Developemental Psych criteria

[pandachioh]

I'm well into my applying this winter and I'd really appreciate some advice (reassurance?) about my preparation for a developmental psych PhD program.

GPA: 3.4 overall (not great, but from a well-known school), 3.5 in psych

Currently working at a UC doing research for the psych department, coordinating a lot of the project. (4 months so far)

Undergrad research assistant on two different projects (semester each)

Americorps (2 years)

Behavioral aide for children with autism (1 year)

County Health & Human Services: Foster Shelter (3 months, temp)

GRE: 590 V/ 720 Q / 4.5 A (2 years ago, taking it again soon),

Psych GRE: 700

I'm looking at UCR, UC Davis, Arizona State, U Washington, U Oregon, U Conn. Am I out of my league?

I'm generally worried about my GPA, lack of honors thesis and publications. I will have been out of school for 2 years by next fall and I know what I want to do, so I would really like to do apply now. What has been your experience applying to developmental programs?

Edited October 14, 2010 by pandachioh

[TheDude]

FYI: There are like 3 threads going pertaining to this subject.

Your research experience looks good (any presentations?)

GRE is above the cutoff.

However, your GPA is going to be under the 3.5 required at most schools. I think you'd get in somewhere, but I'd contact professors ahead of time and really impress them....try to get a good vibe going with someone so that when your app gets to the adcom table it isn't just immediately rejected due to hard cuts with the 3.5 GPA minimum.

I'd address it somehow in my SoP if I was you. Normally I think that when people do that it is pretty weak (e.g., I know I received a C- in Anatomy, but I was young and naive and used it as a motivational tool), etc. But you are just so close to being competitive at some even better schools with your research experience so it might be-who you to mention your GPA and maybe that you trended upwards in your last semesters.

[pandachioh]

Thanks so much for responding. Glossed over the posts and didn't realize. I want to delete this post and merge it with another one, but I'm not sure how to delete posts on here.

I don't have any presentations/posters. I had a research project in my methods class, but we just wrote a paper.

I think I attended a competitive school, but my GPA is still on the lower end. I had a tough time with undergrad due to family chaos and working, but I prefer not to make excuses. Took me a long time to learn to deal.

I've been thinking about emailing some potential advisers, and I will definitely reach out to a few.

I've only seen 3.0 GPA requirements so far. Eek.

Edited October 14, 2010 by pandachioh

[TheDude]

All in all I think your research and work experience is awesome. You'll probably be up against some applicants who have really high stats but research experience to a lessened degree. It's kind of a trade in the end. Numbers are really important but the big thing is research fit. I'm scared of some of the programs I am applying to based on name alone but I know my prior research and future goals are an absolute fit with their work. I guess some people get into different paths of research when they were previously in left field, but everyone says fit, fit, fit!

So if you know what you want to work on you will be in great shape.

[eucalyptus]

I don't think you need to worry about your GPA or address it in any way in your SOP. Get in touch with some potential advisors and impress them with your experience and ideas; if they really want you, a 3.4 isn't going to hold you back. I think my GPA was around 3.5 (my school gave marks out of 100% so the conversion wasn't straightforward) and my marks were never an issue in my applications. It also helps that you have a solid GRE score and that you have some life experience after undergrad. I think if you have some interesting ideas and a well-articulated SOP, you're not at all out of your league.

[pandachioh]

Thanks for the input. I'll work on specifying my research goals in my SOP.

Congratulations on getting into your program. Amazing.

[Can't think of a name]

I'm well into my applying this winter and I'd really appreciate some advice (reassurance?) about my preparation for a developmental psych PhD program.

GPA: 3.4 overall (not great, but from a well-known school), 3.5 in psych

Currently working at a UC doing research for the psych department, coordinating a lot of the project. (4 months so far)

Undergrad research assistant on two different projects (semester each)

Americorps (2 years)

Behavioral aide for children with autism (1 year)

County Health & Human Services: Foster Shelter (3 months, temp)

GRE: 590 V/ 720 Q / 4.5 A (2 years ago, taking it again soon),

Psych GRE: 700

I'm looking at UCR, UC Davis, Arizona State, U Washington, U Oregon, U Conn. Am I out of my league?

I'm generally worried about my GPA, lack of honors thesis and publications. I will have been out of school for 2 years by next fall and I know what I want to do, so I would really like to do apply now. What has been your experience applying to developmental programs?

I'm an international also applying to Arizona State (along with 9 other schools).

-I have been directing a parenting and developmental lab for the past 2.5 years (paid).

-Spent 12 months at another developmental lab studying ADHD (unpaid).

- Was involved in several research projects in Educational Psych (paid).

- For the past 3 months and until tnext summer also directing another lab studying emotion regulation (that's a heavy psychophysiological research and actually not developmental). (paid)

- Mentored 2 teenagers for 9 months 2.5 years ago. (scholarship)

- I am a TA in a research methods course. (paid)

I don't have an MA, just finished my BA.