kaister

Oh my gosh ^THIS. I had went through all the program requirements and set up things like transcripts, etc. And I looked back at one application (not due til Dec 31) and they changed it to require 2 transcripts!!! So now I have to send requests for all my transcripts again! Luckily, I think they will make it in time. They also upped their application fee last minute and I had budgeted already for all my apps a couple months ago. So frustrating! If that stuff isn't up by the start of the school year, it should not be required for this seasons application! GRR! Okay, rant done.

I got similar responses from RA positions last year as well. I think besides just being an outstanding stellar cream of the crop applicant, connections are everything. I know that's how a lot of people got their RA/Lab Manager positions. So ask your professors if they know of any positions or just make word known that you're looking for something, so that when one of your connections do get word, they may be able to connect you two. Look into private research firms as well. They are not as abundant, but have paid positions available. Doing any kind of research work is good, especially if it's paid work. So that may mean working as a statistics analyst, project coordinator (in fields other than psych) or a skills trainer (great for clinical experience and it also usually involves data tracking/collecting). Volunteer positions are great also, but you will have to balance that with a job (assuming you need the income). But it still looks just as good on your CV, especially if you work with a helpful PI who allows you to take on some greater responsibilities.

I think there's that allure of the student-teacher relationship for some people and that may make people feel some "tension" when with professors of the opposite sex. I can say that I have a comfortable relationship with one of my professors from undergrad. Sometimes I wonder why he pays so much attention to me (considering, I'm no longer a student in his department and only had one class with him). He's paid for coffee with me, we email/chat to catch up often, he's initiated many conversations. Now, I could take this all in a way that there may be something more going on, but I honestly think two people can just be genuinely interested in each other in a platonic fashion. I think we both consider each other interesting and enjoy our conversations. It's a great relationship, because I am able to ask for academic advice and it's like I'm just talking with a friend. He's also written me letters of recommendation, so there are benefits to having a professor know you so well and that wants to advocate for you. Do note that, I didn't go out for coffee with him until I had graduated, because as a young male professor, I'm sure he is really wary of coming off in the wrong light. At first, I was kind of surprised at how friendly he was during our chats in his office or via email, yet when he saw me on campus he'd be very brief and detached, but I can understand why he might be concerned. I have heard from a friend (who is in grad school, in the hard sciences) that there are professors who do prey on their young lab assistants. For example, there was one who promised funding and publications opportunities in exchange for salacious activities. Also, many professors do know the attention they get as the so-called "hot professors", and some do relish in it. Not saying they're all in bad intent, but just know that they often are aware of that.

Only one more app to submit, and everything's done, just have to fill the form and mail it. I'm so relieved but so bored at the same time. I feel the need to do something other than check my email and gradcafe for result news. I'm going to try get a second part time job to fill up my time and also hang out with people I've neglected these past few months lol!

This is round two for me as well. I thought it'd be so miserable, but I got over it. It helped that I moved home and being with my family makes me feel so much better. I can't imagine what I'd do if I don't get in this time. I want so desperately to move on with my life and make my family proud. I can't wait until Jan/Feb gets here. It also sucks because my student loans are starting to go into repayment and I'm only able to work part time right now. Ugh! I need that in-school deferment! LOL!

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see anything wrong with this. Otherwise you're going to the conference only in the hopes you'd get to talk to them. Have you spoke to these POIs via email before applying? Especially if you've already made contact, just mention in an email to them that you'll be in attendance of this conference, and you're looking forward to their talk and introducing yourself. You have to be an advocate for yourself, and I don't think that's attention-whoring.

I think it can definitely help. What I would do is email these people and seeing if they're open to meeting you, even just for a brief, 10 minute meeting, at the conference. If you could get some of them to agree to this, it would totally be worth it. They might just say, you can come say hi after my talk, which is also another opportunity to introduce yourself. If enough of your POI's are attending and seem receptive to meeting you at the conference, I'd say its worth it. I say, to email them first, because that way they'll know beforehand to expect and remember who you are. At conferences, professors are meeting so many old and new people, they may easily forget who you are.

For now, I would just include in an email or sometimes the letter or rec forms allow you to type a message, and just say, here are the forms, I apologize for not sending them out sooner, please let me know if you need anything else, thank you. And that's all I would say for now. Later after things are submitted and done, would I then formally apologize, just as a courtesy. For now, I'd say you just want to get the letter to them and have it be done.

An easy way to find professors doing research you're interested in, is looking up publications. Have an article that really fascinated you? Look up the authors and from there you can find a lot of related researchers. Funding is a good way to narrow down masters programs, as not as many of them offer funding. There are many threads on here about masters with funding availability.

Don't even let that phase you! I personally, don't know the ranks or prestige of most Universities in their respective fields. And I don't really care to find out, because it might make me feel as you do. I just think to myself...this professor is doing exactly what I want to be working on, so I'm going to apply because I know it would be a great fit! I've already been through this process once, so I have felt the rejections, but I know, it's not personal, competition is crazy, but you have to keep trying!

Depending on whether this is for PhD or Masters programs, that can vary a bit. I would say things to consider are: faculty research interests, style of teaching (apprentice-ship or collaborative?), funding availability, rate of publication. It depends on what is valuable to you. I personally would use faculty interests as my main filter.

I have similar stats as you and I'm applying to mostly all PhD programs. I got similar GRE scores the first time around, but I retook it and got a higher quant score (158), it's not stellar like 160's, but hopefully will improve my chances just that little bit. Honestly, don't get so worked up about it. If you feel like you need to retake it again, just do it, at least that way you won't regret it. Otherwise you have to just wait and see where the cards fall. My area of interest is broadly sort of in the area you're talking about, but I would just recommend you look up professors who do specific research on things you're interested in. My school list happened to have some departments that were heavy on prejudice/stereotype research and others that were not. From the top of my head, some that I remember that had focuses in that area were University of Kansas and U of Arizona.

Is there anyone you could ask as a back-up? At this point, I'd act like I'm not getting the letter from her and just seek out other options. You don't want to be caught without that last letter.

Did this work for you? I tried this also, but it didn't work for me. I ended up just typing it up in the box...lol.

I wouldn't worry too much. Mistakes happen, and its not really pertaining to your application or your credentials.

Yes, I just finished my first application too! It makes me want to get through all of them ASAP so I can RELAX!

Is there really no where you could look up the just a list of the names of faculty there? Is there some sort of classes schedule you could infer faculty from? Scholarly papers are a great way to find out what type of research the program's faculty are interested in, I would recommend looking at some. If you're interested in a Ph.D., browsing scholarly papers shouldn't be such a cumbersome task. You don't have to read all the papers, just skim them to get an idea of what's going on there. However, I do not recommend basing your idea of current faculty on papers, because if they are a little dated, they could not be working there anymore or not mentoring students, etc. I hope you can find something...and if you are at a lost, you could email the department and ask for a list of current faculty, they should give you that. Good luck.

Just curious...why do you want to apply there if you don't know the faculty and what type of work they specialize in? Granted, I'm not familiar with the criminal justice programs, so maybe it's different, but I decided on what schools to apply to based on what faculty was there.

I don't see how they wouldn't accept a resume if you wanted to include one. I would send one in. If you're worried about it, you can always ask the grad assistant/secretary if you can include a resume.

Highlight only the experiences that you believe most valuable towards your grad school goals. I know that might seem like it leaves out a lot but everything else you can list on your resume or ask your letter writers to talk about. Succinctly describing your goals and competency is an important part of the whole grad school application process. If you want to show writing skills, you can probably submit a writing sample of some sort.

Because you don't have any grades or courses you want to transfer from that institution, I would say no. I mean, why show them a bunch of W's? Especially if the courses aren't relevant to your new academic goal. I think if you had at least gotten grades for these courses, I would say you have to include them, but because they aren't, I'd leave them out. You can always email the graduate assistant/secretary at the universities you're applying to and ask if it will be necessary, just to cover yourself. If you think the adcoms will be curious about your brief stint in grad school, ask one of your LOR writers to mention it. And I'm sure you're already thinking of ways to weave your transition from music to internal affairs in your SoP.

Thanks you guys. That makes me feel better. I did mention that my eventual goal is to go to graduate school and I think they encourage that because they want researchers who are dedicated to the field, and to be a successful researcher often you need a PhD. Whew, well now that I don't have that weighing so heavily on my conscious, I can focus on hoping I got the job, haha! Thanks!

Hey all, I want your guys opinion on whether this is ethical or not. I applied for a job research assisting at a private firm. I don't know if I got the job yet, but if I do, it would be amazing experience and its full time paid work. It would greatly improve my research skills and CV. However, I am applying for grad school this year, so that means, if I do get the job AND do happen to get into grad school, that means the max time I'd be working here is 8-9 months. Is that too short of a time? Should I make it clear to them that I am applying to grad school? I feel like if I do, they'll cut me off their list...but I also don't want to anger them. It's just such a good opportunity that I don't want to let it slip away. What are your thoughts? Am I being unethical if I don't disclose that I'm applying to grad school. I'm scared they'll ask, and when I say I am applying, they'll give me that look of "get out of here!". No where did they specify that there was a minimum employment period or anything...and it's not like it is a guarantee I'll get into grad school either.

I doubt that it will matter. They will see your transcript and your grades, plus you will have "great distinction" next to your graduating remarks. After all that "Dean's List" is just a flashy star next to your name, it won't hold as real significance as the rigor of your coursework and the grades you received in them.