PhDdreamin

@t_ruthThis is very helpful! Thank you!

@t_ruthSorry, my language may have been confusing in my earlier post. In my current program, we get a Master's along the way to the PhD. When I mentioned my thesis above I was referring to the Master's proposal. My current program has given me the option of receiving a terminal master's degree given the current situation. So essentially, I would be completing a Master's at this school as if I was just in a master's program, and then applying to other schools for their PhD programs next cycle and coming in as a student with a master's degree to start in Fall 2024. I do not want to rush my PhD! In regard to transferring, I just moved my family to this current city six months ago. We chose this location to be closer to family, job opportunity for my partner, and good cultural location for us. The new institution is in a quintessential college town with less opportunity for my partner. In addition, it is not a Psychology or Neuroscience program that my advisor is moving to, but rather a more specialized department with more clinically oriented students. While I have been assured by my department head and other faculty that I could get a job in academia in my chosen department with a PhD from a different specialty as long as I publish in relevant journals, it still worries me to switch program focuses in that way.

I just finished the first semester of my PhD program and everything was progressing great. Then, my advisor dropped the news they were leaving my current institution for a new one. I do not want to move to the new institution for various reasons both professional and personal, but there is no one else at my current institution using the methodology I am interested in. Although I have only completed a semester, I have collected lots of data, and was on track to propose my thesis next semester. It seems my current options are to fast track my thesis and Master out of my current program and pursue the PhD somewhere else entirely, or follow my advisor to a program I don't really want to go to. It seems obvious what I should do, but I don't know if completing the master's with my current project is really possible at this point. Any advice welcomed!

I just finished the first semester of my PhD program and everything was progressing great. Then, my advisor dropped the news they were leaving my current institution for a new one. I do not want to move to the new institution for various reasons both professional and personal, but there is no one else at my current institution using the methodology I am interested in. Although I have only completed a semester, I have collected lots of data, and was on track to propose my thesis next semester. It seems my current options are to fast track my thesis and Master out of my current program and pursue the PhD somewhere else entirely, or follow my advisor to a program I don't really want to go to. It seems obvious what I should do, but I don't know if completing the master's with my current project is really possible at this point. Any advice welcomed!

I would definitely recommend getting research experience before applying! This experience can help offset your GPA deficits particularly if you can swing it to align with potential PI's at the programs you want to apply to. You totally don't have to be a student to gain experience either! If you can do it financially, many labs will always take volunteers and you can gain experience that way. Also, many times there are open paid lab positions on the lab website or even on websites like Indeed and Glassdoor. Try finding a lab conducting research you are interested in and email the PI saying you are looking to gain more research experience for grad school and they will likely be receptive if they have any room! As for the GRE, I would recommend taking it. Although many programs are not requiring the test, most are still willing to look at the scores. If you can knock the GRE out of the park, that would also help to show the admissions committees that you are ready for grad school classes despite what might be considered a lower GPA! Good luck!!