Social Psychology Application Thread 2010-2011

[A. sesquipedale]

Hi all, I thought I'd make a thread similar to the neuroscience one for us social psych people. Everyone finished with their applications and waiting now? What schools are you applying to? Anyone lucky enough to get an interview invite yet?

This wait is so freakin' tough...

Edited December 14, 2010 by A. sesquipedale

[A. sesquipedale]

no social psychology people out there?

[NoleGirl]

I'

no social psychology people out there?

I'm here!

Social psych, particularly romantic relationships.

Is anyone going to SPSP in January?

[university99]

I applied to NYU's social psychology program, so you aren't alone!

[psychapplicant2011]

I am applying to primarily social psychology programs. My interests are in moral psychology, folk psychology ("theory of mind"-related stuff), and action representation. Targeting psychologist who share these interests and have a track record of working with philosophers or, at the very least, work on philosophically interesting research in these areas.

I've applied to 9 programs total (6 social psychology):

Boston College (Social)

Brown (Psychology)

Cornell (Social)

Emory (Cognitive and Developmental)

Harvard (Social)

Maryland (Social)

USC (Social)

Virginia (Social)

Yale (Developmental)

Undergraduate from average state school, 4.0 GPA, major in philosophy and psychology

MA from exceptional philosophy program, 3.96 GPA

GRE 570 verbal, 780 quantitative, 6.0 AW

GRE Psych 770

Included a writing sample that is looking the MJT's C-scores based on level of philosophical training and ethical views.

2 letters from philosophers

2 letters from psychologists

My letters from the philosophers are much stronger as they know me better. Luckily, several of my targets actually know one of my philosophy letter writers fairly well.

Anyone else willing to share interests, lists, stats, etc.?

[lewin]

Is anyone going to SPSP in January?

SPSP is good times.

[HyacinthMacaw]

Hi folks,

I'm applying to a total of 19 schools with social psych programs in intergroup relations. I'm not an exceptionally strong candidate, so I am hoping that by applying a large number of programs, I will have the good luck of admission to at least one. I did vet all programs for fit--my research interests in prejudice converge with one or more faculty at each program to which I'm applying.

I would recommend this site (also on gradcafe, incidentally) if you're interested in gaining a general idea of the timetables for each program for sending out interview requests, admission offers, and denials. It is at once terrifying and comforting that so many qualified people have been rejected--often for reasons that have nothing to do with merit and everything to do with the economic crunch.

Admissions decisions haven't even been sent (some apps aren't even due yet), but I'm already trying to avoid being so hard on myself. A word of unsolicited advice: Practice self-compassion during this process. Admissions can be very capricious (I am quoting the director of graduate programs at NYU).

Does anyone know how interviews work? Is it true that many schools don't even interview applicants, while some do, and others sell themselves by inviting to campus only applicants who have been admitted?

Among the more popular programs I'm applying to are Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Penn State, Northwestern, Columbia, and WUSTL. Anyone know how whether these programs interview people?

All the best, and may your hard work pay off!

[HyacinthMacaw]

Sorry--That is, I'm generally mortified of interviews, and it would be nice to know if I will have to worry about preparing for them for the schools I mentioned. It would be great if I've already given admissions committees all the information they need and so wouldn't need to interview.

Hi folks,

I'm applying to a total of 19 schools with social psych programs in intergroup relations. I'm not an exceptionally strong candidate, so I am hoping that by applying a large number of programs, I will have the good luck of admission to at least one. I did vet all programs for fit--my research interests in prejudice converge with one or more faculty at each program to which I'm applying.

I would recommend this site (also on gradcafe, incidentally) if you're interested in gaining a general idea of the timetables for each program for sending out interview requests, admission offers, and denials. It is at once terrifying and comforting that so many qualified people have been rejected--often for reasons that have nothing to do with merit and everything to do with the economic crunch.

Admissions decisions haven't even been sent (some apps aren't even due yet), but I'm already trying to avoid being so hard on myself. A word of unsolicited advice: Practice self-compassion during this process. Admissions can be very capricious (I am quoting the director of graduate programs at NYU).

Does anyone know how interviews work? Is it true that many schools don't even interview applicants, while some do, and others sell themselves by inviting to campus only applicants who have been admitted?

Among the more popular programs I'm applying to are Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Penn State, Northwestern, Columbia, and Rutgers. Anyone know how whether these programs interview people?

All the best, and may your hard work pay off!

[lafresca]

Hi all!

I have applied to 11 Social Psych Ph.D. programs, mostly focusing on prejudice and discrimination. Here's my list

Stanford

UCLA

UC Berkeley

Princeton

Harvard

Florida State

WUSTL

UC Irvine

UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Cruz

UMASS

Have gotten a call back for a phone interview from UCLA. Kind of nerve-wrecking. I did not expect to hear back so soon. I'm sure it's not typical though, so don't lose hope. I'm sure they are just trying to weed people out... ?

Has anyone else gotten interviews yet?

Much luck to everyone!

[A. sesquipedale]

congrats on the UCLA phone interview!!

[A. sesquipedale]

Sorry--That is, I'm generally mortified of interviews, and it would be nice to know if I will have to worry about preparing for them for the schools I mentioned. It would be great if I've already given admissions committees all the information they need and so wouldn't need to interview.

You are correct in that it really depends on the school and program. Usually the information is posted on the program's web page. Or, you can try the search in the admission results area of grad cafe as you've mentioned. Good luck!

[psychapplicant2011]

Wow! Not even January and you have already received a phone interview. Congrats. It sounds like you are off to a productive start thus far.

I am not really expecting any notification until late January at the earliest.

[LuckyCat]

Congrats, lafresca! UCLA has a great program so good luck with your interview!

[lewin]

On 12/19/2010 at 4:37 PM, isapr5 said:

Among the more popular programs I'm applying to are Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Penn State, Northwestern, Columbia, and WUSTL. Anyone know how whether these programs interview people?

All the best, and may your hard work pay off!

Harvard and WashU definitely do interviews. I don't know about the others. Some places to a brief phone interview, then invite for a campus visit. My school accepts people outright, then invites them for a campus visit.

[HyacinthMacaw]

Thanks for the info! I've also inferred from the gradcafe decisions list (and confirmed by reading another thread) that Yale accepts people only on the basis of their applications and then invites admits to a recruitment weekend.

On 12/21/2010 at 8:54 AM, lewin00 said:

Harvard and WashU definitely do interviews. I don't know about the others. Some places to a brief phone interview, then invite for a campus visit. My school accepts people outright, then invites them for a campus visit.

[moralresearcher]

I'

I'm here!

Social psych, particularly romantic relationships.

Is anyone going to SPSP in January?

I'm going. I have a poster to present at the last session. I applied to 10 PhD programs, focusing on moral decision making.

I just graduated from a state school. I have 3 posters at national conferences on my CV (1 past, 2 upcoming) and a poster from a school expo, a 3.86 GPA, and a 1310 GRE.

Edited December 22, 2010 by moralresearcher

[psychapplicant2011]

I'm going. I have a poster to present at the last session. I applied to 10 PhD programs, focusing on moral decision making.

I just graduated from a state school. I have 3 posters at national conferences on my CV (1 past, 2 upcoming) and a poster from a school expo, a 3.86 GPA, and a 1310 GRE.

Hi moralresearcher,

If you don't mind me asking, to what schools did you apply? Given some shared interests, I am assuming your list probably overlaps with my last quite a bit.

[moralresearcher]

On 12/23/2010 at 1:54 PM, psychapplicant2011 said:

Hi moralresearcher,

If you don't mind me asking, to what schools did you apply? Given some shared interests, I am assuming your list probably overlaps with my last quite a bit.

USC, Princeton, Northwestern, UIC, UC Irvine, WashU, SUNY Albany, FSU, Brown, and Cornell

[lewin]

Everyone finished with their applications and waiting now?

Just thought I'd point out that many Canadian universities have January deadlines. Anybody heading north? The funding climate for social psychology is often much better than in the States. Or, any Canadians already here?

Edited December 25, 2010 by lewin00

[A. sesquipedale]

Just thought I'd point out that many Canadian universities have January deadlines. Anybody heading north? The funding climate for social psychology is often much better than in the States. Or, any Canadians already here?

I applied to UBC, the only Canadian school on my list. I reside in the US and I've heard that funding for US students is sometimes a bit more difficult to come by than funding for national students, in the Canada system.

Edited December 25, 2010 by A. sesquipedale

[lewin]

I applied to UBC, the only Canadian school on my list. I reside in the US and I've heard that funding for US students is sometimes a bit more difficult to come by than funding for national students, in the Canada system.

That is probably true. I think the external, government funding that many students have (from SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR) is only available to permanent residents and citizens. If I remember right, UBC had some entrance scholarships too. At my school we increase the funding for international students to make up for the increased tuition that they pay, so that net income is the same as domestic students.

The biggest funding differences are at the faculty level. I hear it's really hard to get an NIMH grant in social psychology basic research. It's relatively easier to get a SSHRC. So partly what I meant earlier is that you're probably more likely to have an advisor who has a major grant and can pay for research, travel, etc.

Do you mind saying with whom you applied at UBC?

[A. sesquipedale]

That is probably true. I think the external, government funding that many students have (from SSHRC, NSERC, and CIHR) is only available to permanent residents and citizens. If I remember right, UBC had some entrance scholarships too. At my school we increase the funding for international students to make up for the increased tuition that they pay, so that net income is the same as domestic students.

The biggest funding differences are at the faculty level. I hear it's really hard to get an NIMH grant in social psychology basic research. It's relatively easier to get a SSHRC. So partly what I meant earlier is that you're probably more likely to have an advisor who has a major grant and can pay for research, travel, etc.

Do you mind saying with whom you applied at UBC?

Hi lewin,

I PMed you with answer to your question.

[SP_Hopeful]

Just checking in to find out if anyone else had heard about interviews at UCLA or USC? The waiting is killing me!!

[Athenasprodigy]

yes I'm here...

...Iv just finalised my list and am applying...am i going nuts or is it overwhelming?..this whole process I mean..

[psychapplicant2011]

Just checking in to find out if anyone else had heard about interviews at UCLA or USC? The waiting is killing me!!

I applied to USC and have not heard a peep.