No, and I am horrified that you asked.
Oh wow, I have been aiming for 1000 words/2 pages single spaced. Maaan, I hate the SOP. Haha. Thanks though
I guess I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope that, when looking at my application packet as a whole, they realize that the first score is more representative of my actual abilities.Nevermind, I forgot you are able to look at past posts from everyone. Last year, I posted in a decision thread where I was going, so I guess the cat's already out of the bag haha. I am a 1st year in the PsyD program at LIU-CW Post. So, if anyone has specific questions about that program, feel free to PM me and ask.
I had an interview with a prof (not my POI) who called me on my school choices. I had some very specialized research interests, so there weren't too many programs available with POIs in that domain. Therefore, I also applied to profs who I considered potentially related, as well as to other research areas of interest (because I'm fortunate enough to have multiple interests). At one point during my interview, the prof asked where else I had applied, followed by why. Thankfully, I knew damned well my rationale for each & every program, so I rattled off my reasons. She responded something along the lines of, "Hmm, okay, just checking, I really did not think all of those programs had folks researching x." Of course, that crazy lady quizzed me on calculus and at one point also informed me that I "most likely really did not want to attend there" anyway. That whole day was bizarre.
Of course, that crazy lady quizzed me on calculus and at one point also informed me that I "most likely really did not want to attend there" anyway. That whole day was bizarre.
My area of interest could be considered unfocused, so I'm customizing it to program/school.
) Again, be prepared to discuss their location if necessary, i.e., either why it's an ideal fit for you or (if not) how you intend to overcome those challenges (and how you're more interested in the program, not the location anyway). It wouldn't be the first (nor I suspect the last) time I've been accused of such.
Yep, same thing happens in my program for these reasons . . . although at the time of my interview, it irritated me to no end. Yes, I'm from "The South," but I really, really, really do not like the hot-ass, sticky humid weather there, so you would be doing me a huuuge favor to bring me to your blizzard-y conditions and 20+" snow.
I have seen some interviewees turn down offers though after realizing just how brutal it can be. I feel for the ones who come in on a "good" day and think it doesn't get any worse. Poor guys are wondering what hit them a year later.
You plan ahead (so that you know your responses) and respond directly. My primary interests are x and y, but I also would be greatly interested in z. Of course, if there is at least some overlap, then you're likely to be looked at a bit more favorably than a scatterbrain who used a magic 8-ball to create your application list.
Additionally, as JuniperTree mentioned, you should be tailoring your apps for each program anyway. So you're not "lying" or "deceiving" anyone if you tell them that your interests are 'x' and 'y', which are compatible with their program (but you perhaps leave out that you have other interests that are not quite so compatible with their program).
During my second round of applications, I applied to more programs than could even be listed on the limited space where they ask to "what other programs are you applying? I tended to list those programs that were comparable to the one for that application, and that had research faculty with similar interests as that particular program.
Geographical convenience is a bit trickier, but I would still stand by the above. Tailor your app to the program. Find *something* (other than location) that the program has going for it as to why you want to attend there. Research, clinical opportunities, or whatever the case may be.
I had a prof during an interview who suggested that the program's location might not be ideal for me due to the significant differences in weather compared to where I was living previously. (Oddly, this was brought up repeatedly...
Buuuut, a lot of this occurred much later, during the interview stages... Something to be thinking about though when crafting those SOPs.
G'luck, folks!
Keep thinking it would be better to just leave, but I'm oh, so damned close, damnit to hell & then some!
No problem.
Regardless of what you decide, you never know who's going to accept you in those funded programs. Some of them like older, cantankerous old folks, as they tend to perceive them as being more mature, settled, and (hopefully) you have something *unique* to offer to their labs. Whereas others want the typical straight out of undergrad folks who they can mold to their every specification.
'Tis probably why I sometimes get flak from my dept more than others.
