Fall 2014 I/O PhD Applicants

[phatlilpanda]

Anyone still waiting to hear back from ODU or Albany? Those are the only two schools I haven't heard back from on anything. Just sent emails to the admissions departments, so I will post an update when I know more.

I got waitlisted at Albany also, do you know what # you are on the waitlist?

[roebuck1]

I got waitlisted at Albany also, do you know what # you are on the waitlist?

 

I have no idea. Dr. Roch said all she could tell me was that I was on the waitlist - I didn't want to pry. I asked her if I could check back in soon and she told me to email her again at the end of next week.

[phatlilpanda]

I have no idea. Dr. Roch said all she could tell me was that I was on the waitlist - I didn't want to pry. I asked her if I could check back in soon and she told me to email her again at the end of next week.

 

Interesting, Albany emailed me like a month after their application deadline to tell me I was wait listed. Keeping my fingers crossed since I got rejections from Wayne state, DePaul, and Penn state/FIU (assumed), and those were the only Ph.D. programs I ended up applying to. Still waiting to hear from SDSU (Masters), told me they'll have an answer by this week.

Edited March 24, 2014 by phatlilpanda

[roebuck1]

Interesting, Albany emailed me like a month after their application deadline to tell me I was wait listed. Keeping my fingers crossed since I got rejections from Wayne state, DePaul, and Penn state/FIU (assumed), and those were the only Ph.D. programs I ended up applying to. Still waiting to hear from SDSU (Masters), told me they'll have an answer by this week.

 

Yeah, that is interesting. They didn't tell me anything until I reached out to them. My guess would be that that means you're higher on the list than I am. Best of luck to you! Are you open to the Master's or are you dead set on a Ph.D.?

[leSpyFox]

Hey everyone! So I'm struggling between two choices... Saint Louis University and UConn. I wanted to reach out and see what other I/O people have heard about these two programs before I say anything to influence opinions

[IOSearching]

UConn, from what I know, is perceived as a much better program.  But location may be an issue for some.  I had really considered applying to UConn, I really liked the people there, but in the end, my significant other nixed moving to CT (still a bit bummed about that one).

[phatlilpanda]

Yeah, that is interesting. They didn't tell me anything until I reached out to them. My guess would be that that means you're higher on the list than I am. Best of luck to you! Are you open to the Master's or are you dead set on a Ph.D.?

Pretty set on the Ph.D. The only reason why I applied to SDSU for their Masters program is because of its location. I've lived in Cali for 8 years and am not looking forward to moving out of state haha but I'd rather move out of state for a funded program than have to take out a bunch of loans to pay for grad school.

[roebuck1]

Not sure if anyone on here was on the FIT waitlist, but a spot just opened up 

[BeingThere]

I have decided to accept my offer from University of Minnesota.      After giving it considerable thought, it really was my first choice and there was no other offer I could have gotten that would have made me change my mind. 

 

I've let Michigan State, Akron, and Penn State know to take me off their waitlists, so if anyone else is on those waitlists, they just got a little bit shorter!

Edited March 25, 2014 by Bren2014

[Munashi]

I have decided to accept my offer from University of Minnesota.      After giving it considerable thought, it really was my first choice and there was no other offer I could have gotten that would have made me change my mind. 

 

I've let Michigan State, Akron, and Penn State know to take me off their waitlists, so if anyone else is on those waitlists, they just got a little bit shorter!

 

Congratulations, Bren!  That's wonderful news.  Minnesota, as you know, is a top notch program and they are lucky to have you.

[BeingThere]

Congratulations, Bren!  That's wonderful news.  Minnesota, as you know, is a top notch program and they are lucky to have you.

 

Thanks, Munashi, and congratulations to you as well!  Penn State has an amazing program!  I hope to run into you at some conferences in the future!

[Melissa Jo]

Just got an email for IIT. They are offering me a half tuition scholarship for my first year and $2k for a work study program. Still waiting to hear about funding from Auburn. 

[KW58D]

Just got an email for IIT. They are offering me a half tuition scholarship for my first year and $2k for a work study program. Still waiting to hear about funding from Auburn. 

 

Are there funding options after the first year? Some funding is better than none, but that year will go fast. Don't want to get buried in loans.

[Melissa Jo]

Are there funding options after the first year? Some funding is better than none, but that year will go fast. Don't want to get buried in loans.

That is exactly my concern. IIT offers TAships starting the second year but that only comes with partial tuition remission and a stipend(but they don't say how much), and when you factor in that its in Chicago it could get quite pricey after 5 years. My POI at Auburn isn't officially taking anyone because he doesn't have funding to offer but he offered me unfunded admission and found some GAships in other departments I can apply for, but if I don't get those out of state tuition will kill me. FIT is only offering me partial tuition remission, and I still have an interview with a masters program next week (UTA). 

 

This is my second year applying (only got 3 waitlists last year), so I am glad I am getting accepted this year. I am envious of all those who have been offered full funding but I am glad I at least have some options at the same time. This waiting in stressful now that its coming down to the deadline. 

[dannydevitofan]

Congrats everybody! As corny as it sounds, I think we should all be so proud of ourselves! These acceptances are the first of many rewards for our hard work. Think about it - even though we might be complaining over not getting our first choice, being waitlisted, or not receiving funding, very few people can actually say "I got accepted to a PhD program"- So high five y'all!

 

Melissa Jo, if I were in your situation, I would probably veer away from IIT. Auburn and FIT seem to be better funded programs, which means more potential for financial assistance (possibly later on?) and overall better programs (at least that's what I've gathered). Also, you'll probably find Auburn and FIT will undoubtedly have far more affordable living expenses than Chicago. 

 

Would being accepted to the master's program at UTA sway your decision at all? I can't seem to figure out if a PhD is necessary to make money in I/O. 

I'm currently torn between the Master's program at NYU (no funding) and the Organizational Science PhD program at UNC Charlotte (full funding). I know, I know, it sounds like an obvious choice to go where there's full funding - but I'm starting to have qualms about enrolling in a PhD program so soon after undergrad. I'm young for my age, haven't spent a penny on undergrad, and am lucky enough to have money saved for tuition and living in NYC.

Some professionals have told me that the only reason to get a PhD would be to teach or conduct research (neither of which seem attractive to me after graduate school). Don't get me wrong - I love research, but it'll probably lose its zest after ~4/5 years.

 

Phew, I get exhausted thinking about this!

[Munashi]

I can't seem to figure out if a PhD is necessary to make money in I/O. 

 

Some professionals have told me that the only reason to get a PhD would be to teach or conduct research (neither of which seem attractive to me after graduate school). Don't get me wrong - I love research, but it'll probably lose its zest after ~4/5 years.

 

 

I disagree.  I don't think that a PhD is necessary to make good money in I/O, but I wouldn't say the only reason to get a PhD is to teach.  I'm entering my program with the intent to go applied at the end of the road (at this point, I don't intend to enter academia).  But having the PhD makes you eligible for higher paying positions, even in the applied world.

 

Is the PhD route for everyone?  No.  Is it required to have a good salary?  Certainly not.  On average, a PhD holder will have a higher starting salary than someone with a terminal MS, but that doesn't automatically make the extra time worth it for everyone.  Ultimately, it's your decision!  I will also note that the PhD program you are looking at is in Organizational Science, not I/O Psych which I do think makes a difference and may limit your ability to go applied after finishing school.

 

Edited to fix a typo or two...

Edited March 26, 2014 by Munashi

[Shushu]

Melissa Jo, did you have to email IIT for them to tell you about the 2k work study and half tuition?

I was accepted there too and didn't get any email.

From what I gather, there is competition for the TA and ga positions at IIT but what does that really mean??

[tanneraustin]

Congrats everybody! As corny as it sounds, I think we should all be so proud of ourselves! These acceptances are the first of many rewards for our hard work. Think about it - even though we might be complaining over not getting our first choice, being waitlisted, or not receiving funding, very few people can actually say "I got accepted to a PhD program"- So high five y'all!

 

Melissa Jo, if I were in your situation, I would probably veer away from IIT. Auburn and FIT seem to be better funded programs, which means more potential for financial assistance (possibly later on?) and overall better programs (at least that's what I've gathered). Also, you'll probably find Auburn and FIT will undoubtedly have far more affordable living expenses than Chicago. 

 

Would being accepted to the master's program at UTA sway your decision at all? I can't seem to figure out if a PhD is necessary to make money in I/O. 

I'm currently torn between the Master's program at NYU (no funding) and the Organizational Science PhD program at UNC Charlotte (full funding). I know, I know, it sounds like an obvious choice to go where there's full funding - but I'm starting to have qualms about enrolling in a PhD program so soon after undergrad. I'm young for my age, haven't spent a penny on undergrad, and am lucky enough to have money saved for tuition and living in NYC.

Some professionals have told me that the only reason to get a PhD would be to teach or conduct research (neither of which seem attractive to me after graduate school). Don't get me wrong - I love research, but it'll probably lose its zest after ~4/5 years.

 

Phew, I get exhausted thinking about this!

 

I'm not sure about the advice you were given about PhD programs only being used for academic or teaching positions. While a Master's in IO will get you plenty of job opportunities in applied settings, I've been told by several faculty and students that a PhD in IO is preferable for applied settings because it gives a leg up over Master's students for positions of leadership in consulting firms, human resources departments, etc. Your pay will be higher, you'll have more status at the onset of getting a job, and you'll have more knowledge to help organizations. I'm also not confident that two years of training in IO would be enough to prepare me to truly be successful without significant job experience first. 

[roebuck1]

I'm not sure about the advice you were given about PhD programs only being used for academic or teaching positions. While a Master's in IO will get you plenty of job opportunities in applied settings, I've been told by several faculty and students that a PhD in IO is preferable for applied settings because it gives a leg up over Master's students for positions of leadership in consulting firms, human resources departments, etc. Your pay will be higher, you'll have more status at the onset of getting a job, and you'll have more knowledge to help organizations. I'm also not confident that two years of training in IO would be enough to prepare me to truly be successful without significant job experience first. 

 

I actually work at a consulting firm with Ph.D. and Master's level I/Os. The situation here is unique in that our Ph.D. employees are actually encouraged to put out papers (along with all of the applied work they do). Hence, they almost have to keep current with the research and are actually putting their statistics knowledge to good use. Not many firms allow for this to happen, but there are some. The Master's level I/Os here, on the other hand, do little to no research and hardly ever help with analyses (scholar or practitioner based). In other consulting firms, Ph.D.s work almost entirely with correlation analyses and hardly have to go beyond regressions. In those same firms, Master's level I/Os might manage a project or consult (depending on their experience or position), but I can almost guarantee that they aren't doing much research. Hope this helps...

[dannydevitofan]

Not to be picky, but... wot?

young for my grade*** 

[phatlilpanda]

So it looks like Penn State sent out its first wave of rejection letters today judging from the results search. I'm slightly confused since I haven't received a rejection letter yet, I was sure I'd be one of the first ones rejected but it looks like there might still be some hope or they just haven't gotten around to emailing mine yet haha.

Edited March 26, 2014 by phatlilpanda

[Melissa Jo]

Congrats everybody! As corny as it sounds, I think we should all be so proud of ourselves! These acceptances are the first of many rewards for our hard work. Think about it - even though we might be complaining over not getting our first choice, being waitlisted, or not receiving funding, very few people can actually say "I got accepted to a PhD program"- So high five y'all!

 

Melissa Jo, if I were in your situation, I would probably veer away from IIT. Auburn and FIT seem to be better funded programs, which means more potential for financial assistance (possibly later on?) and overall better programs (at least that's what I've gathered). Also, you'll probably find Auburn and FIT will undoubtedly have far more affordable living expenses than Chicago. 

 

Would being accepted to the master's program at UTA sway your decision at all? I can't seem to figure out if a PhD is necessary to make money in I/O. 

I'm currently torn between the Master's program at NYU (no funding) and the Organizational Science PhD program at UNC Charlotte (full funding). I know, I know, it sounds like an obvious choice to go where there's full funding - but I'm starting to have qualms about enrolling in a PhD program so soon after undergrad. I'm young for my age, haven't spent a penny on undergrad, and am lucky enough to have money saved for tuition and living in NYC.

Some professionals have told me that the only reason to get a PhD would be to teach or conduct research (neither of which seem attractive to me after graduate school). Don't get me wrong - I love research, but it'll probably lose its zest after ~4/5 years.

 

Phew, I get exhausted thinking about this!

I am leaning more and more away from IIT, it just doesn't seem financially feasible for me. Then the choice is Auburn (more funding options, more recognized name) and FIT (expensive with limited funding but it has an International concentration).  Getting accepted into the masters program may sway my decision depending on if they offer any funding and how they answer some of the questions I am planning to ask. I plan to ultimately get a PhD but going to a masters program first could help boost my application and get me into a fully funded program for my PhD. There is always a gamble with things like that though because you can never guarantee anything. 

 

As for you situation, where do you feel like the "fit" is better? An unfunded masters could be worth it if you feel like the fit is better there. It would also allow you to test the waters, so to speak, and see if you would like to continue on after it and get a PhD. I would imagine going to an unfunded program in New York would cost a pretty penny though. 

 

If worst comes to worst, I say flip a coin. It doesn't matter what side it lands on because when its in the air youll know what you are hoping it will be and thats the choice you should make because thats where you will be happy

[Melissa Jo]

Melissa Jo, did you have to email IIT for them to tell you about the 2k work study and half tuition?

I was accepted there too and didn't get any email.

From what I gather, there is competition for the TA and ga positions at IIT but what does that really mean??

I got a letter in the mail (snail mail) on friday about the work study and what loans I am eligible for. I emailed them when I was first accepted about funding and got no reply, but randomly got an email from Dr. Ayman yesterday informing me that I am one of the recipients of the half tuition scholarship. The letter did stress that they are not a funded program and are unable to fully cover the costs of attending. 

 

After being accepted I searched through all the old I/O threads on this site. A few said that IIT uses the first year as a weed out year. They accept more students than they plan to have continue on to year two. No clue how much truth there is to that but it does seem rather disheartening. I know all PhD programs are going to be competitive in some aspects, but I feel like I thrive in environments that are more collaborative in nature. When everyone is bouncing ideas off one another it tends to give me the fresh perspective I need to make a good idea better. Their website also lists that TAships also come with tuition remission and a stipend but it doesn't say how much you can expect either of those to be. 

[Shushu]

The seem very hesitant to detail stipend or assistantships information. How do you, or anyone, think they proceed with the "weeding out"?

[tanneraustin]

The seem very hesitant to detail stipend or assistantships information. How do you, or anyone, think they proceed with the "weeding out"?

My guess would be the use of some sort of curve for course grades. If below a B- is failing like in many programs, they might assign failing grades to a certain number of people based on how well they do relative to other students, perhaps regardless of how well they do objectively.