Finished first application

[Tolman's Rat]

Ahhhh that feels good.

Just submitted my first ever graduate school application, to the Stanford PhD program in Psychology.

I feel pretty good about it. My quant GRE score sucked, but verbal and AW were very good, and though that part of my application might be below average, I think the rest of my application is stellar and should make up for it. Not saying I'll get in, it's a very competitive program, but I feel good about what I've put out. My GPA (esp major GPA) is extremely good in my estimation, my letters are very strong and I have one from a very influential figure in my field. I think my statement is pretty good. I was pretty specific about my research interests without limiting myself and proposed a preliminary research direction (not a very specific project, but something to build on that demonstrates I can take my research interests and apply them to potential research in the field).

Use this thread to discuss how great it feels to get that first monkey off your back and perhaps how you feel about your prospects.

Berkeley, UCSD, here we go!

Edited November 21, 2012 by Tolman's Rat

[kaister]

Yes, I just finished my first application too! It makes me want to get through all of them ASAP so I can RELAX!

[Tolman's Rat]

Feels good, doesn't it? I'm glad but still feel like I'm just getting started...this app was probably the worst fit of my 4 choices, so although I put a ton of work into it, I want to engage even more in my next few (SOPs are almost done, just some tailoring, which is where the more intellectual side of things comes in - i.e., tying up more specific research interests)

I made a bit of a gaffe though - I sent a note out to a POI after submitting my app, just to keep him informed on my interests and to further engage him in discussion. One of my recommenders said they knew him and that they were both from Montreal, so I mentioned this in my e-mail as an extension of friendliness or mutual interest or whatever. Of course, AFTER sending out the e-mail, I realize that there are two researchers, both interested in cognition and language, in psychology departments, named Michael Frank, and it was the other one - it seems - who is from Montreal. I quickly messaged back and said that my recommender must have gotten the two of them confused and that I hope it doesn't reflect poorly on me...aghhh

[Tolman's Rat]

So...his response to my gaffe: is this good, bad, or totally neutral?

Hi Charles,

Great, thanks for thinking through the idea. Perhaps we'll get a chance to talk about this more in depth at the interview stage.

Mike

[kaister]

I wouldn't worry too much. Mistakes happen, and its not really pertaining to your application or your credentials.