Applying = A Learning Process, Bar None

[MIK3]

Greetings,

I have lurked this very informative and helpful forum for about 2 years now and am finally deciding to post.

Background: I am current senior (5th year) at Arizona State University. I have my B.S. in Psychology and a Minor in Philosophy. I am currently conducting research in the topics of Effective Thinking and Embodied Cognition. I plan on obtaining my MS/MA and then my Ph.D. in a Cognitive Psychology related area. Cognitive Psychology has always been my forte.

What happened last year: I applied to some pretty top-tier schools, respective of psychology and the programs were all Ph.D's in either Cognitive Science/Cognitive Psychology or Psychology. They are as follows:

1. University of California | San Diego

2. University of Nevada | Reno

3. University of California | Irvine

4. Stony Brook University | New York

5. Colorado State University

6. University of Colorado | Boulder

7. University of California | Riverside

8. University of California | Merced

My Status Then:

- My GPA at the time was a 3.43 and my GRE Math was a 610, Verbal (disclosed due to embarrassment) and AW 4.5.

- My LORs were from three of the top professors within the department and were more than likely my strongest application point.

- My SOP was self written with a little review from two of my professors, but not a great deal of effort was put into it (unfortunately).

- My research at the time involved 1.5 years of Effective Thinking research, .5 years of Social Cognition research and 1 year of Embodied Cognition Research.

- I was also a member of the Psychology Honors Society and was working as a Behavioral Health Specialist for a little over a year at the time.

My Status Now:

- Come application time, my GPA will be above a 3.5 (which still isn't outstanding, but I am glad to remove that .4 from sight).

- I will be studying immensely for the GRE this time around. I know for a fact I can improve my Math score, as I was able to achieve 700's during the PowerPrep tests. My AW can improve as well, as I do much of that in my Effective Thinking research. I have since taken up reading and have finished several books and read journal-type magazines to improve my vocabulary as well. I have noticed on here that one of the leading ways to improve your Verbal score is to read, read and read.

- I have added 3 math classes and another statistics course to my line up.

- I have switched one of my LOR writers from a high end professor that barely knew me, to a professor that I have known on a personal level for my duration as an undergraduate.

- I have since joined an extracurricular club. SAE (Student Automotive Engineers) Formula segment. Cars have always been a passion for me, and this is a very exciting club to be in.

- At the time of application, I will have been a Behavioral Health Specialist for two years.

- I have been promoted to Lead Researcher in my Embodied Cognition research, examining mirror neurons on a behavioral level.

- I am listed as a co-author to a poster which has been presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society annual meeting which presents our first year's findings on our Embodied Cognition research

- Most importantly, I have updated my schools to a more realistic list:

1. CSU-Long Beach MA-PR Psychology

2. UN-Reno PhD Psychology

3. Claremont Grad. University PhD Psychology

4. Col. St. Univ. PhD Applied Developmental Science

5. Ariz. St. - Poly MS Applied Psychology

6. SDSU MA Psychology

7. George Mason University MA Human Factors/Applied Cognition

8. UC Merced PhD Brain and Cognitive Sciences

9. U of Utah

I have realized many things since my previous application process:

1.) Shooting high with out the proper credentials is simply a no-go.

2.) A lack of thorough research prior to application is also a no-go. I have since researched each program and professor and know that they are both financially capable of taking in new graduate students and actively seeking induction of new graduate students to their research/labs.

3.) Not spending enough time on a proper SOP will prove detrimental, as was in my case.

4.) Study for the GRE. Study with a passion and not because it's simply an obligatory part of grad school applications.

5.) I have extended my geography, which is important. My last list was so centralized in CA. CA is a highly sought after location for school for many reasons. I'm not sure what I was thinking.

So, with that said, does anyone have further insight as to what I can do? I have ready many a case where people have gone from MA --> PhD. I have no problem taking an extra two years to obtain my MA if it means my chances of getting accepted to a PhD program increases in the slightest. How likely am I that I will at least land one program in the above list given my current credentials? Thank you in advance.

[frankdux]

i know how you feel. i had to apply 2 years in a row as well, and even then i only got 1 funded offer. thankfully that offer was from a great school i'm ecstatic about attending.

for what it's worth, i think you've done a great deal to increase your chances. you've taken a good number of steps to make yourself a better applicant and you've chosen a good list of schools. just make sure you follow through with everything. also, try to finish your apps a month before their individual deadlines. don't wait to the last minute because you don't want to be disqualified from consideration because the post office never delivered a transcript or one of your LOR writers forgot to send his letter in. also, contact the grad secretaries at your schools to make sure they receive all your materials. it's crazy, but some schools won't bother communicating with you if you're missing something.

[MIK3]

Thanks for the reply. What methods did you noticed worked for you your second time around, if you don't mind me asking?

[frankdux]

well, i only got a funded acceptance to one school, so i honestly wasn't that much more successful the second time around either. i just made sure to apply to many more schools to dramatically increase my chances of getting accepted somewhere.

if i could do it all over, i'd have some professors look over my SOP and i would've spent more time on it. the school that gave me a funded acceptance was the only school i applied to that had a 500 word limit on the SOP. so i had to trim mine down to the bare essentials and i think it ended up being better by being so short and obvious and to the point. also i should have tried to establish some legitimate contacts at the schools i was applying to before applying (possibly through the help of my SOP writers).

[Summit_Bid]

Sounds like you did a lot or work to increase your chances. Good job. I think your new school list is good, but I'd also still keep the "reach" schools on the list--you never know. I would focus on the SOP and also try to contact professors/potential advisors at the school ur applying to. If you already have funding that looks good to. Schools like to take poeple who are already funded. I don't know if this is relevant in your field but presenting some research you id by publishing it in a journal or presenting at a conference is always good. Best of luck.

[MIK3]

Thanks for the responses. Has anyone else been in a similar predicament and have noticed certain improvements/techniques worked well? Going into this, I feel a lot more confident than I did a year a go, and I think this will help.