UCF's program

[I-O Prospects]

Hello all, this is my first post.

I was wondering if anyone had any insights into UCF's I-O (M.S.) program. Has anyone attended or been close to anyone that has?

Specifically:

How did you find the curriculum? Focused? Challenging? Did you have a life?

How was admissions competition? Your GRE? GPA? Other relevant experience?

Here's a little info about me:

I attended a mid-sized state school in Florida for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I graduated with just a 3.33 overall undergrad GPA, 3.8x Psychology GPA (60 hours).

I then completed 19 hours in the I-O Master's program at my school. I wasn't too thrilled with the curriculum, but loved the profs. I swapped over to another track and started taking general classes.

I bailed my second semester in the program with a GPA of 3.68 and went over to earn a M.S. Administration with a 3.8 overall grad GPA.

I think landed a sweet GA gig and enrolled in the MBA thinking this would be the way to go. I decided after my first semester in that this program wasn't for me...you can see a theme here.

I attribute it to a) being stuck at the same school, not meeting the faculty/program interviews, and not performing adequate time preparing myself on what really motivates me/research interests and aligning my focus with some of the professors. I'm really social with profs when it comes to random chatter...might be too social. I am really quiet in class.

My limiting factors are my GRE (1090) and research experience. I perform very well in classes, grade wise. Looking to change my lack of "sharing" in class.

TL;DR:

I'm interested in getting back into Psychology. I want a program that fits me well. Part of my leaving my original program was because I-O students were stuck taking "core" classes from the four main areas of psychology. I continually asked myself why I had to take developmental psychology, adv. cognitive psych, and cog. neuro as an I-O student. It's something I still don't agree with. Many students complained to faculty and they were not interested in changing it. My voice would just be another set of breaths that would be ignored; I bailed.

It looks like UCF's program is 100% focused. How were job prospects? How were internships? I am ultimately interested in a Ph.D but just in case I don't land a slot I would like to have experience in consulting or performing corp. functions such as t&d, test development, etc., so that I may land that job.

Out of all the Public I-O programs in FL, I like this one the most and am really only interested in UCF's.

How do you think I my chances are?

Stats:

GRE 1090 (640q, 450v) Didn't study. Should I retake under new GRE format?

GPA: 3.33 Cumulative undergrad, 3.8x last 60 hrs, 3.8 cumulative M.S. ***Will already have a master's help me out?***

Research: I did tons of directed studys and have nothing to show for it. My files are gone. However, I do have my name on a student presentation...last position though.

LOR's: No problem.

Internship: I *might* have one coming up, performing ALL sort of office functions.. some HR based functions. For a Nursing Agency I have worked for since Jan. 2008.

Thanks! and sorry for the long winded post.

Just found this board and really like it.

[iopsych]

I believe the only class that you will need to take that is not directly related to I/O is advanced social psychology. The people I know who were in the program really liked it and I do know a couple of masters students that made the transition into the PhD program after finishing. The only issue with that is even then only 10 credits transfer so you end up spending an extra 1.5 years in school.

The people I know do have lives. I can't speak for admissions standards as I didn't really ask them what their statistics were, but I would assume you would be competitive.

Like I said I know a couple of students: 2 moved over into the PhD program after finishing. 2-3 ended up working at the naval air warfare center training systems division (NAWCTSD), 1 got a job at IBM, 1 just interned at Deloitte this past summer and is expecting a job offer and a couple others have local human resources jobs (city, etc.). I only know of 1 person that is having trouble finding a job and that is because the person is not willing to relocate and this person is still employed just working for the university in a research role.

Hope this helps.

[I-O Prospects]

I believe the only class that you will need to take that is not directly related to I/O is advanced social psychology. The people I know who were in the program really liked it and I do know a couple of masters students that made the transition into the PhD program after finishing. The only issue with that is even then only 10 credits transfer so you end up spending an extra 1.5 years in school.

The people I know do have lives. I can't speak for admissions standards as I didn't really ask them what their statistics were, but I would assume you would be competitive.

Like I said I know a couple of students: 2 moved over into the PhD program after finishing. 2-3 ended up working at the naval air warfare center training systems division (NAWCTSD), 1 got a job at IBM, 1 just interned at Deloitte this past summer and is expecting a job offer and a couple others have local human resources jobs (city, etc.). I only know of 1 person that is having trouble finding a job and that is because the person is not willing to relocate and this person is still employed just working for the university in a research role.

Hope this helps.

Thank you. It does.

I guess I'm going to study and retake the GRE to get a little extra oomph in my application. Any experience with the new GRE? I've been out of the GRE loop for a couple years now.

[zpsych01]

I am in the UCF program now and I love it. All the prof's have been great so far and the director is very helpful and concerned for her students. I will admit at times it's a lot of work, but you will definitely have a life.

As far as admissions advice, I would probably try to take the GRE again. I'm not sure what the average is but from experience the second time around is much less stressful and people often score higher. Also, when you do your personal statement make sure you are very clear about why you left and I/O, and more importantly, why you know you want to be back in it.

Message me if you have any questions and good luck!

Edited October 11, 2011 by zpsych01

[ILuvPsych2013]

Would anyone be able to comment about the I/O Ph.D program?