pheonixx

I applied to 14 schools so I definitely feel your pain. My solution: lots and lots of excel spreadsheets. You have to be ridiculously organized to keep track of everything. For example, I have one spreadsheet that keeps track of all the dates that I submitted things (application submitted, app fee submitted, transcript sent, gre sent, subject test sent) and if I need to mail anything (also the date it was mailed). I also have a spreadsheet to track when my letters were received (by LOR and school). Another spreadsheet for when the application was finish and confirmed by the school (including notes about how it was confirmed - online app, email, talking to a secretary). Man, I freaking love spreadsheets.

I like looking at old posts on this thread and seeing people with like 10 acceptances.

I'm applying to Minnesota too. Thanks for sharing that info! So nervous...

I could have graduated early but stuck around to do a senior honors thesis. I'd say this was the most influential and important experience of my undergraduate career. I believe it's also the strongest part of my application. If you have the option, I'd definitely recommend sticking around for another year even if you're only doing a senior thesis. I had all my prereqs out of the way so I took some random social science classes to fill up my credits.

Also keep in mind that things are pretty hectic during application season. Some of my schools took two weeks for everything to be updated.

Your GPA is quite low for PhD programs. Keep trying to raise your grades and then apply to some MA programs. Prove that you can do very well in a MA program to show PhD programs you can be successful in grad school. Also, though you do have poor grades many schools like to see an upward trend. It's better than your bad grades are freshman/sophomore year and not junior/senior year.

I took two years off and it was great. I was able to work on multiple research projects both as an assistant and project coordinator. I could take time to study for GRE's and didn't feel rush to decide on schools and finish applications. I felt a little burnt out after undergrad and didn't want to rush into 6 more years of grad school. However, there are plenty of people who can successfully take classes, study for GREs, work on research, and apply (I hate you, by the way). I loved taking time off. I could drink a glass of wine and watch some crappy reality tv without feeling guilty.

Whatever you want to call it, I love Obamacare. I work 4 research positions to pay for rent, bills, etc. and wouldn't have health care if it weren't for this plan. Taking time off is almost essential to get into my graduate program but I want to be productive and do research instead of just getting a random full time position with health care. I work really hard and I'm glad worrying about how to pay for health issues isn't part of my stress load.

If you're just sending an email to let them know you're interested in their work and plan on applying, don't bother resending the email. Faculty are bombarded with emails everyday and some just don't reply to these emails. I sent out a ton of emails to potential mentors and while most faculty did reply, a couple didn't. It doesn't have any bearing on your application status. If you have have questions about their research, etc. then yeah, you can try sending a polite email again. If you're wondering if they're taking students, you can always trying contacting a current grad student, the office secretary, etc.

I second remenis. The most helpful way to up your verbal score is to study vocab. I used Kaplan's 500 word flashcard desk - ready made flashcards with words, definitions, synonyms, and the word is used in a sentence. I carried them with me everywhere and pushed myself to learn 10-15 a day and constantly quizzed myself. I had maybe 10 words that were directly from those flashcards and raised my verbal score by 100 points. You can also learn some word roots and stems to make it easier to guess. For the math section it's really about learning all the math GRE tricks. You can do all the arithmetic required to answer the questions but most have a trick that will let you solve the question in seconds. So five minutes of complicated math vs a few seconds. The math itself is not difficult but you can easily make a small error and get the wrong answer. Get a prep book, memorize the tricks, and do practice problems over and over and over. Of course, this is all for the old version of the GRE which may not be helpful for those looking for advice for the new GRE.

You can definitely ask your recommenders to touch on certain aspects that may be unique to your relationship. For example, I have worked on research with all three of my recommenders and knew they would have no problem talking about me in a research context. However, I am applying to clinical psychology programs and although research is very important, you also need to be able to work effectively with clients and in general, be personable. I asked one of my recommenders to touch on some of my clinical strengths since she oversaw one of my internships and had notes about my ability to work with clients and run group therapy. In addition, I did clinical interviews for her research and one of the women I interviewed actually contacted my recommender to talk about how she felt I was a great listener and that she could be open with me. I think these are great things to include in a LOR so I asked my recommender that although a lot of my work with her has been research focused, would she mind including these examples of my clinical abilities. If you have experience writing grants or manuscripts, etc. you can ask your recommender to talk about those skills. Every relationship and every letter is going to be different but you can definitely mention something you want included. You're not writing your own letter and they definitely don't have to take your suggestions, but I feel it's not taboo.

If they all don't have related interests you might come across as not being focused enough and that can definitely be viewed as a bad thing. I would really focus on the faculty that have research interests similar to yours. Many programs will let you collaborate with people outside of your specific field so you ask about that if you get an interview. Just curious - who are you applying to work with at MSU?

I would suggest contacting the secretary. One of the professors I had wanted to work with didn't have an updated website and wasn't responding to my emails so I called the secretary. She said she was going to send out reminders to all the faculty to have an updated website and his information was updated the next day. In another case, a professor said she was taking a new student on her website but wasn't listed in the group of faculty accepting students. I called the secretary and she informed me that there was a change in funding and the professor was no longer taking students for next year. So sometimes the secretary will know, sometimes they won't but it can't hurt to call. Saved me $60.

I actually did apply to UMICH and just split up my statement of purpose into two parts. The first part of my statement talked about my path to psychology and why I wanted a PhD while the second was purely academic and research focused. I didn't write anything new and was able to split my statement without it being awkward. Maybe this wasn't the way to go but after 14 applications I was in no mood to write a completely new essay.

Submitted my 14 applications last week and now I'm in for the long wait. It's nice to get them out of the way early but I can't stop checking the forums. I wish I could just skip forward a few months to interview season. It's going to be stressful but at least something will be happening!

These emails are not going to make or break you. You're not going to get in because you emailed a prof before applications are due and you're not going to get rejected because of it either. It's a nice touch, but some profs will just send you a generic reply and others won't even send something back. It has nothing to do with you or them or anything. RELAX. My mentor is probably the most warm, responsive individual I've ever met and she told me she doesn't reply to these emails. Between being the DCT and director of the clinic, she has a ton of other things going on and doesn't have time. You can try calling the secretary if you're really worried that the prof isn't taking students. Sometimes they'll know but other times they won't. Just breathe. Your application is going to get you in, not these emails.

I've been told the opposite. Don't attach a CV unless they ask. To each his own I suppose.