Quant_Liz_Lemon

I would not assume that a good overall ranked program would have a strong I/O program. For example, ASU has one of the best (if not the best) Quantitative Psychology programs in the country, but its overall ranking is less than stellar. Also, don't assume that a stellar I/O program will have a prof that matches your research interests.

What department would you rather teach in?

Look where profs (esp. assistant profs) earned their terminal degree.

Maybe it's different in engineering, but in fields where applicants are encouraged to talk with professors pre-application, they have the ability to look at applications, cvs, etc.

I agree that it depends on the department and school. But I also think it depends on how competitive your field is and how good your application is. My field is pretty small (i.e. more professors recruiting students than there are rock star students). I suspect that my field is more prone to early admits than a field like clinical where there are many more rock star students than professors recruiting. However, if you're just an ok applicant then early admission isn't a likely thing, even if you apply early. The profs may not want to give away a slot if a rock star student comes along.

It might be just as competitive. It depends on the admissions' philosophy. If there are more qualified applicants than slots, it may help that you're applying in the spring. If there are more slots than qualified applicants, it may not help you in the spring. Also, I know that if you're a stunning applicant programs may admit you early for the fall. This may happen in PhD programs more often, but my sample size is limited.

Clinical is pretty competitive. However, one of the requirements for APA endorsement (or whatever it's called) is for schools to post the GPA and GRE of admitted students. For example at Vanderbilt clinical admitted students: Undergraduate GPA for years 2003-2011. 3.57 3.47 3.74 3.37 3.71 3.73 3.68 3.78 3.93 GRE Verbal 652 632 670 624 656 706 635 689 655 Quantitative 695 752 718 721 740 738 700 745 688 Total GRE 1347 1384 1388 1345 1396 1444 1335 1434 1343 source: http://www.vanderbil...ms/clinical.php Those average out to gpa:3.664444 grev:657.6667 greq:721.8889 gresum:1379.556

Very cool! What programs are you looking at? You might be able to mix in a bit of clinical substance depending on your POI and school.

What economics courses have you taken?

It might, but it might not. Every prof is different. Some will only look at your app if you have really nice GRE scores. Others won't even look at your GRE. It really depends.

No problem. I'm glad to pass on what I know. (I'm aiming for academia as well.) I was just lucky to have fallen in with a very quanty crowd of psychologists that were able to field my endless questions. The one thing I can think of to strengthen your very strong application is to either volunteer in a psychology lab with a prof that's statistically savvy or sign up to take a few classes in the spring semester. That way by the time you enroll in your program, you'll have enough exposure to psych theory to quell any concerns from an adcom. If you want some help locating quanty labs, feel free to PM me.

I would suggest that you talk with professors at these institutions. That's what I did. Mike Edwards at OSU was incredibly helpful. One of my cognitive profs had a background similar to yours, he was a mechanical engineer with two courses in psychology. He did beautifully on the GRE (as you have) and volunteered in a lab for a year. What do you want to do with your degree: Academia or industry? The nice thing about quant psych is that there aren't enough quanty applicants. So even if the ideal candidate has training in psychology and advanced stats, there aren't enough ideal candidates to fill all the slots.

How do you psych methods classes look?

I guess it depends on the program. What are you applying for?

What is my answer to this or zapster's answer?

I agree. Plus, customizing a SOP isn't as easy as tacking on a few paragraphs at the end. My SOP directed at Davis emphasizes my historical coursework, while my SOP directed at Vanderbilt focuses more heavily on my longitudinal research experience. Mind you - my SOPs have to convince POIs that my method and substantive interests align with theirs.

What type of grad school are you considering?

I would retake it, esp if your gpa is 3.11.

I short-listed my schools based on program reputation as well as research interest match. My interests focus upon longitudinal methods, marital satisfaction, and personality. In general, the top programs seem to be ASU(social), OSU (cognitive), WUSTL (clinical), and Vanderbilt(developmental). They're the larger programs and have the tendency to place their students directly into assistant professorships. I have a major in economics and am finishing up a major in psychology from a well known program. I have an adequate background in math: calc III, econometrics, symbolic logic, and I'll have finished up the quant methods track by the time I graduate. I don't know if a strong psych background is necessary, but it'll help open doors. My strength lies in research experience. I've volunteered in a social psychology lab that has been running longitudinal studies, I'm collaborating with my quant methods prof on longitudinal data analysis, and a few other things. I don't think experience in psychology in necessary, but if I were on an adcom member, I'd be curious as to why you're applying to quant psych as opposed to economics, statistics, or I/O psych. And by no psych experience, do you mean that you've had absolutely no coursework in psychology at all?

Wow -- guess it's just me.

I'd put those under University Service

That's pretty vague. What are your stats (e.g., gre, gpa, math courses, research experience)?

I second that. How's Nashville?

UCLA has something similar with a essay on diversity. Still... I know that I'm going to avoid the subject alltogether. By addressing it in an essay, you're drawing more attention to it. According to one of my LORs, adcoms like to hear that whatever it was is over and won't have any impact on your performance as a graduate student.

Honestly, I'd have one of my LOR's address it, rather than address it in my SOP.