WAMC

[SchoolPsych18]

I couldn't find a psychology "What are my chances" thread, so I started one!

I'm applying to several Ph.D., M.ED., and M.S. programs for 2016-2017. What are my chances?

 

Undergrad GPA: 3.2

Major GPA: 3.6

GRE: Q: 147, V: 154, W: 3.5

I've been working as a behavior therapist for about 6 months and did a 5 month practicum as a behavior therapist before that.

I've been involved in a clinical child psych lab for 2 years and just became involved in research with a behavioral pediatrician a month ago. No publications have resulted this far, though.

I am certified in youth mental health first aid and QPR.

I was the founding president of Active Minds at my school.

I've been employed by my school as a psych tutor/TA for 2 semesters.

 

Programs I'm applying to:

University of South Alabama (Ph.D. combined clinical and counseling)

University of Alabama (Ph.D. Clinical child)

Auburn University (Ph.D. Clinical Child and M.S. ABA) *Very good match

Louisiana State University (Ph.D. Clinical Child) *Very good match

Vanderbilt (M.ED. child studies and M.ED. clinical psychological assessment)

Jacksonville State University (M.S. ABA)

Florida State University (M.S. ABA)

Edited November 26, 2015 by BritAlysse

[Mystic_Fog]

I've found WAMC threads on other sites, but I guess it doesn't hurt to see what people here think my chances are! I am going for a Ph.D. in  social psych.

Current UG GPA: 3.30 (with an upward trend in grades overall, with Deans List honors the past 2 consecutive semesters)
Current Psych GPA: 3.68

Last 2 years GPA ~ 3.6

GRE (Q/V/W): 150/162/4.5 (40%, 92%, 85%)

I've presented research I did in one of my methods classes and an independent research project both OUPRC this past spring (2014 and 2015, respectively).

I'll be presenting a poster at SPSP this year too.
In addition to your  standard stats (ANCOVA, Chi-Square, Despcriptives, Pearsons R, Linear/Multiple Regression, T-tests, Z-tests) I've also gotten additional instruction as part of an independent research project I did over the summer (MANCOVA, ANCOVA, Logistic regression). This project is what I'll be presenting at SPSP and it's also something that has resulted in a manuscript that is being submitted later this month. I've got an additional manuscript in the works as well, both manuscripts relating to my area interest.

I was the recipient of a psychology grant through my university that rewards excellence (1-2 people receive it a year). I've also received 2 grants through my institution to turn unpaid experiences (the summer project I did, and an upcoming RA position I have at an R1 school).
I have research experience as an RA in a lab for one of the professors (about 7 months) and as a research assistant on an as-needed basis for my adviser (spotty but time-frame wise about 1 year), as well as the independent research' I've done (about 8 months); though some of these overlap in timeframe (my non-methods class research began last fall). I've also served as a TA for psychology stats courses for the past 3 semesters and will do so again this Spring (so 4 semesters total) and was a guest lecturer for one class (1 day only) (1 year) and as a tutor for those classes and other classes as needed (2.5 years). I've also recently completed a 3 month internship where I learned and applied classroom management skills and lesson planning and am currently serving as a lab manager for a research lab at my SLA school (about 4 months in presently, but the job will go through graduation and will result in a paper or 2 as well as a likely APA conference (though this wasn't discussed in my application). The RA position at an R1 school just started this month, and will finish in May as well.

I've also served as the secretary for our schools psychology club, and some other EC's as well (I'm not sure if they matter, but as a treasurer and for my greek social club and as a greek council representative, as well as assistant director of our campus' radio station and did very little volunteer work).

I think all 3 of my letters were stellar; one came from my senior seminar teacher (not adviser) who I was also an RA for during her rat research, the other supervised both of my independent research projects and will take me to SPSP and was the one who took me to my other conferences, is helping me get this paper published and is the person I manage a lab for and we have a fantastic relationship. The other is my academic adviser and was my senior thesis adviser, I served as an as-needed RA for her and I'm helping her write a manuscript. I have TA'd for the last 2 as well.

Thoughts?

 

[Bubbala]

On 11/26/2015 at 10:35 PM, BritAlysse said:

I couldn't find a psychology "What are my chances" thread, so I started one!

I'm applying to several Ph.D., M.ED., and M.S. programs for 2016-2017. What are my chances?

 

Undergrad GPA: 3.2

Major GPA: 3.6

GRE: Q: 147, V: 154, W: 3.5

I've been working as a behavior therapist for about 6 months and did a 5 month practicum as a behavior therapist before that.

I've been involved in a clinical child psych lab for 2 years and just became involved in research with a behavioral pediatrician a month ago. No publications have resulted this far, though.

I am certified in youth mental health first aid and QPR.

I was the founding president of Active Minds at my school.

I've been employed by my school as a psych tutor/TA for 2 semesters.

 

Programs I'm applying to:

University of South Alabama (Ph.D. combined clinical and counseling)

University of Alabama (Ph.D. Clinical child)

Auburn University (Ph.D. Clinical Child and M.S. ABA) *Very good match

Louisiana State University (Ph.D. Clinical Child) *Very good match

Vanderbilt (M.ED. child studies and M.ED. clinical psychological assessment)

Jacksonville State University (M.S. ABA)

Florida State University (M.S. ABA)

Unfortunately, I do not think you will be competitive for PhD programs. Your GPA is relatively low, and your Quant and Writing GREs are below the 50th percentile. Looking at this concordance chart, your Quant is in the 28th percentile, Verbal is 63rd, and Writing is 38th. GPA should be at least 3.5, with 3.8+ being competitive. I fear your scores may cause your application to be passed by without much review as the faculty narrows down their applications. It depends on the program, but I've found programs don't care very much about clinical experience (just that you have some) and are more concerned about applicants having extensive research experience. Your lab experience is good, but with no publications, the faculty may pass you by for someone who has had the experience of completing a project, writing up a complete manuscript, and having it accepted by a journal.

That said, I think a master's degree would serve you very well. It would give you an opportunity to get more research experience and a competitive GPA, which would demonstrate that you are capable of completing high quality graduate-level work.

[wil88ej]

Hi all! I graduated a few years ago (2011) from Northwestern University with a Psychology major. I applied to Clinical Psychology PhD programs at:

University of New Mexico
University of Colorado - Denver
University of Missouri - Kansas City
University of Texas at Austin
Oklahoma State University (I've already been notified that I was not invited for an interview, but I am on a back up list if a spot opens up)

These are my critical details:
GPA: 3.62 -- it's important to know that my GPA fell significantly in my junior & senior years. I addressed this (briefly & professionally) in my PS (my father passed away at the end of my sophomore year)
GRE: 168 (V) 158 (Q) 5 (A)
Work Experience: I've been working at a clinical trials company as an administrative assistant, which has given me some familiarity with psychiatric drugs and evidence based medicine
Research Experience: Completed a senior honors project, plus undergrad RA for 18 months

LOR: I have a very strong one from my honors advisor, a good one from my honors seminar professor, and a strong one from my current supervisor.

 

I'd love to hear what people think my chances are! Also, if I don't get in this year, I'd like to hear what people think would make a stronger application next year. Thanks in advance!