PsychGirl1

I've seen/heard mostly around $20k, give or take $5k. I know one school I applied to is closer to $30k, but they are a government-run anomaly.

And as far as the drinking game, I vote that we combine all the ideas into one big monstrous drinking game. :-D

@flattsfan1216, sounds like we should be best friends forever, since we basically have the exact same life. @FCP i never got into real housewives, but i do watch teen mom 2 and jersey shore. i'm not sure which is worse... I got about 20,000 calories of food in my tummy along with two beers, so I'm feeling infinitely better about life. But I'm pretty sure the whole cycle is going to start again tomorrow... I also forgot to mention that my phone rang from a blocked number today while I was brushing my teeth. I legit was about to have a panic attack and almost dropped my phone in the toilet. I calmed myself down (took a lot of effort) and answered the phone in a very professional manner. Then the automated CVS system was like, "Your prescription is ready! Come pick it up". I was pissed.

I STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS. :-)

Olayak- I'm counting down the minutes until I can get a cocktail into my stomach. Sigh.

Agreed- no decision for me either! But I'm not expecting to get in (or even really want to)- I applied to social psych there and then later decided it probably wasn't a good fit for me. (Or even close to a good fit). But good luck to you both!

EastCoasting- I'm watching what I eat, it's just that I'm watching about 10,000 calories go into my mouth :-). hahaha. (When I'm stressed out I like to make really bad jokes). I think for me, I'm so incredibly busy on top of apps, that it's just too much stress to handle. Being in a master's program would be a sufficient amount of stress, but when you add in traveling 50% of the time and preparing for interviews, I'm convinced it's impossible. But you're right, having too much free time would be horrendous as well.

Ugh stereopticons, that sucks :-(. But it's awesome that you went through this last year and re-applied. I think it's something that a lot of people struggle with (at least, a lot of the people I know) and it's brave to face this level of anxiety and stress and then make yourself go through it all again. I have been consoling myself with the fact that if it takes a few rounds of applying to get in (and therefore a few years), I'm going to arrive in a program being so freaking amazing that I'll rock the socks off of everyone. Cognitive reframing for the win.

Thanks uromastyx :-) That's what I keep telling myself, but maybe I'll believe it after I hear it another 100 times! After I binge eat this bag of Goldfish and refresh the results page a few more times, I guess I'll get back to work (at least for a few minutes). :-)

I'm glad there is at least one other person experiencing my pain (although, of course, I wouldn't wish this on anybody). I think I finally understand when people say "I can't go through this whole process another time" and decide not to re-apply the following year. For some reason, rejecting me after the interview seems so much more personal. I guess I am fine if someone rejects me on the basis of my grades/CV/personal statement, but not if they reject me on the basis of my personality :-). I know a lot more goes into it than that, but that's how it feels! Like being dumped after 5 dates versus 1 date. What did they find out about me after those extra 4 dates that they hated, that they didn't hate at first?? I'm pretty sure I'm going to gain about 10 pounds this week due to all the stress eating I've been doing :-)

So I got my first post-interview rejection yesterday (woohoo making Valentine's day even worse than it already is!). Frankly, I didn't even like the program that much and left the interview feeling kinda meh about the whole thing. But regardless, this seems to have set off my first official application-related emotional meltdown, and I'm now convinced that nobody will accept me. I'm furiously stalking the other schools I'm waiting to hear back post-interview, and even broke down and sent one of them a "WHEN WILL I HEAR?!?!?!" email. I found myself randomly crying to various articles on CNN (even though, genuinely, I don't care that some cop-killer in LA set himself on fire, or that some cruise ship without power made people have to deal with sewage flowing down the walls). On top of that, I have something due for school at 5pm (currently less than halfway done) and an important personal thing that I'm trying to attend around 3:30 or 4pm. But now I can't focus or get anything done. Anyone feeling the same way? Misery loves company, guys, so please commiserate with me. :-)

Whoever reported an unofficial acceptance via phone to University of Miami's Clinical Psychology (Health Track), can you PM me your POI? I'm having a nervous breakdown today waiting to hear from everywhere :-)

Sometimes they do invites by POI, over the course of a few days/a week depending on circumstances.

Thanks- you too!

Yep- one of my friends got his PhD in the UK and he is a professor here.

True- I agree that you should approach interviews this way. I do think clinical programs put you through the ringer a little bit more than other disciplines, and invite more people per spot. The other applicants are also a bit more intense/competitive than I expected. One girl found out we had a bunch of applications in common and then literally avoided me the rest of the weekend. I sat down next to her at one point and she actually got up and walked away without saying anything (true story). Also, since I applied to programs who took my main research interest and stretched it into different directions, I have to actually do a fairly large amount of prep for each interview day as far as reading their papers, thinking of questions, thinking of potential studies, etc. Add being in grad school (missing classes, trying to run a study staff of 6 on a project from afar, etc.), traveling constantly (tomorrow I leave for my 3rd interview in 1.5 weeks- so that's a total of 7 days in 1.5 weeks that I spent interviewing and/or traveling), and minimal sleep, and I'm just already close to burnt out. But the interviews themselves, as in that face-to-face time, haven't been very stressful, which has been nice.

I'm exhausted and the thought of another interview (I leave tomorrow) makes me want to cry. But I know that somehow I'll show up prepared and somehow I'll get through it :-). After that, I have a nice long week and a half off from interviews before I get started again. Being in grad school while applying for grad school isn't the smartest decision I've ever made...

Also, some programs have already sent me their funding info, and will only guarantee funding for 3 years if you have your master's. But of course, I'm sure they will help you hunt down funding if you want to stay longer.

Most of the programs I'm interviewing at will let you use your empirical thesis at the other school for the new school, as long as it is reviewed and up to their standard. Having your thesis waived can make a big difference! As far as classes, most have said they will waive up to a certain amount as long as syllabi are provided, and only certain courses. But it's definitely a mix- one or two won't take anything and make you start fresh, one or two seem like you can get credit for just about everything as long as it's equivalent. Most are between those two extremes :-)

Yeah, I mean, you can. I guess I'm just one of those people who prefer face-to-face contact and feel like I'm not getting the whole picture unless I'm physically there with them. I still feel like you can pick up on way more by actually visiting than you ever could with Skype. But that's just my personal opinion! If it was like $2k I'd say no, but $500 that you yourself say you can afford... I don't see the downside.

I've had an interview where there were 2 students for 1 prof. We mostly just took turns talking about our research and then the prof asked some questions to each of us, and then he talked about his own research. That took the full 30 minutes. Overall, it was a little awkward but not too painful, and certainly less stressful than 1-on-1 interviews.

I'd go. It's only $500 in the grand scheme of things, and (in my opinion), you should visit somewhere and meet the faculty, graduate students, etc. in person before you decide to spend 5-6 years of your life there. What if you hate the other students once you enroll? What if your POI is actually abrasive in real life and you can't see working with them? What if the facilities suck? What if you hate the city/area? What if the grad students are obnoxious or tell you that they actually really hate the program/school/quality of life? This is a fairly big commitment to make without meeting anyone in person or seeing where you will be working- and who with- for the near future.

I'm missing tons of class, but they are understanding. What I did was I emailed them, explained that I was applying to graduate school, and gave the dates I'd be missing. Then I asked them if there was anything extra they'd like me to do to make up for missing this many classes, with a statement that I'd be getting notes from other students and keeping up with the readings. Just be polite and organized :-)

Yes, if they were covering the airport ride cost-wise, then they should still cover it. However, in a good number of my interviews they actually have graduate students drive us to the airport instead of covering the cost- in which case, I wouldn't ask for a ride, since it would be inconvenient for the graduate students. Enjoy!

I've never had a Skype interview, so I don't know how much help I can be :-). I'd still prepare notes and have them with me- questions to ask, etc.- and make sure that I am still dressed professionally and that my background is professional. I'd probably practice a bit with the camera in my computer to see what I look like (and whatever is in the background). I'd also probably light a candle for relaxation purposes! Good luck!