~~Good Application Season 2020 Vibes~~

[yeeboi]

With the *I is stressed* venting thread being fairly active (which I appreciate greatly), I thought I'd start the antithesis of it: an "I feel capable and ready to go into my interview and I would like to share my positive thoughts to others" or "Things aren't working out exactly the way I want but it'll all be okay" or "I'm getting a ton of interviews and I just want to say I'm happy" thread.

Me personally, I'm feeling pretty excited about my interview. Obviously the nerves are still intact, but I'm in a good mood and very aware of how lucky I am to be in this position and to have had such wonderful opportunities in my life. Whatever happens this year, I know I should be happy with the work I put in--I think we all should!

If you're feeling positive, post some encouraging words here for others who may need a boost. The one rule is that I think we should refrain from bragging or trying to covertly one-up each other with our achievements. Post things you're proud of, obviously, but make sure it isn't to prove some sort of academic superiority. 

[mmmmcoffee]

this is so cute and i love this! honestly i think gradcafe is a really positive community (at least the psych forum - can't really speak to the rest) and just having something to check everyday so i can see everyone's progress and see that i wasn't alone has really helped me throughout this process!!

like you said, i think that regardless what happens we all should be proud of how much work we've been able to balance throughout this process - i know i had a tough time towards deadlines because i had thesis drafts and research proposals due at the same time, but it was my last semester. i can't imagine how stressful it is to plan interview travel around school, but i know you guys will all get it worked out perfectly and learn things about yourself in the process! to quote jurassic park, "life finds a way" and you will too. Whether this application season, the next, or if you decide to take a totally different route all-together, I hope we all end up somewhere doing something we're passionate about with people we love.

best of luck on upcoming interviews guys! xoxo

[SocDevMum]

Dilly Dilly!

We have all worked hard to even be viable candidates for our Masters or Phd/PsyD programs - we are all intelligent, capable, ambitious people who are not content to just take the easy way out. Whether it's this season or another, we will all eventually end up exactly where we are supposed to be.  I for one am excited to contribute to the future research of my field, and get to play a part in expanding our knowledge of the human being. 

Let's do this!

[Blackbird7]

I am a mom of three, re-entering the education/research arena. From many years in the professional world, and raising kids, I can tell you just getting to be considered for a position as a researcher is a true HONOR. Just to be at a place in my life to be able to apply is a true blessing. Just to have a chance at doing what I’ve always wanted to do is the biggest joy for me. Regardless if they accept me, I am just so glad to be at this point. I still got some fight left in me, I still have plenty to offer, and I am determined. That’s all I can say. Those are all good things and don’t come easy to everyone. Here’s to peace, confidence and perspective. 

Cheers:)

[yeeboi]

12 minutes ago, Blackbird7 said:

I am a mom of three, re-entering the education/research arena. From many years in the professional world, and raising kids, I can tell you just getting to be considered for a position as a researcher is a true HONOR. Just to be at a place in my life to be able to apply is a true blessing. Just to have a chance at doing what I’ve always wanted to do is the biggest joy for me. Regardless if they accept me, I am just so glad to be at this point. I still got some fight left in me, I still have plenty to offer, and I am determined. That’s all I can say. Those are all good things and don’t come easy to everyone. Here’s to peace, confidence and perspective. 

Cheers:)

That’s amazing. I’m sure your children are incredibly proud and inspired by you!! 

[SocDevMum]

24 minutes ago, Blackbird7 said:

I am a mom of three, re-entering the education/research arena. From many years in the professional world, and raising kids, I can tell you just getting to be considered for a position as a researcher is a true HONOR. Just to be at a place in my life to be able to apply is a true blessing. Just to have a chance at doing what I’ve always wanted to do is the biggest joy for me. Regardless if they accept me, I am just so glad to be at this point. I still got some fight left in me, I still have plenty to offer, and I am determined. That’s all I can say. Those are all good things and don’t come easy to everyone. Here’s to peace, confidence and perspective. 

Cheers:)

As a fellow mom, I have to say, go us! We face a unique set of challenges, but we also have developed a set of life skills that serve us well in and out of the lab.  Way to keep pushing ahead!

[Blackbird7]

12 minutes ago, yeeboi said:

That’s amazing. I’m sure your children are incredibly proud and inspired by you!! 

They are so proud of me it’s ridiculous! It’s so sweet. They are 8 and under, so it’s all very innocent and special. My oldest is telling his teachers about his mom the professor. Not yet baby, not yet! 

[Blackbird7]

5 minutes ago, Randi S said:

As a fellow mom, I have to say, go us! We face a unique set of challenges, but we also have developed a set of life skills that serve us well in and out of the lab.  Way to keep pushing ahead!

So nice to hear from a fellow mom! I totally agree. I truly believe we have developed many life skills that will allow us to be diligent, mature and great at collaboration. I tried to not let the admission committees forget that in my SOP:) Ha! 

[Justice4All]

Absolutely LOVING the positivity ?. I'm completing my second interview right now and I just want to say I am SOOOO impressed and happy with the types of people pursuing this degree. On my 2 interviews I've met people I feel like I could become lifetime friends with. I often suffer from imposter syndrome (lol who doesn't) and was super nervous about meeting my "competition" in person. However, I've been pleasantly surprised with the sincere and genuine people I've had the pleasure of meeting. I'm feeling really confident in the trajectory of clinical/counseling psychology and I can't wait to see what you all accomplish! 

[Blackbird7]

20 hours ago, Justice4All said:

Absolutely LOVING the positivity ?. I'm completing my second interview right now and I just want to say I am SOOOO impressed and happy with the types of people pursuing this degree. On my 2 interviews I've met people I feel like I could become lifetime friends with. I often suffer from imposter syndrome (lol who doesn't) and was super nervous about meeting my "competition" in person. However, I've been pleasantly surprised with the sincere and genuine people I've had the pleasure of meeting. I'm feeling really confident in the trajectory of clinical/counseling psychology and I can't wait to see what you all accomplish! 

That’s awesome! Sincere and genuine are wonderful characteristics of any department. So happy for you to find such amazing people. I feel that’s what I am looking for too. People to share in my passion, with sincerity, respect and enthusiasm:) 

[Psychological Yam]

loving the good vibes on here! wishing everyone luck.

[mmmmcoffee]

I'm not sure how it is for you guys, but a lot of my friends and I have interviews this weekend and next! If this is the case for you too, I wish you the absolute best of luck and am sending wonderful vibes your way! ❤️ 

[379337933793]

I'm reading my POI's papers for my interview this week and am SO excited and confident in pursuing this career path. Literally cannot wait to meet them and learn more about their work. 

After having 1 interview already, I was shocked that interviews are not scary and are actually kind of fun? It's really nice to talk about your passions and intellectual curiosities with like minded people. 

Good luck to everyone else on their interviews! 

[yeeboi]

20 hours ago, tomatotomahto said:

I'm reading my POI's papers for my interview this week and am SO excited and confident in pursuing this career path. Literally cannot wait to meet them and learn more about their work. 

After having 1 interview already, I was shocked that interviews are not scary and are actually kind of fun? It's really nice to talk about your passions and intellectual curiosities with like minded people. 

Good luck to everyone else on their interviews! 

It's definitely the lack of sleep I got last night but your sentence about the interviews being fun honestly made me emotional lol. I'm so nervous for my interview this weekend, and I'm really afraid I'll be drilled with questions intended to pressure me--I think it's because grad school seems so foreign and the people in it so intimidating. I'm really glad you had fun. It gives me a lot of hope that interview day will just be me talking about my favorite subject and making good connections with people.

[Psych1st]

31 minutes ago, yeeboi said:

It's definitely the lack of sleep I got last night but your sentence about the interviews being fun honestly made me emotional lol. I'm so nervous for my interview this weekend, and I'm really afraid I'll be drilled with questions intended to pressure me--I think it's because grad school seems so foreign and the people in it so intimidating. I'm really glad you had fun. It gives me a lot of hope that interview day will just be me talking about my favorite subject and making good connections with people.

I'd like to add that mine was also really fun, I didn't really know that an interview could be fun but it really was. 

[yeeboi]

4 minutes ago, Psych1st said:

I'd like to add that mine was also really fun, I didn't really know that an interview could be fun but it really was. 

That's awesome. If I could ask, were you asked any specific questions regarding the statistical methods used in your research? I've been practicing, but I trip over my words a LOT when talking about this. I probably have a much more limited stats background than others here honestly. I always feel like I'm relearning what everything means.

[Psych1st]

1 minute ago, yeeboi said:

That's awesome. If I could ask, were you asked any specific questions regarding the statistical methods used in your research? I've been practicing, but I trip over my words a LOT when talking about this. I probably have a much more limited stats background than others here honestly. I always feel like I'm relearning what everything means.

No, in my experience I was mostly just asked about why I chose to study what I did and a little bit about my findings. I also spoke a little about presenting at conferences but we barely talked about my research in terms of methods or anything like that. Mostly just WHY 

[Modulus]

1 hour ago, yeeboi said:

That's awesome. If I could ask, were you asked any specific questions regarding the statistical methods used in your research? I've been practicing, but I trip over my words a LOT when talking about this. I probably have a much more limited stats background than others here honestly. I always feel like I'm relearning what everything means.

As someone eager to talk about stats and interested in programs with a quantitative bent, there was precious little about stats unless I brought it up.

With the critical exception of my published work. That I was asked about.  If you have pubs or presentations on your CV you'll probably want to know how to talk about that fluently but I think you can also just be honest and eager to learn.  Say "I know what the results from x mean for my work, but I'm eager to gain a deeper theoretical knowledge of x."

[PsychPhdBound]

1 hour ago, Psych1st said:

I'd like to add that mine was also really fun, I didn't really know that an interview could be fun but it really was. 

Mine too! I was waitlisted at one and accepted at another, with one more interview left to go. It was great being surrounded by others who shared my passion for my research topic and really reignited my excitement about grad school. The application process had really left me drained and discouraged and the interviews, even the one I ended up getting waitlisted for, just filled my tank back to full! 

Obviously still take them seriously and prepare (I read A LOT of articles before each one), but also be sure to enjoy the experience and get a feel for the people. If you get in/accept, these are going to be folks you spend alot of time with :). 

[379337933793]

3 hours ago, yeeboi said:

It's definitely the lack of sleep I got last night but your sentence about the interviews being fun honestly made me emotional lol. I'm so nervous for my interview this weekend, and I'm really afraid I'll be drilled with questions intended to pressure me--I think it's because grad school seems so foreign and the people in it so intimidating. I'm really glad you had fun. It gives me a lot of hope that interview day will just be me talking about my favorite subject and making good connections with people.

That's genuinely how I would describe it! There were no hard or trick questions. All the faculty I met with were lovely. I would've loved to have more interviews (for obvious reasons of better likelihood of getting into a program) but also just to talk to more people! It was really validating to talk enthusiastically about research after this sort of demoralizing process. If I end up needing to apply again I'm going to do my best to hold onto this feeling, as tough as that may be. Good luck and get some sleep!