[The 2009-2010 Season]

1) When did you 'know' you wanted to get a Ph.D. Not a "since I was a kid" answer, but when did you decide it was worth the time, effort, stress, and ... time?

I feel like I got into the PhD game a little later than others. I started working in a lab my senior year of undergrad as a research technologist. I enjoy the lab work, but after awhile I realized that I would never have enough input or room for creativity in this position. I need to be the ringleader, if you will It was really the last two quarters of my senior year that I decided to apply for grad school, but I chose to wait and apply for Fall '09 admission (I graduated in '07).

2) When did you start the application process. Part of me feels like I'm waaay to early... the other part feels like I should have started looking last year (for the 09-10 program)

I started gathering information on schools during the summer and I asked for letters of recommendation in September. I also started writing my SOP toward the end of summer and I took the GREs in August.

3) Do you shoot big and cross your fingers, or do you shoot realistic?

I applied to seven schools ranging all the way from the Ivy League down. I didn't want to miss an opportunity just because I might think that I'm not "good enough" for certain schools. You never know what a program or a professor might be looking for... you may embody exactly what they want that year. You should also not apply to schools just because you think they are a safety - only apply to programs you would actually want to be admitted to. I feel like there is no such thing as safeties when it comes to graduate school admissions.

4) Should I be published in any way, or should I concentrate on grades, LoR's, and statements?

Being published is always helpful, however it is an extra on your application. I would make sure that everything required for admission is as good as you can get it before worrying about publications. I don't have a journal publication, but I do have a published abstract and a conference poster.

My stats:

BS in Psychology (University of Washington) with a 3.1 GPA.

GRE: 530v/700q

2.5 years research experience in a behavioral neuroscience lab

Published conference abstract

Conference poster presentation

[opinions about the applications with a low undergrad GPA?!]

I had a 3.12 undergraduate GPA. I never did a masters, but I have worked in a neuroscience lab for the last two years. My time in the lab allowed me to publish a conference abstract and present a poster at a conference as well. I think those were my saving graces

[Did anyone else actually like this process?]

I liked choosing my schools and I loved the moment when I knew all application materials were turned in. The area in between? Having to deal with ETS, transcripts that never arrived, letters of recommendation sent out by professors... no thanks.

[Optimism v. Pessimism: "Rejected Until Proven Accepted"]

What kind of a mother adds salt to an already ridiculously open wound like that? WTF, man!!!

I'm not entirely sure as to whether she was joking or not... but fortunately, it doesn't matter now.

[Florida State 2009?]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi... I'll be in the Neuroscience PhD program for Fall '09.

[One choice only ... what to do?]

My GRE was like 60 points lower than expected for engineering. I knew it was a problem but I just did not have time to retake it in time for the applications because of the whole ETS "once a month" rule. My GPA was a 3.45 as well at the time, which is not awesome. I have good research, one first author publication, and 2/3 recs are very very strong. However, I found out through talking to a prof at a prospective school that my 3rd rec was a little weird. It was from a prof I had taken 3 classes with and that I TA-ed for. However, apparently the prof mentioned that I did not do very well (B's) in his class except for the last class in which I got an A. I wasn't too happy to hear this because when writing a rec, especially for grad school, you would expect them to write things in a positive manner. I mean this prof knows me for three years - I have gone to so many office hours and I put in so much effort in his classes and always got As in the lab complements of his courses. Why penalize me for my poor test taking skills in his theory sections?

I dunno ... I just feel that having one acceptance along with all the mess of my GRE and one rec, I am just not meant to go to grad school this year.

I feel I can reapply next year with a lot more confidence and a different rec. I am just nervous to make the decision on this one school when everything seems to be saying DONT. Does that make any sense?

It sounds like you've already made up your mind If you don't want to go to the school and reasonably believe you can do better next year, then reapply.

[One choice only ... what to do?]

I only applied to schools I wanted to go to. In the end, I was only accepted to one out of the seven schools... and I'm okay with that. I visited, I loved it, and I definitely do not feel forced to go there.

I think at the start of the application process everyone should ask themselves, "what if this is the only school that accepts me?" and see how you feel. If you wouldn't be happy with a school as your only choice (assuming you have funding and all that good stuff...) then you probably shouldn't have wasted money applying there in the first place.

However, I may have looked at the process differently than others, because with my 3.1 GPA I didn't have the luxury of assuming I'd get at least ONE acceptance. In fact, I was completely expecting across the board rejections and I was (to put it mildly) elated when I was accepted.

To answer your question (should you take it?), I say take it if you want it and the funding is right. Unless you can do something to significantly improve your portfolio by the next application season (like publishing), I don't see any reason why not. Changing your GRE score is not going to have much of an effect unless maybe your score was originally below the cutoffs.

[Optimism v. Pessimism: "Rejected Until Proven Accepted"]

I tried to remain optimistic during the process... mostly because whenever I talked to my mom about the possibility of not getting in she would reply with, "If you don't, I expect a check for the amount of the GRE scores, transcripts and application fees that I paid for you... and don't expect me to pay for you to do this again."

[The "Disastrous" Semester]

I had an entire disastrous year (followed by a few more disastrous quarters...) and I still got into a program I am excited about. I did not explain my grades in any way, I let my letters of recommendation and my research experience speak for itself. I figured if an adcom wanted to know more, they would ask. I think you'll be okay.

[What do I write to accept their offer?]

With the offer I accepted, I assumed replying to the official DGS email to be "in writing." I just said "I am writing to tell you that I will accept the offer. Signed, me." They haven't said anything yet... I figured if I did it wrong they'd just let me know!

[Where do you find the on-line decision for your school?]

I had my decision for UT-Austin show up on that page. Where it said that my applications has been forwarded to the graduate committee, it now says "We're sorry but your application has been denied blah blah..."

[relationships?]

My boyfriend and I have been together for 2.5 years. He's known I would be applying to grad schools since the day we met... but I was still an undergrad back then so it wasn't "real"! He has a nice, cushy, high paying job that he is unwilling to leave (plus a fairly unadventurous spirit) and I am unwilling to do a long distance relationship despite the fact that I have applied to schools at every corner of the country (and a few in the middle). We haven't really talked about it besides "I'm not moving... unless it's San Diego" (where I didn't even apply), but it's unfortunately obvious that we'll probably have to break up.

It's weird because we live together knowing that I will probably be gone in six months... such an odd situation.

[New here - Animal behavior Ph.D hopeful]

I can definitely understand not wanting to move far away. As far as cost of living goes, I don't think St. Louis is nearly as bad as other midsize cities. You can find a 1 bedroom apartment blocks away from WashU for less than $700 per month. 

For groceries, I shop at Trader Joe's and I rarely pay more than $50 for a week's worth (feeding myself and my boyfriend). Movies are about $6 a ticket...

Anyway, that's probably more information than you are looking for. Good luck!

[New here - Animal behavior Ph.D hopeful]

What about Washington University in St. Louis? They have really cognitive neuroscience, and behavioral neuroscience programs. I'm actually applying to the fall 2009 entry. You should look into WUSTL.

[SOC 09 number of schools should I apply to?]

Right now, I am applying to 7 schools and a friend of mine is applying to 20. I've heard that you should apply to somewhere around 10 schools. The schools that made my list are those that have at least two faculty members that are performing research similar to what I want to do.