A New Start...

[Quynh2007]

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Hey Everyone, so although grad school hasn't officially started...I'm really excited and scared. I've been talking to my advisor to get caught up in the projects he's doing, and it's daunting! So many (but interesting definitely) of them! My first assignment is thankfully simple enough, which is just to translate some therapist's work into english to be published in a journal, but the depth of each project...from people, to grants, to politics....definitely blows my mind. I'm so scared that I would be a disappointment, but on the other hand, if I just breath deeply and just take it as it comes, I should be able to do it. Anyway, is anyone else already at where I am, or are you just enjoying your summer (btw, I am enjoying my summer, just getting more nervous and excited as each day goes by). It's the same feeling as when I'm a 5 year old getting ready for the first day of school.

 

[psychanon]

I think everyone gets that "impostor syndrome," where you're terrified that your mentor will realize that you're an idiot and regret admitting you. I certainly did. You should remind yourself that nobody who starts grad school knows everything-- in fact, most know closer to nothing. What would be the point of grad school otherwise?

That said, savor the rest of your summer. The workload of your first semester is likely to hit you like a ton of bricks.

 

[irish80122]

What, feeling intimidated, NO, not me, lol. I don't have much to add, I just wnated to share that others out there are definitely feeling the same way. We got in though, so obviously they saw something in us that we are not seeing at this moment 🙂. Just do your best and I am sure it will be fine, but don't expect perfection, we are going to make mistakes and it will probably be hard for a semester while we adjust. If we have the right mindset coming in, we will be fine.

 

[LM02]

Ah, imposter syndrome. Get used to it, because it comes and goes in waves throughout your training. In fact, I think it was the worst for me when I started my postdoc! 😉

But in all honesty, like others have said, you are not expected to know everything going in. In fact, having completed grad school, I can say that it is the students that come in acting like they "know it all" that rub faculty and other students the wrong way. After all, the purpose of graduate school is to learn. And faculty want to teach.

So enjoy that excitement, and try not to worry too much. Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint, so you will have plenty of time to soak it all in and impress the pants off 'em. 🙂

 

[Ollie123]

Oh, I am beyond terrified, so don't feel like you are alone. All my grand plans to do x and y to prepare myself didn't pan out this summer. Planned to self-teach myself SPSS, didn't happen (though I'm less worried about this then I was before since someone pointed out that since I've done tons of computer programming, stats should come alot more naturally to me than to many), had planned to read all of the papers by the 3 people I'll be working with, nope.

Don't have the foggiest idea what I'll be working on. I assume something involving smoking or depression. Hopefully both🙂 He wants to meet to discuss what I want to do my thesis on. Don't know. Thought I did, or at least faked my way through an interview well enough. Now, I'm less sure.

Though I'm THRILLED that I have a mentor that is willing to work with me right off the bat on something like that. Don't think there could be a better sign.

I just keep trying to step back and realize it will be okay. Classes? The only class I've EVER taken that seriously kicked my ass was physics. I'll manage. I'm on a research line, so I won't have to teach just yet. Which is good since I've done tons of research, whereas my only teaching experience is athletics. So hopefully I'll have a little time to adjust before I throw myself into teaching as well (which I do intend to do, wanting to go into academics and all).

We won't even get into the fact that the CLOSEST person I know will be around 1000 miles away. Lived in the same city my entirely life and now I will quite literally, be at the other side of the country. Going to Florida despite the fact that I prefer it chilly to hot.

I still think my biggest concern is that I haven't published or even put together a poster yet. Others have assured me that is okay in terms of a productivity sense, but I worry its stuff I'll be expected to know, and I don't. Even as an undergrad I had troubles getting supervision on it - I just wanted someone to walk me through my first one, but it never happened. I'd have even been happy to give someone else first author even if all they did was talk me through the steps, just to get one done and get the experience. Hopefully grad school will be different.

So yeah. Terrified. Utterly terrified. But dealing. We all will. With psych programs accepting 5% of applicants, you've got to have potential to even make it to an interview, let alone get accepted.

 

[TherapistDave]

Someone mentioned not being a "know-it-all" and rubbing everyone the wrong way - great advice. Take the step-down approach, where you present as not knowing as much about something as someone else. Profs. (usually) like it when a student is eager to not only know, but to get their perspective on a matter. Of course in some programs, you may actually know more than the professor, but don't get ahead of yourself.

Just take things as they come. You will be fine; like Ollie said, only 5% of applicants get in to psych. programs, so you are alredy ahead of the game. You will be fine.

 

[Quynh2007]

I think my biggest problem is when my advisor assumes I know something I don't. Like when he mentions all the agencies you can get grant $$ from (ex. the FOGARTY or something in NIH that funds international projects) my eyes get round. Or when he mentions someone doing some research and thinks I've read the articles. I sometimes feel embarrassed that I don't know, but he's pretty good about explaining what they are when I tell him I don't know. But, I'm really excited about what my Master's is shaping up to be, so I hope enthusiasm makes up for my lack of skills and knowledge! lol 😛

 

[Ollie123]

Sounds like you've had a lot of contact already Quynh, which is good.

Has everyone else had that too? I've barely spoken to mine about anything research-related yet, just kind of a "This is when I'm moving down" type stuff.

I also worry that I'll be working with psychophys people and I flat out don't know psyhophys. I'm interested in learning, but all I've done is measure skin conductance. If I have to do some startle or HRV/vagal hook-ups, I'm toast.

 

[tkj]

...

 

[paramour]

Am I the only one that doesn't know anything but isn't particularly worried about it? Come on y'all, it's more fun that way. At least in my head😉

And er, I haven't talked that much with my grad supervisor, but I've been a tad preoccupied.

Yeah, yeah, rub it in--not all of us have the time to run across the world every few days. 🙄

I'm honestly not too concerned about the upcoming semester's work at this point either. But, then again, I've also been keeping myself a bit preoccupied . . . although nothing along the lines of tkj's summer. Working 2 jobs and keeping a 6-y/o entertained all day, among other things, keeps one just a wee bit busy all the same.

I have had some contact with the future program, but not too much. I spoke with the clinical director and a few of the stats professors a couple of times, but only because I needed to get a course transfer approved so I didn't have to register for a particular course this first semester. My lab supervisor contacted me to advise that she will also be my independent readings/research sup, so wanted me to compile a list of topics that I'm interested in. And, one of her "old" RA's contacted me regarding my schedule so she could get the lab schedule set in order to verify that someone will be there throughout the day for the upcoming semester. Um, dealt with some administrative schtuff periodically . . . and that's about it.

Not worrying about what my future dissertation topic will be at this time, or about how incompetent I might feel once I meet the other 1st years and the faculty again. I'm sure there will plenty o' time for those thoughts later. 😀

Great advice from TherapistDave & LM02--regardless of how much you know, try not to show off too much or rub it in other students' (or faculty membres') faces. There was a student at one of the programs I interviewed at who had just left the previous semester because "she didn't mesh well". The student entered the program acting like she knew it all and acted as if she was better than her fellow classmates. She allegedly also irritated the faculty to no end because she wouldn't listen to them since she thought she knew it all. Everyone reportedly disliked her quite a bit, and several were happy that she left after the first semester.

Sooo, don't be that person!

 

[clearcolor]

As someone already in grad school, I just wanted to share a little about my summer before/entrance. I contacted my POI a few times over the summer and I was on his "lab email list" so I got articles he was sending out to everyone. But it didn't matter how much I read once I got to school (I read over grants, and only skimmed most articles he sent out). Everyone knows it takes a little while to really know everything going on in the lab and it is much easier once you are actually working in the lab on a regular basis. I def hadn't formulated realistic ideas on a masters project - I did this once I got started in classess. Also, the incoming first year this year has had very little contact with anyone and none of us really expect to hear much until maybe the week before classes (when we'll want to get ready to train her for working on our studies).

And just one last note - I wouldn't expect the workload in the first year fall to be so overwhelming. Programs know that students need to adjust, esp psych programs. And besides, you aren't seeing patients for therapy or having other duties that come in later years - so naturally your schedule is likely more free in the first year fall than any other time. I suppose this could vary by program, but I can't imagine grad school workloads getting lighter in years 2-3 compared to 1.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Starting grad school is like starting a new job....but with smart people. 😉 One of the best things you can do is try and help others, because it helps build relationships, etc. It is important because you will take the focus off of yourself, and in the process will get you interacting with others. I don't mean to be a know it all, but if you find out some kind of tip or something (maybe a great place to get snacks/drinks, etc) share that. Everyone will be adjusting, and pretending otherwise could make people think you are ingenuine.

When I started in my program, I had everyone's e-mail, so I organized a happy hour and later in the week a BBQ. We had orientation at the end of the week, but I wanted to know people before getting thrown into the craziness of grad school. Of course, this set tradition, so now I throw a "Welcome BBQ" every year, and BBQs at the end of each semester. It is actually a nice little tradition that I have to pass on, and a GREAT way to get to know your future classmates. I invited a few 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc people I had met during interviews....so by the time we got on campus, everyone knew me!

-t

 

[RayneeDeigh]

And just one last note - I wouldn't expect the workload in the first year fall to be so overwhelming. Programs know that students need to adjust, esp psych programs. And besides, you aren't seeing patients for therapy or having other duties that come in later years - so naturally your schedule is likely more free in the first year fall than any other time. I suppose this could vary by program, but I can't imagine grad school workloads getting lighter in years 2-3 compared to 1.

I've heard this too, but I know at the program I'm going into, the first year is FAR more hectic than the subsequent years. It really varies I think.

 

[Quynh2007]

When I started in my program, I had everyone's e-mail, so I organized a happy hour and later in the week a BBQ. We had orientation at the end of the week, but I wanted to know people before getting thrown into the craziness of grad school. Of course, this set tradition, so now I throw a "Welcome BBQ" every year, and BBQs at the end of each semester. It is actually a nice little tradition that I have to pass on, and a GREAT way to get to know your future classmates. I invited a few 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc people I had met during interviews....so by the time we got on campus, everyone knew me!

-t

hm....we did something like this in one of my labs last year. At the end of each semester we would have a pot luck, and it was great to just relax (usually during finals) - and some people were elaborate and cooked savvy stuff while others just went to the supermarket and got a bag of cookies, lol ... not a bad idea to bring it to grad school 🙂

 

[Ollie123]

On a semi-related note: In addition to doubts about whether or not one can do it, is anyone else getting cold feet about deciding to pursue this profession in general? This just hit me recently, and its concerning.

I keep thinking about all the other things I've had a knack for over the years, like law, bio/chem/physical sciences (though I'd probably go into medicine before a hard science PhD), computer programming, pharmacy. I'm pretty confident I could have gone into most any field and been at least moderately successful (except for things like fine arts. I can barely draw a stick figure). I got so caught up in getting in I think I lost sight of WHY I wanted to get in. The 2 days I spent coding tetris during my brief stint as a CS major had me utterly miserable, chem lab is torture, and I worried about the job satisfaction I'd get from something like law. Yet I still can't help wondering if psychology was REALLY the right choice.

Is anyone else going through things from this perspective too? Its like I'm getting married (heh, except these days a career is probably a longer committment than the average marriage). Given how competitive it was to get in, I wonder if my spot should have gone to someone who wasn't having these doubts.

 

[RayneeDeigh]

On a semi-related note: In addition to doubts about whether or not one can do it, is anyone else getting cold feet about deciding to pursue this profession in general? This just hit me recently, and its concerning.

I keep thinking about all the other things I've had a knack for over the years, like law, bio/chem/physical sciences (though I'd probably go into medicine before a hard science PhD), computer programming, pharmacy. I'm pretty confident I could have gone into most any field and been at least moderately successful (except for things like fine arts. I can barely draw a stick figure). I got so caught up in getting in I think I lost sight of WHY I wanted to get in. The 2 days I spent coding tetris during my brief stint as a CS major had me utterly miserable, chem lab is torture, and I worried about the job satisfaction I'd get from something like law. Yet I still can't help wondering if psychology was REALLY the right choice.

Is anyone else going through things from this perspective too? Its like I'm getting married (heh, except these days a career is probably a longer committment than the average marriage). Given how competitive it was to get in, I wonder if my spot should have gone to someone who wasn't having these doubts.

Oh I've had thoughts ranging from "are my research interests REALLY what I want to do for the next billion years?" to "should I have gone into this field at all, or stayed in music?" I think that's normal to question yourself. If you didn't, you'd be some weird robot.

I think you'll be great in the field and I'm glad you got a spot instead of someone who wouldn't be as self-aware!

 

[GiantSteps]

On a semi-related note: In addition to doubts about whether or not one can do it, is anyone else getting cold feet about deciding to pursue this profession in general? This just hit me recently, and its concerning.

I keep thinking about all the other things I've had a knack for over the years, like law, bio/chem/physical sciences (though I'd probably go into medicine before a hard science PhD), computer programming, pharmacy. I'm pretty confident I could have gone into most any field and been at least moderately successful (except for things like fine arts. I can barely draw a stick figure). I got so caught up in getting in I think I lost sight of WHY I wanted to get in. The 2 days I spent coding tetris during my brief stint as a CS major had me utterly miserable, chem lab is torture, and I worried about the job satisfaction I'd get from something like law. Yet I still can't help wondering if psychology was REALLY the right choice.

Is anyone else going through things from this perspective too? Its like I'm getting married (heh, except these days a career is probably a longer committment than the average marriage). Given how competitive it was to get in, I wonder if my spot should have gone to someone who wasn't having these doubts.

I do not see why you need to view your life in this narrow way. You have made a good decision about what to do at this point in your life and should cetainly follow through with it to see where it leads. However, I do not think you should ever feel that you are locking yourself into psychology forever if at some point down the road you are not enjoying it. I am sure you realize already that once you get a Ph.D. in Psychology that there are many things you will be able to do with it. Yet, even if you someday decide that you no longer want to do anything in psychology, you can always pursue another passion. It may be more difficult later in life since you may have more responsibilities but there are plenty of people (many who write on SDN) who change careers later in life. In fact, the knowledge you gain in one field can often help you in a completely different field.

I have two great examples for you of people who left Psychology (one you will probably know) since they felt that they had done what they wanted to in the field.

First, William James, the father of American Psychology, had decided that at a certain point he had done everything he wanted to in Psychology and decided to devote the rest of his life to Philosophy. He then became the definitive pragmatist philosopher.

The second is a man in my home city. He decided he was finished with Psychology, after teaching and work, and opened up a successful butcher's shop specializing in high quality cuts of meat/ poultry. He told me a long time ago to forget about psychology and come work for him. However, I declined.

In the end, sure people need to stick decisions for certain amounts of time but you should never feel that locking yourself in forever.

 

[paramour]

On a semi-related note: In addition to doubts about whether or not one can do it, is anyone else getting cold feet about deciding to pursue this profession in general? This just hit me recently, and its concerning.

. . .

I keep telling my husband that I'm going to med school after I finish my doctorate. Don't want to "waste" all that physics, calculus, biology, etc. that I took just for the hey of it now.

 

[GiantSteps]

Oh I've had thoughts ranging from "are my research interests REALLY what I want to do for the next billion years?" to "should I have gone into this field at all, or stayed in music?"

Raynster,

With Supertramp, Triumph, and the Canadian Brass, the world got its fill of Canadian musicians! We should be thanking you for leaving music behind. "Take the long way home!" ARRGH!

 

[Ollie123]

Thats a good point GiantSteps, and the thing I keep telling myself so I don't panic and run away screaming🙂 The part of me that isn't a neurotic, panicky imbecile keeps saying "If you change your mind later, that's okay!", and thanks to the wonders of this degree, I can do so without having to worry about debt like many students in other fields (medicine, law, most any master's program) have to.

However the neurotic, panicky, imbecilic part is shouting down the other part right now😉

 

[psychwanabe]

On a semi-related note: In addition to doubts about whether or not one can do it, is anyone else getting cold feet about deciding to pursue this profession in general? This just hit me recently, and its concerning.

I keep thinking about all the other things I've had a knack for over the years, like law, bio/chem/physical sciences (though I'd probably go into medicine before a hard science PhD), computer programming, pharmacy. I'm pretty confident I could have gone into most any field and been at least moderately successful (except for things like fine arts. I can barely draw a stick figure). I got so caught up in getting in I think I lost sight of WHY I wanted to get in. The 2 days I spent coding tetris during my brief stint as a CS major had me utterly miserable, chem lab is torture, and I worried about the job satisfaction I'd get from something like law. Yet I still can't help wondering if psychology was REALLY the right choice.

Is anyone else going through things from this perspective too? Its like I'm getting married (heh, except these days a career is probably a longer committment than the average marriage). Given how competitive it was to get in, I wonder if my spot should have gone to someone who wasn't having these doubts.

I bet that most of us are having these doubts - in sales it's called "buyer's panic." I am mostly questioning the sanity of staying in school for 4 more years + 1 of internship (assuming I match first time out *knocks on wood*).

I am also suffering from sporadic bouts of "imposter syndrome" in terms of wondering how long it will take the other students to start wondering how I got into grad school when I obviously don't know anything?? I have a pre-req test I have to take on the first day of orientation so I'm studying that text book this summer - it's all review, so it helps me to feel like I am brushing up on general knowledge. But still - everyone will be so smart - how will I ever be able to fool them all??? lol

I am going into a Psy.D. program, so I won't know who my advisor is until orientation. I interviewed with the Director and she assigns people based on interests and faculty focus. I also have a GA and don't know who I will be working for yet. I would love the chance to do some reading to learn about these professors' interests, but I can't!! It's a little weird to feel so unprepared, but what's a student to do? 😱

 

[Markro311]

Which Psy.D. program, Psychwanabe?

 

[JockNerd]

What a timely thread--I had my first-ever pangs of doubt about psych two days ago! My first journal submission came back with (*gasp*) a list of revisions. I was fuming for several hours. I started asking myself if it wouldn't be easier to just go into Med. No longer than psych, and I could make a lot of money while being completely and utterly miserable in that profession.

Then I slapped myself, had some tea, and started the revisions after realizing it was great that it wasn't rejected.

I've got to admit that I don't feel the imposter syndrome. Really, if you got in you've got *something*. And you're at grad school to learn, anyway! You don't have to know *everything*! 🙂

 

[Quynh2007]

yeah, i just got my first comments back from my chapter editing, and my advisor said i'm doing exactly what he wants...so whew!

 

[psychanon]

What a timely thread--I had my first-ever pangs of doubt about psych two days ago! My first journal submission came back with (*gasp*) a list of revisions. I was fuming for several hours. I started asking myself if it wouldn't be easier to just go into Med. No longer than psych, and I could make a lot of money while being completely and utterly miserable in that profession.

Ha--- if you submitted an article at ANY point in your career (let alone your first submission), and it came back accepted with NO revisions, you'd probably be some kind of demi-god. Revisions are GOOD news. They mean they like it, and want to help you make it better. After all, academics always need to find flaws in things-- it's their way of proving to themselves that they're smart. (congrats on the revise & resubmit, btw-- that's wonderful, especially for a pre-grad school first submission)

 

[JockNerd]

Ha--- if you submitted an article at ANY point in your career (let alone your first submission), and it came back accepted with NO revisions, you'd probably be some kind of demi-god. Revisions are GOOD news. They mean they like it, and want to help you make it better. After all, academics always need to find flaws in things-- it's their way of proving to themselves that they're smart. (congrats on the revise & resubmit, btw-- that's wonderful, especially for a pre-grad school first submission)

Oh, I know it's good, now 🙂 I think I was labouring under some sort of delusion of gradeur. I think we all fall in love with our first piece of research. After a few hours I could appreciate the comments (except from reviewer B, that loon (jk)) and felt helped by them. Thanks for the congrats-- I am very happy.

One of my profs said that she knows one person who submitted an article and had it accepted without revision. It was her husband, and he brings it up in conversation occasionally. 🙂

 

[psychwanabe]

Which Psy.D. program, Psychwanabe?

Xavier