DarwinAG
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Posts posted by DarwinAG
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Hmm. I actually did not consider professors actually going onto these forums. But I do agree it may reflect poorly if one is constantly commenting about their academic insecurities. I suppose in that sense it pays off to not have what you say be traced back to you.
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I would like to hear some people's thoughts on anonymity and posting in these forums. I have been advised to remain anonymous lest anything I may write or opinions I may express may reflect poorly on me (I obviously did not take this advice). I realize the merit and soundness of this advice, but I am a pretty straightforward fellow, and I would like to believe the way I conduct myself online is the same way I conduct myself in person. With that said, I am very open to sharing identifying information right away. I guess I'd like to know if anyone has experience such straightforwardness and sharing backfire in these forums? Has anyone had any bad experience in saying something in these forums that was traced back to them and had detrimental effects on their academic career? Why is the norm in these forums to remain anonymous?
On another note, Happy Holidays everyone.
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Andy Field also has a stats book for R if you prefer that statistical packate.
This is a good basic stats book. quant_liz will be able to provide you with more books for more complicated statistics. Multiple regression is pretty basic as well. At least it is on par in terms of difficulty level with factorial and mixed-factorial ANOVA.
- BeingThere, psychdork, Kevin1990 and 1 other
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Yes! I'd like to show you when I finished it. I just begin to write it since the deadlines of programs I apply are late. I'll appreciate it if you could send me yours.
I'd be happy to take a look at yours as well when you're finished. You can mull over your CV like I did or do it superfast like some of my colleagues. I actually spent a week or so making mine after eliciting feedback from 15+ people (peers and professors). A buddy of mine did his in a day with minimal feedback. I think a happy medium between both of our approaches would work out best.
Just so you can benefit from my experience...I sent out my CV to 15+ people and nearly everyone disagreed on what I should include or take out. In the end, I just synthesized all the good feedback I received. For example, I organized it with honors and awards first according to a professor. I also removed the monetary worth of most scholarships and awards. I cut down the details of certain projects. I will be removing details of my research experience soon and just focus more on publications.
Receiving feedback from a lot of people was a helpful experience, but in the end, you really have to decide what you want to put on there, how you want to put it, and what to leave out.
Best of luck.
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Thanks! I saw your CV. It is so unbelievable. Your 4.0 GPA, your experience, your research skills. I wonder how you can do it!
haha You may have misread it. I have a very low overall GPA at 3.39. I'm actually concerned it might hurt my application packet.
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Oooo Id love to see your CV as well Liz. I have a special reverence for quantative psychologist.
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Id also be happy to share my cv. PM me or just google my name.
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-I would not list irrelevant and non academic experiences.
-people you are on articles with are not references (generally speaking), unless they are all advisors
-id also get feedback fro professors and colleagues when youce completed it.
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Phone/Skype InterviewUNC, Chapel Hill (Social): November 1, 2012 (Unofficial chat)Washington University in St. Louis (Social): December 12, 2012UT, Austin (Social): January 10, 2013
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After fuzzylogicians very informative post, I have very little to add on the matter. I wholeheartedly agree with the first advice: take a more active role in your education. You should definitely advocate for yourself more and pursue more oppurtunities.
Regarding the second advice of not comparing yourself to your friend, I would like to offer a different perspective. I happen to think that some comparisons are healthy (although I understand clearly in your case, it has more detrimental effects than helpful ones). Comparisons are automaitc processes. You can spend your time and effort trying not to compare, or you can reappraise the comparisons you make. I am very prone to upward comparisons; I compare myself to my more succesful peers and also very succesful people in my field. Literature would tell you that this results in diminished well-being, but also, in some cases, help motivate you to achieve your goals. I focus on this latter part of it, and I reppraise the comparisons to help motivate me. It is true that it is dissatisying to feel behind or inferior to others, but it just makes me work twice as hard to get where they are. Not only that, but upward comparisons has an interestnig by product and keeping me grounded and humble. The feeling of dissatisfaction has been very useful.
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Also, if you can TA for an introduction to psychology class, do so. It helps cement some of the material. Obtain an introduction to psychology textbook as well and just remember the surface material.
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Hello Hanglema0. I want to preface this with I have not done my own research regarding the Psy D programs, but this is the information I have gathered from casual conversations with peers who are also pursuing a Psy D and from Clinical Ph.d. graduate students who have considered that route.
If you are pursuing the Psy D option, then I think your credentials is more than enough to actually get in a program. From what I have heard, most Psy D programs are not funded (I actually haven't heard of any that are funded) and their acceptance rates are higher than most clinical psychology programs. This is good news since they are less selective, and your gpa and perfect GRE scores alone should put you on top of the list. You also seem to have ample experience given the two publications.
If you are waiting two years to get more experience, I actually do not think it is necessary as you already seem to be well qualified. If you are more practice oriented then perhaps an internship at some mental health hospital can strengthen your already strong application.
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I admire that you're looking ahead so early. I don't want to just echo what caitlinalobdell already said, so here's a few other things to think about.
1. You should absolutely take the subjects GRE. Start studying for it now. Learn all the psychology facts you can. It is actually useful in that sense. I would just buy a princeton review or kaplab book and just make digital flashcards of every term there. If you can find some, make flashcards of multiple questions as well. You don't have to spend too much time on it. But if you study now and memorize facts here and there, it will be an easy exam. There is no reason for you not to get an 800 if you study this early.
2. Regarding the general GRE, some people are mixed regarding how to prepare for it. I can only share how I prepared for it. My scholarship paid for a private princeton review tutor, and I learned their test taking strategies. What I found extremely helpful were the online drills. For math, you just need to be able to recognize the different types of questions they can ask (I think there are 30 different kinds or less), and how to respond systematically. It's a stimulus / trigger response strategy. I found it exceedingly useful. I would start learning those trigger responses now. It also helps to learn the mental shortcuts they teach you. But the key are the drills imo. Now regarding the Verbal part of the GRE, in terms of strategy, there are really only a few tips they provide you. The rest is having a large vocabulary. I would start actively learning new words, although you naturally do this in college as you read more literature. Writing is pretty easy. Just be facetiously direct, logical, and organized.
3. If you can tailor your honors thesis towards the faculty you want to apply with, that is a huge plus.
4. Meet the faculty you want to work with at conferences. Talk with them. Start reading their work now. Know it intimately so that you can talk about their research at a high level.
5. Make sure you have 3 faculty who will write you three strong LORs.
6. Other specific advice you learn along the way.
I can't comment on the relationship issue. -
I had one of those interviews. Here are some advice:
-Treat it as a formal interview. With that said, any questions that you would be asked in a formal interview. The open ones I was asked included "How did you get into emotion research?", "tell me about your research experience", "What do you like about my work?". This one threw me off: "What is the most compelling research you've done?".
-Dress as if it was a formal interview. I didn't wear a suit, but I wore a buttoned up shirt. Also, behave as if the person is right in front of you. Yes it's on skype, but you should act as professional as possible.
-I was freaking out about a skype interview also, and one of my advisors just told me that the POI (she happened to know her) is just trying to get a sense of "fit" between you two. She wants to know she can talk about research with you. With that said, I was very candid about what I liked about her research. We ended up chatting for about an hour and about 40 minutes of that we talked about research. I proposed three studies I think. I asked her four questions I have written out.
-I also think I may have somehow suggested that "we should" end the chat since I didnt want to take up too much of her time. That is the wrong approach. You should let them initiate when to end the conversation. Or if you want an idea of the duration, you can politely ask if you need to make room for an hour or two in your schedule. Phrase it like, "also, I do have XYZ engagement, but I would be happy to move it up so that we are not pressed for time." This may not be the best way to phrase it. Hopefully someone else can comment on that.
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I know very little about economics and which program is best. Do you mean better in terms of prestige? Or other factors.
I think a more specific question you should be asking yourself is which one is better for you (based on fit, values, and other personal factors that no one else has access to but you). For example, location matters very little to me. I would live anywhere in the US if the research fit and philosophy of science was a good match.
I would also like to point out I know nothing about economics and which program is "best".
- Quant_Liz_Lemon and ohgoodness
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One additional thought-
If it IS the case that students in the lab feel that their professor has this type of attitude- how likely are they to admit it? I know that if it was me, I would feel somewhat embarrassed and wouldn't really want to advertise it.
So, even if asked directly, they might not admit to it unless they're willing to put the future of an unknown student over their own pride.
I can see them being less likely to admit it. If the professor has had a good track record of graduating students then it may be less likely that there are any problems. I know Universities are on top of this type of issue.
But I revert back to my original advice: Give the professor and the lab the benefit of the doubt.
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DarwinAG,
I do somewhat disagree with you in that, if I wait until it becomes a problem than it may well be too late (though I guess this depends on the individual program's policy about changing mentors, the availability of mentors, etc).
I just mean to say that you should attempt to enter the situation by minimizing this bias as much as possible. Otherwise, it may turn into a self-fullfillping prophecy (I am not entirely sure if I am referencing to the right phenomenon) and innocous comments or behavior get turned into something more than they are. This is a very sensitive and important issue, and I do not mean to downplay its significance. The lines are incredibly fuzzy, and you would know better when it has been crossed. You will become part of the social dynamic, but keep in mind that having this vigilance for such type of behavior will influence the way others conduct themselves around you.
I do think you have hit on the right approach by giving the lab and professor the benefit of the doubt. This is how I approach most academic and professional situations.
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I am having the same problem with one of my LOR writers. She agreed to write it, actually submitted one of five. She then proceeded to miss 2 deadlines and completely stopped answering my emails. I've sent her several reminders. I'm now actually making up excuses for her--like the fact that my alma mater is currently on term break--to calm myself. Nothing is helping, I'm at my wit's end! This is my third and final attempt at graduate school admission, and she's sabotaging it! Your posts have helped me cool down a bit though, thanks
Still debating calling the department...*sigh*I would advise against "calling the department". One, the last thing you want is to annoy your LOR writers. Constant email reminders, IMO, are not helpful unless your professor actually encourages it. I do not know what type of relationship you have with your LOR, but I would really give her the benefit of the doubt. If it's really a problem, you should meet with them in person.
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If it can be appended, then make the correction. If it can't be appended let it go. Turn it in and let it go.
One of the best advice I've received in these forums is that one of the top skills you should learn in academia is the ability to turn something in and move on.
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I understand that your professor is blind. I would have come up with ways that made it easy for him (e.g. calling your programs to see if they would make an exception for his condition to send it through snail mail). I am sure they would have made an exception if the request is framed properly. I actually think not having his letter will hurt you since he plays such an intricate role in your academic progress.
Perhaps it is different for English, but as a psychology researcher, I usually never ask a professor who has only seen my work in class for one semester. They really can't comment on much other than how I did in class. Since it is sort of your last resort, I would just be direct and honest. Tell them your situation, and ask politely if they think they have had a good enough exposure to your work to write you a strong letter of reccommendation. Emphasize that you understand it is a bit unorthodox and that you would completely understand if they don't feel comfortable. You want to give them an out.
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I really don't have a good answer for you either. The sense of humor thing seems like a good idea, but even that still seems like a bit of a gamble.
I think it's one of those things that you just have to give the benefit of the doubt and not address unless it becomes problematic.
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Im down to trade. I have four more apps to go.
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Notetaking while reading
in The Lobby
Posted
It depends on what I am reading or taking notes on. If it's a foundantional article or a critical review then I take lots of notes or even make an outline of the article. If it's an empirical article and I am already familiar with the literature, then it depends if I am primarily focusing on their methods, results, or discussion.
You really have to be selective with the amount of effort you put into an article. You should not read everything with the same effort. It's inefficient and you will get bog down with details that you do not normally need.
I generally highlight key constructs or definitions. I yellow highlight key observations. I blue highlight very important conclusions. I write down or type the key definitions, observations and conclusions. If I am starting new literature, I summarize the entire article.
If you're highlighting everything in a paragraph, then you're probably not being selective enough. You should be able to identify the topic sentence and provie the supporting arguments for that.
But you should do what works for you. Learning should be personalized and if you're particular approach and style is working for you stick with it.