Applying during undergrad

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Hi all. I want to get some perspective from those who have applied for doctoral programs during their senior year of undergrad. It seems a bit daunting to apply to 10-15 programs while completing a thesis and senior classes. I've read the Insider's Guide and similar publications, but I'm missing a first-person perspective. What was your experience? Advice, stories, and questions from fellow undergrads would be much appreciated!

I'm trying to gauge how undergrad applicants are perceived during the application process—especially interviews. For those of you who obtained an acceptance (or multiple) during your senior year, what do you think was critical to your success? Beyond the standard interview questions, are there questions that current undergrads should especially anticipate?

Finally, I would be interested to hear from anyone who applied, was accepted, and then decided to decline in favor of applying to different/better programs the next year.

 

[wigflip]

Finally, I would be interested to hear from anyone who applied, was accepted, and then decided to decline in favor of applying to different/better programs the next year.

I know someone who did this, not in psych, but another discipline. It was before the economy crashed, so there might have been more leeway for package negotiations back then. But the first year s/he only got in to one school. Reapplied the next and got in at much better places, practically everywhere. Because s/he was in demand, s/he was able to get a much better funding package, even though s/he ended up accepting at the same school s/he got into the first time around. Don't know if any of that translates to psych, today's economy...

 

[Jeina]

Hi all. I want to get some perspective from those who have applied for doctoral programs during their senior year of undergrad. It seems a bit daunting to apply to 10-15 programs while completing a thesis and senior classes. I've read the Insider's Guide and similar publications, but I'm missing a first-person perspective. What was your experience? Advice, stories, and questions from fellow undergrads would be much appreciated!

I'm trying to gauge how undergrad applicants are perceived during the application process—especially interviews. For those of you who obtained an acceptance (or multiple) during your senior year, what do you think was critical to your success? Beyond the standard interview questions, are there questions that current undergrads should especially anticipate?

Finally, I would be interested to hear from anyone who applied, was accepted, and then decided to decline in favor of applying to different/better programs the next year.

I applied straight out of undergrad last year and was offered a spot at five funded programs. It was so hard to decide between my top two, both of which were great programs for me; I definitely didn't consider applying again another year! Applying during senior year was tough, and I do think I missed out on some of the relaxation, fun, and celebration of senior year. However, the payoff in being able to go straight on to a grad program was worth it for me. Ah, I could write a book about my application experience, but I have to get to a lab meeting now. Let me know if you have any specific questions for me, and I'll find some time to add to these comments. Overall, don't be discouraged. It is possible to get into a good program right out of undergrad, even in today's economy.

 

[applyingtograd]

if you don't mind me asking how much research experience did you have and what were your GRE scores like? Also, how many schools did you apply to and were they a wide range of schools?
Thanks so much!

 

[PsychPhDone]

I applied to 14 programs during my senior year, all top-tier, fully-funded, research-focused programs. I got 3 interviews but only landed high on waitlists, no accepts for me. However, it worked out really great for me because I got great RA job options and used those 2 years to get my vita in gear without the stress of classes, and second time around went much better. I was the only undergrad interviewing at 2 of my interviews. It seems to depend on the year and the POI when it comes to taking people straight out of undergrad.

I wish you the best of luck in applying -- it's not easy doing all that during the demands of senior year! Beef up on individual studies/flexible classes for spring semester when interviews start!

 

[dumbledoresgirl]

This turned out to be a little longer than I thought it would be, but hopefully you find this at least a little helpful 🙂

I applied during my senior year and got interviews at 5 programs; I was accepted at 4 of those 5 (although not all of them were fully funded). I am attending a fully funded program starting this August. I think only 2 of us in my cohort are straight out of undergrad.

I was also completing a senior thesis during that time, not to mention working 20+ hours/week. It definitely wasn't easy, but I don't think it was that bad either. IMO, the key is to start getting everything together in the summer (including having your GREs out of the way). Before the semester started, I already had the packets ready for all of my letter of recommendation writers and I had already written my SOP. I was also able to fill out parts of the applications during the first week in September, before things got too hectic. Filling out the applications did take up a lot of time, but having everything ready to go really made everything go smoothly. I should also mention that I only applied to 9 schools--I am sure it would be a lot more work had I applied to 15.

One thing to note about LOR writers: don't trust them with deadlines! It's simply not worth your future, regardless of how responsible you think they are. They have busy lives, and it only takes one letter writer forgetting to submit their letter to screw up your applications. I gave everyone their packets by the second week of school (roughly September 14) and told them my deadline was November 1st (even though none of my letters were due at that time). I was lucky that all of my LOR writers got the letters in on time (i.e., by November 1st), but I made sure that I had a month "grace period" for myself in case one of them had something come up and couldn't get it in on time.

As for what to expect at interviews...at least in my experience, I don't think it was any different than it was for other applicants. I was never asked anything about applying straight out of undergrad and no one ever said anything to me about not being ready or "do you think you would benefit from taking a year off." I was asked pretty standard interview questions.

I think the main thing to worry about is not coming off as a silly, immature undergrad. Faculty want to make sure that you are emotionally and intellectually mature enough to take on graduate-level work and responsibilities; therefore, talking about all the partying you did at your big-10 undergrad school is grossly inappropriate (even if it's just around the grad students). I was next to someone while they were discussing their frequent nights out at the clubs (when a professor was standing right next to us 😱), and I can't even describe the professor's facial expression when they heard that. Needless to say, that person was not accepted. Just focus on being yourself and conveying your passion for research, and you will be fine (again, as long as you don't do or say anything really inappropriate).

My one other suggestion is to make sure you have really well-defined research interests and you are able to talk about them eloquently. In one of my group interviews, they asked each of us to talk about what we're interested in. The person next to me said "well, I think depression is really interesting...um...especially treatment for depression...and uh...also..um... yeah." I think that person might have just been super nervous (she has actually spoken to me about her research interests at the dinner we had the night before, and they're a lot more specific and thought-out than how it came off at the interview). So my advice to you: practice your answers ahead of time! Before I went on interviews, I made a list of questions I might be asked and literally wrote out my answers for each one. I also practiced saying them out loud, just to hear what it sounds like (you'd be amazed at how something could sound so incredibly great when it's written but so incredibly awkward when you actually have to say it).

Anyway, because you are competing against applicants who have taken time off, they might have more research experience than you or have had more time to think about what they want to research. So you want to make sure you are able to say "I am interested in the effects of x on y, and I think this [insert study idea] would be a really cool way to study that." I'm not saying you necessarily have to have a thesis idea all mapped out--just something that would be nice to have. I've actually been asked "if you have unlimited funding and resources, what study would you do for your thesis?" That question really caught me off guard, but I was lucky that I already had an idea in mind that was related to the professor's current research. Just something to think about 🙂

I will also mention that I graduated early (December of my senior year), so when I went on interviews I was already out of school. It would have been really difficult to miss classes and research hours while at interviews, and I can't really weigh into the difficulty of doing that (other than telling you that I've heard from others that it's pretty stressful).

For the sake of not making this into an essay, I won't continue to bore you with my oh so great words of wisdom But if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me or add questions to this thread. Good luck!

 

[cara susanna]

Most people will be applying straight out of undergrad unless you're shooting for top R1 institutions. I got in right out of undergrad and so did most of my cohort.

 

[Jeina]

if you don't mind me asking how much research experience did you have and what were your GRE scores like? Also, how many schools did you apply to and were they a wide range of schools?
Thanks so much!

Okay, to answer your questions: My GPA was 4.0, and my GRE scores were 710 V and 760 Q (no idea what that translates to in the new system, sorry!). I was involved in research continuously starting in my freshman year, was working on my senior thesis, had received a university fellowship to do my research, had one article in press, and had something like 3 poster presentations on my CV. I applied to a bunch of schools, more than ended up being necessary, as I ultimately rejected some interview invites. I applied to a lot because I had several people tell me that I would be at a major disadvantage by applying straight from undergrad. Thankfully, that wasn't how things turned out! I did apply to a range of programs, though all were fully funded. I applied to research-heavy programs and wasn't geographically limited. Does that help answer your questions? Also, I saw your PM and will respond as soon as I can.

 

[roubs]

Okay, to answer your questions: My GPA was 4.0, and my GRE scores were 710 V and 760 Q (no idea what that translates to in the new system, sorry!). I was involved in research continuously starting in my freshman year, was working on my senior thesis, had received a university fellowship to do my research, had one article in press, and had something like 3 poster presentations on my CV. I applied to a bunch of schools, more than ended up being necessary, as I ultimately rejected some interview invites. I applied to a lot because I had several people tell me that I would be at a major disadvantage by applying straight from undergrad. Thankfully, that wasn't how things turned out! I did apply to a range of programs, though all were fully funded. I applied to research-heavy programs and wasn't geographically limited. Does that help answer your questions? Also, I saw your PM and will respond as soon as I can.

I think this is a good case study 🙂 An applicant like you with ideal qualifications is not at a "major disadvantage" due to applying from undergrad. Lining up all your ducks in undergrad seriously boosts your shot at multiple acceptances. The whole straight from undergrad thing seems to apply for people on the cusp w/their other qualifications.

 

[perhaps11]

I applied as a senior just this past year and I received 5 interviews and 2 acceptances and I am starting this fall in a fully-funded R1 Ph.D program. The only way that the other interviewees even knew that I was still in undergrad was if I mentioned it. If you have solid research experience and are able to communicate your interests and plans for future research in a clear, concise and creative manner, then you are in a good position. I think it is also important to be confident in your abilities and really look the part when you are at your interviews. If/when you get interviews, think and act like you deserve to be a grad student and as long as you are genuine and not cocky, you will come off as a mature researcher who simply is too eager to wait a couple of years to really get your career going 😉. Heck, you may even find that this could work to your advantage. It worked for me, but then again every case is different. Good luck to you! PM me if you need any additional advice or whatever.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

I applied and attended grad school straight from undergrad. I do remember it was hard to juggle applying to grad school with other responsibilities. That year I had to stay at school over Thanksgiving to do apps. Also, I ended up getting lots of interviews, creating a very busy travel schedule in the spring. In fact, for the 1st and only time in my life, I dropped a class second semester senior year because I was so over-loaded (it was just an extra class, so it didn't matter). So, do what you can over the summer and don't over-commit yourself during your senior year.

Also, re: taking a year off. Not only should you consider what would make you an attractive candidate, but you also need consider what would best for you as a person. During my program I often thought that I would have been better prepared for the politics of grad school and better able to stand up for myself if I had had a year or two more of maturity and work experience. While I was academically prepared, I wasn't prepared for the nastiness, competitiveness, and disrespect that I experienced.

(Whenever I mention my grad school I need to qualify it by saying that it was a very unhealthy environment with several cruel faculty members. I'm told not every place is as bad as what I experienced, but I still think my previous paragraph is worth considering.)


Dr. E

 

[psyched11]

IMO, the key is to start getting everything together in the summer (including having your GREs out of the way). Before the semester started, I already had the packets ready for all of my letter of recommendation writers and I had already written my SOP. I was also able to fill out parts of the applications during the first week in September, before things got too hectic.

One thing to note about LOR writers: don't trust them with deadlines! It's simply not worth your future, regardless of how responsible you think they are. They have busy lives, and it only takes one letter writer forgetting to submit their letter to screw up your applications.

This! I applied my senior year to 17 programs. I got started with everything in the summer and had packets to send out to all my LOR writers with calendars, an SOP draft, and information on who I was applying to work with finished before the semester began.

Also echoing dumbledoresgirl, make sure to remind your LOR when letters are due. I forgot to do this a couple of times, and some LOR were received late. Definitely remember to stay on top of you application -- your LOR writers are making time out of their busy schedules to help you out. Make their job as easy as possible by giving them all the documents they need, pre-stamped envelopes, and reminding them (gently, of course) of upcoming deadlines.

Of the 17 programs I got interview invitations for 7 schools (both R1 programs and less competitive but reputable PhD programs), attended 5, and was wait listed at one top tier program and accepted into one reputable program. My heart was set on the program where I was waitlisted, but I was prepared to accept the other offer... until I found out I wouldn't be receiving funding. I ultimately turned down the offer, did not get off the wait list at the other program, and landed a lab manager position in a psychology lab. I'll be re-applying to programs again this fall.

Applying senior year was definitely a challenge. I was writing my senior thesis fall semester, working, putting in hours in my lab, and still taking a full (albeit reduced) class load. Due to being away at interviews or working on application, I missed out on some senior activities and definitely missed a lot of class when interviewing. It's a stressful process and you'll have to make a few social and financial sacrifices to make it through with your sanity intact, but I would still go through it again.

That said, I am very happy that I did not accept the grad program I was admitted into. Things definitely work out for the best sometimes! 🙂

 

[mcvcm92]

Most people will be applying straight out of undergrad unless you're shooting for top R1 institutions. I got in right out of undergrad and so did most of my cohort.

This thread really scared me until I read this post... so it seems like time off between undergrad and Psy.D/Ph.D programs is more common in "research-oriented" institutions where being a RA or lab manager would be helpful in getting accepted. Also, Psy.D programs (for the most part) have higher acceptance rates, so more undergrads can probably get accepted.

 

[Jeina]

This thread really scared me until I read this post... so it seems like time off between undergrad and Psy.D/Ph.D programs is more common in "research-oriented" institutions where being a RA or lab manager would be helpful in getting accepted. Also, Psy.D programs (for the most part) have higher acceptance rates, so more undergrads can probably get accepted.

I'm at an extremely research-oriented program and came straight out of undergrad, though to be fair, I'm the only one in my cohort of nine who did so.

 

[Pragma]

I waited a year after undergrad before applying, mostly due to other big life plans I had (e.g., travel) and my desire to make a little money at an applicable job before becoming a student again. I did get my GREs done early enough to have the option, but elected not to apply until the following year.

I have never heard of it being a problem to come straight from undergrad. I'd say probably around 40% of the students in my program were direct form undergrad (the cohorts I am familiar with).

That said, I think pulling it off depends on what your schedule is like during your senior year. I worked 30 hours a week and took a full time course load. It would have been tough to apply on top of those time obligations, and also hard financially. If you are one of those lucky people who has your parents support you financially as an undergraduate, you may not have to work as much during that time and completing applications/interviews may be more realistic.

So in sum, I don't think it would be a problem, but you want to have all of your ducks in a row. Personally, I would never give that extra year back - I had a lot of fun and was able to wind down a bit, get some good work experience, and enjoy life before getting back into the student groove.