PsychGirl1

^ I'd still follow up with Purdue closer to the deadline, just to make sure! Things sometimes change.

You have to realize that everything is a lesson learned. You can come back like this, just like you could have come back at any point during your master's program. You didn't then, but it's done- so do it now. Take a few days to wallow and feel bad for yourself, then get your sh*t together and start developing plan. Figure out exactly what went wrong and what you need to fix, then do things that show those things are fixed, for example, getting publications. Perhaps in a few weeks, maturely approach your committee members (without the pressure of asking for a LOR) and discuss what you think went wrong and what you've been doing to fix it, and if they have any other advice for how to become the researcher you want to be. Perhaps even rewrite your chapter 3 to show the second committee member that you're serious about learning. Talk to people about other career options that might fit you better than the horrible stress of academia- the stress of a PhD program is just the start of a lifetime of stress, frankly.

What about asking them (your current professor and the other) about collaborating? I wouldn't switch programs unless there was a major reason to do so.

I had a somewhat similar start to my master's experience- my adviser was used to incredibly motivated, knowledgeable PhD students, and I was switching into the field with minimal background. I also picked a ridiculously ambitious thesis project, which in retrospect, wasn't the smartest idea :-). Most of my first drafts to my adviser were met with "you have no idea how to write an introduction" or along those lines- with some general feedback on how to improve and restructure things. There were definitely times where I was frustrated and overwhelmed. I bombed my thesis proposal, since I had no idea what I was getting into (aka nobody told me there was an oral defense part to it! Oopsies). However, I think the key is how you react to that situation- as a graduate student, you are expected to basically be a proactive student who does everything they can do to succeed. After the bombed proposal, I spent a long time researching theses/dissertations and practiced doing the oral responses. I learned that everything in my proposal was MINE- for example, if my adviser suggested I do something or add something to the rationale, I better not do it unless I understood why, because once it was in there, I had ownership of it and I was responsible for it. I checked out some copies of theses from the library on somewhat related topics to mine. I asked my adviser to send me past theses in the lab so that I could read through them and get better at formatting and structure. I made sure to sit in on other people's defenses. While sometimes my first drafts weren't great, I always took great care that my second drafts were close to perfect. I became a better writer, and I aced my thesis defense with minimal changes. Most importantly, I learned things like: what questions to ask; when I should become resourceful and figure something out myself; and when I should use my personal judgement over my adviser's. The main takeaway from reading your threads is that you felt like you needed more guidance and help, and let yourself crumble under the confusion and pressure. True, your adviser should advise you, but it's much more like 70-30 you-adviser. Your adviser shouldn't write your thesis. Your adviser isn't always right, and your adviser doesn't know all. I feel like you missed the point in the "crumble down and build up" process where you pull yourself together and grow into your own proactive, resourceful researcher, who uses resources around them- even if that doesn't include a helpful adviser. I'd also suggest taking some time off and re-evaluating. Back in the day, I spent a few sessions with people who specialize in helping people figure out their best careers (I guess they are psychologists? I don't remember, sadly). They do lots of exercises such as personality tests, card sorting tests (ex. things you're good at, things you love, things you hate) and really work with you to problem solve the best career path for you. While it sounds a little silly, it really helps you step back and think about what characteristics/variables of a career are important to you. While research rocks, academia is not for everyone- and there are definitely career choices just as awesome with characteristics you might prefer or perform better under. Just my two cents!

A few minutes of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) every day helps me- I just need to make myself make time for it!

I'm up and down- sometimes I'm like yay! I'm here! and other times I'm like AHHHH I made all the wrong decisions in life! When I think about it, this is definitely what I want to do- it's just overwhelming to walk into the next 6-7 years of my life, have a giant mental list of everything I'm supposed to do and learn, and get shoved into a lab full of incredibly smart people who have been at the program for years and somehow magically know everything. Then I have to get to know my adviser, who is incredibly nice, enthusiastic, and intelligent- and I am secretly petrified of them because I have no idea what they think of me or how to make a good first impression. On top of that, I don't have close friends in my new city, I haven't become especially close with anyone in my cohort, and I haven't been talking much with my actual friends because they're equally busy as me and live in different cities. I was really happy the first 3 weeks, and then somehow this weekend I just hit a wall. I had a really bad headache and just couldn't get any work done- I'm sure it was stress related. I also feel really guilty about having these feelings, however sporadic, because my adviser is awesome and I'm incredibly lucky to be working with them and in this program. I'm going home next weekend for a few days, and I'm really looking forward to it. I think a change of scenery for a few days and some relaxation is just what I need :-).

Exactly- the career path will look very different if you get a PhD versus if you don't, and the PhD path isn't one I'd suggest lightly- psychology OR neuroscience. Worst case, you spend a thousand plus dollars applying (application fees, transcript fees, GRE fees, interview outfits, travel/host costs), get into a program, and a year or two later you realize this isn't what you want to commit to. And then you stick it out a few more years, miserable and hating life and not being able to spend much time with family despite being close, only to realize that the types of jobs you can get with your PhD are very different than what you want. I'm not saying this will happen- just that your original post was very noncommittal. Start with the career you want and work backwards. What do you see yourself doing on a day-to-day basis? Then think about what you're willing to sacrifice to get there. Location? Money? A dependable career? I'd highly suggest taking a year or two to work as an RA or RC within neuroscience or a related field. Spend that time researching programs and career paths. Good luck!

So many things to stay to this. First, it is possible to switch to anthro to psych- I know people who have done it quite successfully. Second, nobody is going to do your program leg work for you. Programs have to be a great fit- the size, the other students/faculty, the professors, and lastly, your advisor's research. It can take weeks/months to finalize a list of programs and advisors, and being limited geographically will make that even harder. I'd pick up a few "neuroscience grad programs" books (hopefully they exist) and read through the introduction chapters about what you should be looking for when choosing a neuroscience grad progam, and they should also have a list of programs in there for you to browse. Third, the quality of life is going to be incredibly different- not to mention the time committment to that life- between having a job and getting your PhD. This shouldn't be something you just do because it sounds interesting. Talk to current grad students and read about grad school, etc. The application process is emotionally grueling, as well as grad school itself, which is usually 4-6 years (not entirely sure for neuroscience how long it would take). So overall: start doing your homework. We can't do that part for you, because it's the most important step. Also, consider how important getting a PhD is to you, and try to be as geographically open as possible.

You might want to put this in the "submit results" database.

Just buy some used prep books and do the quizzes in the back. The test itself is like, what, $140? It's worth the extra $20 to do well on it :-D

Take the initiative with the research projects you're working on and ask if you can write up some posters- even if it's at your university's research day instead of an international conference, every little thing helps at this stage in your career. I think the bigger difficulty for you will be research fit- it's difficult to tell a professor who has a lot riding on who they accept that you're interested in their research when you've never done it. I'd strongly consider either a master's with a thesis option and a mentor in the field of research you want to go into, or taking a year off and volunteering/working in a related lab and getting some research experience specific to your field as well as some posters or manuscripts. Also, I'd apply to both MS/MA programs and PhD programs- it's not that difficult to add on a few extra applications, and it will give you some backup options if you don't get in anywhere. There are tons of threads on here listing master's programs, some I know off the top of my head that are good are Villanova, Drexel, Wake Forest, BC- but there are definitely more than that around.

Just take it. It will save you time to figure out what schools require it and which ones don't, and it will show that you know Psychology. There's no downside unless you think you will do horribly.

Follow-up with the profs in Sept/Oct- keep in touch without being too aggressive. It's pretty normal that a handful don't know yet. I applied to one last year who didn't know until October, just based on how the application and funding process worked at that university. I just followed up with him every month or two until he knew what the tentative plan was.

Fit will give you the best bang for the buck. Also making sure you apply to a range of programs based on competitiveness.

That being said, if this is your dream, then you should start contacting schools, reading their websites, and figuring out how to make it happen (ex. what funding or scholarships to apply for and early that process has to happen, what each school's funding situation/policy is like for international students, etc.).

Yes. Look at their websites.

There are Health Clinical Programs, as well as Medical and Clinical psychology Programs. This is what you'd want, as they are still clinical programs and can lead to being licensed. Off the top of my head, there's University of Miami, USUHS, Ohio University, UAB... and I'm sure there are many more, you'll have just to look for them. As long as it is a clinical psych program, you can be licensed, no matter how research-based it is. Clinical psych PhDs range from minimal research focus to a large research focus. Programs with the highest degree of research focus may not provide the best clinical training if clinical work is your long-term goal. However, it is much easier to go from a research-based program into a clinical job than it is to go from a clinical-based program into a research job. There may be other ways to get licensed, but if you want to do both research and clinical work, it's the best/easiest route.

I don't really understand the question. Do you want to practice 100% (be a clinician), do research 100%, or a combination of the two?

In general, STEM students are accepted into a program (end of story). For Psychology, you are generally accepted into a program specifically through a professor. That professor needs to be taking on new students, and needs to want to work with you over all the other applicants who want to work with the profesor. So yes, you want to email to make sure they are taking students (if it's not listed on their website). Otherwise, you may waste an application.

If you look at the websites of various programs, they often give required courses. For clinical, it's usually something like statistics, research methods, abnormal psych, social or developmental psych, and probably a few others that I'm missing. (We've talked about this in past threads- you might want to do a search). You will also need to rock the psych GRE and write a fabulous personal statement explaining the change in interest!

^What sdt13 said. You still need basic courses. However, they are generally very open to people of different majors- assuming you have completed core courses. Also, it may work to your advantage, especially if you want to apply to a health clinical or a medical and clinical psychology program.

It depends on the program to some degree, as well as the program's emphasis on clinical versus research. Generally, it's the latter- the program has some sort of general clinical training through classes, practicum, and the like. You learn how to do assessments in multiple areas, and different therapies, and many people pick practicums so that they have different types of experiences. Many schools have on-site counseling centers, training centers, or simulation centers to train you in. You can usually find infomation about this on each program's website, and if not, they generally go into it in-depth on interview day. On top of that general training, you can (usually) pick the type of practicum experiences you want (ex. if you want a more general experience, you could possibly work in a counseling center, or if you want some sort of specific experience of XYZ, you might be able to get that instead). I have heard some people complain that their program doesn't give great basic clinical training, so aside from core clinical classes, people in those programs may have very different clinical experiences based on their practicum choices and research lab. In many programs, you also get clinical experience through your research lab- so you would be running groups, doing assessments, doing therapy, etc. through your lab. So a large number of your clinical hours may be in your specific area (ex. depression).

In my opinion, as long as you have a solid thesis, good research experience preferably in a mentor-based model, quality classes, and some clinical opportunities (if you plan to go clinical), it doesn't matter if it's a MA or a MS :-).

Lots of people with MS or MA degrees continue on to a PhD program. I just graduated with my MS in Psychology and entered a PhD program, where I will receive another MS and a PhD as well. Some programs will waive your thesis, classes, or nothing at all. Some make the second master's optional, some don't. I don't see why having your MS would be an issue when applying to PhD programs ("it seems like most of them won't want me")- if anything, it is usually a positive.

I'm already moved in, completed orientation... I have to admit, I was never at any point giddy excited. This is definitely what I want to do and I'm looking forward to it, but it just feels like the next step in a long process. But starting yesterday, I started having a very surreal feeling like, wow, this is weird... I'm finally HERE and yet I don't feel like I AM. I feel like a weirdo :-D.