amazingbutternutsquash

I added a public message on the administrator account's board. How this has been handled is just wrong.

Well, then maybe it's time to follow up with them? Or for us to ask directly? Alternatively, I may just ditch this forum. Reddit may be better going forward. I know I have no reason to stick around a forum that's excluding my entire subfield... along with most of the psychological scienes.

It's been a few days. Have the admins said anything?

This exactly. Frankly, this is a stupid, exclusionary change. Clinicians obviously felt comfortable posting here before, and non-clinical psychologists deserve a place on gradcafe. I am really not seeing the benefits of this decision. I support changing the name back.

There are a few options here. UMD offers stats workshops both online and in person on some advanced (e.g., SEM) and elementary topics. For more intensive experiences, there are workshops like ICPSR or Stats Camp. Sometimes workshops are also attached to conferences/preconferences.

What programs did all of you apply to? I applied to quite a few HDFS programs last year Don't worry too much that you havent heard anything from certain programs yet, btw. I know that the program where I did my MA accepts people all the way into April. I think I heard the most concrete news from programs in February. HDFS programs also dont always interview -- sometimes they cold accept people as slots/funding opens up. I'm guessing that funding is crazier than usual this year, so many programs may just not know what they can offer yet.

Many (unsure of the exact proportion) will have *some* funding or funding on an as-needed basis. This may have changed due to COVID, but both the school I did my undergrad at and the school I did my masters at had funded MA programs, even if they weren't officially advertised that way. Instead, I think they said something on their websites or in their grad handbooks on giving funding to MA students where possible. But at my undergrad (midwestern university) that ended up being a fair proportion of students. During my MA (East Coast) I was funded at the highest level. It was more than enough to live on. But this was info you has to look for/ ask about. You might want to take a look for MA programs you're interested in, then look at their websites/programs for funding info. Or contact their admins or graduate coordinators to ask about funding for MA students. They could definitely have something avaliable.

I’d recommend formal attire — but also watch for whether they give any clues in the invite/the invites to specific events. Personally, I’m really hoping that programs match interviewees with current students (as they would with a homestay). When I interviewed last year the students I stayed with were so helpful in resolving any concerns I had about how formal/not to dress for specific events. I also learned much more about the programs that way that I ever would have otherwise. As far as showing up well on camera goes, I’ve actually done a fair bit of reading on this just for classes and teaching ? Some recommend wearing solid colors, as cameras generally render them in a way that’s more flattering than patterns. Additionally, I would try to get the lighting right. Setting up your camera so that you’re facing a window is a good, low-cost way to do this. You can also get one of those lighting rings. Basically, you want the light to hit you square in the face rather than raking across it (side lighting) or lighting you from behind (backlighting). You can also put a pillow behind your back so that you naturally lean forward a little. It makes you look more engaged and focuses the camera more on your face than your body. I’ve also noticed that leaning forward has a slimming effect if that’s something you care about. Leaning back does the opposite, and puts more camera emphasis on your chest. I think it goes without saying to make sure your background is clean/presentable. Anyways, my compulsive need to research everything I do aside, good luck on your interviews! I’m sure you’ll be great ?

Do you have any research experience?

This isn't necessarily true for marriage and family therapy (MFT) programs. I've been at three schools housing them, and I've had friends in all three programs. They all required a MA to even be considered. Some schools giving MFT PhD degrees also house MA programs (e.g., Auburn) but some don't (e.g., UGA). OP, how geographically constrained are you? Also, what are your eventual goals?

My best advice is a) to google the questions they might ask you (why their program, why their lab, what is your research experience, where do you want your research to go, etc.) For this, it's good to have a decent working knowledge of the program and what your goals might be if you go there (if they have a graduate handbook, look through that). Are there any classes you particularly want to take? Certificates you might want to earn? Demonstrate excitement about the program and what you could accomplish there! Then, I recommend having an endless list of questions. You're interviewing/assessing them too. Having questions also helps to show how excited/interested in the program you are. (I only applied to programs I was really interested in, as I think most people do, so it was just a matter of showing that). Here are the ones from my list last year, in case you/anyone finds them useful What past/present datasets are available? How much has been published from them previously? What about present projects? What measures do they contain? How much input do current students have on lab projects? How is the lab structured? Do you have group meetings with students? How often do you meet with students individually? How do you have students prepare for meetings? How many current students do you have? (I wanted to be part of a lab with 4 students or less, because I felt that professors often get overwhelmed/give less personal attention after that point -- but that's just me). When do students start leading their own projects/papers? What has made students a good fit for your lab in the past? Do the students in your lab collaborate? How is authorship determined in your lab? How would you describe your mentorship style? How do you manage student projects? What level of involvement do you expect to have? How do you react to delays (e.g., if I were learning a new technique)? Where have you seen students go after finishing the program? What excites you about the program/department? Good luck! You've got this edit: typeo

Wait, does it say that this should be a personal or family related challenge?

I don’t think it’s a good idea to discuss personal mental health problems, regardless of whether you can spin it positively. It’s too personal, and these people don’t know you. Think of it the same way you might think of telling someone personal info while getting to know them. If you rush into telling someone very personal info shortly after meeting them the best case scenario is that you’re going to come across as not having good boundaries, worst case as weird or creepy. When you add to this that the people reading your application are also, potentially, your bosses and colleagues... it just isn’t a good look. For context, my field is developmental psychology. Applicants to my programs sometimes have a tendency to talk about how their own childhood experiences influenced them. E.g., “I moved around a lot as a kid so I want to study friendships.” Not to be too harsh, but I’ve outright heard faculty get annoyed at applicants including those sorts of personal anecdotes - it just isn’t what they care about. They’re personal, not professional. It’s better to emphasize a passion for what the program would be training you to do. There are a few exceptions, like if you grew up in a war-torn country and want to study violence, but those are few and far between.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. That's incredibly rough. Sending lots of internet support! There are a few paths I know of to get to psychometric expertise, and I want to pass them on since they're likely not as competitive as clinical psychology and may have more/different funding opportunities. First, take a look at education departments. Many have degrees or specializations in quantitative methods, which is testing in educational setting. These programs are variable, but some will let you tailor your experience so that it includes both working with kids and psychometrics. Second, take a look at school psychology. Finally, I'd suggest taking a look at developmental psychology -- you mentioned the department at UC Merced, which I know has good developmental and quantitative methodology (may include psychometrics?) programs within the psych department. I haven't researched them significantly myself, but I"ve heard through word of mouth that they're very good in both areas. Good luck!