Expectations for this round of applicants

[ktclown]

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Applied to 7 schools. I was hoping for 2 interviews, but it looks like zero. GREs are Q730, V610, A4.5 (I was sick when I took them). Would retaking them help me next year? 🙁

 

[xlittlemissalix]

Applied to 7 schools. I was hoping for 2 interviews, but it looks like zero. GREs are Q730, V610, A4.5 (I was sick when I took them). Would retaking them help me next year? 🙁

I'm sorry to hear you didn't get any interviews - it's not over yet though! As for your GRE scores, I really doubt that is what prevented you from getting an interview. I think you did very well, though your writing score is a bit low. Most schools just have a cut off, which it appears you would have made. Do you have a lot of research experience? This is more important than GRE scores. Did the schools you applied to match your research interests? I think these are the types of things you should focus on, not your GRE score.

 

[deleted176373]

Applied to 7 schools. I was hoping for 2 interviews, but it looks like zero. GREs are Q730, V610, A4.5 (I was sick when I took them). Would retaking them help me next year? 🙁

Although the writing was a little low, I don't think your GRE score prevented you from getting an interview either. If you applied to all top tier Ph.D. programs you shouldn't be surprised that it's ridiculously competitive. You probably sailed right through the GRE/GPA cut at most schools, only to lose it on one of 4 key area's.

Match
Personal Statement
Letters of Reference
Lack of Clinical or Research Experience

Call and ask if your LOR's were suitably good. They will tell you if you had a weak one, they just won't tell you who. I have seen it happen more than once. I specifically eliminated one letter writer for this reason alone, one of my professors had been torpedoed by a close mentor years ago as well.

Ask them if a particular part of your application was weak (do this after APR 15th) and tell them that you are looking to strengthen your application.

If you really are focused on one or more of the schools now is the time to plan on networking with professors from that program at APA and other conventions. Find out where they are going to be, learn about the current research in the area you want to specialize in and get to know the players in the field. This is a good way to build rapport and to find new and/or better matches.

Reassess your credentials and correct the deficiencies. While most would argue that the process is broken, including me, it is the constraints we are forced to work within. Unfortunately, you have no control over the process, so you must do something to stack the odds in your favor.

Mark

 

[ktclown]

Thanks for the advice. My research experience is limited and I knew that it could be a factor. I have been working on strengthening that part of my application. I was really worried about my writing score so I thought I would ask. Thanks again. I feel more confident about what to focus on now.

 

[smitten]

I applied to four Ph.D. programs (three clinical, one school psych) and just got my fourth interview invite today. 🙂

It's kind of bittersweet though: my POI from the last school said she only might be taking a student this year. If the position may not even exist, I'm not sure if all that travel expense and time is worth it. I guess it's better than not going and wondering how it could have gone though.

Now all that's left is to not mess them all up!

 

[Thrak]

So, it's now March. How are we doing, expectation vs reality-wise?
I applied to 8 schools, was hoping for 3 interviews and 1 acceptance.

I've thus far had 2 rejections, 1 interview, and 5 no-word-yet.

I'm stuck between the unhappiness of the expected rejection at four of the 5 programs left, and the happy prospects of the 1 I've already interviewed at.

 

[apsera1980]

What an emotional roller-coaster this whole thing has been. 1 acceptance that I can't accept (no funding... shessh). 2 other interviews. 3 rejections. a couple no-word-yet-so-rejection-by-default.

On the upside: I'm getting really good at daily re-evaluating my Plan B's. 🙂

 

[psychdude5469]

I applied to 9 programs, got 7 interviews, and I'm crossing my fingers for at least 3 acceptances.

I have received one acceptance so far 😀. Based on the info I read in the "acceptance thread", the other schools I interviewed at have already sent out acceptances. I've been officially rejected from one school, and been designated as an alternate for another.

 

[dontknowitall]

I applied to 15, but some were cog neuro programs. I am hoping to get 7 interviews (about half) and 3 acceptances.

Well, this is weird, but I was invited to interview at 7 places, accepted 5 of those interviews and have recieved 3 acceptances! There is still one school that I interviewed at that I am waiting to hear from. I am now hoping I am not some John Edwards/ Miss Cleo, because I really liked that last school. We'll see . . .

 

[childphdapp]

I applied to 12 phd programs -- mostly ones w/ a child specialization/child track. I didn't realize people were only expecting to get interviews for 1/3 of 1/4 of their schools -- that makes me feel a little silly for expecting interviews for atleast 8 programs! I will anchor my expectations to 6 schools -- I've gotten 3 replies so far and I am almost certain I've been dinged from 3 other programs, so that leaves 6 open for discussion. I hope to get admitted by atleast 2 of my top 5 programs. *crosses fingers*

The stress never ends, does it?

Applied to 12 programs.
Invited to interview for 7 programs.
Attended 5 interviews.
Rejected post-interview (at my undergrad institution!) for 1 program.
Wait-listed at 2 programs.
Offers received from 2 programs (for my "top 5" which became my "top 2" coincidentally).

Not too bad, I received my post-interview rejection pretty early and I think that was the royal kick in the butt I needed to do well on my last 2 interviews, which is where I got my offers.

Though everything did work out, I'm still kind of bummed about not hearing ANYTHING (good or bad) from a few programs that I was REALLY REALLY interested in (SDSU, University of Miami, UPitt). Perhaps those rejections will come via email on April 15th.

 

[PsychappA]

Originally, in my early post-app days, this is what I envisioned:
15 applications =
4-5 interviews
2-3 acceptances

What I have so far:
3 interviews
0 acceptances
0 rejects (following interview)
3 rejects (no interview)
9 no contact = rejections

Let's hope the zeros swing in my favor over the next several weeks! 😕

 

[blindchaos]

Original hopes...
14 applications
4 interviews
2 acceptances

What I have so far:
8 interviews
1 acceptances
1 rejects (following interview)
2 rejects (no interview)
4 no contact = rejections

....kinda shocked honestly. This is going much better than the first time around 😳

 

[xlittlemissalix]

Ugh. So here's what I had previously hoped for:

10 applications. 3 interviews. 1 acceptance.

Here's what I have:

10 applications. 1 interview. That interview is this weekend...so we'll see.

 

[BorntoRun]

.

 

[Liselaime]

Original hopes:
7 applications
2 interviews
1 acceptance

What I have so far:
4 interviews
3 acceptances
1 waitlist
1 Ph.D. rejection but master's admission
1 plain old rejection
1 no communication=assume rejection

The rejection and master's admission were both from my dream school. Why do I feel like such a pathetic, miserable idiot right now? I should be happy about my acceptances, but all I can think about is how I wasn't good enough to get into my dream program.

 

[empathiosis]

Why do I feel like such a pathetic, miserable idiot right now? I should be happy about my acceptances, but all I can think about is how I wasn't good enough to get into my dream program.

You clearly are not a pathetic, miserable idiot. If you were you wouldn't have been offered admission to those competitive programs. I'm seeing two things here: you're extremely hard on yourself and you're beating up on yourself, a lethal combination. It's no wonder you can't feel happy. All that self-abuse doesn't really create happiness. Or maybe you're just venting and aren't as totally devastated as you sound ...

Maybe the programs you got accepted to aren't right for you and you need to try again next year. Have you considered going to your dream school for the master's? Am I wrong to assume that might give you a better chance of getting into the doctoral program?

 

[empathiosis]

Original Hopes
8 apps
4 interviews
1 acceptance

Current Situation
2 interviews (one done, the other next week)
3 official rejections
3 haven't heard from = rejection


Not devastated because I know it's a tough game and there are many highly qualified applicants. The competition is fierce.

 

[deleted176373]

Original hopes:
The rejection and master's admission were both from my dream school. Why do I feel like such a pathetic, miserable idiot right now? I should be happy about my acceptances, but all I can think about is how I wasn't good enough to get into my dream program.

It could have been any number of factors. I have seen your stats, someone edged you out in the interview. I would not hesitate to re-apply with your stats, you should get into a number of really great programs. I would not be complaining about 4 acceptances!

Mark