Need help on tough decision

[A. sesquipedale]

I am interested in evolutionary psych research and applied to PhD programs but have received mostly rejections though I am still waiting to hear from 2 programs.

As a back up I have been thinking about applying (late) to my UG institution where I could work with an adviser but in an unrelated area (my thesis would be in clinical/counseling psychology).

So here are my choices so far:

1. Don't go anywhere, study to re-take the GRE, apply to paid RA positions, find volunteer RA positions, etc.

2. Apply late to MS in experimental psychology program at my undergrad institution which would be fairly cheap and they offer some funding (maybe though cannot get anything in writing)

3. Accept MA offer from a PhD program I was rejected from but with NO funding. This seems like a really hard decision because it is in evolutionary psychology but the amount of debt I would accumulate seems absurd (probably 40,000 if you include living expenses). They often accept students into their PhD program from their MA.

My big question is, and you can think of it in terms of applying to the sub-discipline you are interested in if you are unfamiliar with evolutionary psych, is it a bad idea to get an MS in an unrelated sub-discipline? (e.g., say you are interested in social psych but studied neuroscience for your MS).

Pros: most likely a published thesis since I would jump on profs existing research and he has 100% track record of being published in top journals of clinical/counseling area. Have an MS under my belt with not a lot of debt. May help me get into PhD programs.

Cons: very difficult to commit to a thesis on a topic you aren't very interested in. I am the type that would work my hardest even if I don't enjoy it, so it would probably be really emotionally draining. Uncertain that it would increase the likelihood I would be accepted to PhD programs next round in my area of interest. Little to no classes in my area of interest offered.

I would really appreciate some feedback especially because with the late application I have to make a decision pretty quickly, as they could stop accepting late applications any time.

Thanks all! By the way this process is friggin' stressful! I really don't want to make a decision I might regret.

[skiergirl24]

I would go with option #1. I am in the same boat as you...mostly rejections. I got into one place with no funding and the second school hasn't made funding decisions so I might stay where I am now and teach for a year and reapply. I wouldn't apply late this year because the economy is SO BAD that it is highly unlikely you would be able to get funding with a late application. And you also don't want to rack up debt. i say study study study, retake the GRE, save some $$ and apply next year. I think that is what I will end up doing as well. good luck!

[A. sesquipedale]

I would go with option #1. I am in the same boat as you...mostly rejections. I got into one place with no funding and the second school hasn't made funding decisions so I might stay where I am now and teach for a year and reapply. I wouldn't apply late this year because the economy is SO BAD that it is highly unlikely you would be able to get funding with a late application. And you also don't want to rack up debt. i say study study study, retake the GRE, save some $ and apply next year. I think that is what I will end up doing as well. good luck!

Thanks for the advice skiergirl. Sorry to hear you are in the same boat as me, or should I say small dinghy up *$&@'s creek ! Hmm, I am also looking for what people think about the MS in an unrelated sub-discipline, so others can feel free to chime in as well!

[OrgScienceGrad]

I wouldn't recommend the unrelated MS. You would be much better off getting the ball rolling (i.e. via a paid or unpaid RA) in an area that you will be working in later on. There are some pros and some cons either way, but I don't think you will gain as much from the MS as you will be required to put into it. Imagine spending the time to do a thesis that doesn't really excite you (and then having to repeat the process for your PhD because they won't accept your unrelated thesis from your MS.)

Personally, I didn't get into any PhD programs the first year I applied, only Masters programs that did not offer any funding. I declined those offers (actually... I deferred one for a year, which is smart if it's an option), stuck around my undergrad school so I could keep doing research with my advisor, and studied a lot to retake the GREs. My scores went up, I had more research experience, and even stronger letters of recommendation after that extra year. When I reapplied the next year I had much better opportunities, and I ended up in a program that I am very, very happy with!

However, keep in mind that if you can't improve your application, an extra year isn't really going to help you.

[A. sesquipedale]

I wouldn't recommend the unrelated MS. You would be much better off getting the ball rolling (i.e. via a paid or unpaid RA) in an area that you will be working in later on. There are some pros and some cons either way, but I don't think you will gain as much from the MS as you will be required to put into it. Imagine spending the time to do a thesis that doesn't really excite you (and then having to repeat the process for your PhD because they won't accept your unrelated thesis from your MS.)

Personally, I didn't get into any PhD programs the first year I applied, only Masters programs that did not offer any funding. I declined those offers (actually... I deferred one for a year, which is smart if it's an option), stuck around my undergrad school so I could keep doing research with my advisor, and studied a lot to retake the GREs. My scores went up, I had more research experience, and even stronger letters of recommendation after that extra year. When I reapplied the next year I had much better opportunities, and I ended up in a program that I am very, very happy with!

However, keep in mind that if you can't improve your application, an extra year isn't really going to help you.

Thanks for the advice OrgScienceGrad. What you suggest is definitely the route I am most considering at this point. Congrats on ending up in a nice program!