If you could go back in time...

[Emilee]

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So, I've been thinking about this. If you could back in time, before you even turned in your applications or went on interviews, what would you tell yourself?

I'd hand myself a flask with some hardcore liquor and tell myself "You are going to need this."....just kidding.

On a serious note, I would tell myself "Make sure you discuss in your personal statement, in detail, how your past experiences would be beneficial to their lab and discuss this with them in interviews. Even if they do not ask outright, work it in somehow." I do not think I did enough of this. Maybe I would have stood out more.

 

[cara susanna]

I would have defined my research interests better. They have stayed and will stay the same, but I didn't really see the obvious connection until my last interview, when it was too late.

I also would have told myself: don't take anything they say to you about your chances during/after interviews seriously!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I would have done a Ph.D. / M.D....as I could do some interesting pharma research, still have the option to teach, and have the most flexibility.

 

[FranklinR]

I'd say, "Self, go to law school."

Yeah, but then you end up as a lawyer.

I'd say self, here are the winning lottery ticket numbers.

And get out of the stock market in the spring of 2008.

And go to a better undergrad, and focus more.

And build a stronger relationship with professors at schools I was/am interested in.

And floss more.

 

[knowing]

Yeah, but then you end up as a lawyer.

I'd say self, here are the winning lottery ticket numbers.

And get out of the stock market in the spring of 2008.

And go to a better undergrad, and focus more.

And build a stronger relationship with professors at schools I was/am interested in.

And floss more.

LOLOL I would have handed myself the winning lottery numbers and booked a flight first class ....where they don't care what initials come before or after your first and last name......Just....."Would you care for another refill of your bikini martini maam?" 😀😀😎

 

[texgirl5660]

I would have done more reach schools because I thought i would be at the bottom of the barrel for interviews (because i only have a bs) and actually got quite a few so i think i sold myself short by applying to schools i thought were less competitive because they had less funding, even though i have ended up being at a school I really think i am going to love. (run-on sentence). And I would have told myself everything was going to be okay because i had several panic attacks during the course of all the applications and stressful interviewing!

 

[AryaStark]

I probably would have kissed so much a** to try to get a research job in my field of interest. Or maybe go back and tell myself the exact questions that schools asked so i didn't freak out so much/ didn't panic during certain questions.

 

[LISage]

I'd say, "Self, go to law school."

 

[LISage]

I would have convinced myself to bubble in the DO NOT GRADE bubble on the psychology GRE test... Long story

 

[dd123]

Prepare more for interviews. Bring booze to interview weekend.

 

[Cmvramirez]

I would've paid more attention to my grades in undergrad. I would've started my MA in forensic psych earlier. I would've spent MUCH more time focusing on studying for my GREs. Most of all, I would've believed in myself a lot more--I may have been rejected by a couple schools I wanted in the beginning, but I was accepted by 3 fantastic programs (4 programs have accepted me, so far, but one isn't all that fantastic), all of which I mentally eliminated myself from. Believe in yourself and what you are capable of doing--you're definitely capable of doing great things! 🙂

 

[Wildcat06]

I would NOT take the October Psych GRE. I spent so much time preparing for the test I ended up completely behind the ball on applications, recommendations, etc. and since I didn't know my scores I was terrified to send them out to schools for risk of wasting money on a sub-par application.

Of course it all worked out, but the stress it caused was way too intense.

 

[leavingprov]

Prepare more for interviews. Bring booze to interview weekend.

I second the first part. Fortunately some of my graduate student hosts were kind enough to provide booze the nights before/after my interview.

Mostly though, I wish I had not applied to so many 'safeties' and also that I had taken more initiative in contacting professors and students with more questions and introductions BEFORE applying, not after. I think this would have been particularly helpful when, later, I would find out bits of information at an interview that I could have found out earlier and realize that the school definitely wasn't for me.

Finally, be realistic with yourself BEFORE you apply about your priorities. Most people will tell you things like 'don't apply based on geography' or 'money shouldn't be your primary consideration,' etc etc... but in reality, circumstances will differ for everyone.