My chances?

[Amerz]

Hi,

I've applied to 6 PhD programs (all but 1 are University of California), and since the waiting is stressing me out, I'm hoping you guys can let me know what you think my chances are :/

I applied for Social psych mostly, but applied for evolutionary psych at UCSB (my top choice).

GRE scores:

Q: 700

V: 720

A: 4.0 (don't know how that happened, have never gotten below an A on a paper in my life :-/. Okay, maybe the occasional B.. )

I've already been rejected by UCSD..

GPA: 3.72

Major GPA: 3.81

Went to UCD for undergrad.

Research experience is scattered:

8 months as an RA at a child abuse/parent child interaction therapy training center, entering data, reviewing case files, coding clinical interviews and training sessions, etc.

2.5 years as student assistant at gov't mental health agency, did some research with a psychologist (one of my recommenders) on mental health program trends, and did a quality improvement survey and report (published).

6 months as an RA in a cognitive psychology lab, entering data, etc. Lead professor wrote me a letter, really liked me - i attended all the lab meetings, got her advice on grad school, etc.

Well.. whaddya think?

[socihealth]

It looks like your GRE/GPA are good enough to get your application reviewed positively at most schools. I think once you have those qualifications it really comes down to your fit with the program. If your SOP and CV reflect an interest in their program and a match with their interests then you have a great chance. Some schools provide info about recent cohorts such as average UG GPA and GRE. This info can be a good guide to see how well your scores fit. Do you think that there is a match with your interests? Did you write a strong SOP? Do you have strong LORs? It seems to me that these are the most important pieces of the app. Best of luck to you!

[svh]

You're GRE (don't worry about your writing score) and GPA look good. Seems like you got good research experience, considering you've been published. Do you have research presentations (poster sessions, etc.)? UCD is UC Davis, right? Who's cognitive lab did you work in (just curious)? It also looks like you got two good letters from two good sources. How's your third? Overall, it looks like you should be able to get past the inital screening, so socihealth is right. I think it comes down your research interests and their fit with the faculty at your programs.

[Amerz]

Do you have research presentations (poster sessions, etc.)? UCD is UC Davis, right? Who's cognitive lab did you work in (just curious)? It also looks like you got two good letters from two good sources. How's your third? Overall, it looks like you should be able to get past the inital screening, so socihealth is right. I think it comes down your research interests and their fit with the faculty at your programs.

Thanks for the responses guys. I don't have research presentations/posters, unfortunately. UCD is UC Davis, and I worked with Dr. Debra Long (chair of the Psych dept.).

I think my letters are pretty good. I actually sat with the third writer while he wrote them and submitted them, and I think they're pretty decent. I'm just worried because my experience doesn't match my grad school interests - I had to support myself through college, so it was a matter of juggling paid work with internships, keeping up grades, etc..

Guess now it's just the waiting game.. fingers crossed.

[svh]

Thanks for the responses guys. I don't have research presentations/posters, unfortunately. UCD is UC Davis, and I worked with Dr. Debra Long (chair of the Psych dept.).

I think my letters are pretty good. I actually sat with the third writer while he wrote them and submitted them, and I think they're pretty decent. I'm just worried because my experience doesn't match my grad school interests - I had to support myself through college, so it was a matter of juggling paid work with internships, keeping up grades, etc..

Guess now it's just the waiting game.. fingers crossed.

I hope you mentioned that in your letter (your work circumstances). And I hope your letter writers talked about it, too.

[Amerz]

I hope you mentioned that in your letter (your work circumstances). And I hope your letter writers talked about it, too.

I did, and I know at least one of them did.