Starting to second guess myself on something. Thoughts?

[Tolman's Rat]

I am applying to just three schools and I want to look at very similar problems across all three. I am interested in learning and decision making - how do we gather information about the world, organizing abstract hierarchies from a mess of incoming data. I'm interested in this topic from multiple perspectives though. Proximally, what are the processes that organize what we learn about the environment. Distally, what are the developmental factors that influence gradations in our ability to learn and organize incoming information?

My POIs are mostly in cognition, but their grad students often collaborate with faculty in developmental. Most of my own coursework comes in development, I don't have many cognitive courses, but since my POIs are in cognition, I have mostly applied to cognitive areas as my primary area of interest.

Is there any chance that this will be viewed as a problem? I mean, I know that my interests are pretty narrow. I just understand the importance of an eclectic approach. I've tried to make this clear in my SOP, but I'm worried that I'll be viewed as having lack of direction.

As you can tell, the waiting process is driving me insane Your thoughts are welcome.

[DarwinAG]

I obviously cannot speak for adcoms, but I think from the way you framed your training, it should be seen as something advantageous. You are approching this area of research from a different perspective, and inasmuch as that allows a unique viewpoint, I think it helps or at the very least does not harm your application packet.

I would not view it as a lack of direction.

[+Whiskey]

I'm just a lowly applicant too, but for what it's worth, my sense is that your first and last statements are pretty much the whole story here: You're starting to second guess yourself because the wait is freaking you out. The way you describe your interests and how you progressed from developmental coursework to applying to specific programs makes sense the way you sum it up here, and your stated interests don't seem so broad that you might lack direction or so narrow that you're likely inflexible. I'm sure you laid this out in more detail in your statements. You mention that you have taken some cognitive courses, and there can be quite a lot of overlap between areas anyway. This doesn't seem like a problem at all.

[lewin]

A bigger problem is that you're applying to only three programs, all of which look very competitive. So if you don't get in, it might be because of that--not your research background/interests.

[Tolman's Rat]

Thanks everyone. For myself, I know that it's not a lack of direction, just an appreciation for the complexity of topics in psychology. I know I'm driving myself crazy, I just need some reassurance at times.

lewin - I know, I've heard this one several times, but it's my first go around and I know where I want to be. The programs to which I am applying, and my POIs, are perfect fits and I'm fully prepared to keep trying until I get in. It's not just about going to grad school and getting my PhD, it's about doing research that I'm passionate about and being in a place that I will be happy for the foreseeable future.

Edited December 18, 2012 by Tolman's Rat

[lewin]

Perfect! Sorry, didn't mean to be a broken record. Applying narrowly is, of course, perfectly fine if you're aware of the downsides, which it seems you are!