WAMC Clinical Psychology 2020

[2ndTimeHopeful]

GRE V161/Q161 W4

psych GRE: 640

Masters GPA 3.9

Bachelors GPA 3.4/ Psych GPA 3.5 (graduated with psych honors

awards: 2 financial research grants, psychology student research award in master’s program

licensed BCBA

publications: 1 research publication in top Ivy League medical journal & one book review in highly regarded publication, one poster presentation at an international conference  

research experience: currently working in one of the top university research facilities as a Sr. Research specialist using specialized neurophysiology equipment

 

clinical experience: over 1000 hours at a day habilitation program 

recommenders: a highly regarded well known (famous) researcher, my supervisor for current position & the director of my master’s program 

I am currently struggling with my statement of aims. Any suggestions on a good opening sentence/paragraph? I have the main essay but just don’t know how to start it  currently discussing an event that occurred in high school that started my interest in my area of research 

 

Edited August 10, 2019 by 2ndTimeHopeful

[SomeGreatNotion]

Yes. You will be highly competitive. 

As for starting, I find the most attention grabbing lines to be short, declarative sentences that begin describing the event. When I applied, I referenced a children's science magazine that sparked my interest. I started with something like "I loved getting mail when I was a kid". Often, I find people try to make these declarations in long sentences that are too difficult to follow. 

Hope this helps. If you need more insight you can DM me. I am running a small side business editing PHD and internship applications for psychology students. 

[yikespsych]

I applied last year, got 2 interviews, was waitlisted at both but wasn't offered a spot. I think it was due to a lack of research fit and not my credentials, but would love to get outside perspectives/advice on reapplying.

 

GRE V161/Q158 W4

Psych GRE: 770

Undergrad GPA 3.75

 

1 first-author publication in press in a decent journal, hopefully one more 2nd author pub by the time I apply (currently being peer reviewed)

5 poster presentations (3 were at national conferences)

Research: 1 year undergrad in clinical psych lab, currently in my 3rd year as a full-time research assistant in two labs at a highly regarded academic psychiatric hospital; currently conducting an independent (unfunded) research study on top of my full-time position

Clinical experience: 2 years full-time residential counselor working with adolescents and adults with mood and personality disorders

Recommenders: 2 will be the PIs of the labs I work in currently (will be strong recs) and 1 will be my undergrad lab PI.

 

 

Thanks!

[SomeGreatNotion]

Yeah, I would also imagine that you would be competitive as well. My experience in looking at applications for my lab is that so many people look good on paper, it really does come down to fit. Even then, if there is only one spot, someone who would have been a good fit may get squeezed out. 

If it helps, I went through three cycles before I got accepted in multiple PhD programs. It is possible just keep working at improving and refining your application

[yikespsych]

16 hours ago, SomeGreatNotion said:

Yeah, I would also imagine that you would be competitive as well. My experience in looking at applications for my lab is that so many people look good on paper, it really does come down to fit. Even then, if there is only one spot, someone who would have been a good fit may get squeezed out. 

If it helps, I went through three cycles before I got accepted in multiple PhD programs. It is possible just keep working at improving and refining your application

Thank you, this is helpful!

[2ndTimeHopeful]

Thank you for your feedback. I’ve started to submit. Does it matter how soon the apps are submitted or is it ok to submit closer to the deadlines? 

[PsyDuck90]

5 hours ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

Thank you for your feedback. I’ve started to submit. Does it matter how soon the apps are submitted or is it ok to submit closer to the deadlines? 

It's ok to submit closer to the deadlines. Clinical programs don't do rolling admissions. They get together as a committee usually to look over all the apps once the deadline has passed. They're also more focused on the internship apps of current students applying for that right now (deadline is coming up). 

[2ndTimeHopeful]

I’ve submitted my apps. Now it’s a waiting game. One of my recommenders hasn’t submitted yet. What is the appropriate protocol for sending reminders? 

[PsyDuck90]

Deadlines are typically December 1st, right? So your recommenders have until then. You are SUPER early. If you get to the week before Thanksgiving and they still haven't submitted, you can possibly send them a simple reminder, such as "Hello Dr. So and So, I just wanted to make sure you got all the links for uploading the recommendation letter." I actually did have 1 app where the link was not being sent to my 3rd recommender for some reason. She had uploaded the letter for all the others, except that one. 

[2ndTimeHopeful]

Some of my deadlines are 11/15 & 11/18. Others recommended having completed apps as soon as possible. 

[2ndTimeHopeful]

Just now, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

Some of my deadlines are 11/15 & 11/18. Others recommended having completed apps as soon as possible. 

Some of my apps allowed 4 recommenders and most of those are complete since 3 have been sent. 

[PsyDuck90]

39 minutes ago, 2ndTimeHopeful said:

Some of my deadlines are 11/15 & 11/18. Others recommended having completed apps as soon as possible. 

Hmm, that's early. Even so, there is still plenty of time. I would check in about a week before the deadline. 

[PsyDuck90]

.

Edited October 16, 2019 by PsyDGrad90
Accidental double post

[Kris123]

Hi, I've just applied. It's an uphill battle with my gpa and quant I suppose, but I wanted to give it a try. 

 

GPA
Undergrad gpa: 3.029 (had a 2.1 first two years of college, got straight A's last two years, and this is the outcome. I worked really hard and I did mention this change in my personal statement.)
psych major gpa: 4.0
survey research minor gpa: 4.0
Last 60+ credits gpa: 4.0

GRE
161V, 151Q, 4.5AWA
Psych GRE: 700

Posters (15 total):
1st author on 10 (only 2 are local-college level, the rest are international, national, and regional
2nd author on 4 (mix of conference levels)
6th author on 1 (first national conference)

Manuscripts (all in prep- 7 total):
1st author (1), 2nd author (1), 3rd author (3), 5th author (2)
(these 5th authorship ones are in my most recent lab and actually pertain to what I want to do in grad school, whereas the others are not related at all (still psych methods, just different content area). only listed about 5 on my CV- the ones closest to being finished 

Research Experience (total 3 years):
Lab A:
3 years (1 as an RA, 1 as Lab manager, 1 as post-grad researcher(concurrent with time at Lab B))
I did everything here: IRBs, hiring, new study design, data collection/cleaning, posters, manuscripts etc.........the post grad position is now, and is remote work where i basically consult on studies I started and write papers.
Not the content area I wish to research in grad school
During lab manager year I was also an NSF REU fellow in this lab

Lab B:
1 year (full-time job as an RA post graduating- current position)
Collect data (eeg, neuropsych, interviews), recruit, consent etc. help with lit reviews for manuscripts in research content area I am interested in.
Actual Lab focus is not on content area of interest.

3rd experience:
I was in an advanced survey research practicum class and conducted a study through the irb. Went on to present findings (lack there of lol) at a college conference. Teacher is now deceased so no letter. I was only student to go through irb.

Recommendation Letters (total 3):
1. Lab A: Excellent (from PI)
2. Lab B: Excellent (from famous? PI/lab)
3. Professor (not yet Dr. ? good? I took one class with him but we did speak about research etc. and he said he is happy to write me a good one. (My other

Clinical Experience:
6 month internship with a clinical population of no interest to me personally but it was a good experience and helped rule out a pop.
 

Edited December 4, 2019 by Kris123