Social Psychology

[cogneuroforfun]

I completely agree! I mean yes psych programs (& Yale) are competitive, but 10,000 applicants to one department in one year is just inconceivable.

You've all already figured it out, but yes that 10,000 is to the entire graduate school. Psychology gets around 300-500. Also, keep in mind that the relationship between competitiveness of a department and number of applicants is not linear. Less competitive get fewer applicants, sure, but there comes a point where more competitiveness scares off people and application numbers probably flatten out. I would expect the number of applicants to the top 10 or even 20 programs to be roughly equal, but I could be wrong

[strawberryfields]

Yea, there's no way that the psychology dept. had 10000 applicants; some colleges barely get over that with undergrad applications.

So am I basically done since I haven't received an interview or anything from schools with dec1 and mid dec deadlines? I've only gotten 1 rejection and anticipating several more. Does anyone know anything about UC Riverside? I'd love a waitlist spot, hah.

[psychdork]

You've all already figured it out, but yes that 10,000 is to the entire graduate school. Psychology gets around 300-500. Also, keep in mind that the relationship between competitiveness of a department and number of applicants is not linear. Less competitive get fewer applicants, sure, but there comes a point where more competitiveness scares off people and application numbers probably flatten out. I would expect the number of applicants to the top 10 or even 20 programs to be roughly equal, but I could be wrong

I expect the same thing. There are several schools I would love to attend yet I didn't apply to because I knew there was pretty much no chance of an acceptance.

[teddy_brosevelt]

@Jlloyd87: Well, that's good news! I received their little confirmation email last week and wasn't too worried yet. That being said, did she happen to mention whether or not they were offering an interview weekend? Of course, with over 10,000 view to this thread, I bet we're not the only ones applying to DePaul.

Anyone applying to Tulane?

I applied to Tulane. I actually came here to ask this, did everyone get an application fee waiver?

[a.arcane]

I applied to Tulane. I actually came here to ask this, did everyone get an application fee waiver?

Yep, I think so! It concerned me too and I immediately wrote the department. Have you heard from them?

[luinar]

So I've noticed on the results page, someone was accepted to the social psych program at SUNY Buffalo, but with no funding. Is that possible? Sorry for my ignorance, I thought Ph.D. programs in psychology almost always gave funding to the accepted people.

[teddy_brosevelt]

Yep, I think so! It concerned me too and I immediately wrote the department. Have you heard from them?

No, sadly. However, considering their deadline I'd say it's still a bit early. I sent an email a week ago because of a big change on my cv, and I also asked if there was any sort of timeline for decisions. I got a very nice response acknowledging the addition, but nothing about admissions. It's my top choice, I love the city and my wife is from the area. And obviously I think there's a strong research match.

I paid them a visit in November actually. I was in New Orleans already, so I figured I would stop by and ask some of my potential POIs a few questions. I couldn't believe how receptive they were. They made me an itinerary of meetings with professors and current students. Way way more than I could have expected them to do. It went really well too, in fact one of the people I met with was someone I didn't really consider working with until after the visit. Really nice people doing some cool research.

[a.arcane]

No, sadly. However, considering their deadline I'd say it's still a bit early. I sent an email a week ago because of a big change on my cv, and I also asked if there was any sort of timeline for decisions. I got a very nice response acknowledging the addition, but nothing about admissions. It's my top choice, I love the city and my wife is from the area. And obviously I think there's a strong research match.

I paid them a visit in November actually. I was in New Orleans already, so I figured I would stop by and ask some of my potential POIs a few questions. I couldn't believe how receptive they were. They made me an itinerary of meetings with professors and current students. Way way more than I could have expected them to do. It went really well too, in fact one of the people I met with was someone I didn't really consider working with until after the visit. Really nice people doing some cool research.

They are my top choice as well. I emailed before application season and asked my POI if she was taking a student and she mentioned that even if she didn't, that another faculty likely would -- their interests are inter-related. That's really awesome that you got the opportunity to visit. Did you get a sense of how many they were taking? Do you know if they offer interview weekends?

Edited February 11, 2010 by a.arcane

[teddy_brosevelt]

They are my top choice as well. I emailed before application season and asked my POI if she was taking a student and she mentioned that even if she didn't, that another faculty likely would -- their interests are inter-related. That's really awesome that you got the opportunity to visit. Did you get a sense of how many they were taking? Do you know if they offer interview weekends?

I didn't ask very many questions about the admissions process, I didn't want to come across as too presumptuous. However, one of the current students I met with said that she was admitted after an informal interview at a conference. So I'd guess that they probably do phone and email interviews. I met with 5 or so current students for coffee and a few professors. One professors mentioned that the department is well favored by the administration, which tells me that they're probably taking a relatively healthy sized group in.

[a.arcane]

I didn't ask very many questions about the admissions process, I didn't want to come across as too presumptuous. However, one of the current students I met with said that she was admitted after an informal interview at a conference. So I'd guess that they probably do phone and email interviews. I met with 5 or so current students for coffee and a few professors. One professors mentioned that the department is well favored by the administration, which tells me that they're probably taking a relatively healthy sized group in.

Thanks Teddy! It's so quiet around here today. We must have hit the purgatory between the acceptance and rejection periods.

Edited February 12, 2010 by a.arcane

[Pharcyde]

Yea, there's no way that the psychology dept. had 10000 applicants; some colleges barely get over that with undergrad applications.

So am I basically done since I haven't received an interview or anything from schools with dec1 and mid dec deadlines? I've only gotten 1 rejection and anticipating several more. Does anyone know anything about UC Riverside? I'd love a waitlist spot, hah.

I heard the psychology department at UC Riverside extended 12 offers for all areas, and their recruitment weekend is March 4-7.

[Synchronicity]

Wow that's depressing. You know, if that person had to cheat their way into a PhD program by stealing other people's ideas, chances are that'll bite them eventually I think. If that person is going to succeed in research, they will need to be able to think for themselves and come up with their own ideas. It'll be hard for this person to get by just on stealing ideas...at least I hope that's the case. I bet eventually this person will either get discredited, lose allies (and the all-important networking connections that come with them) because of their behavior and the way they treat others, or simply not advance due to a lack of good ideas of their own.

And btw, even if you don't have an acceptance yet, and even if you don't get one this year, the fact that you're an honest person means that when you do get into a PhD program (and I'm sure you will, even if it ends up being next round!) then you'll know that you worked hard and deserved it (and you'll be able to sleep at night knowing your achievements are honestly won!). Plus since your efforts are your own and you care about treating other people well and fairly, people will recognize that in you and want to work with you, which will help you succeed in the long run and probably even make you feel especially good about your successes. That's my prediction anyway, fwiw.

that a nice thought and all, but sometimes cheaters win and honest people get screwed

[digits2006]

Hey guys! I need someone to burst my bubble! I contacted one of my schools about the status of my application. The grad secretary told me that they are still reviewing the files but they have already sent out a few denial letters and I wasnt in that stack. She said they are still reviewing and no acceptances has been made yet. This got my hopes up since I am not hearing from other schools. I believe I am getting my hopes way too up!

[jhmoss1812]

Hey guys! I need someone to burst my bubble! I contacted one of my schools about the status of my application. The grad secretary told me that they are still reviewing the files but they have already sent out a few denial letters and I wasnt in that stack. She said they are still reviewing and no acceptances has been made yet. This got my hopes up since I am not hearing from other schools. I believe I am getting my hopes way too up!

Your rejection letter is probably just in the second stack. Better? J/k

Good luck

[digits2006]

Your rejection letter is probably just in the second stack. Better? J/k

Good luck

Haha very true! I bet right after I got the email, the secretary received my name to reject. lol I think I have to have to some type of chance now! They need to hurry up! Most schools have already accepted people and this schools deadline was in december!

[jlloyd87]

Has anybody heard anything from Texas A&M/Tennessee?

[psychdork]

Thanks Teddy! It's so quiet around here today. We must have hit the purgatory between the acceptance and rejection periods.

It's been a quiet week for social psych. Anyone else feel like this is the calm before the storm?

[jlloyd87]

It's been a quiet week for social psych. Anyone else feel like this is the calm before the storm?

I really hope so... A&M should be calling people very soon to invite people early enough to make arrangements to come to interview weekend.

[jhmoss1812]

I really hope so... A&M should be calling people very soon to invite people early enough to make arrangements to come to interview weekend.

Just saw someomne got accepted to Houston's social psych. Care to confess? Congrats

[Jtdrum10]

Has anybody heard anything from Texas A&M/Tennessee?

The Graduate secretary at Tennessee said that the faculty are still reviewing applications and that there will be no formal interview/visiting weekend. Those who are accepted will be called by their POI and can visit if they want then.

[jlloyd87]

Just saw someomne got accepted to Houston's social psych. Care to confess? Congrats

Yes please. Who was your POI if you don't mind me asking?

The Graduate secretary at Tennessee said that the faculty are still reviewing applications and that there will be no formal interview/visiting weekend. Those who are accepted will be called by their POI and can visit if they want then.

Great. Thank you. I was actually wondering if they did a formal interview, but I would always forget to ask when I would call.

[sadiem]

Got an email from one of my POIs at UVA. Neither of my POIs took any students this year so I am getting rejected (not a shocker -- I knew going in that both their labs were full but now I'm all set for next year's application cycle -- woo hoo!). The email said they took 4 students total in social psych, so I guess decisions have been made. I don't know how recently that was though, or whether the accepted people have all been notified.

[juror#1]

Got an email from one of my POIs at UVA. Neither of my POIs took any students this year so I am getting rejected (not a shocker -- I knew going in that both their labs were full but now I'm all set for next year's application cycle -- woo hoo!). The email said they took 4 students total in social psych, so I guess decisions have been made. I don't know how recently that was though, or whether the accepted people have all been notified.

Who were your POIs?? Guess this means I should not hold out hope for UVA, though I think I lost hope a week ago.

[sadiem]

Who were your POIs?? Guess this means I should not hold out hope for UVA, though I think I lost hope a week ago.

I PM'd you.

[psychdork]

Has anyone heard anything from either Penn State, Indiana U, or Iowa State? I could have sworn someone posted something in the results page regarding Penn State a couple weeks ago, but it's not there now.