What we can do better...

[sing something]

When I first started visiting the grad cafe I considered it an unhealthy indulgence. It made me even more obsessive and spastic than I already was. Today, I view it quite differently. The forums on this site, as well as the people I've chatted with through PM, have provided me with a much better idea of what I should be aspiring toward. I have gained a better idea of the experiences and knowledge held by my competitors and colleagues, and this has helped me to improve myself, my research, and my applications. Unfortunately, I discovered all of this after I submitted all of my applications. Still, I am happy to have an idea of what I can do to better prepare for grad school, or for another round of applications if necessary (knock on wood). I thought everyone might benefit from discussing their plans for improving between now and grad school or now and next year's application cycle.

As for myself:

-I want to focus more on my hard sciences and statistics background. I am taking an advanced bio course, a chem course, and an advanced stats course this semester.

-I need to read more literature in my field. I don't feel that I'm behind on this necessarily, but I could always read more.

-I need more relevant lab experience. No one at my school does research in my field. I need to make it a priority to seek out this experience elsewhere.

-my SOP is a mess. If I have to reapply next year, I will focus way more on my research and way less on everything else.

What about you guys? (I swear this is way more cathartic than it might seem)

[firstsight]

+1 on SOP... you could literally see an evolution of my SOPs, from my early deadline apps (where I felt the need to justify why I should even be considered), through my later-deadline apps (where things were balanced more or less evenly) to my single last remaining application which will be put in the mail tomorrow, where the SOP is basically a focused proposal of research with justifications woven in.

 

I also ran into the issue of little to no relevant research being offered at my current location. Luckily, we're moving out of this area once my degree is finished (so over the summer), and even if I receive a season of rejections, we'll be moving to an area where I should hopefully be able to volunteer at a lab to get more applicable research experience. I toyed with the idea of going back to school for a second degree in biology (or specifically EEB - some of my research interests are informed by an evolutionary perspective), or focus on picking up a programming language.

 

I also want to expand my stats knowledge. My sister in law is a tenured professor of biostatistics at an Ivy, so if a move heads anywhere towards my brother's physical direction, I may shamelessly trade upon that connection to volunteer with a stats group  over the next year. We'll see, I suppose. I may just do the classic dignity-injured cat move and walk away from it all. XD

[DarwinAG]

When I first started visiting the grad cafe I considered it an unhealthy indulgence. It made me even more obsessive and spastic than I already was. Today, I view it quite differently. The forums on this site, as well as the people I've chatted with through PM, have provided me with a much better idea of what I should be aspiring toward. I have gained a better idea of the experiences and knowledge held by my competitors and colleagues, and this has helped me to improve myself, my research, and my applications. Unfortunately, I discovered all of this after I submitted all of my applications. Still, I am happy to have an idea of what I can do to better prepare for grad school, or for another round of applications if necessary (knock on wood). I thought everyone might benefit from discussing their plans for improving between now and grad school or now and next year's application cycle.

That is a great attitude to have. Kudos. I would certainly like to alter many things about my application packet. But you kinda just do the best with what you have. Here are some things I would like to improve upon:

 

1. Definitely know the literature better than I do now. Most of the POIs I have spoken to are very understanding in that they believe you shouldn't know the literature like a first or second year graduate student. But I certainly think it would have been to my advantage to have an intimate knowledge of the literature, the current issues, and future direction of the field. It would be easier to propose studies that way. I am still able to propose studies, but it requires more effort on my part especially since I am unfamiliar with frequently used paradigms let alone those that are upcoming.

 

2. I would have spent more time studying and preparing for the general and subject GREs. It seems to be more important than I anticipated.

 

3. I would start projects that are connected to my POIs interest. Although interstingly enough, this has not been much of a barrier. The POIs I have spoken too are much more concerned that you can actually just conduct research even if it is not in the field you are applying for.

 

4. I definitely want to understand more statistics and research methodology. I'd like to do more analysis than just mixed factorial or basic regression.

 

5. Since I want to take an interdisciplinary approach in my research, I definitely want to have a better understanding of psychophysiology and neuroscience.

[Quant_Liz_Lemon]

1) I also wish I knew more of the literature. I came to psychology very recently and this has been a severe weakness to my application.

 

2) I wish I had taken the GRE again. My scores were good, but not great. Given that I'm going into quant, I should have retaken it because my verbal % was higher than my quant %.

 

3) I wish I had taken more classes on personality.

 

4) I wish that my economics major was a math major. We did a ton of math in econ, but not everyone knows that.

[caitlinalobdell]

1. Retake GREs (Score in at least 80th %iles)

2. Take the Psychology GRE Subtest

3. Take a graduate level statistics class

4. Seek out more publication opportunities at work.

5. Read more literature in my field. I read a crap ton of articles for work, but not as many as I should for my specific interests.

6. Volunteer at a local organization that does outreach for homeless youth. Been trying to volunteer here forever and not getting into grad school would be the motivation I need, I think.

[BeingThere]

This is such valuable information.  As someone who will be applying next year, I am taking to heart the comments in this thread.  This site was recommended to me by a grad student last year and I'm so grateful I learned about its existence while I have time to put some great suggestions into action.

 

I hope you all don't stop visiting and posting when you're in grad school next year!

[yhat]

3. Take a graduate level statistics class

 

I think people underestimate the power of this. Not necessarily a statistics class, but any field relevant graduate class. Doing good in graduate classes is another piece of evidence that YOU are able to succeed in graduate school. One has to remember that the GRE is used as a testing instrument in order to predict graduate success. Taking several graduate classes, even as an undergrad, would be a very strong predictor of graduate success (or at least in my opinion, which is solely based on its face validity). Even if this is not the case, it provides one with many opportunities. In my experience, graduate classes tend to be smaller, more intimate and afford one with opportunities for research and even a letter of recommendation (or at least if you work with the professor a lot outside of class). Even though I cannot speak for the admissions, I am basing this on my personal experience after taking several graduate classes throughout my junior and senior year.

 

Edit: I might add, this could be completely different for other programs and only basing it on my experience with quantitative psychology. 

Edited January 10, 2013 by yhat

[sing something]

How were you able to take graduate level classes? Did your undergrad simply allow this through regular registration or...?

[mewtoo]

How were you able to take graduate level classes? Did your undergrad simply allow this through regular registration or...?

Some schools have overlap programs where you can take a graduate class while still in undergrad. I'm taking one this coming semester as part of an overlap program. After I applied I was able to sign up for the class just like my undergrad ones. You can always either ask the graduate school or ask the graduate coordinator in the department that you want to take the classes from.

[DarwinAG]

How were you able to take graduate level classes? Did your undergrad simply allow this through regular registration or...?

If you have a good relationship with the department and the professors, they sometimes allow you to sit in. I sat in an advanced statistics class and a seminar on positive psychology.

 

It won't go on my record, but I learned a lot and I think one of my letter writers mentioned it.

[yhat]

How were you able to take graduate level classes? Did your undergrad simply allow this through regular registration or...?

 

I started out by getting a recommendation from a professor and the professor teaching the class gave me an override to take the class for credit (by contacting admissions). From my understanding it counts just as any elective would credit wise. I'm sure not all schools are the same and other schools may have more restricted access to graduate courses than others (I know I was considered the bottom rung of the ladder as to availability). That would be more of an issue with your specific school. But once I took one graduate course and received an 'A' the others were a lot easier to get into.

 

Of course my program, quantitative psychology, is a bit of a special case compared to most programs in psychology. Most institutions do not offer coursework in it at the undergraduate level in psych departments (besides the basic intro stats and research methods). Therefore, unless you go into the math/stats department or take graduate courses, you obtain little experience or knowledge of the field. That being said, most programs that you apply to are an application to the program, not a specific professor or research interest. Usually, you develop your research interest within your first year or two after you get a core curriculum. So as I said in my EDIT, my experience may not be representative of psychology as a whole, but I feel it does not hurt and it is a way to make your application stand out above others. As my I/O psych professor put it, a resume's purpose is to get you an interview. This can easily be extended to an application as well. As a final note, taking graduate courses also allow you to judge if this is what you want with your life by providing you personal experience into what is expected of you and by affording you an avenue to meet graduate students (who can provide insight into what it is like to be one).

[Nausicaa]

1. I would have made sure to tailor my SOP's more directly to my POI's research interests. I did that for two of them, and for the other two I basically used the first two and edited them to relate better to the different school. I already know I'm not getting into one of my schools because of that (with the the other, I had a great conversation with my POI so hopefully that will buffer any ill-effects).

 

And when I say "tailor," I don't mean "I'm really interested in the relations between cognitive and affective empathy. Since Dr. X does emotion research, I think I'll be a great fit in his lab."

 

I mean, "I was particularly intrigued on Dr. X's recent study about the use of non-stereotypical information in emotional accuracy judgments; I would be interested in applying his findings to the realm of inter-group judgments, as XYZ relevant theory suggests a similar outcome."

 

2. I would take drastic measures to not procrastinate. One main reason I did the above was because I waited until 3 days before the due date to START on those SOP's. If I do get accepted to a program, this is going to be my biggest issue.

 

3. I would contact ALL my POI's with specific questions about their research (again, did this for only two of my POI's).

 

4. I would make sure not to misspell anything in my criminal history statement (*cringe*)

 

5. I would use the ETS free software to study for the GRE (and take it again). Seriously guys, don't use the Kaplan questions... they're way too easy.

 

6. I would save money to apply to schools instead of being an idiot and thinking my school would give me a grant (even when they said they would... grr)

 

Can't think of anything else... be more charming maybe?

[Quant_Liz_Lemon]

I didn't even ask if I could take it... I just signed up and then showed up. I guess it helped that most of the psychology faculty think I'm a grad student. Who am I to correct them?

But seriously, take stats classes. Mind you, I'm in quant, so I'm biased. However, some programs let you transfer in courses in or test out. Odds are that of all my grad classes, quant 1 will be the only thing I'm allowed to skip. And even this depends on the program.