Did everyone survive?

[Ollie123]

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Thought about just bumping the other thread but figured this warranted a new thread.

Seemed like a lot of us were starting today. Did everyone survive their first day as a graduate student? 😉

As I expected, I am going to love my Psychopathology class and not like my assessment class. I almost typed hate, but I realized its way too strong a word, I'm not sure I could really hate any psychology class in the way that I hated world civilizations or English lit. I'm just not a clinical person, but fortunately they take a VERY scientific stance to it, which should help immensely. Also found out my department has a track record for getting people into those elusive research-oriented internships (usually at least a couple from each class) so awesome!

It was nice to finally take what felt like a real class. Undergrad felt too much like high school. We didn't spend an hour reading the syllabi out loud, we have intellectual discussions as opposed to people throwing information at me and saying "Memorize this", etc. We're writing REAL papers as opposed to "Write about how this vaguely psychological movie influenced your views on x disorder".

If I'd known this is what the classes were like, I'd have applied to grad school when I was 12! Its going to be a massive amount of work, but I'm fine with that. I don't think I took a single remotely stimulating class in all of college.

 

[RayneeDeigh]

I don't start until the 6th, I haven't even moved yet. I feel so behind.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Ollie....you'll find that the work will probably be more than you can do at once, but that is the fun of grad school!

-t

 

[JockNerd]

I'm having a great time. In our first few days, we were told by administrators of all levels that now is not the time to care about course marks and we should focus on research (me = 😀). My classes are pretty core-level but they seem really interesting and I have some *great* profs. Course selection is a little confusing to me since it's very very different from my undergrad system. I just found out, though, that some of the minor program courses I want (stats and research methods) are offered over the summer. That's good, because I had no idea what I was going to do with those summer tuition waivers.

I love that I got a prof who's really dedicated to research. We're well into planning on the first project (meeting on wed. and hopefully I can make my masters committee and get things ready to submit my ethics stuff) and have the follow-up prettymuch set up for when that work is done. I had my first class taught by my advisor today and was so impressed by her.

It's also too damn hot here, and American money should be colour-coded like Canadian. You spell things incorrectly too. 😉 Also I'll be getting a scooter shortly (it really seems to be the primary mode of transport for students at my university).

 

[LosingMyMind]

I'm jealous... I'm still waiting for orientation to start on the 17th.

Good luck everyone!

 

[irish80122]

I am in the second week of my graduate school experience, and so far so good. One bummer I have found is that as I get more comfortable teaching I am better able to see what my class is doing and you wouldn't believe the amount of people texting or literally trying to sleep. What can you do though, I could crack down but it isn't worth my time IMO. It doesn't really bother me as far as teaching.

The classes aren't too bad but the reading is intense, I definitely am behind because of an escapade last night (there is a kitten who is homeless and roaming around the apartment complex. I set out with a friend to find them so I could have the kitten but we unfortunately struck out). People will tell you not to read everything but that is hard to do until you have a sense of what you do and do not need to read for 🙁. You just have to do the best you can though.

But long story short, yes, I think it is going very well so far. They haven't kicked me out yet, that is a plus!

 

[Salsybabe]

My first day of classes was yesterday. I had just one, Research Methods I, in which the main focus is going to be getting our qualifying paper together. The qualifying paper is sort of like a master's thesis, only they're teaching us how to write to get published in a journal and it's something we have to get completed by the fall semester of our third year. I think I will really like that class. The professor is really laid-back and is constantly joking around. He also seems very open to what our research interests are. I also have to get involved in a research team and although my advisor said that I have until the end of the semester to pick mine, I'm starting early and will be meeting with my POI hopefully this week or next.

Prior to my first day of classes I had orientation events to attend, starting on the 23rd, in which they gave us our handbook for the doctoral program and the orientation was basically a break-down of the doctoral program. I got to meet all the other acceptees. We were told that admissions was very competitive especially this year with so many applicants, and that we were the cream of the crop to get in. The last hour and half of the orientation, 3 advanced doctoral students in the program came in to answer our questions about the program after the program; they were also in the midst of taking their comprehensive exams, so we got to grill them some about that. They also told us about "graduate student imposter syndrome" and how most everyone goes through that.

I also had events to attend yesterday, (general department orientation and graduate assistantship orientation) so it was a pretty busy day for me. I have no classes today, but I do get to check out the rest of my classes Wednesday and Thursday. Plus more orientation stuff on Wednesday. I have the syllabus for my very intensive assessment class and lab on Thursday, and it's going to be a lot of work. But assessment is one of my main interests, so I'm looking forward to getting more experience in that. I also started my graduate assistantship on the 23rd and have done some tasks. The professor I work with is not in my program though, but working with him is going fine so well. So that's my summary so far of being a psychology doctoral student! It just confirmed that I made the right choice in picking my program. When I interviewed, I felt like it was where I belonged.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I am in the second week of my graduate school experience, and so far so good. One bummer I have found is that as I get more comfortable teaching I am better able to see what my class is doing and you wouldn't believe the amount of people texting or literally trying to sleep. What can you do though, I could crack down but it isn't worth my time IMO. It doesn't really bother me as far as teaching.

(My own bias/frustration)

Yeah....and we wonder why our students don't perform as well as international students....the teachers/professors can only do so much before we need the students to take more responsibility and actually put forth a real effort.

Actually....this may be a good topic to talk about further.....Teaching Tips, Discussion, and Venting.

The classes aren't too bad but the reading is intense.....People will tell you not to read everything but that is hard to do until you have a sense of what you do and do not need to read for 🙁. You just have to do the best you can though.

Talk to upper-classmen! That is what I did when I first started classes, and I got the run down of the profs, notes/outlines from previous classes, etc. I still made my own notes and did the reading, but it was nice to have an idea of what was most important AND what was coming up. It was never perfect, but it was better than having no direction.

-t

 

[RayneeDeigh]

The classes aren't too bad but the reading is intense, I definitely am behind because of an escapade last night (there is a kitten who is homeless and roaming around the apartment complex. I set out with a friend to find them so I could have the kitten but we unfortunately struck out).

Am I the only one that just went "awwwwwwwwwwwww"?

Actually I think that'll be the hardest adjustment for me, living without my cats.

I've done so little this summer, I fear I may have forgotten how to read altogether.

 

[paramour]

The classes aren't too bad but the reading is intense, I definitely am behind because of an escapade last night (there is a kitten who is homeless and roaming around the apartment complex. I set out with a friend to find them so I could have the kitten but we unfortunately struck out). People will tell you not to read everything but that is hard to do until you have a sense of what you do and do not need to read for 🙁. You just have to do the best you can though.

But long story short, yes, I think it is going very well so far. They haven't kicked me out yet, that is a plus!

I also am still attempting to read everything, even though there's quite a bit of it for each class.

Advice from professor in my master's program: Don't read everything; split the readings up between people in the class so at least one person has covered each section and can discuss it.

I never followed it then, but who knows, I may need to do it now. We shall see!

 

[Ollie123]

Had my other 2 classes today.

Overall, I actually think the readings are quite manageable this semester. Tons more than I did for undergrad, but that's no surprise and my undergrad was kind of a joke anyways. I should easily be able to do all of them if I want to (doesn't mean that I will since I might be better off spending that time doing research), but still. My school hasn't apparently been overhauling like crazy to cut down on classes, so I think its going to be great.

Glad to hear others are doing well though! I've been trying to brainstorm some topics for papers but its kind of scary, I've hit a brick wall in terms of "what to write about". I think its general grad school nerves, since everything I think about just doesn't seem good enough. Got all semester to write it though, so I suppose its not a disaster if I don't have a topic by Day 2🙂

 

[blindblonde]

I don't start until tomorrow. I had my orientation for the past couple of days and I'm definitely ready to get started. However, I just finished up the CITI training required for IRB at my school. 4 hours of modules and I wanted to put my head through a wall. I know its important, but it's a bit excessive.

Anyways, I'll post when I get back from Human Cognition tomorrow.

Good luck everyone!

 

[sukurux]

i haven't been this excited by class in a long time. talks of consciousness sent the tinglies down my back. have a good year everyone!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

i haven't been this excited by class in a long time. talks of consciousness sent the tinglies down my back. have a good year everyone!

Check back in when you are hating life...it will happen, but it will make the good days that much better. 😀

-t

 

[blindblonde]

Well, today wasn't too bad. Covered quite a bit of ground and took a lot of notes. But the crazy thing I actually can say is that on my first day of grad school, I was able to color with crayons (brain localization stuff). How crazy is that? I doubt my stats will be as forgiving tomorrow....

Ah well, at least I can enjoy the little things before I get totally bogged down with work.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Stats and Crayola....call me crazy (it is a clinical term!!), but I don't think you can repeat that feat!

Good luck with your classes!! I only have some electives yet......SWEET!

-t

 

[phd2006]

Stats and Crayola....call me crazy (it is a clinical term!!), but I don't think you can repeat that feat!

Easily doable -- histograms, boxplots, charts, line graphs, tables, easily identify groups when hand calculating ANOVAs, etc., -- you should see the number of dry erase markers I bring to class!! 😀

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Easily doable -- histograms, boxplots, charts, line graphs, tables, easily identify groups when hand calculating ANOVAs, etc., -- you should see the number of dry erase markers I bring to class!! 😀

See...that is the fun part of stats, when you can graph it!

I remember I took a stats class that would start with a simple enough graph (talking about theory), and then 10 minutes later it was just a BLOB of 4-5-6 different colors, a scribbled legend, and all sorts of dashes, dots, etc.

Good times!

-t

 

[Pekoe]

I am not in grad school yet but I am furious. Some of the people in my major are intelligent and others dominate every classes like they are group therapy. The profs start talking and it's like a Brownie mother's meeting where everyone has to give examples. It's not that they have to-- they just do.

Since we get graded on class participation, I make sure to say two or three things per class. ("There! I participated!") This isn't a problem with the profs but with my classmates.

My husband was texting me about five minutes after class started, "Are we having fun yet?"

I am in 300 and 400 level classes with people who make jokes about how people are treated in prisons. There humor isn't base as in the jokes that medical people make-- it's base as in junior high. Then one of my neighbors is taking a class with me. I don't like her-- nice enough person, but she had garage sales all summer long and her kid is kind of a turkey and he doesn't use his head and he comes by it naturally. He got kicked out of the elementary school (and it's all the principals fault. I don't like the principal because I think he's pretty flaccid, but I wouldn't want his job, either.) She started talking to me and I acted like I didn't hear her and kept reading and she hollered my name. I looked up and smiled, "Do I know you?"

"Yes! We are neighbors! Are you glad to get the kids out of the house?"

"What?!"

"You know! Back in schooool?"

"No. I am sad when summer ends. I enjoy my children."

"I'm homeschooling Franklin."

"Good for you."

She's someone who would offer to help me if I needed it but she annoys me.

It will be a long semester.

I like my Russian class though-- it's a bunch of science and business majors taking the class. I know the prof from her tutoring my older daughters in Russian. She is hilarious and my classmates are great-- the first day we all at rapt attention and shouting out answers and questions. High energy in there with everyone.

 

[socialcog]

See...that is the fun part of stats, when you can graph it!

I remember I took a stats class that would start with a simple enough graph (talking about theory), and then 10 minutes later it was just a BLOB of 4-5-6 different colors, a scribbled legend, and all sorts of dashes, dots, etc.

Good times!

-t

I am actually looking forward to, if not down-right excited to take, stats (should I get accepted to one of my schools)!! I never had the same opinion about stats historically. It's kind of weird. There might be something wrong with me. 🙂

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I am actually looking forward to, if not down-right excited to take, stats (should I get accepted to one of my schools)!! I never had the same opinion about stats historically. It's kind of weird. There might be something wrong with me. 🙂

When you 'get' stats....it can be quite fun. I trudged through some of it, but once I 'got' everything, it made the work a heck of a lot more interesting and meaningful.

-t

 

[terrybug]

almost through week one!
It's interesting to read posts from other people and realize how different each program is. Each school offers a completely different experience.
Is that good or bad?
All I know is I like my program a lot.

 

[RayneeDeigh]

I have officially moved!

Of course I got sick on the way here which is horribly inconvenient since I don't have a doctor out here yet, but that's just the way life goes.

Oh and the furniture store has "no record" of me ever ordering (or paying for) a sofabed. So I got to iron that out today to, which was fun.

But otherwise I'm surviving still. My mom's a nervous wreck over me moving out and I'm feeling a little guilty about it, but we'll work through it.

Classes don't start until the 6th so I've still got tons of time to worry.

 

[psychwanabe]

Sorg has a simliar thread going on...maybe they should be combined?

I had a rough start but I'm in week two and things are moving along okay. So far, I love all my classes and profs --- go figure! Assessment is going to be the biggest workload: we have three protocols due next week and we really don't even know how to score yet! It's fun learning with people who care about it as much as I do though. Stats is great and I am excited to finally feel more comfortable about which test to choose when. Clinical psychopathology is a hoot...our prof has a definite psychoanalytic bent which is a new perspective for us all. The reading is quite intense but I am not behind yet - woo-hoo two weeks in and I'm not behind! Wonder how long that will last?

I am feeling a little out of place in that I was always a loner in undergrad (no one studied the way I did or as much for that matter) and most of my class is moving in a herd. I am a non-traditional (read: older) student too so we have dissimilar lifestyles. I am working on bonding with them as I feel it's important for me and my success with this group. They are really a great bunch of people and we seem to all get along so far.

Has anyone else felt dumb yet? I have, a few times. Yuck. 🙁

 

[Ollie123]

I have a few times, but I've gotten to feel smart a few times too to make up for it🙂

Thank god for the self-validating aspects of being a computer nerd.

F'n nBack task dataset has me so friggin confused I just stammer when talking about it though, so there have been some downsides as well.

 

[psychwanabe]

I got a nice "you're right on track, let's talk about that" comment in class the other day. Yay.

I didn't get lost at all this week and got all my work done. My assessment class is a buttload of work, but I love it! All in all, I'm glad I'm here.

 

[RayneeDeigh]

My assessment class is insane too, in fact right now I'm trying to wade through the readings for it.

My advisor may also be ill... he hasn't shown up for meetings or contacted me to discuss when I can start my external funding proposal or research. I'm kind of worried that he won't be able to work this year but I'll have to be patient and wait.

I also have 240 TA hours for this year. That's crazy. I don't know how I'm going to do all of this.

Ah well. I'm here 'cause I want to be, right? lol

 

[paramour]

Assessment is NUTS! Does anyone else have to locate their own examinees? This is driving me bonkers. 😱 Yeah, the couple hundred pages each class is also slightly bothersome, but I'm more concerned with finding multiple kids to hijack from their parents in order to adminster a frakkin' test to them at this point.

 

[RayneeDeigh]

Assessment is NUTS! Does anyone else have to locate their own examinees? This is driving me bonkers. 😱 Yeah, the couple hundred pages each class is also slightly bothersome, but I'm more concerned with finding multiple kids to hijack from their parents in order to adminster a frakkin' test to them at this point.

Our prof recruits undergrads for guinea pig purposes for us. We have to videotape the sessions which scares me a bit.

 

[paramour]

Our prof recruits undergrads for guinea pig purposes for us. We have to videotape the sessions which scares me a bit.

Yeah, we have to do the videotaping as well. Oddly enough, this part does not bother me too much . . . yet. 🙄 I had to submit tapes for my sign language classes some years back and THAT was horrific. This *hopefully* won't be so bad.

And, everyone else I've spoken with are in programs that help find guinea pigs for assessment, whether they be children/adults. So, walking in to class on the first day to be told that you have to find your own people, children & others, sucks big time. 😡 'Tis forcing me to be social w/ total strangers when I really don't want to, gosh darn it all . . . . just so I can hit them up for their kids! I promise that I won't actually kidnap anyone. Not quite that desperate yet.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Assessment is NUTS! Does anyone else have to locate their own examinees? This is driving me bonkers. 😱

I hated that part, finding kids at least. I ended up meeting someone who's mom was a VP at a local elementary school. Getting the parents to sign off wasn't hard, but I had to bribe the kids with McD's to get them to do the tests....since it took quite a bit of time.

I was never a fan of any of the intelligences tests, but I enjoy some of the more interesting assessments (read: projectives).

-t

 

[Markro311]

I was never a fan of any of the intelligences tests, but I enjoy some of the more interesting assessments (read: projectives).

-t

Not specifically you, but that's what I feel is wrong with many psychologists today. They perform tests and assessments not because they feel they are the best instruments to use or because they've been empirically supported, but because they are interesting and fun to do for the psychologists.

At any rate, I'm just beginning my assessment class as well. Hopefully I don't end up hating the WISC and WAIS, because like others, my class seems like such a huge amount of work.

 

[Ollie123]

I believe our school recruits for us through the clinic. Thank god.

I don't think I'll have to take child assessment though...I'm debating whether I will anyways. I definitely greatly prefer to work with adults, and I can take neuropsych assessment instead of child assessment so I may do that. Strikes me as odd that my school allows it actually, but given I have zero interest in ever working with children, I'm not complaining🙂

 

[JockNerd]

Not specifically you, but that's what I feel is wrong with many psychologists today. They perform tests and assessments not because they feel they are the best instruments to use or because they've been empirically supported, but because they are interesting and fun to do for the psychologists.

Well... I'd say the value of a lot of the "empirically-validated" tests is exaggerated far beyond what the empirical and theoretical evidence justifies.

I don't take assessment until my second year, when I take it all year. My first year is 2 stats courses, a theories overview course, a history and issues course, pre-prac (ethics and things like that), a social psych proseminar, and a psychobio proseminar.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Not specifically you, but that's what I feel is wrong with many psychologists today. They perform tests and assessments not because they feel they are the best instruments to use or because they've been empirically supported, but because they are interesting and fun to do for the psychologists.

At any rate, I'm just beginning my assessment class as well. Hopefully I don't end up hating the WISC and WAIS, because like others, my class seems like such a huge amount of work.

Fair enough. For me it is about utilizing assessments that are clinically relevant. Some psychs like to have baseline assessments before they get started; I much prefer to work with the patient, and in the event I think something would be beneficial, then I'd explore it. I feel a proper clinical interview should suffice, unless there are known factors that necessitate testing. My orientation (psychodynamic) is much more interested in the person, and not how they score on the majority of assessments. (Though I admittedly think targeted assessments can make a big difference in Tx).

-t

 

[psychwanabe]

We have an subject pool from the UG's and they get credit while we practice on them. So far getting subjects has not been a problem. We do have to find our own kidlets, though which should be interesting. The WISC is taught around Thanksgiving though for the purpose of making it easy for us to go home and kidnap siblings/neices/nephews and any other unsuspecting child. We also do WMS this semester and then spring is MMPI I believe. We have stats all year too.

I'm already tired...is that bad??? 😱

 

[michalita]

I realize this is a thread for PsyD/PhD topics, but I just had to chime in. I just started my MSW program and my head is spinning. I'm also doing a graduate assistantship and 3 days of placement and working part-time and commuting an hour-and-a-half to school/assistantship, but hey, nothing like over-commitment, right?

Is there such a concept in the PhD programs as "there is no way you can do *all* the reading?"

Serves me right to be out of school for 6 years. Culture shock!😱

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Is there such a concept in the PhD programs as "there is no way you can do *all* the reading?"

Concept...it is a requirement!



-t

 

[RayneeDeigh]

I keep hearing that we can't do all the reading on here, but in class they tell us that we HAVE to, and the profs give us these stupid sheets where we have to write what we liked/disliked/understood/didn't understand about each chapter or article that's assigned. It's ridiculously hard. 🙁

 

[JockNerd]

I've got to say that I really like how up front about everything my grad program is. At grad student orientation the Dean of Grad Studies told us not to worry about grades, and focus on our research. At department orientation the department head told us to do our research and to not worry about classes and to learn to skim really well. Then the program training director told us to learn to love B's in coursework and focus our research goals. THEN the emeritus prof told us that we don't have to listen to anyone in the program but our adviser. I get this great "no-BS" vibe from faculty here. I verified when I got here that it was true that very nearly everyone graduates from here in 4 years (6 years is unheard of), with a slew of publications in really good journals. I think a big part of it is the program and faculty making a conscious decision to do what's best for students AND following through on that, which is not something I think very many programs do. I pick up no intradepartmental tension either (I'm sure there is some somewhere, but everyone at least keeps it under wraps).

Reading.... I read quickly anyway, but I've got to say from my short experience thus far that one skill that will serve you very well in grad school is learning to SKIM! I have hundreds of pages of readings a week... I read stuff relevant to my research in depth and for understanding, and I read everything else only to the depth necessary to carry on a conversation about it and write up a few discussion questions.🙂

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Get to know upper-classman! I used a number of outlines for classes, which helped me structure what I needed to learn, so when I did the reading, it was much less stressful.

Also..... "B = PhD"

-t

 

[phd2006]

...I don't think I'll have to take child assessment though...I'm debating whether I will anyways...

Before you decide not to take any class, make sure to check with the state/province licensure requirements where you may end up -- some courses are required by certain states/provinces.

 

[Ollie123]

I keep hearing that we can't do all the reading on here, but in class they tell us that we HAVE to, and the profs give us these stupid sheets where we have to write what we liked/disliked/understood/didn't understand about each chapter or article that's assigned. It's ridiculously hard. 🙁

This is when you split things up with your classmates, send brief outlines of your sections, and then meet before class to discuss it🙂

And I will check on child assessment, thanks, it completely slipped my mind.

I'm still amused that one of my first class assignments was to read a chapter on why I shouldn't care about my classes😉

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

That is a slightly odd message. I get that you are in a research heavy program, but you'd think you'd want a strong foundational basis in the theory, a solid grasp on assessment (considering many current assessments are key in the research), and then you'd have your stats/research classes.

I've seen many programs that emphasize the classes less as you go along, (especially research heavy places....since by then you'd be in the thick of it), but it is surprising to hear it that from the get-go.

-t

 

[JockNerd]

T4C, the full message I was getting was really more like "the difference between a B and an A in a particular class can be dozens of hours of meticulous detail-oriented reading of topics that might not relate well to what you're spending most of your time doing. If getting an A means pouring over your readings to get a 5 instead of a 4 on a hand-in white paper, forget about it. Take the 4 and spend those hours doing your own research."

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

T4C, the full message I was getting was really more like "the difference between a B and an A in a particular class can be dozens of hours of meticulous detail-oriented reading of topics that might not relate well to what you're spending most of your time doing. If getting an A means pouring over your readings to get a 5 instead of a 4 on a hand-in white paper, forget about it. Take the 4 and spend those hours doing your own research."

Ahh...okay. That is pretty much how I live my life. 😆 I never was a 4.0 (though not THAT far off. 😉 ), but I think I got more out of my education than most because I knew when to push for an A, and when to accept the B and use my time on other endeavors.

-t

 

[hotep]

😀🙂😍🙂

 

[hotep]

I'm in my 2nd week as a brand spankin new grad student and I am LOVING it! Sure I am busy, very, very busy, and will be for years to come but I'm SO looking foward to starting my practicum next week. All praise and glory the YHWH for the correct personal choices in school & career paths! Lots and lots and lots and lots of reading...! Laterz... 😀


AARON T BECK, MD IS WHATSPOPPIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (quit hatin!)

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

How cool is it/was it to go into a place and find others who were just as into psychology and learning as you? That is what really stuck out when I started. I remember being at a social event and making a stats joke....and people laughed, that's when I knew I was with the right people!

-t

 

[Ollie123]

Yup, its the same for me as what JN said.

I may have given the wrong impression...if we get below a B we get tossed out of the program, so obviously we have to do well!

They just want to instill the view that people who obsess over doing extremely well in classes tend not to be pretty poor students overall. You're much better off obsessing over your research and doing what you need to do to get by in classes, picking and choosing when to excel based on when it will help you be a better researcher.