Fall 2020 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD

[2ndTimeHopeful]

23 hours ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

My apps have been submitted for almost a month. I have 4 excellent references. 2 of them have submitted all of the recommendations. One hasn’t submitted any but has told me that they’re working on it. My academic reference has submitted all but three. Some of my apps accept four and some only three. I’ve emailed my academic reference but there hasn’t been a response. I’m concerned that something is wrong since this person has always been prompt with submissions & emails. First due dates are 11/15. Any suggestions? I can remove the academic reference from the app that only accepts 3 & replace it with my 4th reference but then it will be locked if they eventually try to submit & if I don’t get in this cycle I would ask this person again. Also, many of my apps will be incomplete if the other reference doesn’t submit. I recently found another school that could be a match but now I’m reluctant to add anything else that could end up incomplete. TIA. 

This is my third round of apps & this forum has been so much quieter than in years past. I’m only hoping it means less applicants. Lol. 

[SoundofSilence]

On 10/16/2019 at 7:36 PM, justacigar said:

I'm going to go against the grain and say yes, send a follow-up email. I sent follow-up emails to the four faculty members I had not heard from and each one of them responded to my follow up. Profs have insane email inboxes and it is highly likely they did not see your original email, or saw it and forgot to get back to you. If they don't respond to the follow up, that is when I would stop trying. I just sent something along the lines of: 

Dear Prof, 

I am following up regarding an email I sent about a month ago. I realize your schedule is likely quite busy, but would greatly appreciate any information you can provide in relation to my questions below. I am highly interested in your lab and hope to determine if our interests are as aligned as I hope. OR I'm highly interested in your lab and hope to apply if you are planning on reviewing applications. 

Sincerely, 

justacigar

Just wanted to say a quick thank you for your advice. I sent a couple of follow-ups to POIs that really interest me, so I know for sure whether I should bother applying or not. 

We will see whether they reply. Thanks again!

[379337933793]

On 11/2/2019 at 9:47 AM, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

My apps have been submitted for almost a month. I have 4 excellent references. 2 of them have submitted all of the recommendations. One hasn’t submitted any but has told me that they’re working on it. My academic reference has submitted all but three. Some of my apps accept four and some only three. I’ve emailed my academic reference but there hasn’t been a response. I’m concerned that something is wrong since this person has always been prompt with submissions & emails. First due dates are 11/15. Any suggestions? I can remove the academic reference from the app that only accepts 3 & replace it with my 4th reference but then it will be locked if they eventually try to submit & if I don’t get in this cycle I would ask this person again. Also, many of my apps will be incomplete if the other reference doesn’t submit. I recently found another school that could be a match but now I’m reluctant to add anything else that could end up incomplete. TIA. 

I'm in the same position and am trying not to freak out. On Friday, I sent my third reference an email essentially saying friendly reminder that my first apps are due in 2 weeks, I'm sure you have many other priorities, but let me know if you want me to resend portal upload links when you are ready to submit. 

I'm SO paranoid he's going to drop the ball and I'm going to need to scramble to get my 4th reference to upload everything. Nerve-wracking! I'm thinking if I don't hear from him this week I'm going to assume worst case scenario and ask my 4th reference. 

[2ndTimeHopeful]

29 minutes ago, tomatotomahto said:

I'm in the same position and am trying not to freak out. On Friday, I sent my third reference an email essentially saying friendly reminder that my first apps are due in 2 weeks, I'm sure you have many other priorities, but let me know if you want me to resend portal upload links when you are ready to submit. 

I'm SO paranoid he's going to drop the ball and I'm going to need to scramble to get my 4th reference to upload everything. Nerve-wracking! I'm thinking if I don't hear from him this week I'm going to assume worst case scenario and ask my 4th reference. 

Some of the portals only accept 3 so one would have to be removed which can cause problems as well. Especially if I have to ask again next round. I just wish they’d submit & end my anxiety. These are psychologists causing this stress lol. 

[379337933793]

17 hours ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

Some of the portals only accept 3 so one would have to be removed which can cause problems as well. Especially if I have to ask again next round. I just wish they’d submit & end my anxiety. These are psychologists causing this stress lol. 

I know...as if this process wasn’t stressful and difficult to organize already! Best of luck to you

[2ndTimeHopeful]

18 hours ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

Some of the portals only accept 3 so one would have to be removed which can cause problems as well. Especially if I have to ask again next round. I just wish they’d submit & end my anxiety. These are psychologists causing this stress lol. 

If nothing happens this week I will remove them from the app & add my 4th reference but only on the apps that are due the 11/15. Unfortunately one of those is missing 2 references so it still may not be complete. 

[foood]

20 hours ago, tomatotomahto said:

I'm in the same position and am trying not to freak out. On Friday, I sent my third reference an email essentially saying friendly reminder that my first apps are due in 2 weeks, I'm sure you have many other priorities, but let me know if you want me to resend portal upload links when you are ready to submit. 

I'm SO paranoid he's going to drop the ball and I'm going to need to scramble to get my 4th reference to upload everything. Nerve-wracking! I'm thinking if I don't hear from him this week I'm going to assume worst case scenario and ask my 4th reference. 

Can I ask which schools have a Nov 15th deadline, that seems really early? I have a few that are Dec 15th and am now 2nd guessing it lol..

[Clinical]

To people concerned about references not being in, I had references sent the last day for multiple letter writers to multiple schools. And that didn't keep me out of a Ph.D. program!

Many profs have a system or a place on their calendar for submitting their final versions of letters, so I wouldn't worry that they aren't in early. I think it is more the rule than the exception that letter writers submit on the late end. Professors likely have plenty of things that need to be submitted earlier (like for students' internship applications) or papers they are working on, etc., so it doesn't really help them or anyone to get Ph.D. recommendations in early. I would send a follow-up or reminder a week before the due date and try to distract yourself in the meantime. Good luck to all!

[justacigar]

On 11/3/2019 at 5:48 AM, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

This is my third round of apps & this forum has been so much quieter than in years past. I’m only hoping it means less applicants. Lol. 

The quietness of Grad Cafe is throwing me off - I remember last year the threads were poppin'. I'm sure once applications are submitted the threads will pick up! 

[xChrisx]

17 hours ago, justacigar said:

The quietness of Grad Cafe is throwing me off - I remember last year the threads were poppin'. I'm sure once applications are submitted the threads will pick up! 

People are tired, tired. This process is exhausting.

[yikespsych]

Anyone applying to University of Alabama and having issues with their recommendation requests? I submitted my app on Monday but none of my letter writers have gotten any notification from the school to submit a letter for me, even after I hit "Resend". I called the Grad School but haven't heard back. 

[justacigar]

5 hours ago, Oluwachristabel said:

People are tired, tired. This process is exhausting.

For sure, no doubt about that. It is exhausting every year, so it's strange that the threads are much, much less active than last year around this time

[Jkid]

5 minutes ago, justacigar said:

For sure, no doubt about that. It is exhausting every year, so it's strange that the threads are much, much less active than last year around this time

I'm taking it as a sign that maybe not as many people are applying. But that could be me just hoping for the best. These applications are brutal though especially in addition to taking all my classes and doing research. 

[MuRhythms]

On 11/3/2019 at 10:53 AM, tomatotomahto said:

I'm in the same position and am trying not to freak out. On Friday, I sent my third reference an email essentially saying friendly reminder that my first apps are due in 2 weeks, I'm sure you have many other priorities, but let me know if you want me to resend portal upload links when you are ready to submit. 

I'm SO paranoid he's going to drop the ball and I'm going to need to scramble to get my 4th reference to upload everything. Nerve-wracking! I'm thinking if I don't hear from him this week I'm going to assume worst case scenario and ask my 4th reference. 

I am on the same boat with regards to my last reference. I expected this of her though as she is always overwhelmed, but she went cold me with no response to my last couple of e-mails.

I contacted someone who still works under her to remind her, and will contact her again on Friday as its her least busy day. 

Hoping for the best, and wishing you guys get your references in on time as well.

[2ndTimeHopeful]

8 hours ago, yikespsych said:

Anyone applying to University of Alabama and having issues with their recommendation requests? I submitted my app on Monday but none of my letter writers have gotten any notification from the school to submit a letter for me, even after I hit "Resend". I called the Grad School but haven't heard back. 

Who's your PI?

[JoePianist]

7 hours ago, Macykid said:

I'm taking it as a sign that maybe not as many people are applying. 

Nope, don’t kid yourself on that.

Edited November 8, 2019 by JoePianist

[2ndTimeHopeful]

10 hours ago, yikespsych said:

 

Who's your PI?

[2ndTimeHopeful]

Is anyone applying to UMASS Boston? If so can you explain the GPA summary portion of the app? I submitted the supplement a month ago and the status is still incomplete.

[psycstudent2018]

On 11/1/2019 at 3:17 PM, Psychcat23 said:

I just want to say - I find this VERY aggravating when people assume you didn't study/didn't try when getting low scores on the GRE. I will tell you, I took this test 4 times, I have consistently gotten the same scores. I have studied for upwards of 3+ months every day, I had a tutor at one point, I did an online class and I had a book/flash cards. I have a 3.6 undergrad GPA and a 3.9 grad GPA, 2 pubs, 8 conference presentations, my masters is from an Ivy League school .. you get the picture. 

Since taking the GRE the FOURTH time - my verbal went up to 76th percentile, quant - 13th, writing - 81st. 

My point is - don't rule yourself or others out if their GRE scores aren't great. I've been told a mix of things - "you won't get in anywhere" and "you're gonna get a lot of interviews" it is absolutely a MIXED bag.  

I would like to say that in no way did I assume the OP didn't study or try and I certainly didn't say that. I also did not say that they wouldn't get in to their chosen school. OP asked for help and GRE tips and I gave suggestions. I actually in no way attempted to answer the question of "are those scores good enough to get in"

Personally, I worked my a** off the first time I took it and didn't get great scores. And then, after doing my suggestions of magoosh, making it a priority, studying every single day, I got them up. I was sharing what worked for me. 

Congrats on your resume, it sounds like you've worked very hard and I wish you well in your application process.

[psycstudent2018]

On 10/20/2019 at 7:47 AM, Shivani513 said:

Thank you for that advice. I have actually decided I am going to retake as I saw on the percentiles it is quite low.. 
Quite a few programs have just replied to me saying they take the whole application in to consideration.. no one has actually told me what score the cut off is? But by forums I see roughly 150 - would you say that is right for clinical?

Kind regards

Shivani

 

If you check the "Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data" is usually has the average GRE scores for that program

[psycstudent2018]

On 11/1/2019 at 4:21 PM, Clinapp2017 said:

When people chime in saying that your scores are below certain suggested cutoffs, they are stating a fact. It is not to say that you should not apply, but if you don't get interviews, that (quite frankly) may be why. I agree to not rule oneself out and go ahead and apply if you have the resources to do so, but be prepared for the GRE (especially scores below 50th percentile) to be a potential hinderance to the application. This GRE's role is a fact that has been well-discussed by many sources, so down-playing its importance is not advantageous.

Exactly. In my original post I was only trying to set the OP up for success.  

It's not to say that you CAN'T get into a program with lower GRE scores, but it certainly helps if your scores are closer to the median of applicants. 

I don't think people on this forum are malicious. We're all hoping for success and helping each other get there. When people comment on GRE scores or give suggestions on how to improve them, I like to think it's because we want eachother to get in not because we want to tell people to give up. 

[yikespsych]

16 hours ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

Who's your PI?

RA, although to be honest I found their whole website/application process quite unclear and I'm still not even sure who is taking a student. No one I reached out to got back to me.

[clincal_j]

Is there anyone who is applying for the second/third time? What was the biggest reason you think you didn't get it, and what are you doing differently this year?

[Schy]

45 minutes ago, clincal_j said:

Is there anyone who is applying for the second/third time? What was the biggest reason you think you didn't get it, and what are you doing differently this year?

This is my second round. Last year I only applied to one school seriously and it was my undergrad/current school I do research at. I got interviewed and waitlisted and I think it was because of my low gre scores (which honestly aren't much better this year). What I do have now thats different is 2 years of intense research experience, a better CV, a more succinct statement of purpose and hopefully better LOR. however my gre scores are still painfully low so I'm going to make sure I apply to masters programs as well this time around. I honestly cannot do another year of waiting around lol 

[psycstudent2018]

1 hour ago, clincal_j said:

Is there anyone who is applying for the second/third time? What was the biggest reason you think you didn't get it, and what are you doing differently this year?

This is my second time.

I applied my senior year of college. I didn't expect to get in, but wanted the practice and wanted to use the resources I had available to me while I was still in school. I applied to four programs and was accepted into the Masters for one, waitlisted for an interview at another, and accepted in the third. Ultimately, I turned down my offer of admission on the grounds of the school being non-funded. 

I personally believe what held me back was lack of experience. I'm applying now after doing a post-bacc for the past year and a half and am applying with a much stronger resume. Fingers crossed!