3point14

1) I think this depends on the program and the school. At one of the schools I applied to, (once accepted) you had to submit an application for them to accept your Masters. A committee then reviewed all the work/courses you have done, and then decides whether or not you get credit for it. Not sure how it works other places. Also, this wasn't a clinical program, so not sure if that would make a difference as well. 2) It certainly couldn't hurt to have a higher GRE, but I would recommend not retaking it if you aren't positive you will get a better score. Though for the programs I applied to, unless your GPA and/or GRE were really bad or really good, they didn't really matter. Letters of rec, SoP, and research experience were used much more as deciding factors. 3) I think all my applications this round had a space for GPA in any graduate courses taken, so yes, I would think most schools would take your Masters GPA into consideration. For the record though, I've been accepted to a PhD program (though, again, not clinical) with a much lower undergrad GPA than yours.

I agree with what @Behavioral is saying, but there are some schools that offer funded Masters programs in psych, and with your GPA (and hopefully high GRE) you'd probably be a good candidate for merit-based scholarships. If I hadn't gotten into a PhD program this round (my second year applying), going for my Masters first was my plan.

Definitely this. My dad is a professor, and he gets "hey I'm interested in working with you" emails all the time. He says that the most memorable ones are the ones that really make an extra effort and do this. Don't just read the abstract though.

I'm in behavioral neuroscience (psych). I was able to check if they received my transcripts (as well as immunization records) from the UTexas Direct website (https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/adm/mystatus/).

Mine typically went something like this: Dear Professor X, I am a recent graduate of University Y. I plan to pursue a degree in Z and have research experience in A. I read about your research interests at University C, and am very interested in your work studying D . Therefore, I was wondering if you would be accepting graduate students for the Fall of 2012.

The same thing happened to me last year. Rejected by about 10 schools (mix of Masters and PhD programs), and didn't even get an interview anywhere. I was crushed and immediately decided that meant I wasn't good enough for grad school. It was a terrible and disheartening experience, especially because all my friends were accepted to PhDs/med school/law school. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't get in. I did another summer research program, spent a lot of time on my new SoP, and, most importantly I think, I spent a lot of time carefully selecting which POI's/programs would really fit my interests. This year, I managed to get accepted at my top choice PhD program. So don't lose hope! There are hundreds of other applicants in the same situation; I'm sure you've heard it before, but it really is incredibly competitive right now...if you look at most schools' admissions statistics, the number of applicants has shot up tremendously in the past three years, while the number of accepted students has either dropped or hasn't changed.

As someone who had to apply twice, my initial reaction would be to tell you to accept the offer as there's no guarantee that you'll be accepted next year. However, you sound like a pretty strong applicant, and if you really think you wouldn't be happy in this POI's lab, then that's not good for anyone involved.

I don't know much about public health, but I'm inclined to agree with emmm. I've been accepted to my top choice PhD program with a lower GPA than yours (3.147). With the programs I applied to, GPA was used as a cutoff (nothing below 3.0) instead of something that really defines whether or not you're right for the program. My letters of rec and research experience were way more important.

I didn't have one for my program. I contacted my program director and he informed me that, beyond getting them my immunization records and official transcripts, I didn't need to do anything unless I planned to reject the offer. Oh,and I let my POI know that I was accepting

Do you know how likely it is that you would get the TAship at Program C? Will it be a huge financial strain on you if you weren't able to get the TAship? Personally, I would reject B because I would kick myself if I accepted B, but then got into D. Plus you say you prefer Program C to B anyway. That's just me though. Definitely a tough choice...good luck!

When I was living there, I was living with my parents, so unfortunately I don't know a whole lot about apartments. It's a really small area, so crime isn't a huge issue, but you can kind of judge from appearance what places are going to be..less fun to live in. The city (and surrounding areas) itself isn't really a walking city. A car is pretty necessary, and a large part of the student population is made up of commuters. I can say that housing and cost of living is pretty cheap there (I've never lived anywhere cheaper). If you think of anything else I can ask, feel free to post here or PM me

Erm, I think you may have missed a little of the point. But good luck to you in your applications and future studies! Also, this is completely off topic, but nwebb2, I noticed that you posted that you were from TN but going to VT. That's funny because I'm currently living in Blacksburg, but I'm originally from northeast TN

Hm, I agree with starmaker. I think a lot of times the difference between being on a waitlist and being accepted has more to do with funding than quality of the applicant.

Not going to Wake, but I did undergrad there. Like SynthSounds said, a lot of people live in the Crowne places. They're pretty nice inside, close to campus, and most (if not all) are gated and have pool/fitness areas. Alaris is another one that's pretty close to campus and has campus shuttle service.

Hi everyone! I'm late to this thread, but I just got my official acceptance I will be attending UT this fall. My stipend will be pretty small though...does anyone know anything about moderately priced housing?

Hey, I am really really late to this thread, but if you still need any advice I grew up there (still have numerous close friends living/working/studying there) and would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

I've posted in here before, and I know that I'm not technically a sub-3.0 (2.99 going into my senior year...pulled it up to 3.15), but I just wanted to say that I have been accepted to my top choice, top-tier PhD program. It's not impossible to overcome a low GPA...in my experience my letters of rec and prior research experience were all anyone really cared about.

Hey don't lose hope! I was rejected by 2 unranked programs and am currently waitlisted at my top choice, top-10 school. Weird. Also, I applied last year as well and got in nowhere (not even an interview). It sucks to have to do it again, but I'm actually glad it happened now because it gave me a chance to improve my application and apply to schools where my and the faculty's research interests really meshed.

I have a friend who will be finishing up her first year of grad school (in behavioral neuro) this May. Her PI has been on sabbatical this semester, and it has been completely fine. A little more hectic at times, but no major problems at all.

Ugh. I'm waitlisted at my top choice. My POI called me and said that, post interviews, there were 3 lists: accepted based on funding, rejected, and waitlisted. People on the accepted list have automatic lines into certain labs...I'm (I think) the alternate for the line to his lab. But there's another Prof. interested in me with whom I recently phone interviewed. I think this means I could potentially be put on the accepted list with a direct line to the new POI's lab. Fingers crossed

Thanks that's really useful. That's probably what I'll have to do. However, this is an unfunded MA, so I don't know if all that applies to me. My guess is the worst that will happen is that I'll lose my deposit and lose some friends

Thanks for the help! Unfortunately, the other school already knows about my time deadline. I guess I'll just wait until tomorrow, and if I don't have a concrete answer by then I'll just accept and back out if I have to.

I have been accepted to an MA program and am still waiting to hear from my top choice program (just had the interview). Unfortunately, the MA program wants me to give them my answer in two days. I have already asked them to extend the deadline. What are the consequences of backing out after accepting an offer?

Thanks for all the advice guys! For anyone who is interested, I mentioned it to my POI (he asked if I had ever been to the city before) and he was totally cool with it. He said I should have let him know earlier and he would have scheduled my return flight for later so I could spend an extra day with my boyfriend.

I asked some people who were in grad programs in my field what I should do about this. For me, I mostly just didn't work hard enough at the beginning of undergrad, so I didn't mention it in my SOP and simply focused on my research experience, goals, etc. Basically, I ignored my GPA and focused on the things that make me a good candidate. However, if you have legit reasons (as you seem to) I think it's fine to mention the extenuating circumstances that basically caused a blip on your GPA radar. However, I don't think you should focus on the uGPA, especially since you've done well in your Masters coursewok. Mention it, but don't dwell on it.