stereopticons

So I've been worried about this too. I thought my application was pretty competitive as well (and my advisor kept assuring me it was!) but still no good news. But yesterday I learned that not all of my programs have even made interview decisions yet, so it is too early. If it makes you feel better, email the program administrator and ask about what stage the applications are in. One of mine hasn't even gone to adcom yet and another is still in committee, so there is still hope.

Per the secretary from CU Boulder, they are meeting this week to make decisions about interviews. I don't know if that applies just to social, or the whole program, but if you applied there and haven't heard, there is still hope! I emailed some other program administrators, too, to try and reassure myself that all the decisions have not already been made.

Can the Florida State poster send me your POI? I haven't heard from them yet.

Could you PM me too? I'm also on the listserv and haven't gotten anything yet.

It definitely is easier said than done. I think that people who haven't been through this think that you just apply and if your scores and GPA are high enough, then you get in. They don't understand things like "I wasn't a good fit for the program." or "My POI wasn't accepting students this year." It really does sound like you are making excuses, but I can't make them understand that it's more than just ME. Or maybe I can't make myself understand that, I'm not sure. I keep seeing not being a good fit for the program as some kind of personal failure, even though it isn't. @psychgurl, the money is a huge thing for me, too. I spent nearly $1000 applying to schools this time around. It seems like a huge waste and I don't know if I can afford to do it again!

I've gotten 4 official rejections (one after a phone interview that I thought went well) and one assumed rejection... I still have 5 more schools, but it's not looking good. I've started applying for lab manager/RA jobs as the ads come in, and if none of that pans out, my current advisor needs someone to work as a grant administrator for her NIH grant starting in the fall, and she said I could do that, but it's only part-time, and I would definitely need to work full-time. I can't volunteer, or if I do, I need to also have a full-time job because I have to support myself somehow. Last time I applied, I at least had the MA programs as a back up, but now I have a masters degree. It seems stupid (and a waste of time/money) to get a second one. I don't know what other back up plan I can have. I just want to do research! Like you, socpsy123, I just don't want to do anything else. Sometimes I joke about becoming a travel agent or a chef, but I don't think I would really be happy doing that. I'm also irrationally embarrassed about not getting in to my schools this time. Other psych students and my advisor and you guys understand that there are external factors, but my family and friends outside of the psych world don't, and I'm just terrified that they will think I'm a failure if I don't get in this time. Which is dumb, but I can't help it. I'm trying to stay positive. I am glad that I have this community of people going through the same things, though. It really does help.

You're definitely not alone. I'm feeling it too. It's really, really tough. I keep trying to tell myself that it's too early and I haven't heard from all of the schools yet, but it doesn't seem to help. I know everyone around me is sick of hearing me obsess about this but I can't stop. Those of you who have gotten rejections so far (official or otherwise) how are you coping? Any tips to share? This is the second time I've gone through this and it hasn't gotten any easier.

Who are the other NYU posters? Can you PM me? I'm starting to lose hope

Who got the NYU Interview? Can you PM me your POI please?

Thanks guys. I have talked to my advisor about it and she sent me the few ads that she has gotten so far, but I'm kind of impatient. I don't want to email specific professors yet because the ones I want to work with might still be evaluating my PhD application! I will definitely check those links out.

Thanks for the info! I applied to 10 programs--2 official rejections and 2 assumed rejections. I know that there are still programs that haven't made decisions, thus I still have a chance, but I still feel like I need a back up plan. The interview went decently, I thought. I think, though, I had a hard time convincing him that I wanted to do the research he was doing since my background is in social neuroscience, which is not what he does at all.

So, I'm starting to get nervous because I haven't gotten any acceptances and the one interview I did have ended in a rejection. I know it's too soon to write all of my apps off as rejections, but I really would like to have a back up plan. I've applied to two lab manager positions, and I was wondering how people find out about these positions other than word of mouth (or email, I guess). Are they posted somewhere? Does anyone have experience applying to these types of positions? Any advice is appreciated.

Update on NYU from SPSP: A faculty member (not my POI) approached me at SPSP and we talked for a long time. He said that they have made a shortlist ("weeded out about 230 applications" were his words) and are making decisions this week. It wasn't clear if those were acceptance decisions or interview decisions, but if you haven't heard, there's still hope! I was also approached by POI from CU Boulder, so I'm guessing they haven't made any decisions yet, but I'm not sure. Can the UW poster send me your POI?

Oh well, I wasn't really expecting an interview there anyway.

I have to disagree with some of this. I may not be on a recruitment committee, but I am a social psych student applying for PhD programs after getting my masters degree. A fully-funded masters degree (all of the ones mentioned, and also William and Mary!) can give you research experience, teaching experience, lab manager experience, and publications. It can boost your CV in so many ways. And in a fully funded program, you still get paid! Some schools may make you repeat some of the course work, but most will accept your masters thesis and exempt you from doing a second one. Some schools (U of Illinois comes to mind) will exempt you from the first two years and make the PhD program 3 years instead of 5. I would apply to both PhD and Masters programs and see where you get in. That's what I did last time I applied, and I'm really happy about where I ended up. There is no "guarantee" that you will get in to a PhD program, no matter what route you take (lab manager, masters, whatever). The only thing you can do is add everything you can to your CV.

I was offered a phone interview by a POI from one of my top schools. I'm so excited...but then he wants to do the interview on Skype and video chat and now I am more nervous than I was before. Should I be concerned about what I'm wearing? What if I accidently make a face? Why did he have to add this whole new dimension to my anxiety? Does anyone have any experience with Skype interviews vs. Phone interviews? Anything I should know?

I'm with you. I've heard from 2 of 10 schools, and every time I get an email, it's like a major crisis. I get really excited for a second and then see it's actually junk mail and then freak out a little. This is torture!

I also applied to NYU Social and haven't heard anything.

I am also curious about the Berkley interview. Share your POI please?

Yep, me too. Standard rejection email. I'm not that surprised, but the first rejection still stings. Here's hoping for better news soon.

Not yet.

I don't know! Maybe, if you aren't presenting. I just feel like that would be a really awkward email. Maybe look and see if/when they are presenting and go introduce yourself?

Yeah, I am presenting a poster, too.

Are any of you guys who applied for social programs going to SPSP in a few weeks? My advisor told me POIs might seek us out there to get first impressions.

I am currently finishing up my MA in Experimental/General Psychology at William and Mary. And I think it's been a really good choice for me. I started undergrad as a music major and switched halfway through, so I didn't have a lot of research experience. I don't know about NYU, but W&M's MA program is research-focused, and really, the whole program is set up to make you a more attractive candidate for PhD programs (that's what they keep telling me, anyway. I'll believe it when I get in!) I think the program has really helped me focus my research interests and figure out where I wanted to go with my research. However, there are several people in my year who are interested in doing clinical work, and I don't want to say they are less impressed with the program, but there is definitely less emphasis on clinical or counseling experience. One great thing (and probably the main reason I decided to go to W&M) is that the MA program here is funded-- tuition waiver and an almost-livable stipend. I was accepted to two other MA programs last time I applied and W&M definitely had the best financial offer. tl;dr: It can be a good thing, especially if it's funded.