Hey everyone! Second time applying and just as terrified as the first time (2012) was a pretty negative experience. I've thrown in a counseling program (NYU) but all others are clinical PhD. Since then I've gotten more experience and narrowed my interests to implementation and dissemination research, particularly tailoring culturally sensitive treatments for trauma and depression/suicide in hard to retain high-risk groups (but I have a few other routes I'd like to pursue so I'm not too rigid in this aspect). Good to very strong fit to all programs.
GRE: 161/155/4.0
GPA: Cruddy 3.49 overall but 3.73 last 2 years at a University with a well known psychology department
LORs: 3 fantastic letters from professors who are happy to go to bat for me, one of whom will explain the subpar grades (financial issues/unstable housing) of the first 2 years.
Pubs: 1 book chapter; no peer reviewed articles and only 2 in prep that I'm not listing on CV
Presentations: 4 first author - 1 at a national conference and 1 is my honors thesis
Fellowships: 2 NIH research fellowships in undergrad. Unfortunately none going into grad school but am planning to apply for next cycle so will mention this to POIs if I receive interviews.
Relevant Research:
- Study coordinator: 1 year in my current position. Lots of responsibilities and most relevant to POIs I applied to. Unfortunately its a small lab and I do so much that I've had little time to publish (supervisor will cover this in letter). I will be on 2 publications (3rd and 5th author I think) In the next month I believe so hopefully I can update my CV. However, I am consistently getting larger roles in projects so I may be able to co-create a few assessments/manual in the next few months.
- RA: 1 year and recently left. Great letter from here and where I had the publication and 2 presentations. Also relevant to the interests of some POIs
- RA: 3 years, 2 of which were with a NIH fellowship. PI knows me very well (6 years) and I had a presentation from the data here.
- Other summer and post-bac research experiences elaborated in CV
Relevant Clinical
- 6 months behavioral health coach (Autism/ADHD/Anxiety) for K through 1st grade and young adults.
- 1 year clinical intervention intern: Create and implement outreach events concerning mental and physical health concerns for college students.
Other: First person of my family to finish traditional high school and university, and only person to apply for graduate school.
Programs applied to (14): Drexel, Harvard, UConn, NYU, Harvard, UWash, UMiami, UNC Greneboro, UNC CHapel Hill, Penn State, Fordham, UMassBoston, USouth Cali, Rutgers.
Do I have any hope? My grades and GREs are nothing spectacular due to my average test taking skills (in my country multiple choice is far rarer) so I'm hoping my LORs, CV and SOP will get my foot in the door (I'm pretty good at interviewing
). However these are all great programs and there's always an impressive cohort so even with the strong fit I'm afraid my experience and grades might mean a third round for me. Give it to me straight and thanks for all your help everyone!