Accepted, but reapplying next year

[Who Am I]

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[4Ever]

Accepted (Yeshiva), waitlisted (NYU), rejected (Fordham & Yale), unknown status post interview (CUNY, TC & FDU). Call me krazy, but if I don't get accepted to TC or CUNY, I'm reapplying next year. The waiting game is pure torture! I totally think the schools already know who they want and don't want. I hope being a male helps me a little

Just curious, why did you apply to schools that you have no interest in attending? That seems like a waste of your time and resources.

 

[buzzworm]

Just curious, why did you apply to schools that you have no interest in attending? That seems like a waste of your time and resources.

I can understand your reaction, but I know that in my experience, my perceptions of different programs have changed pretty drastically throughout this process. There are a couple schools that I applied to thinking I would be interested in attending, but lost interest after I went in for interviews.

 

[Who Am I]

I can understand your reaction, but I know that in my experience, my perceptions of different programs have changed pretty drastically throughout this process. There are a couple schools that I applied to thinking I would be interested in attending, but lost interest after I went in for interviews.

Thanks, Buzzworm! You took the words out of my mouth. Also, it's usually a good idea to apply to different tiers of schools: safety, decent fit, perfect fit, wishful fit, etc. Ultimately, why settle for a good school (this year) if I can go to a great school (next year).

 

[Kat 22]

I can understand your reaction, but I know that in my experience, my perceptions of different programs have changed pretty drastically throughout this process. There are a couple schools that I applied to thinking I would be interested in attending, but lost interest after I went in for interviews.

I felt this way too. Before interviewing at some schools they were ranked in my top three and then after going there, getting a feeling for the place and meeting my POI in person I felt strongly against going there. Actually, the school that I will be attending was not my first choice at the beginning of the application process. But after 6 or 7 other interviews, it was the clear best choice for me and I couldn't be happier.

 

[4Ever]

I'm not applying until next year, so this info. is good to know.

But, Who AM I, is that what happened? You interviewed at these schools and then decided they weren't for you? OR Is it more that you just don't want to go to a lower ranked school?

If it is the first, I can completely understand. If it is the later, then why bother applying to lower tiered schools, if you have no interest in attending?

I am just trying to gather information. No judgment.

 

[CounselingGirl]

Ultimately, why settle for a good school (this year) if I can go to a great school (next year).

How do you know you'll get into a great school next year?

 

[Jezebel09]

How do you know you'll get into a great school next year?

Well, the economy is projected to improve by next year's application season. Thus, in all likelihood, there wil be fewer applicants.

 

[sugarhi385]

Well, the economy is projected to improve by next year's application season. Thus, in all likelihood, there wil be fewer applicants.

Hehe, you're a funny one.

 

[Wapote84]

I'm not applying until next year, so this info. is good to know.

But, Who AM I, is that what happened? You interviewed at these schools and then decided they weren't for you? OR Is it more that you just don't want to go to a lower ranked school?

If it is the first, I can completely understand. If it is the later, then why bother applying to lower tiered schools, if you have no interest in attending?

I am just trying to gather information. No judgment.

Well, my situation was like this. I felt like I was an alright applicant, but I didn't think I was as strong of an applicant as I was. In retrospect, I wish I would have applied to my dream schools where I thought I had absolutely no chance. I say apply to three schools where you really want to go where you think you have no chance, and apply to others where you feel like you have a great shot.

I applied to a bunch of schools, some that were VERY uncompetitive, and others that were more competitive. I had interviews at many places, and those interviews can really change perspectives. For example, one school i thought was in my top 5 became a non-choice after a phone interview. It was horrible. I knew 3 minutes into the interview I didn't want to be there. The school I have been offered admission and accepted wasn't even in my top three until after my interview. The first night I knew I loved it, and the interview day I knew I had to be there. It was an amazing and unexpected surprise. I was only planning to go for formality purposes.

Go to as many interviews as you can. Phone interviews are nice, but those in person ones are so important. It really helps you get a true sense of the program, and if you have the chance to stay with a student, DO IT! You get so many hours of free question and answer sessions.

So in sum... interviews are important! They can completely change perspectives. Also, apply to schools you feel are out of your league. I didn't expect to get so many interviews! If I knew I was so marketable, I would have applied to other schools. And if your research interests are very specific, GREs and GPAs matter a little bit less in my opinion.

 

[Sunny329]

Well, my situation was like this. I felt like I was an alright applicant, but I didn't think I was as strong of an applicant as I was.

I'm somewhat relieved (but also sorry!) to see other people are sharing my experience. I was starting to think there was something wrong with me for not being just TOTALLY EXCITED after positive interviews. Programs I thought looked great online just felt awkward, and in some cases even lacking, in person.

(My specific issue is having applied to Psy.D. programs while toying with a passion for neuropsych, but having since realized I'm specifically interested in that more than anything. Ph.D. programs might be more supportive--and they are sure less expensive!)

Well, 2 more interviews to go. I hope I can leave just one of them feeling like I hoped I would when I started this process (though I'm feeling hyperpolarized!)

 

[Jezebel09]

For example, one school i thought was in my top 5 became a non-choice after a phone interview. It was horrible. I knew 3 minutes into the interview I didn't want to be there. .

That's interesting. I don't know how a phone interview can go sooooo very wrong within 3 minutes. Wow!!!

 

[kapinkkidowski]

That's interesting. I don't know how a phone interview can go sooooo very wrong within 3 minutes. Wow!!!

I had one that did. The prof harassed me as to why I had no publications. Every response I gave was met with a 'but most people have publications, why is it that you havent been able to..."...I also had an upper respiratory infection at the time, and she insinuated that she thought I was lying about that....ummm...yeah, nearly suffocating while on the phone with you is my strategy for getting an offer of acceptance...witch. I wouldnt take an offer from her lab if she paid me to

 

[Jezebel09]

I had one that did. The prof harassed me as to why I had no publications. Every response I gave was met with a 'but most people have publications, why is it that you havent been able to..."...I also had an upper respiratory infection at the time, and she insinuated that she thought I was lying about that....ummm...yeah, nearly suffocating while on the phone with you is my strategy for getting an offer of acceptance...witch. I wouldnt take an offer from her lab if she paid me to

Be thankful that she showed you her true colors! Can you imagine having to spend 5-7 years working with her?

 

[Wapote84]

I had one that did. The prof harassed me as to why I had no publications. Every response I gave was met with a 'but most people have publications, why is it that you havent been able to..."...I also had an upper respiratory infection at the time, and she insinuated that she thought I was lying about that....ummm...yeah, nearly suffocating while on the phone with you is my strategy for getting an offer of acceptance...witch. I wouldnt take an offer from her lab if she paid me to

yeah, that phone interview was pretty bad. There were a number of reasons why I felt that the program wasn't a good fit. The major reason was the vibe I got from the people. Basically, after their questioning I was able to ask them questions. When I did, they made it feel like I was interrogating them instead of questioning them because of their suprisingly high level of defensiveness when I wanted to know more about their program. I ask them normal questions like, "What are your graduates doing now after your program?" and "Do you have any formal or informal grant writing experience in your program?". When I mentioned I wanted to go into academia, their tone became aggressive and they mentioned that I should be sure to let them know this in the very beginning so that I can be sure to get "much more rigorous training" than usual. It felt like a shotty PsyD program covering as a Ph.D.

 

[psychstudent613]

Accepted (Yeshiva), waitlisted (NYU), rejected (Fordham & Yale), unknown status post interview (CUNY, TC & FDU). Call me krazy, but if I don't get accepted to TC or CUNY, I'm reapplying next year. The waiting game is pure torture! I totally think the schools already know who they want and don't want. I hope being a male helps me a little

Um, which Yeshiva program may I ask>?????
Please tell the programs you will not be accepting that you are not planning on going there. Thank you.

 

[Who Am I]

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[Who Am I]

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[psychadelics]

Clinical Psych (Health Emphasis).

I'm pretty sure I won't attend. However, I don't think people should be rushed to make decisions or to notify programs. If I did the work to get accepted, then I will do the work to decide (on my own time) if I'll go or don't go.

You go! I want a spot in a program as much as the next person, but I feel thats it ridiculous that we wait for so long to hear something and then were supposed to decide immediately. Take your sweet time and figure out who you are (pun intended)

 

[psychgrad10]

Clinical Psych (Health Emphasis).

I'm pretty sure I won't attend. However, I don't think people should be rushed to make decisions or to notify programs. If I did the work to get accepted, then I will do the work to decide (on my own time) if I'll go or don't go.

To me, I think that's pretty jive considering there are a lot of people out there waiting for your spot and if you know you aren't going to go, then whats the biggie in telling them no. It's just consideration for your fellow student. I'm all for telling a program right away even if it is a not so great program because someone else on the waitlist probably has that school as their #1.

I understand that if a program isn't a perfect fit, you wouldn't want to go. Personally, I'd be too afraid that if I set this goal next year that I would get into a better program it wouldn't happen. I'm too afraid of karma to take that kind of chance. If I got accepted into an ok program, I think I would be happy because many other people DIDN'T get in, not wait for my perfect program, especially if I only got accepted into one school. There are several other factors surrounding that, I understand...

 

[psychstudent613]

Clinical Psych (Health Emphasis).

I'm pretty sure I won't attend. However, I don't think people should be rushed to make decisions or to notify programs. If I did the work to get accepted, then I will do the work to decide (on my own time) if I'll go or don't go.

Based on your OP, you said if you dont get into a specific two schools you probably will not attend any of them. I am not saying rush into a decision, but if you are waitlisted on any programs that you are not interested at all in anymore, inform the schools. Many students would like to get into these schools. Just like you waited to hear (and are still waiting) others do not even have a "safety school" yet.

 

[psych4ever]

Hey,
I haven't read the whole conversation but I can relate the Who Am I's situation. Last year I applied all over the place (11 universities, mostly in Canada, as I am from Toronto). After 2 interviews at Ontario schools, I received an offer to a school that is 15 hours driving from Toronto (and not the most reputable school), from the DCT (clinical psych). I had applied anywhere to ensure that I would get in but when I realized that taking a year off and working in research would increase my chances of getting into a top Canadian school (or anything with a stronger research orientation and better reputation than the one I had received an offer from) I declined the offer.
This year I had AMAZING experiences, conducting research and helping with manuscript writing and more. I networked and met amazing people in the field. I have now been offered a position at my top two choices and have accepted with my top choice of professor.
If you are not sure about the university you have been offered a position at, and are more or less confident that you will have more opportunities if you take another year to build on your experiences, then I say take the year off... 6-7 years at a school that isn't going to give you what you want, is not the best idea. But again, if you don't think another year will improve your chances then you should take it.

I hope this helps. All the best!

 

[Who Am I]

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[psychgrad10]

Personally, I'd be too afraid that if I set this goal next year that I would get into a better program it wouldn't happen. I'm too afraid of karma to take that kind of chance. If I got accepted into an ok program, I think I would be happy because many other people DIDN'T get in...

I guess that's just one of the many differences btwn you and I. There's usually very little gained without risks. So, sure I may not get accepted to my ideal schools (TC & CUNY) next year. But, I subscribe to the notion that positive thinking and productive action yield outstanding results --well, sometimes. I'm SMH in disbelief...cause I'd imagine you'd think it's a great idea to settle for any mate rather than wait for the best boyfriend/girlfriend that compliments you. As others have stated, impressions change after interviews and sometimes it's intelligent to apply to all sorts of schools b/c having options (in any & every thing) is a beautiful thing and often leads to better choices. Ultimately, I don't give 2 craps if other applicants "would be happy" about an acceptance to any school.


However, I do hope that such applicants get accepted to some school. 😍

Well one... I'm already engaged and I don't believe in settling. So yeah, I take offense to that one (sorry)

and I understand impressions change, I got into my top school and I would never pass that up. I wasn't saying be happy about any acceptance, I just meant that if it's a good school, I wouldn't chance passing it up and MAYBE getting into a dream school.

And as for not giving a crap about other applicants, I was just saying thats how I would handle it, because other people are in the same boat.

 

[VeggieDelight]

Oh my. There's no clear right/wrong here, so as long as you've considered your alternatives and the implications of your decision, good for you!

I completely understand, however, what Who Am I is saying. Like many, I started this whole application process with the mindset of if I'm accepted anywhere (and I mean ANYWHERE), I'll take it and run. Given that it's so competitive, it seemed crazy not to think anything else. But after one of my interviews (and before I had any offers at all), I decided I would not be attending. Sure, I'd get good training, but I wouldn't be happy, and would always wonder 'what if'. Ultimately, the question you have to ask yourself is if you can live with not knowing what would have happened, or if it is easier to live with knowing what happens and having an undesirable outcome. I decided the latter for me, but I should mention I do have a full-time job and was considering a few other program (not clinical psych but related) options should I be completely rejected this cycle.

So, basically, and as simplistic as it may sound, will you be happy (good school or otherwise)?? 5-7 yrs is a huge chunk, especially at this 'crossroads' point in our lives.

 

[psychFTW]

Ultimately, I don't give 2 craps if other applicants "would be happy" about an acceptance to any school.

And ultimately we don't give 2 craps about you being accepted and deciding to reapply

 

[Who Am I]

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[cara susanna]

I think this is a very emotional time for many people and hearing about how you're turning down an offer because you want to wait for a more highly-ranked school is probably very irritating to them. Not that you shouldn't have posted this, but do understand where they're coming from. Especially when you say that you don't care about other applicants. This is such a cut-throat process that people like to have a sense of camaraderie.

Btw, there is actually a lot of research about how we shouldn't sit around and wait for our perfect soulmate.

 

[Who Am I]

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[zzzz2]

It's not even about the rank, it's about the fit and my perceived chemistry. I understand this is an emotional time for applicants, however it's also tuff for people accepted and not accepted. I don't advocate sitting and waiting for anything...espescially perfection in another human, which never exists. Again, I hope people seeking ANY program find something. I'm just not one of those people.

It sounds like you already made up your mind about reapplying regardless. It's only natural that people respond to your decision because you made a post about it.

 

[chasingadream]

Personally, I'd be too afraid that if I set this goal next year that I would get into a better program it wouldn't happen. I'm too afraid of karma to take that kind of chance. If I got accepted into an ok program, I think I would be happy because many other people DIDN'T get in...

I guess that's just one of the many differences btwn you and I. There's usually very little gained without risks. So, sure I may not get accepted to my ideal schools (TC & CUNY) next year. But, I subscribe to the notion that positive thinking and productive action yield outstanding results --well, sometimes. I'm SMH in disbelief...cause I'd imagine you'd think it's a great idea to settle for any mate rather than wait for the best boyfriend/girlfriend that compliments you. As others have stated, impressions change after interviews and sometimes it's intelligent to apply to all sorts of schools b/c having options (in any & every thing) is a beautiful thing and often leads to better choices. Ultimately, I don't give 2 craps if other applicants "would be happy" about an acceptance to any school.

However, I do hope that such applicants get accepted to some school. 😍

wow. really? wow. i'm not sure i've ever seen someone write something so blatantly selfish and snotty. you ask people their advice as you struggle with a decision and when they try to be understanding and help you then lash out at them and make assertions about their life choices and relationships? may i ask why someone devoid of empathy for their future colleagues and who does not "give 2 craps" about others wants to go into a human services field? it seems your "positive thinking" may be narcissistic, immature or deluded thinking. perhaps another year would be helpful in addressing that.

yes, there are plenty of people who will be very happy at schools that aren't big names because they will be doing work that they love. i think i know who won't be happy in their program- your future classmates (if you get in next year).

 

[CounselingGirl]

wow. really? wow. i'm not sure i've ever seen someone write something so blatantly selfish and snotty. you ask people their advice as you struggle with a decision and when they try to be understanding and help you then lash out at them and make assertions about their life choices and relationships? may i ask why someone devoid of empathy for their future colleagues and who does not "give 2 craps" about others wants to go into a human services field? it seems your "positive thinking" may be narcissistic, immature or deluded thinking. perhaps another year would be helpful in addressing that.

yes, there are plenty of people who will be very happy at schools that aren't big names because they will be doing work that they love. i think i know who won't be happy in their program- your future classmates (if you get in next year).

I agree.

It's true that we're all competing with each other for spots in the same programs... but we're also all going through the struggle of the application/interview process. I haven't felt any animosity towards anyone at my interviews just because we wanted the same spot. I actually enjoyed talking with them and connecting with them, because we were going through the same thing. Perhaps the OP should engage in some self-reflection, because lacking empathy can be a big problem in this profession.

 

[psychFTW]

Then why bother adding your 2 cents to this thread?! Sounds like you're feeling pissy about your own PhD status and jealous. Grow up! Better yet, go find your own acceptance.

Jealous? Why? Because you were accepted into a program to which I didn't even apply? Can't imagine how grand and powerful you would feel with multiple acceptances...

I posted because you needed to be called out 👎

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

MOD NOTE: Sometimes it is helpful to take a break from SDN and decompress. -t4c


The application cycle can be stressful, so it is important to be aware of what we write and how we write it. It isn't productive to make snarky comments at others, and it tends to devolve the discussion.

 

[emilier05]

speaking of devolving the discussion...

i thought the title of this thread would be helpful to me, but maybe i'll make my own if no one responds in a productive manner...

i'm sure there are people out there who have applied multiple years, and I was just wondering what other people did to boost their CVs? There's working in a research lab or getting applicable employment or volunteering, but I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas from real life? Where I am, both paid research assistantships and employment in the psychology-related field are few and far between (I've been trying all through my undergrad and only volunteering at research labs) so i might go for the volunteer route--at a mental health facility or whatever.

Any ideas? I obviously didn't get accepted for a reason, so I'll need to do something for the next eight months!

 

[PsyDWannabe]

....ummm...yeah, nearly suffocating while on the phone with you is my strategy for getting an offer of acceptance...

Some people lack self awareness to a terrifying extent......thinking their stuff does not stink, forgetting that they were in this position a while ago.

 

[txpsychstudent]

speaking of devolving the discussion...

i thought the title of this thread would be helpful to me, but maybe i'll make my own if no one responds in a productive manner...

i'm sure there are people out there who have applied multiple years, and I was just wondering what other people did to boost their CVs? There's working in a research lab or getting applicable employment or volunteering, but I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas from real life? Where I am, both paid research assistantships and employment in the psychology-related field are few and far between (I've been trying all through my undergrad and only volunteering at research labs) so i might go for the volunteer route--at a mental health facility or whatever.

Any ideas? I obviously didn't get accepted for a reason, so I'll need to do something for the next eight months!

I didn't get in my first round and decided to go to master's program. it doesn't give you a leg up necessarily, but it gave me the research experience i needed and 2 internships to develop my clinical skills. it also happened to be within the school that i wanted to go to, so i developed a lot of contacts. in the end, a lot of people in my program decided not to apply to ph.d. programs because they just wanted to work...and at least you would have the option of getting an LPC and working afterwards should you decide not to apply again.

 

[treetreemonster]

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[jnine]

really do your homework on what admissions committees are looking for, the programs that you're applying to, and why you're so passionate about the field. review the literature in the area that you want to work. get a lot of feedback on your SOP.

speaking of devolving the discussion...

i thought the title of this thread would be helpful to me, but maybe i'll make my own if no one responds in a productive manner...

i'm sure there are people out there who have applied multiple years, and I was just wondering what other people did to boost their CVs? There's working in a research lab or getting applicable employment or volunteering, but I was wondering if anyone had any other ideas from real life? Where I am, both paid research assistantships and employment in the psychology-related field are few and far between (I've been trying all through my undergrad and only volunteering at research labs) so i might go for the volunteer route--at a mental health facility or whatever.

Any ideas? I obviously didn't get accepted for a reason, so I'll need to do something for the next eight months!

 

[Waiting4Change]

Well, the economy is projected to improve by next year's application season. Thus, in all likelihood, there wil be fewer applicants.

That's interesting... My top choice is DU. Last year I was waitlisted, this year no interview. I think it was you that informed me of their increase in applicants this year. I had an interview at a different school last weekend but have mixed feelings about it, and will have to think long and hard about whether I'll go there if I get accepted. But maybe I should also consider trying again for DU next year... Any thoughts on applying a third time? God. Just typing that sentence made me frown.

 

[Jezebel09]

That's interesting... My top choice is DU. Last year I was waitlisted, this year no interview. I think it was you that informed me of their increase in applicants this year. I had an interview at a different school last weekend but have mixed feelings about it, and will have to think long and hard about whether I'll go there if I get accepted. But maybe I should also consider trying again for DU next year... Any thoughts on applying a third time? God. Just typing that sentence made me frown.

I don't know anything about DU specifically, so if I did say anything, it was just a general observation about the increase in applicants this year nationwide. But, applications to programs increase every year. With the economy, however, it has just been that much worse this year.

 

[robinsena]

That's interesting... My top choice is DU. Last year I was waitlisted, this year no interview. I think it was you that informed me of their increase in applicants this year. I had an interview at a different school last weekend but have mixed feelings about it, and will have to think long and hard about whether I'll go there if I get accepted. But maybe I should also consider trying again for DU next year... Any thoughts on applying a third time? God. Just typing that sentence made me frown.

People may disagree with this, but I am a firm believer in the adage "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Of course you should NOT go to a school where you are sure you'd be miserable, but if you have other choices this year of schools you can attend that are reputable, provide good guidance and training, and will make you a competitive applicant for internship, then I would go for it. There is a chance you may get an interview at DU next year, but there is also a chance that you may not be accepted. I would advise everyone who is in a similar situation to think about long-term goals when making a decision about reapplying rather than focus on the disappointment some people may feel that they did not get the school of their choice. For some people that may mean playing the odds again and applying next year. For others, it may mean being happy with the offers they've gotten and committing to one.

 

[Annakei]

Ive been accepted as well but not at my top choice. Currently going back and forth about attending another school but I am leaning more towards trying again for my top choice in a program. I would rather be happy where I am than miserable because I just wanted to get in some where.

 

[Jezebel09]

Ive been accepted as well but not at my top choice. Currently going back and forth about attending another school but I am leaning more towards trying again for my top choice in a program. I would rather be happy where I am than miserable because I just wanted to get in some where.

Do you really think you would be miserable at this school? If so, definitely!, wait another year and try again for your top pick. In the whole scheme of life, 4-7 years is a drop in the bucket, but it is a long time while you're in it. And, that would be a long time to be miserable.

 

[jnine]

Ive been accepted as well but not at my top choice. Currently going back and forth about attending another school but I am leaning more towards trying again for my top choice in a program. I would rather be happy where I am than miserable because I just wanted to get in some where.

i feel your situation. im a third timer myself!

1st application process 1 for 5 - Accepted to Fielding Graduate Institute

politely declined.

2nd go around 1 for 7 - accepted to great professional school

politely declined.

3rd go around - applied to 13 programs and got into my top and second choice.

I learned so much about applying the second time, a lot from SDN, that it made me a really competetive candidate. I also switched from clincal psych to school which naturally helped a lot by the numebrs. the improvement in my application between go arounds 2 and 3 was a night and day difference. mostly because i learned what programs are looking for, and how to relate a higly diverse set experiences to my present goals in a cogent essay.

all in all, i am glad that I was rejected the first two times (school psych is a much better fit for my interests) and glad that i declined the acceptances. my disclaimer is that this is just one person's experience and is to be taken with a grain of salt.

best of luck everyone!

 

[psychgirl77]

I'm wondering why a lot of people are applying to schools they wouldn't want to go to. Did this just happen after interviewing? If that's the case it makes sense, but otherwise it seems like a waste of money to apply to places that you wouldn't want to go to if accepted.

 

[hamsterpants]

I don't know anything about DU specifically, so if I did say anything, it was just a general observation about the increase in applicants this year nationwide. But, applications to programs increase every year. With the economy, however, it has just been that much worse this year.

good point

also, historically even though the economy has rebounded from a recession, unemployment will take longer to come down. So if the economy is in a better place next year, that does not mean less people will be out of work - it may take 2 years (or more).

 

[adler3]

Kind of weird to divulge this much info on a public forum, but it sounds like some other people are facing the same decisions that I did, so here are my thoughts/experiences…feel free to take ‘em or leave ‘em!

Application round #1: applied during my senior year of undergrad. Applied to 8-9 clinical psych PhD programs, got 4 interviews, was waitlisted then rejected at my top choice, turned down 2 acceptances. One school I really liked going into the interview but came out of the interview wanting to get as far away as possible. The other I was on the fence about, almost accepted, but ultimately just didn’t feel right. I wasn’t sold in heading into grad school immediately anyway, so I decided to work for a while and reapply. I got a full-time job as a research assistant in a great lab that I love.

Application round #2: applied to 10 clin psych PhD programs (more research-oriented), got 3 interviews (including 1 at my über top choice), got 1 offer that I accepted. Then, during the summer I was informed that I would not be able to work with the prof I was accepted to work with. (Bizarre set of extenuating circumstances, no one’s fault, yada yada yada.) I had a painful decision to make: just be grateful that I got in and attend, even though the research match was no longer there, or withdraw my acceptance and re-apply. (Re-re-apply, actually.) Some people were telling me what an honor it is to be accepted anywhere, grad school is what you make of it, it’s only 5 years of your life, etc; others were saying match/mentorship is the most important thing in a grad school decision, grad school’s hard enough as it is without going into it already disappointed, grad school is where you start your career trajectory and it needs to be a trajectory you’re interested in, and so on. I was afraid of going and hating it, and I was afraid of not going and then getting rejected again and hating myself for missing my one opportunity. Eventually decided to withdraw and apply again.

Application round #3: Fall 2009. Horrible. Excruciating. Wracked with self-doubt the whole way. (Why in the world would I expect a better outcome this time around? What am I going to do when April 15th comes and I still have nowhere to go?) Decided something was wrong with the core of my character. (What is wrong with me that I’ve turned multiple offers? Am I incredibly conceited? Delusional? Bent on sabotaging my career before it even starts? Just a run-of-the-mill idiot?) Cried a lot. Applied to 12 PhD programs (research-oriented), got 6 interviews at incredible programs (5 of 6 ranked USN 30 or higher), got 2 offers, 2 rejections, and withdrew from the other 2. Officially accepted one offer today, which I’m completely over the moon about. I feel like I’ve fallen into someone else’s life, because I never dreamed things could work out so well. It’s still sinking in that this is actually happening.

Here’s the bottom line, according to me: applying a third time is horrible. I’ve never questioned/doubted myself so much in my life. It’s also lonely, because a lot of people will disapprove of your decision to turn down an acceptance and have little sympathy for you as you deal with the stress of the application process, because you brought in on yourself. As always, there’s a strong chance that it won’t turn out well, and it’s hard to deal with that uncertainty for another year. (We’re all acquainted with this process enough to know that there’s no predicting how things will come together…or fall apart.)

All that being said, it can be worth it, depending on your motivations. If you think the program is a good fit but lacks “prestige” or something, I think you could be setting yourself up for a serious and costly disappointment. If the program does not have a tradition of preparing students for success in the field you want to enter (academia, clinical practice, etc), that is a major consideration and probably a solid reason to withdraw and reapply. If the program isn’t a good match (personality conflict with your mentor, research isn’t interesting to you) and you don’t think you’ll be happy there, then reapplying might well be in your best interests. It all depends, and unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing the outcome ahead of time.

Final words of advice: if you do reapply, I would very strongly encourage you to have a solid backup plan, because again, there’s a strong chance that it won’t come together this time. (My backup was to apply to public health research programs with mental health concentrations, which are much less competitive—hello, +20% acceptance rates!) Also, make sure that you have the ability to substantially change your application between now and application season. (Do you have some publications under consideration that you might be able to add to your CV? Ideas for posters that could be accepted at a conference by next fall? Opportunities to volunteer to get more experience with your population of interest? Money for classes to help you improve your GRE scores?) Most importantly, do whatever you can to get more feedback on your application from clinical psychology professors who are on admissions committees and/or recently accepted clinical psych students. My biggest change from Round 2 to Round 3 was in my personal statement; the more examples of successful essays for clinical psych (NOT other disciplines) that I read, the more I saw how my essays needed to be improved.

Thus concludes the world’s longest post. 🙂 Good luck with your decision!!

 

[Psleepless]

Application round #3: Fall 2009. Horrible. Excruciating. Wracked with self-doubt the whole way. (Why in the world would I expect a better outcome this time around? What am I going to do when April 15th comes and I still have nowhere to go?) Decided something was wrong with the core of my character. (What is wrong with me that I’ve turned multiple offers? Am I incredibly conceited? Delusional? Bent on sabotaging my career before it even starts? Just a run-of-the-mill idiot?) Cried a lot. Applied to 12 PhD programs (research-oriented), got 6 interviews at incredible programs (5 of 6 ranked USN 30 or higher), got 2 offers, 2 rejections, and withdrew from the other 2. Officially accepted one offer today, which I’m completely over the moon about. I feel like I’ve fallen into someone else’s life, because I never dreamed things could work out so well. It’s still sinking in that this is actually happening.

Very happy for you adler3! Good luck to the re-apply-ers!

 

[hamsterpants]

Thanks for some wise advice. I am glad you decided to divulge.

It sounds like you got the outcome this year that you richly deserve, although I am sorry you had to go through such a rough third time.

If I was told that I would not be able to work with my chosen mentor and in my chosen research area (and there was not an extremely close second match) at a school I had accepted, I for one, would do the same and withdraw and try again. Though I know that would be more nerve wracking if it were 2nd time and I had turned down a school my 1st time.

Hmm, I may look into those public health programs though. They sound interesting.

Kind of weird to divulge this much info on a public forum, but it sounds like some other people are facing the same decisions that I did, so here are my thoughts/experiences…feel free to take ‘em or leave ‘em!.....