ferguson_thecat

Hello everyone! I applied to a variety of different PhD programs this last round and didn’t get into any of them (ouch haha) but I did have one interview and thus I was able to ask for feedback about my application/interview from this school. The coordinator told me a variety of things like getting more experience etc etc but one thing she said was that my abnormal psych and stats grades from undergrad were low and as they were prerequisite courses I would need to retake them to get a better grade. Why this confused me is that I have a masters degree in psychology so I have essentially retaken both of these classes in the course of my masters so I was confused why I would go back to the undergrad level to retake these classes. Has anyone had this experience before? Did you retake the classes? Is this common that schools would ask this? P.s it is listed nowhere on the website what the prerequisite courses are or the required grades are for the program. I know you need a foundation in psychology and these courses are foundational but I have extensive experience in both through my coursework and I would think my graduate course grades would be sufficient. If that’s what it takes to get into a program so be it but I want to know if this is at least common that schools will ask this before I shell out the money for the course. Thank you!!!

Hello everyone! As many of you are probably experiencing, this cycle has been hellish. This is my first time applying to doctoral programs and I knew it would be hard and the programs are so competitive but I guess I didn't expect the emotional toll this would all take would be so dramatic. Anyways, I have been rejected from all programs except one where I was waitlisted and I'm not sure I would accept it if they offered it to me because it isn't funded so I am trying to prepare myself for another cycle and was wondering if anyone had any advice. My background: crappy undergrad GPA (2.8 I know, low right), 4.0 MS GPA (will graduate in April), been a TA/RA for all of graduate school, one first authored published paper, research experience: presented research in undergrad and my masters thesis. Here's the things I plan to do before now and then to beef up my applications. 1) Presenting my masters thesis and my published research paper at my schools research conference. 2) Possibly retake the GRE (really don't want to do this because it would be three times taking that god-forsaken test, and hoping the GRE will be cut anyways) 3) Attempting to publish my thesis and/or another research project this summer. 4) Working with my advisor on other research projects she is doing and/or get a job in the field for research experience. 5) Making personal statements better, applying to more schools, reaching out to POI's during the process Now these things sound all well and good but might be pretty hard to accomplish especially the publishing/research jobs, but does anyone have any advice on any other things I could be doing or if these things sound like they would get me at least more interviews? I know its super early (people haven't even accepted their 2021 letters yet haha) but if I don't try and plan I will wallow about all the rejections. I know a lot of people are in similar boats and with way more experience/research/application cycles than me so if others want to vent/share info for others too that would be a good! Just feeling lost and a little hopeless but trying to stay on top of it

New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas NM also offers a MS in clinical psychology where you can serve as a masters level clinician once you pass the licensing exam. I recommend this program (my current program, but I'm on the general track) as it is heavily researched based and you can select to do the thesis requirement or comprehensive evaluations with varying practicum sites.

I currently am getting my MS in general psychology at New Mexico Highlands and I cannot recommend the program enough. I work closely with the Clinical faculty and all of my peers are in that track so while I am not currently pursing the clinical track I have knowledge of it. Tuition is pretty cheap (in my opinion) but the department does everything they can to give the students graduate assistantships to fully fund/partially fund tuition costs; I have only spent $1,000 my 4 semesters being funded for every single one, but again that is up to how much you are willing to spend and you might have slightly more costs. The faculty is amazing and the best group of colleagues and mentors I could have asked for. The professors are very research oriented and are very perceptive to ideas and potential chances for publications/presentation. Saw this thread and thought I would just throw that in there because making the connections I have made at this school will be with me through my professional life so I deeply recommend the school :)