Schy

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 found this google doc on reddit last night with a various different questions and advice! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z6lq4AHhJTcTh3PX_YbN6W1u645Gl_a8gIaOT8bhFY0/edit

I'm so sorry to hear that you're in this situation ? Personally, I think I'd wait. I'm actually doing that now (not applying to masters because I don't want the debt!). The great thing about PhDs is that they SHOULD be funded. You are providing a service to the school and in turn they are shaping you and helping you set and reach goals that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise. I'm not sure how things would work in the future if you decided to apply to palo altos program, if there's any chance that it will impede on your progress as a post-doc/PhD I say DEFINITELY don't do it. But if people don't bat an eye at it....than maybe its just a matter of if you want more school debt. These are hard decisions to make and no one can make them for you. I'm a firm believer that we make the best out of any situation we're in and I believe you can do that as long as Palo Altos program doesn't look bad in the future. 

I'm so sorry to hear that you're in this situation ? Personally, I think I'd wait. I'm actually doing that now (not applying to masters because I don't want the debt!). The great thing about PhDs is that they SHOULD be funded. You are providing a service to the school and in turn they are shaping you and helping you set and reach goals that you wouldn't be able to do otherwise. I'm not sure how things would work in the future if you decided to apply to palo altos program, if there's any chance that it will impede on your progress as a post-doc/PhD I say DEFINITELY don't do it. But if people don't bat an eye at it....than maybe its just a matter of if you want more school debt. These are hard decisions to make and no one can make them for you. I'm a firm believer that we make the best out of any situation we're in and I believe you can do that as long as Palo Altos program doesn't look bad in the future. 

I know exactly how you feel. I'm the first in my family to ~consider~ grad school. I have explained these exact things to them, but I still get the same "well you graduated from blah and you have a good GPA, I'm sure you'll get into tons of places." My mom says "well.... have you considered applying to [alma mater]?" except their clinical psych program is just as competitive (if not more) as others, and I don't have a POI there. My brother will tell me "well if it's so difficult then apply to CSU Chico," which doesn't have anything I'm interested in, but he sees as a cheaper school and is the solution. I also feel that I am so far behind my peers because I earned my bachelor's at 27, and this is why I will never catch up to being competitive or I will in my 40's and get my PhD at 50.
It's so frustrating that you are seen as gifted and talented by your family, but the field doesn't acknowledge your potential. Sometimes the gap between expectations and reality feels like gaslighting. It's so exhausting to explain to family and friends how arduous this process is because it's not considered as "elite" as medical school.
I encourage you to continue validating your own experience and feelings because they are very real. Also, remember to take care of yourself ❤️ 

I wish I didn't even waste my time applying this cycle, wow. 

I have been there. It is my 3rd time applying, and the first time I had literally no clinical experience, so it was completely a wash. It is so hard to come to terms with when you think about all the time and money you spent!! However, I will say I am thankful for each application cycle, and I have learned so much along the way. Not to mention the fact that rejection doesn't phase me anymore - it has made me stronger!! If this year is not your year, some year in the future will be!!!

So I got rejected from the one program I applied to. I feel like I could write a book about why I decided to do that (lol). My research interests are pretty specific/behavior analysis programs seemed to fit/there aren't many people that research what I want to research/whatever. But I did it and I felt good about it. But ultimately I got rejected and the PI suggested I pursue a masters first (in the end she chose a someone with a masters over me IT MAKES SENSE). This is my third cycle and honestly at this point I guess getting a masters is my only choice if I really want to pursue this/a phd and I have to be honest I'm really not happy about that. I understand all of it but I am so not happy. 

Warning - just a general vent, nothing productive to be found here!
I'm feeling frustrated by others (whether family, friends, strangers) saying they're surprised by lack of success in the interview process, even after I explain the low acceptance rates. It feels stressful to explain the situation to them. I acknowledge a few things - this is my first round applying, I did have one informal and one formal coming up, but it still is incredibly frustrating when I feel like I should be more competitive? Which again, I acknowledge is an incredibly privileged statement, considering just HOW qualified everyone is. Just feeling a little disenchanted with this general field - feels like I should have been preparing from 18 to garner the amount of experience necessary.
The general advice of getting more research through an RA position/post-bacc is harmful too - these jobs are usually low paying, with not much career growth outside of preparation for graduate programs. This is certainly not feasible for everyone. I'm lucky to have a good position, but am frustrated by the amount of times this is spouted off as the advice for being more competitive. I know this is not an okay reality for so many people.
This isn't ire towards anyone in particular, except for an incredibly competitive process with limited spots, riddled with gatekeeping, while incredible mental health needs exist. Rant over!

Hi! I'm actually a research assistant for one of the faculty at Rowan. My alma mater! We just talked (literally yesterday) about all the applications that the department received. Invites definitely haven't gone out, but they will soon! If you have any questions I can try and help! 

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

That’s what I did last time. Honestly I only applied to the one because someone brought it to my attention! The program was looking to *expand* and include more disadvantaged people.  Like I mentioned before my area of research is super specific. So I took whatever advantage I could and ran with it. When it came down to it she told me verbatim is was between me and someone with a masters. And she wanted to let me know ASAP in case I wanted to apply to MA/MS ABA programs that still had open deadlines. It was actually my first year not applying to a clinical program and I got soooo far. 

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

So I got rejected from the one program I applied to. I feel like I could write a book about why I decided to do that (lol). My research interests are pretty specific/behavior analysis programs seemed to fit/there aren't many people that research what I want to research/whatever. But I did it and I felt good about it. But ultimately I got rejected and the PI suggested I pursue a masters first (in the end she chose a someone with a masters over me IT MAKES SENSE). This is my third cycle and honestly at this point I guess getting a masters is my only choice if I really want to pursue this/a phd and I have to be honest I'm really not happy about that. I understand all of it but I am so not happy. 

Yay! A fellow Blasian!

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

I have a masters in neuroscience and I still only got three invites, out of the 11 schools I applied to. I spent so much time trying to find appropriate PIs as well, but I unfortunately am focused on a really specific field, which I'm assuming definitely contributed to my lack of invites. So unless you just do a broad psychology MS, honestly don't know if it is worth it! That being said, the schools I applied to, do actually have the option of using your MS thesis as long as it was empirically driven so it wouldn't necessarily have to be repeated. 
 
Also edit to add that I chose to do a MSc because I actually really wanted to study this specific topic- not just to get more research experience for applications. It is a lot of money to spend just to boost an application! Definitely think you can get publications, research experience etc without needing a MSc  that is a really hard thing to put on an applicant and I'm sorry that happened to you.

I feel this. I have never received feedback or tips for next time. I've heard that most credits from master don't transfer in PhD and you have to redo a thesis anyways, I'm not sure if anyone can speak to that. I know spending money on a masters is daunting to me, so I feel how disappointing that is to hear. While that PI recommended it, I know that other PIs would recommend differently so don't take that as the only solution. 

I'm so sorry to hear this. I only applied to one program last year and also was rejected. I honestly had not clue that people applied to so many programs at once (it seems too expensive)  I did apply to 3 programs this round and I'm hoping at least one pays off. I wish you luck in your future endeavors- something will work out for you!!
 

So I got rejected from the one program I applied to. I feel like I could write a book about why I decided to do that (lol). My research interests are pretty specific/behavior analysis programs seemed to fit/there aren't many people that research what I want to research/whatever. But I did it and I felt good about it. But ultimately I got rejected and the PI suggested I pursue a masters first (in the end she chose a someone with a masters over me IT MAKES SENSE). This is my third cycle and honestly at this point I guess getting a masters is my only choice if I really want to pursue this/a phd and I have to be honest I'm really not happy about that. I understand all of it but I am so not happy. 

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

This is one of the reasons why I didn't apply to certain programs. If I can't tell from your lab website/social media that you're making an effort to be anti-racist than I know that I wouldn't have a good time spending 5+ years in that area/lab. 
The lab I'm HOPING AND MANIFESTING that I get to be apart of did a really good job of showing its interviewees that they care about social justice. While the PI is white and majority of her doctoral students are white (one latina in the group), everyone made me feel so welcome and we talked a lotttttttt about the disparities in healthcare. As an ethnically black women, but racially Asian these things felt important to me because I don't always feel 100% comfortable in completely white spaces. 
 
lol i have no idea why i worded it that way, but the point is im biracial but appear more asian than I do black. 

This is my third time applying and I can confidently say that the field just handles admissions this way. It's truly abysmal. However, I have noticed that a lot of programs are becoming more self-aware? For example, programs that are deciding get rid of the GRE completely. I do wonder how much the university itself has a say in how a program runs things....