[Anyone else regretting not applying to more schools?]

I agree with Victory. Despite not knowing anything about your program, Girlatthehelm, I'd imagine that your qualifications will get you admission to school(s). I've noticed that we tend to be VERY hard on ourselves concerning the quality of our applications; when I spoke to a guy on the admissions committee for Penn State last week (one of the top 5 school for my field in the country), he shocked me by telling me that I'm quite well-qualified and would like to give me an offer, but can't at the moment due to funding issues (hence, I'm waitlisted). So I think that although we may be able to predict the outcomes to some degree and can have a good idea of where we stand with things, we're still limited in knowing exactly what a program is looking for.

I only applied to 6 programs, and like someone else (sorry, can't remember who said this!), they're all pretty well-ranked. I waver between feeling confident that I'll get in somewhere, to telling myself I was a complete fool for thinking that anyone would want me and I don't have a snowball's chance in hell. Hence, I'm now sending out applications to two Master's programs, just to be on the safe side.....

[senioritis]

Dear god yes. Especially knowing that since I've already applied to schools, grades don't matter so much....

Unless, of course, I don't get in anywhere.

[Out of the blue -- Help!]

Thank you thank you everyone for your feedback and support! It actually was less of an interview, and more of a "hang in there, we're still making decisions, but you're at the top tier." Very informal, he requested that I update him when I receive other notices from my other schools (and gave me his cell phone number -- is that common?), and where else I've applied (not surprising). We chatted about the program, I mentioned several aspects that I was very excited about that were unique to the program and that they're very much towards the top of my list. No actual offer, but I'm feeling better about this than I ever thought I would.

Damn, and last night I thought I was rejected flat-out.

I think there's hope for us all! Hang in there, you guys..... based on what I've read in people's posts, their insight, motivation, dedication, and support, I think everyone here as a good chance at acceptances.

[Out of the blue -- Help!]

Hi everyone,

This morning I received an email from a faculty at one of my top choices that I was sure had rejected me earlier in the week. He wants to call to "talk about where we are in the grad student selection process and where you might be in your progress toward admission to schools." We've scheduled to talk at 2:30 this afternoon EST. Needless to say, I'm feeling more than a little bit jumpy and nervous. I was wondering if anyone has ideas as to what I could expect so I might be better able to prepare myself. I assume that he'll ask where among my preferences this school lies and to what other schools I've applied. Do you think this might be a more formal interview and they're still trying to make a decision as to the quality of my application? (Note: this school doesn't usually require interviews.) Should I ask how many positions there are available and if this means I'm being waitlisted, or would that be inappropriate? What else? What else?

AHHHHHH!! **panic panic pant pant*

[any "what are you going to do now" fantasies?]

Berkeley was the one school on my list I was positive I wasn't going to get into, and was wrong.

I had an unhealthy obsession with Berkeley for a while. I grew up in CA, a couple of hours south of the Bay Area (Monterey), and plan on moving back someday (when I finish grad school?). I didn't apply there because the one I/O faculty in their psych department is moving to administration elsewhere in the university this fall.

My dream school is Teachers College, Columbia, so I've been dreaming of living in Manhattan. I'm so excited for falling snow (!), hehe...

It's mine too, now. It's driving me crazy that other programs in the school are making decisions, but apparently not mine yet. I've heard their acceptance rate tends to be somewhat higher than many other universities (due to their relative lack of funding?) so I'm feeling positive about it.

[How often do you re-read your SOP/LOI]

Never!!! Even the thought of it makes me tense up with anxiety. But I'm like that with most stuff I write.

I second that sentiment.

[I/O Psychology 2009]

well im not sure about masters programs..but i did just want to say that I have yet to be accepted as well and I can relate that its hard to hang in there but I just wanted to say..dont give up yet dherres!

Thanks, p1nkie! Things will work out the way they're supposed to, and we're all exactly where we need to be (even if it's not where we want to be, lol). Where all did you apply, if I might ask?

My sudden interest in MS programs stems from anxiety.... the ones I'm really looking at are CA State San Bernardino, and Baruch CUNY (NYU, although stated as having a deadline of March 1 by the SIOP website, is actually Feb 1.... darnit!). I know enough to be quite impressed with their curriculum (especially the former) and faculty (ESPECIALLY the latter).... and I'm hard to impress, lol!

Anyone have thoughts/impressions on these programs?

[I/O Psychology 2009]

So with 2 rejections in the bag (1 confirmed, 1 assumed), I'm starting to feel rather despondant. Does anyone know of a decent, current ranking for Masters programs in I/O, rather than PhD? Choices are limited at this late date, but it'd be better than nothing, right??

[Anxiety!]

Half of them are wait-mares. These are nightmares about waiting tables (my oh-so-illustrious job) that include customers coming in and sitting at dirty tables all at once, no food coming out of the kitchen, being unable to read what I've written down, the power/computer systems suddenly going out, the building looking completely wrong, and not knowing where anything is, etc... (most of this has actually happened before.)

Aside from these are just general anxiety dreams, the floors crumbling under my feet, being unable to yell or stand up or walk (that one is my least favorite,) the car is uncontrollable, I am falling down an impossibly steep slope, lost in the woods, and so on.

God, these are the worst! When you dream that you're totally weeded and people are angry and there's NOTHING you can do to catch up. I have more server nightmares than any other type of bad dream.

I've had several dreams about my top choice school over the last 6 weeks or so: being accepted, going on visits, etc. One night, I had a dream where I didn't get accepted ANYWHERE. The following, I dreamt that one of the best-ranked schools -- one of my "(very) stretch" schools -- for my program accepted me. Sigh!

[I/O Psychology 2009]

Anyone have any insight into PSU's program? A few people at the beginning of this thread thought responses from faculty were cold. I have not encountered the same issue, but have had a hard time getting a response.

The only responses I've had from faculty were concerning the application itself, i.e. writing sample, length of SOP, etc. Questions concerning their work and likelihood of accepting students were ignored. The grad students I emailed were helpful, though.

[what will you do after your PhD?]

My initial motivation for the PhD was to go into corporate consulting. BUT I've been having doubts of late..... I enjoy research and love academia and the university environment and would love to remain in it; the "publish or perish" atmosphere, however, scares me. I'm choosing not to make any solid decisions until later on.

And in all my SOPs, I wrote about how much I want to do research for a university, but value any practicums/internships the programs offered as a way to explore the applied nature of I/O should I choose to further continue to work in that arena later in my career. Also, it would provide an invaluable opportunity to incorporate field work into my research.

[POSITIVE rejections?]

Hi all,

I saw a thread from last year's batch regarding hurtful rejection letters, and thought this alternative might make for an interesting topic. Has anyone been impressed or touched or whatever else by a rejection letter they've received?

The last sentence of mine states, "We hope that you will be admitted to another university and will be able to achieve your educational goals." Awww..... Maybe I'm just foolish, but that bit sort of kind of makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside, lol! (And then I remember that it's a REJECTION letter, and icy fear overtakes me once more.)

[Anxiety!]

I heartily recommend the Wii, particularly Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Personally, in addition to the above, I'm lucky(?) enough to be working full-time and be in my undergrad full-time as well. Plus, I have a lot of work to do in AA as well which helps keep me focused on the present.

I also find swimming to be a nice way to get out of my head.

[I/O Psychology 2009]

Just got a phone interview offer from GA Tech, although from the message I got a sense that it's going to be more like a Q&A session.

Good luck! Who do you want to work with? I was working in Ackerman's lab this past year. I don't know who you'll be speaking with, but Dr. Kanfer's very sweet. Ackerman is.... not very socially adept, but he tries, and it's kind of cute, lol. He's nice, though. They're married to each other.

When's the interview?

[Only rejects so far?]

Eep! Sorry, just trying to get my facts straight!

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Jesus man! Everybody knows that-- the poster above was just trying to cheer up the poor sot who was the OP. Have a little compassion will ya?

[Weekends]

Has the postal service stopped Tuesday service yet here in the States, or is that still pending? Does anyone know if they're gradually phasing it out by region, or ending it abruptly simultaneously across the country?

I only wish weekends offered me some respite. People on the results page report receiving emails and phone calls on Saturdays, and I have emails forwarded to my BlackBerry. So even though I'm at work all day, the obsession persists! Lol

[Only rejects so far?]

Rejections typically come first. Hang in there!

I've heard -- perhaps from someone else on this board -- that it's the acceptances that come first.... maybe it differs program-to-program?

Regardless, I hope you're right, because I haven't heard a thing from anyone! Still early, I suppose, but still.....

[On a lighter note :)]

I remember telling my mom I wanted a doctoral degree (although i said "doctor's" from mishearing the word, lol) in 7th grade, I think mostly because I wanted to be like my uncle, a researcher at UMass Amherst.

5 years ago, however, I would have laughed in your face if you told me I'd be applying to PhD programs. I struggled to find my fit during the first few years of college, bouncing from major to major.... then came 3 months in rehab for addiction in another state and the realization (followed by affirmation) that psychology was where I should be.

The idea of going to grad school came shortly thereafter, but without the firm belief that it could actually be realized until last February when, in a moment of panic, I realized how close I was to graduating. Still uncertain as to a specialization, I worked with my therapist to clarify what I wanted out of my career.... Knowing I wanted to stay in psych at the least, I began an unhealthy obsession with Berkeley, basing my declared interests on those of the department's faulty, and then researched other possible schools following said interests. After a time, I realized that I was more into Berkeley than any topic within psych I thought I'd study, and asked myself, "if Berkeley didn't exist, what would you go into?" Immediately, I heard a voice (this sounds crazy) say, "I/O psych." So I went with it.

I've had doubts, but that's just me; I doubt myself quite often. I firmly believe I'm making the right decision, though, especially as I've explored the field, contacted members of the APA division, and gained as much experience and information as I could (and compared it to the aforementioned list of career wants I made, lol).

[Grad school food... Mmmm]

Is the "vegetarian" category supposed to be mutually exclusive of all the others? Because...last I checked most cereal is vegetarian... :?

Key word here being "most." As a vegetarian for 8+ years, I've found a surprisingly large number of non-veggie-friendly cereals, mostly those with frosting: Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini-Wheats, but also Lucky Charms and frosted Pop Tarts, and several others. Also, the majority of commercial yogurt isn't veggie either (but organic is, as is Kroger-brand).

This is assuming that you're like me and include gelatin in the "forbidden" category.

[I nominate this CD as the official soundtrack of this site]

That's a great idea! I fully support it. You're going places with ideas like this! Hooray for you!

[I/O Psychology 2009]

I don't believe any of the programs I applied to even have an interview which is really strange! I kind of wish they did so I could have a better idea of who I'd be working with ect.

Only one of mine does. Interviews make me very nervous, though, so I'm glad.

[Same dept, different program?]

Hi all,

So I'm reading about all the notifications for the social/education/etc. psych program people and I was wondering if anyone knows whether notification periods are generally the same for the entire department, or vary by the specific program within each department? I'd like to think the former, but the latter sort of makes a bit more sense to me.....

Thanks!

[Schools that have status check websites]

After I heard about this, I've been obsessively/compulsively checking throughout the day as well! Nevermind that decisions probably won't be reached for at least another couple of weeks for my programs, lol. On a related note, I've read all the horror stories about people receiving acceptance letters only to find out later that they were sent due to admin/clerical error, and they're in fact rejected. Do you think something similar could happen even with this online notification system?

[Schools that have status check websites]

For those programs that do have online notifications (particularly through ApplyYourself), what does it say after everything's determined? Is it just one of those three little words: Accepted, Rejected, or Waitlisted? If it is, it seems rather cold and heartless to just simply state Rejected, rather than, "We regret that we are unable to offer you a position at this time" or somesuch.

[Anyone else regretting not applying to more schools?]

I was originally going to apply to 8 schools but ended up with only six after I got more information and realized how much the 2 were NOT a good fit! Towards the end of December I started panicking, but by that point most deadlines for any school I might consider had passed or were to soon to compile more recommendations, transcripts, etc. The masters rolling admissions idea is a good one..... Here's hoping it won't be necessary!