SocDevMum

PhD program faculty here. I can't speak to PsyD programs, but when PhD programs ask this, we're generally checking to see if your selected programs are consistent with your stated training goals. For example, if an applicant has applied to research-oriented and also clinically-oriented programs, we question the degree to which the person is interested in research. Also we know which programs have training opportunities (i.e., specific PIs) in our own specialty areas, so if the applicant states a fit with a depression research lab, but none of the other programs listed have depression researchers, then we question the actual topical fit. I found the latter (which happens often) extremely odd until I understood how many applicants apply to all programs within a certain geographic area, regardless of actual fit.
You lose nothing by listing some/all and being honest about it unless you fit one of the two above scenarios. As faculty we're really motivated to identify students who will be happy in our programs, and that requires careful attention to fit, so that's why some programs ask. Hope that helps, and good luck!

For me, I did look at GREs in the past (mostly for very high or very low scores), and definitely give weight to LORs, but the #1 factor for me was and is the personal statement--how does the applicant speak about research? how do they speak about *my* research in particular?

I have done two informal interviews with one POI and I came super prepared. They asked me to present at their lab meeting about research I have done in the past, and then asked me a lot of questions. I had like a 30 slide powerpoint with figures and examples of tasks just in case. They definitely weren't expecting that, but it is always better to be more prepared. 
The second informal interview was primarily making sure our work flow would match up and then the POI pitched me various studies that she could see me working on and how she pictures the trajectory to be specifically for me. 

I completely agree that strong letters make all the difference, but I wouldn't worry so much about who they come from. From my interviews last year I could tell that PIs place a TON of weight on the evaluations of both academic potential and personal character conveyed in LORs, but they don't need to come from colleagues they know well (or even know at all) in order to be effective. 

I would say be prepared mentally for an informal interview in the same way you would a formal one. Have a practiced 30 second bit about yourself, and a couple fleshed out ideas of not just what you want to research, AND how that blends well with the existing focus of the lab you are applying to. My now-PI did ask if I had a general idea what my diss might look like, in the context of my long term goals, so be prepared with some kind of answer for that. More importantly, have good questions ready for them! Ask what their expectations are for first-year students, what possible projects are on the horizon, and get to know what their personal philosophies are like. This may help you make some decisions down the road when you have multiple offers to consider!

I would say be prepared mentally for an informal interview in the same way you would a formal one. Have a practiced 30 second bit about yourself, and a couple fleshed out ideas of not just what you want to research, AND how that blends well with the existing focus of the lab you are applying to. My now-PI did ask if I had a general idea what my diss might look like, in the context of my long term goals, so be prepared with some kind of answer for that. More importantly, have good questions ready for them! Ask what their expectations are for first-year students, what possible projects are on the horizon, and get to know what their personal philosophies are like. This may help you make some decisions down the road when you have multiple offers to consider!

I don't think it's a bad thing to keep checking!! Some PI's are reaching out to students early for a pre-interview or just to chat. Keep checking, but don't be stressed! You got this ❤️ 

I hate how non-logical my brain gets around this time of year. I *know* the earliest I should be hearing back from the programs I applied to is December 15th, yet I still find myself refreshing my email and the results page of GradCafe multiple times a day, just in case. SUPER annoying, brain. 
I also keep double checking my materials and swing between feeling like my statements are utterly inadequate, and feeling like I did everything I absolutely could to show my scientific interests and lab fit. ?‍♀️

My last recommender got her letters in! I finally feel like I can breathe. 
Until tomorrow when I inevitably begin checking for status updates every hour?
How's everyone else doing?

Hello everyone,
 
I just submitted my applications to several developmental psychology PhD programs (Uconn, Boston University, Florida Atlantic University, UMass Boston) and I am a nervous wreck ? how are you all doing now that most application deadlines have passed?

I still have one due Dec 15th but now I plan to chill out for a bit after submitting 13 apps just a few days ago ? Congrats to everyone who's submitted!

So - I am apparently late this knowledge (oh the things I have learned in this process!!), but academic twitter seems to be a rich resource to connect with others in the field and become more familiar with research that various people are working on. I attended a conference this week where one session touched on this and encouraged others to reach out and connect via following one another on twitter, and it was immediately so wonderful! Lots of papers and posters that others have worked on and posted are on their feeds and I love it! 

So reflecting on that experience, I'm going to post my twitter handle here, and I am happy to follow back any academics that also want to connect on twitter. Regardless of whether we are accepted into our programs this year or not, I would love to follow your academic pursuits! 
I am @KatyLoweYYC

Hello everyone! Most applications were due today so congrats on getting them in! Now we need to sit back, relax, feel the anxiety, and wait for interview offers. I started this this thread so that we can give each other emotional support during this time. I know I'm an anxious and excited ball of emotions and will probably be checking my inbox daily for the next couple of months. I'm sure many of you are feeling the same way! May we wish each other all the best.

Depending on how the school's admission process works, it can mean recommending to the committee (it's a departmental decision) or the college where the department is housed (basically a formality as the college issues the official acceptance and takes the departmental decision as is). If your PI is the one with an external grant, basically she has the final say. If your PI's funding comes from the department, there are typically two scenarios. 
1. Your PI is assigned funding this year. She is allowed to choose a student they want. 
2. It is a departmental decision and applicants are rank-ordered at the faculty meeting. Your PI's recommendation will still push you up.
However, as she was already planning first year projects with you, I would assume that she can actually choose you. It is always safe to wait til the final confirmation/acceptance letter but congratulations! 

I think this is the common language used when they are saying they like you and want you be in the program but there are still more official hoops to jump through. I know that with the programs I applied to they all used that type of language to say they had recommended me for admission. I've got a recent example because I recently added a MA program to my plan of study during my PhD. 
Screenshot:
 

 
So you having been told this sounds like good news, to me, and that at the very least like you can expect to be interviewing in January. Congrats!

This is par for the course for good clinical psych programs. Mines (top-20 U.S.) had >1,000 applicants for 10 spots pre-COVID. FWIW I'm a neuroscience PhD student in a psych department but our field is seeing similar increases.
I will however state that I've been talking to professors and the last time such an increase happened was during the Great Recession. Professors have told me that although there were huge increases in the number of applicants, there wasn't necessarily an increase in the competitiveness of those applicants. This is because most of these students deciding to apply are staring down the dire job market and applying to grad school as an alternative. Unfortunately for them, deciding to try for grad school on whim in Senior Year does not compensate for the years of experience that most of you presumably have been getting. I would not worry too much.

There is generally an increase in applications to higher education in times of academic downturn.
There are still some programs accepting applicants if you find there are places you could see yourself and hadn't yet applied.
Cost should not be prohibitive--many institutions offer waivers for application fees (mine does). If you are interested in Learning Sciences/Educational Psychology at all, please let me know and I can help.

I saw on Twitter there is talk about 50%+ applicant increases to various graduate psychology programs this year.
https://twitter.com/jayvanbavel/status/1334558142240321544?s=19
I don't know how true this is across the board, but just wanted to post a heads up. If the programs you applied at saw these type of increases, you may end up with a more competitive experience than some of us had in past cycles.
Remember to be kind to yourself while waiting for and getting results. I'm rooting for all of you.

We haven't heard anything specific from faculty here, other than that they are still taking on students - but I would say it's safe to assume that everything will be virtual. I would guess you could expect one on one with some faculty, and be prepared for a possible group interview format with other candidates, with lab members, or both.  I know it's not super helpful. It's possible that, if things change tremendously in the US after January, that there could be in-person campus visits in late spring, like late March or April, or maybe even after the April 15 acceptance date, for candidates who have accepted offers, though. I wouldn't completely count those out yet!

The December 1st closing date for many programs is fast approaching! I know I was in a tizzy the whole last week myself last year, waiting for LORs and holding myself back from throwing away existing SOPs and writing whole new ones. So I just want to let this year's applicants know - you got this.  You have done all the prep work you can. You've written and rewritten, edited and edited and then edited some more.  If you still need to upload a CV or SOP, it's time. Hit submit and breathe. Then take the week and enjoy life, because soon it will be time for hard core interview prep, since some schools start interviews as soon as the 3rd and 4th week of December! 
Good luck all!

That is the worst feeling. This year of all years I feel like it's okay to not be ideal. Good luck!

How's it going all? We're down to the last ten days or so..... don't forget to breathe when you are submitting those apps!

Some of the programs I applied to have sent emails after submitting applications confirming they will be doing virtual interviews as well as programing with the current grad students and professors as they would have in person. I have seen a few schools that seem to be considering in person as well, and the rest haven't updated the interview schedule and details on their sites as of yet.
"The selected applicants will be invited to interview via Zoom and participate in programming with faculty and current students. Our interview dates are currently set for Wednesday, March 3 through Saturday, March 6, 2021, but may shift. This is our only interview session. All applicants will be notified of the decision on their application by the end of January." this was attached to Stanford's  email confirming application submission.
"Applicants who are determined to be among the most qualified will be invited to participate in a Virtual Interview.  These will be held from January through March." this is what UMASS med sent as well.
I feel safer doing virtual interviews with the pandemic but I know I interview better in person and I get wary about connection issues and not being able to see the schools before making a decision of where to attend.

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. 

The December 1st closing date for many programs is fast approaching! I know I was in a tizzy the whole last week myself last year, waiting for LORs and holding myself back from throwing away existing SOPs and writing whole new ones. So I just want to let this year's applicants know - you got this.  You have done all the prep work you can. You've written and rewritten, edited and edited and then edited some more.  If you still need to upload a CV or SOP, it's time. Hit submit and breathe. Then take the week and enjoy life, because soon it will be time for hard core interview prep, since some schools start interviews as soon as the 3rd and 4th week of December! 
Good luck all!