay I definitely meant that the meetings were INFORMAL. They were in fact CASUAL.

Thanks for asking! I ended up having 1 zoom meeting and 1 phone call in the same day! lmao talk about nerve wracking. But honestly, I thought it went awesome. One POI expressed her concerns that even some students with masters struggle when they first enter a PhD and seeing that I only have a bachelors, she would hate for me to feel behind. So she suggested I audit some classes, which I am! I was a little worried she thought I wasn't ready but she emailed me the next day and told me it sounded like I was really ready for this next step in my life and she was looking forward to reading my application. The second person pretty much answered all my questions right off the bat. He actually opened with explaining how things are going during covid. All in all, both meetings were very very formal. I did make a list of points I wanted to talk about so that I had some structure, but honestly conversation with both of them just flowed. Good luck with your call! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1t8CMel9f6lZKgtzi-zIuOhPP000kWHCNrbRO9KLAsC8/edit#gid=0 I've linked you to the google sheets I just created for myself so that it made having the conversation a little easier!

OMGGGG okay that is a lonnnnggg time to wait

i have a zoom meeting next week with someone I'm interested in working with and I'm so nervous lmao.

Honestly, I feel like I can't complain since I'm in a very fortunate position where the program I'm applying completely waived the GRE. However, this is my third time applying to PhD programs so there are a bunch of uncertainties running through my head: Am I ready for this? Should I find different people to write my LOR's? Will I seem flighty if I name two different faculty in my statement of purpose? I honestly wasn't going to try for another phd program. After last year I was going to give up completely and just focus on a masters, but I've had a number of people in my life that have been supporting me and encouraging me to apply to this one specific program so here we are!!!! I refuse to get my hopes up though, so I'll DEFINITELY be applying to masters programs, student loans be damned!!! How about you? How is the season going for you? Edit: I asked this question and then realized you may currently be in a program! How has it been so far?

I was honestly thinking of drafting up some emails today *insert crying* This is my third round and there are some people that are probably expecting to write me a LOR, but it doesn't get any harder actually having to ask LOL. I honestly was going to give up after last year and just focus on Masters programs and just deal with student loans lol. However my research mentor suggested I apply to a Behavior Analysis specific PhD program (I was always focused on clinical psych before) so I have exactly ONE PhD program. On one hand, that's amazing because I can put all of my attention into this ONE application. On the other hand, it's ONE program that I'm betting on. But I am honestly just so exhausted lol, I just want to be onto the next chapter of my life.

Now that it's September and applications are due in 2-3 months, I'm suddenly panicking.....

I agree about the value of letters from research mentors. I guess it won't hurt to draft up an email to her and see where it leads. thank you!

Hello! I know there is a forum for these specific questions, but I'm sure the answer winds up different for each field. I feel like I'm in a pickle. The first time I applied to PhD programs (two years ago) I was apart of 2 labs and I had my current full time job. It wound up being an easy 3 letters. Unfortunately I had to quit volunteering at one of the labs because there just weren't enough hours in the day. So that was one academic/research LOR gone. Last year, I had my research mentor write me a LOR, my boss at my full time job wrote me one, and I then had a part time job as a behavior technician and my BCBA wrote me a letter. I left that job in the Winter of 2019 because my volunteer position at the lab turned into a paid one. Now I feel like I only have two options for people to write me letters. My research mentor who I've worked very closely with these past few years and my boss at my full time job (where I've worked for 8+ years). I'm not sure if it's out of the question for me to get in touch with my old BCBA and ask her if she would mind writing me a letter? Or if I should just get two letters of recommendation from my full time job (one from my boss and one from the owner of the company). I almost feel like it's too late to get in touch with the old lab I had to leave and I also feel like it's beyond rude to offer to help out just in hope that I'll get a letter of rec. I plan on bringing this up to my research mentor as well, but I wanted to see if any of you had any insight or advice on what might be the better option. TIA!

I'm applying to a Behavior Analysis PhD program and they officially posted on their website that the GRE is NOT needed. I have never been happier and I truly feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders hhaaha. My research interests include contingency management as an intervention for substance users, behavioral economics, and a new interested in Organizational behavior management!

I have two exciting developments in my PhD Prep. My research advisor informed me over the weekend that she's moving me up to second author since I've helped her immensely on this one paper. It'll be the first time my name is actually on a publication and I'm so excited and it just feels good to be recognized, especially if it's going to improve my application. I've also been given the responsibility of leading the writing of a brand new paper. Recently my lab has collected a whole bunch of data and it's enough to get some research questions going. I'm ready for the challenge, but so far it has proved to be challenging. I've been working in the lab for a long time now and I feel like I've done everything but write on my own. I hope I can get out of this writing funk quickly, because I'd love to have even a draft of the intro by the weekend. lmao

Thanks so much!