Gepetto13 Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Well this is my second time applying. And it's my first year off and my mentor from undergrad really did all he could to make me a better candidate and I still fell flat on my face. I think he will be mad at me. Also, this is my second SPSP (and my 13th poster). I just don't know what to do differently. I'm really working non stop on psych stuff and putting all my energy into it and I am still a horrible candidate. 13 posters? That's a lot. A publication would obviously help, though you may be applying to programs where the research fit isn't that great? Do you have anyone on the "inside" somewhere? A friend? A friend of your advisor?
yellowmint Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Well this is my second time applying. And it's my first year off and my mentor from undergrad really did all he could to make me a better candidate and I still fell flat on my face. I think he will be mad at me. Also, this is my second SPSP (and my 13th poster). I just don't know what to do differently. I'm really working non stop on psych stuff and putting all my energy into it and I am still a horrible candidate. Do you think one of your LORs might be a problem? I know it seems like a silly question....Otherwise, fit....also why not apply to some R2 schools?
Gepetto13 Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Do you think one of your LORs might be a problem? I know it seems like a silly question....Otherwise, fit....also why not apply to some R2 schools? Didn't think of that...that's actually not a silly question. One of them may not be writing the strongest letter (while still not a bad one).
Much Anxious Very Waiting Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Why do you think you're a 'horrible candidate' ? Hate to ask - but are you happy with your scores? What about personal statements?
yellowmint Posted February 12, 2015 Posted February 12, 2015 I still think one thing to consider is that you're only applying to very competitive tier 1 research schools - perhaps there's improvement to be had with scores, LORs, or whatever, but I think you should consider applying to a few tier 2 research schools next time. Gepetto13 1
coffeeaddict29 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 13 posters? That's a lot. A publication would obviously help, though you may be applying to programs where the research fit isn't that great? Do you have anyone on the "inside" somewhere? A friend? A friend of your advisor? I have 1 that was just accepted (when I applied it was under review), and 2 more in prep. And yes, at half of the places that I applied, I applied to friends of my mentors. Do you think one of your LORs might be a problem? I know it seems like a silly question....Otherwise, fit....also why not apply to some R2 schools? Well I think one of my letters was good but not great. And I only want R1s because I want to become a prof at an R1. Didn't think of that...that's actually not a silly question. One of them may not be writing the strongest letter (while still not a bad one). Yeah.. I'm thinking that could be the case too. Why do you think you're a 'horrible candidate' ? Hate to ask - but are you happy with your scores? What about personal statements? I was happy with my apps but the lack of in person interviews is telling. (however, today I heard back from ASU with some good news so at least there's that) I still think one thing to consider is that you're only applying to very competitive tier 1 research schools - perhaps there's improvement to be had with scores, LORs, or whatever, but I think you should consider applying to a few tier 2 research schools next time. I'd rather take a number of years off than apply to a tier 2 school... Not to be vain, or anything but to make it in academia, I was told, you need to be at an R1.
coffeeaddict29 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 I just heard from my POI from ASU today. She scheduled me for a phone interview and an in person meeting at SPSP. She also said that due to funding issues, she doesn't know if she will be taking students for next fall though. While this is all informal, I figured I should share the news in case that it is useful to some. Gepetto13 1
Gepetto13 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 I just heard from my POI from ASU today. She scheduled me for a phone interview and an in person meeting at SPSP. She also said that due to funding issues, she doesn't know if she will be taking students for next fall though. While this is all informal, I figured I should share the news in case that it is useful to some. Well that's better than nothing! Worse comes to worse and you have to apply next time, your POI will remember you.
VulpesZerda Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 I've got to ask, has anyone heard anything about/from UConn Social? They're actually the only program on my list that hasn't shown up in the results search (those assumed rejections) or made contact with me, plus they're toward the top of my list so I'm extra anxious.
Mastershaakti Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Same here. I've contacted a UConn POI directly about my app status weeks ago and no reply. They must be really busy reviewing and sorting apps. They did extend the social submission deadline from Dec 1 to Dec 15, so... Maybe just behind and playing catch-up?
mb712 Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 I haven't heard a peep from any schools that had a December 1st deadline. On the other hand, I've already been accepted by schools with January 15th and February 1st deadlines. TXInstrument11 and VulpesZerda 2
VulpesZerda Posted February 13, 2015 Posted February 13, 2015 Same here. I've contacted a UConn POI directly about my app status weeks ago and no reply. They must be really busy reviewing and sorting apps. They did extend the social submission deadline from Dec 1 to Dec 15, so... Maybe just behind and playing catch-up? Must be - thanks for your reply! From my obsessive searching through threads and results, it looks like they're a little inconsistent on timeline, and don't seem to answer many inquiries so you're not the only one!
avidman Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Regarding UConn, I know that they already sent interviews for their cognitive neuroscience area, but no idea about social.
coffeeaddict29 Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Boulder reject email today. On a Saturday?? Ouch! Sending you hugs!
mb712 Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 (edited) Boulder reject email today. I'm sorry. This created a moment of panic for me. I haven't heard from them so I checked my status and it still says "The admissions committee is reviewing your file." Womp @ uncertainty. Edited February 14, 2015 by mb712
yellowmint Posted February 14, 2015 Posted February 14, 2015 Any word from Michigan state? Haven't heard a thing either. Based on my email to my POI I think they were more limited on funding this year.
psych face Posted February 15, 2015 Posted February 15, 2015 I'm sorry. This created a moment of panic for me. I haven't heard from them so I checked my status and it still says "The admissions committee is reviewing your file." Womp @ uncertainty. It looked a bit like a form letter, maybe different POI's are going out at different times.
coffeeaddict29 Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 I saw on the results page that someone got a rejection letter from Oregon. I haven't gotten mine yet (I'd like to get it over with, and just get it already) and my status online still shows as pending (and no, I wasn't invited to the interview so there is no hope to be on a waitlist). Is anyone else in the same boat? _intrigue_ 1
TXInstrument11 Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) I saw on the results page that someone got a rejection letter from Oregon. I haven't gotten mine yet (I'd like to get it over with, and just get it already) and my status online still shows as pending (and no, I wasn't invited to the interview so there is no hope to be on a waitlist). Is anyone else in the same boat? I'm in the exact same boat. Maybe there is an unofficial waitlist hiding around there somewhere? Or maybe Oregon is just cruel. For now, I'm going to still consider it to be a rejection. Edited February 18, 2015 by TXInstrument11 coffeeaddict29 1
coffeeaddict29 Posted February 18, 2015 Posted February 18, 2015 (edited) I got rejected too this morning! One more rejection letter for the pile of rejection letters that I'm planning to burn in a nice bonfire by the beach. Or tear into little pieces. Or make a dartboard. Haven't fully decided yet what I'm going to do with them. (I'm joking) They may have been a bit behind with sending them-- you know since they needed to send 545 of them. Edited February 18, 2015 by coffeeaddict29
TXInstrument11 Posted February 19, 2015 Posted February 19, 2015 (edited) I got rejected too this morning! One more rejection letter for the pile of rejection letters that I'm planning to burn in a nice bonfire by the beach. Or tear into little pieces. Or make a dartboard. Haven't fully decided yet what I'm going to do with them. (I'm joking) They may have been a bit behind with sending them-- you know since they needed to send 545 of them. Did this come in the mail? Neither of us heard a peep on interviews, so I assume mine is on its way. They could also be going alphabetically, which would explain why I haven't heard back yet. My mind is still melting at the 2% acceptance rate. Edited February 19, 2015 by TXInstrument11
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