psygrad81

I am waiting as well on cognitive. I emailed admissions a couple of weeks ago and they said we should know by April 1. Do you mind sharing your POI? If you don't want to share on here, feel free to PM me.

Good luck! I wonder why they are sending out notifications so spread apart? i still haven't received anything . Please keep me posted!

Waiting on Tufts as well! I saw some acceptances and rejections on the results board a while back (not many, just a few). But I have heard nothing - so of course I am wondering what that might mean!. I emailed the admissions office and they replied that all decisions would be finalized and sent out by April 1. People will be notified on the application status website. Which track did you apply to at Tufts? Did you interview with anyone?

I must have totally skipped over the part where you were waitlisted, sorry!. Yes, looking at it from that perspective, perhaps it is okay to email the POI. But I still think you should have tried for a phone interview before

Ouch! It sounds like their decisions are made, so I'm not sure if contacting now would make any difference. I think what probably would have been best was to try to schedule a phone or Skype interview with the POI way back when you found out he wouldn't be available during your visit. But, that ship has sailed.... Are you planning to re-apply to this school next year? If so, then I think you should contact the POI (perhaps not now, but in a couple of weeks after the dust has settled) and let him know the situation: that you wished you had gotten the chance to meet/interview with him, and briefly and concisely say why you are such a great fit. Let him know you'll be re-applying. If you aren't planning to re-apply next year, then maybe an email now wouldn't hurt. But, unless you are certain you either: a- you might have an actual chance getting them to reconsider, or b- you don't really care about future relationships with the POI/school, then I don't think it's the best idea. Bottom line, you probably should have made more of an effort to contact him directly during the interview period. (I don't know the whole situation, or how much contact you actually had, so I hope that doesn't get taken in the wrong way). Good luck!

I don't know much about other programs, but I considered applying to the University of Rhode Island's PhD program: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/psy/behsci_research.shtml Maybe that can give you some info as a starting point.

Some terminal masters programs have rolling admissions right through the spring. So, it may not be too late to apply now to enroll in the fall. I think that is the best course of action, if you are looking to gain research experience. From what I have been able to gather throughout this process, research experience and fit are the most important part of your application. An MA program will give you both: research experience and the chance to really pinpoint your research interests before applying to PhD programs again. Also, it will give you the chance to establish working relationships with faculty members who can then write you great LORs. As far as contacting professors for advice after they reject you, I'm not sure. Did you have a good contact with them before/during application? If so, a tactful email might not hurt. However, if you had no contact with these people at all, I wouldn't think it would be the best idea. How do you know your application was even forwarded to them? Plus, are any of these schools ones you plan to reapply to in the future? Good luck with everything!

I sympathize with your situation. With that said, please don't take my comment personally. In general, most people applying to the programs that you so desperately want to get into have majored in the field, spent years working on research, etc etc, spend weeks or months writing a carefully crafted personal statement on why they want to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. And still often face rejection. Now, everyone is entitled to apply to and for whatever they want, including you. But it sounds like, or will to most admissions committees anyway, that you aren't applying for the right reason. (I am not saying your reason isn't valid, just taking a different perspective). If you don't sound that way, then you aren't being truthful in your statement (I gather this from the fact that you state you don't really care what field you enter). We as applicants are not the only ones investing time and energy, the graduate programs are as well. So they need to know for sure they are investing in the right person. So, I personally don't think the attitude of getting in anywhere you don't care where is a good one. You should really take a step back and do some research on the area you are considering pursuing and understand the full implications of applying for graduate study. In the chance that you get an admit somewhere, you are taking a spot over someone else who probably busted butt and is really following their dream. Not just doing it to do it, for whatever reason. With all that said, good luck to you. I hope you figure it out and everything works out. Maybe I am being a little cynical here, but I know how hard I have worked, and kind of resent people thinking they can just apply anywhere in whatever field and get in. Again, good luck! And I apologize if I took anything you wrote out of context.

Just realized I sounded like an idiot. Obviously you applied to CBB.

What sub-field did you apply to at Harvard? I know a few faculty invited people early for interviews, pre-application. Not sure if they do official interviews. Do you mind if I ask whom your POI is?

Not sure if you are officially waitlisted, but sounds like you didn't make the initial round, but weren't thrown out of the pile yet. Hopefully some people will decline/bomb interviews and you will hear some good news. Good luck!

Hello. Whom are you interested in working with at Tufts and BC?

Where are you applying?

Hi Forksdude, First let me say I know NOTHING about engineering. So if there are different "rules" or norms in your field I am completely unaware. Contacting professors before applications is always tricky for anyone. However, I am from the camp that believes it is a necessary part of the application process. In the email, you want to be concise - brief so they will actually read it and not be turned off, but not vague so they will know you are serious. I would suggest drafting a few paragraphs stating that you are interested in applying to their program, and why you are specifically interested in that particular professor's work. Say something like, although my research background is primarily grounded in X, here is why I am pursuing a PhD in Y: and list your reasons concisely - but remember, you will be sending in a personal statement with your application. This is your chance to "hook" them and get them interested in your app so sound strong and succinct. And I don't necessarily think that having research unrelated research experience is a bad thing. You have experience, that is a plus. You are familiar with the process and can apply what you have learned to other domains. I think research experience is probably the most important factor for most adcoms so find a way to play it up, even if its not going to be what your life's work is all about. In my emails, I have always attached my CV to the email. Some people don't agree with this approach, but I think that its fine. It's there if they want to read it, but they don't HAVE to open the attachment if they don't want to. In my experience, it's worked in my favor. I would safely say that 99% of faculty members that I have emailed have responded favorably. Good luck!!!

Hi again. Is it possible, since you are first author, to take the reins on the project and finish the ms so it can get submitted? What point are you at in the writing process? Is it written and you are waiting for feedback from pre-submission reviewers, or is it still in the writing phase? Do you have any other advisors that can offer guidance on the issue? I guess at this point, grad apps are submitted so it's not really going to matter, but I felt in my case that it was better to put "under review" on my CV rather than just "in progress for submission".

I also wanted to ask: are you first author on the paper? That might make a difference in how you approach the issue.

I had a similar situation with a professor. It took over a year and a half after our project was complete to send in the publication. I simply referred to the publication as in progress for submission. Luckily, I had other more recent projects in the works that I focused on in my applications. I have to say, the scientific process can be slow and frustrating, but not all PIs work like this. I am currently collaborating with two other researchers who are great! In 6 months we ran a study, analyzed data, presented at a conference, and sent in a manuscript which is under review. Better still, we are halfway through the follow up study 4 weeks after the submission. I think this is how it generally works for the most part, but also depends on the problem being investigated. I, myself, am coming from a university not well-renowned for research and the professors have a large teaching load. But the institutions you are most likely applying to for PhD programs probably don't function like that - -hopefully! I'm sorry for your frustration, because I know exactly how it feels!

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am not applying to clinical programs. I am interested in cognitive programs. I realize that many of the schools I am applying to may use GRE scores as a way to preliminarily sort through the many applications they receive. Which is why I am from the camp that firmly believes in the importance of contacting faculty members before submitting applications - which I have done. I have a few good contacts, and some general replies from people. But I definitely think (hope!) that making contact increases one's chances of not being passed over immediately due to low GREs. I am hoping this tactic works in my favor.

Hello, More of the same I'm afraid I just took the GRE for the second time V: 560 Q: 560 AWA: 5. I have an undergraduate GPA of 3.95, and a 4.0 in a masters program that I am finishing now. I have significant research experience (including research coordinator to one of my department's labs), above and beyond that of other grad students in my current program. Hence, I have four very, very strong LORs. One publication as first author, and one as second, currently in submission. One other publication in prep. Several conference poster presentations. Teaching experience as a TA, including several guest lectures. Basically, I am applying to competitive schools, as that is all there really is in my geographic area and it is difficult for me to relocate too far. I have one pre-application in-person interview at a top tier school, although I am afraid my GRE scores will ruin my chances. Any comments or suggestions? Does anyone know of any exception-to-the-rule examples that might boost my confidence a little? Thanks!