kaister

I think it's probably 99% that I'll be going back home this summer. Which considering my situation (my home is in Hawaii) really isn't that bad, I'm sure many people wouldn't complain, but of course to me, it feels like a failure. But if I go home, I'll just try to find any sort of job to start paying off loans and saving up for reapplying. Hopefully volunteer at the university to get more research experience. I am applying to paying RA positions but that's probably just as competitive and I'll most likley get rejected there too. There's no hope left for me, I've kind of accepted that all this work will culminate in failure, ah well...I guess there's always next year.

Got a response from one of my inquiries, saying that 4 offers were made and 2 people have already accepted but 2 are still pending. My POI said to keep him posted about my plans and interest to the program. Does that essentially mean I'm wait-listed? Should I just tell him that they're one of my top choices and I would accept if granted admission? You think that would help at all, or at least put me higher on the alternate list?

I would just be happy to be admitted. The only reason that this first choice person didn't decide to accept was probably because they got a better offer elsewhere, meaning they're probably an amazing applicant with scores and experience that I couldn't compete with, so no, I wouldn't be bitter. If they decide to accept me, despite not being top choice, they know they're going to be working with me a long time which means they can't hate me...It would give me the chance to grow on them, and I'm sure it will turn out fine in the end. I can't imagine a POI being bitter towards you because you're not their top choice, they wouldn't admit you if that was the case, right?

I keep hoping that I'll hear back at least before March 1. But reality is I probably won't and then I'll begin the torturous month of March still not knowing. Even if I am rejected by all my schools, if I could at least have March to not be stressing about this, I would be okay with the rejections, at least it would be done with and I could move on with my life...

I did this before. I just emailed and asked about what research they're doing currently and what they think they may be working on in the future and if they can recommend any reading that is relevant to their research. Just anything about their research I think would be safe to message them about. It shows interest and hopefully reminds them about you.

It's really sort of depressing to think that attaining the "dream" is not possible. As watson said, there just aren't as many openings for the amount of applicants they are getting and every year that goes by I feel it will just get worse, which is why having to reapply numerous times just seems to be digging yourself in a bigger grave. Gah! It's like by the time you get to spot where you can compete with those "superstar" applicants, there won't be any more opportunities or the competition will just keep raising the bar before you can reach it. I have to keep some hope...at least to try and reapply one more time. If that doesn't pan out then I'll have to do some serious re-evaluating of my life path, but for now I'll stick with this hope. Like givingup said, if the graduate school thing doesn't pan out and all you have is a bachelor's in psychology, I don't know to me, it seems really depressing. I mean, you guys know how many people major in psychology and don't know what they're doing with their life (it's like the stereotypical scenario that someone majors in psych just because...but has not real plans for it) unlike people here on gradcafe who are obviously obsessed and passionate about their field. So I would really be depressed down the road to answer when someone asks what my degree is in and I say psych and I'm not doing anything substantial, I will just look like one of those losers who didn't plan or attempt to do anything with myself. I know that's a horrible light to put and that stereotype isn't always true, but I know people will see it as that, it's hard not to. They will think, "oh you should have gotten a better more useful degree". Sigh. Okay, I'm ranting here. Anyways, it's just sad to think that all the effort we put in doing research, going to conferences, publishing papers, will all be for nothing if we don't get accepted into graduate school. :/

Thanks for the post watson! So general question about applying to labs...I'm noticing a lot are asking for letters of reference. Do they want you to send the letter directly to them? Wouldn't that mean you're asking your letter writers to hand the letter to you? Is it just a matter of having it sealed? Or can they email/send them in separately? Does it work similar to grad apps? I know I could email and ask specifically what they want, but I figured I would ask here first in case any of you have experience. Also, some say, references, so would that just mean their name and contact, instead of a letter?

Seriously...I feel like everyday is a waiting game...checking emails...contemplating my life choices every time I hear nothing. It's exhausting...like a life crisis EVERYDAY. At least Feb is almost over, less than 2 weeks...I feel happy but sad at the same time. Haven't heard any good news yet and having the month almost over makes it seem less likely for good results.

Okay I need some advice on what class to take my last term of school (ah!). I'm set to graduate already so this would just be a psych elective. Now...I'm interested in taking this cross-cultural development class (but it does not pertain to my ultimate research interests in grad school). However, while I do know the shows not over, I'm bracing myself for full-on rejections from my apps to grad schools this year, so I'm planning to apply again next year. The dilemma here is keeping my LORs. I'm debating taking an I/O class to keep in contact with this professor so that by the time school ends I can ask for a LOR again (he's already done one for this season's apps). I just fear that if I don't make that effort to keep in contact with him that my LOR from him won't be as strong and it's much easier maintaining that relationship rather than finding a whole new one from someone that doesn't know me. So the debate is whether I should take his I/O class (which I'm not really that interested in, the only reason I asked him for an LOR is because he was one of my research methods teacher and I was in his lab for a while) OR to take the class I'm more interested in. Both classes won't do anything for my ultimate goal which is in cognition...unfortunately there are no electives I can take this coming term that are geared that way (already taken cognitive, biopsych, etc). Is it worth it to just take the class to keep the relationship and possibly strengthen my LOR from him? Or would it not matter since the interaction would just be in a class setting? Advice??

There seems to be so much mixed feelings about getting a masters. I'm debating it myself, besides the scarce funding and the limited options, I'm also wondering if it's worth it. I mean, since there are less options, the professors at these schools will not always have similar research interests, right? So if that's the case, how do you apply to these schools? I'm assuming they're looking for fit, as well, especially if they fund you, but are they more lenient about it? Like for example, if your research interests only align upon a way broader scope, otherwise, I'm not totally interested in these profs research. This is why I didn't plan on applying to any Masters programs, because none of them had a close enough research interest with mine and I was scared they would just ignore apps like that or if I did lie, I'd only end up getting experience in research I wasn't totally interested in or wouldn't ultimately help my goals in research.

Omg I love this...exactly how I feel. Stealing this...XD

Can anyone who got invites for UNLV experimental - cognitive PM me their POI? Thanks.

I feel like being rejected from all my schools is a very real possibility. Does anyone know what they'll do if they don't get into any school? I don't really have a backup plan as of yet, most likely I'll move back home, but that leaves me very little opportunities to continue on with research. Anyone have ideas on what they're doing if they can't get an RA position or something related to psych research? I'm not a clinical app so I wouldn't need any more clinical experience...I'll probably just have to get whatever job I can to pay off loans and then reapply next year. What do adcoms think when they see a student has a hiatus from research, I'm assuming not good, but all I can see at most is volunteering at my local university (they're probably too packed to really give me much opportunities, especially not being their student). Just some things I've been thinking about recently...

Since there isn't a psychology specific rejection thread, I thought it might be nice to have one. Well...rejection is never nice. Just a place to vent or seek comfort from others who are in the same position. So far I've got one unofficial rejection, three have already sent invites out (one of which I had a really "great" phone interview with, so said my POI, but was told I unfortunately wasn't one of their invites). I guess there is still "hope" for all of us until those official ones roll in or March/April comes. Despite that I feel the hopelessness depression coming on and figured I can't be the only one. Feb is gonna be a LONG month...

I'll be there presenting a poster...most likely.

Experimental, so I guess that's not totally bad news lol. My POI was telling me how interviews would be this week or the next week. If they don't contact me by monday, I guess I'll inquire. Good luck on your interview!

Anyone heard from University of Arkansas? I had a phone call with POI two days ago, was supposed to hear about official invites around now...but still no word...D:

So being a transfer student just switching to the Psych major it doesn't give me much time to gain research experience. Which in turn doesn't give me many opportunities to get good LORs. I'll still being applying for graduate schools next year but I want to be prepared for the worst. If you don't get in anywhere, what do you do then? I hear people say just wait til next year to apply and get research experience in that time. But how does that work? I don't get how you can do research projects with professors if you're not in school anymore. Do universities allow you to participate in research and/or work on publishing anything while not being a student? That limbo land of graduating with a psychology degree but nothing more is scaring me. I don't want to be stuck there. Also say you do wait and try again the next year, what about LORs? Are professors going to agree to write you a whole new set of LORs for the next year, and the fact that you won't be a student of theirs anymore, they might forget who you are, etc. The timing just throws everything off. Anyone been in this situation or have advice for this scenario?

How is the application process as an international student? I've read somewhere that it may be harder to get funding? Also, I'm planning to go into a PhD in a psychology department so that's why I figure it would only work if the faculty are in that department or cross appointed. I know there is a lot of music cognition research going on in musicology and theory concentrations in the music department, but I'm not going for those degrees. I've got about 16 schools on my list, so I'm hoping at least one of them will be into my research ideas lol. I still haven't really put any Canada schools in my list though because I'm hesitant about the international application process. I planned to just really dedicate my SOP in music cognition, especially around the respective faculty's interest in it. How would I show that I'm interested and have knowledge in other general cognitive areas, so I do seem flexible without looking like I'm unsure. I definitely have other interests as well, but I have been focusing on music cognition mostly because of the research I've been doing in my undergraduate is on it and I want to be totally educated on it by the time I start applying.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful responses! I added a few of these to my lists of schools to apply to. I've found a bunch that have at least one professor that researches some aspect of music cognition and I think that is just going to be my best bet. I didn't see any faculty in Columbia or UT Austin that had interests involving music. How is McGill? I know Canada has so much more opportunities in music cognition, but I guess I'm a little intimidated because it would mean me having international status. Do you think that it is more beneficial to show my extreme interest and devotion to music cognition or would it be wiser to show that I am flexible and can get into more broader topics? I feel like both are good things to do, but I feel like my interest and background in music would be one of the things that makes me stand out, along with the passion. I guess I just don't want to feel like I'm lying to them (though I know you must be disciplined in more than one specific topic to be a successful researcher). I'm just getting mixed signals, as they tell you to be focused on what you want to research so they know you're serious, but don't be so closed off that it doesn't seem like you know about the area in general. I also wonder if because of my specific interests, do I have less chance than other applicants, those who have interests in broader topics like memory and such.

I know this is a really specific topic and from what I've seen there aren't many professors that focus mainly on this. This is a huge passion of mine, I cannot see myself studying anything but this (at least not passionately). I come from a music background and getting my BS in psychology. I'm wondering if it's foolish to put all my hopes into getting a PhD program that will allow me to study this or a program that has a faculty that studies this. What I'm seeing is that most music cognition has foundation in music theory fields not psychology and if someone in the psychology field is studying this it is just a side interest, with a main interest in memory or linguistics, etc. What I want to know is if I should start researching a more broad topic like those mentioned. My concern is that I know I won't be as passionate about these areas, but it would give me more common ground with faculty in prospective PhD programs.