leery617
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Posts posted by leery617
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On 3/12/2021 at 11:04 PM, leery617 said:
Looking for some advice here. I was just notified by my PI at my top choice that she was unable to extend an offer this year. I knew this was a possibility since she told me she didn't have priority to make a 1st round offer during interview day. However, the email from the DCT post-interview said to be patient as "there is a reasonable chance we will be able to make you an offer" and to contact them first if I'm considering other programs. Needless to say I'm very disappointed and losing hope as I've been waitlisted at the other 2 programs I interviewed at this cycle.
Here's where I'm looking for some advice... This is not my first time applying and I don't know if I can handle yet another cycle. I've gotten an acceptance to a masters program that is research focused with a great PI and research fit. I've also received a full-time research assistant position with decent pay and relevant research experience for my research interests. Do I take the master's program or work another year and gain more research experience? I'm 100% sure PhD is what I want as I want to pursue a career in academia/research.
I already have a decent amount of research and clinical experience. After graduating, I worked as an RA - I have conference presentations and have a 1st author paper under review. I currently work as a psychometrist but will be leaving to take the full-time research position soon.
I know research experience is key but I feel as if I have a decent amount. So my question is, are my qualifications only good enough for a master's program? In other words, will adding another research job help my CV that much more?
Thanks all in advance and if you're in a similar boat as me (questioning everything about your qualifications and career), you are not alone.
Hey all just want to say after receiving a rejection last week, today I was offered a position at a PhD program!!! A waitlist success story. Never thought the day would come.. I was already looking up professors to apply to next cycle. Still waiting to hear back from another PhD program I'm waitlisted at but I freaking got in and so will you!! Hang in there.
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20 hours ago, animalpaws96 said:
Hi there! ? I can completely understand and relate to where you are coming from! If I have any advice to give from my experience, it would be to continue working for another year, building up your CV and experience that much more, and then preparing to apply again for another cycle! This was my 3rd application cycle (the previous two years I received all rejections), but this year I also applied to a Master's program as a backup, just in case I didn't get into one of the PhD programs I applied to. I got accepted into the master's program with a full-time research assistant position, and I really liked the school and the research/PI... but I also knew I would be settling a bit because my goal is to ultimately go on the PhD track. However, to my surprise, shortly after receiving my master's program acceptance, I also got waitlisted for two of the PhD programs (after interviews in February)... (I felt mixed emotions about being waitlisted... for a while, I was just disappointed and frustrated, but eventually I found peace with it, because it was just a waiting game at that point)... But now, several weeks later (about a month!), I just received a call from the PI at my top-choice PhD program -- and they extended an offer of admission to me with a full tuition scholarship, teaching assistantship, doctoral summer fellowship, and a stipend! (Turns out the delay in acceptance was due to waiting for funding approval!)
I also had a great deal of involved research experience (3.5 years) in various labs; two 1st author papers, eight conference presentations, and only minimal lay counseling/clinical experience (~2 years).
I'll admit that going through a third cycle was tough... I really hunkered down and focused pretty much solely on applications from August-December whenever I got home from work... And then it especially got tough when it got to the waiting period (over the past few months!)... And of course, receiving more rejection letters was certainly not fun ?, but honestly, I felt more prepared this time around and like I had stronger personal statements/better application materials all around -- plus, I was able to use my persistence and perseverance (in applying again and again despite rejections) as evidence of my passion for pursuing the PhD and for my ability to not give up even when it gets tough! ❤️) This cycle was the first time I got interviews, waitlists, and acceptances -- I'd say it's great you've already gotten a couple interviews and an acceptance (even if to a Masters program) on what I presume to be your second application cycle! So, my advice would be to not give up if you know this is what you really want! One thing that kept me going was how one of my favorite professors from undergrad told me that it took him a few cycles to get in to his program -- yet he was one of the best professors I ever could have asked for!! - and so I used that as my motivation, and I'm so thankful I did!! I hope this helps -- try to listen to your heart and whatever gut feeling you have! If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them!! You're definitely not alone!! Don't lose hope!
That's so great you got the call! Congratulations! This is my 3rd cycle but 2nd cycle with a strong CV. The first cycle was while I was still in undergrad and didn't have much research experience.
Thanks for your thoughtful response and congrats on your acceptance!
- animalpaws96 and Starlife
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Any current/past MA students from SDSU? If so, how did you like the program?
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Looking for some advice here. I was just notified by my PI at my top choice that she was unable to extend an offer this year. I knew this was a possibility since she told me she didn't have priority to make a 1st round offer during interview day. However, the email from the DCT post-interview said to be patient as "there is a reasonable chance we will be able to make you an offer" and to contact them first if I'm considering other programs. Needless to say I'm very disappointed and losing hope as I've been waitlisted at the other 2 programs I interviewed at this cycle.
Here's where I'm looking for some advice... This is not my first time applying and I don't know if I can handle yet another cycle. I've gotten an acceptance to a masters program that is research focused with a great PI and research fit. I've also received a full-time research assistant position with decent pay and relevant research experience for my research interests. Do I take the master's program or work another year and gain more research experience? I'm 100% sure PhD is what I want as I want to pursue a career in academia/research.
I already have a decent amount of research and clinical experience. After graduating, I worked as an RA - I have conference presentations and have a 1st author paper under review. I currently work as a psychometrist but will be leaving to take the full-time research position soon.
I know research experience is key but I feel as if I have a decent amount. So my question is, are my qualifications only good enough for a master's program? In other words, will adding another research job help my CV that much more?
Thanks all in advance and if you're in a similar boat as me (questioning everything about your qualifications and career), you are not alone.
Fall 2021 MA Psychology thread
in Psychology Forum
Posted
I did get accepted but turned the offer down since I got into a Ph.D. program. The funding is a monthly stipend and you still have to pay for tuition. Since I would have been out of state, the PI was going to nominate me for a scholarship to obtain in state tuition so that's an option if your PI thinks you might be competitive for it.