Journal - Following Kush's Lead

[twiggers]

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OK...I thought I'd start my own and update as necessary....I'll do this one all the way until last app is sent off and then start a new one when the rejection letters start coming in.


Currently assessing clinical programs, and a few developmental programs as backups.

Schools I am interested in are as follows:
DePaul, Urbana-Champaign, Bloomington, Finch, Rutgers, Penn State, Temple, Ohio State, U of Michigan, Loyola, Wisconsin (both Madison and Milwaukee), U of Minnesota, U of N. Dakota and S. Dakota, U of Ilinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Kent State, Bowling Green, U of St. Louis (most likely a cross out hubby doesn't want to live there), Michigan State,. Wayne State, Case Western, U of Iowa, U of Cincinnati, W. Michigan.

Developmental Schools:
Bryn Mawr, Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, U Conn, Yale, Bowling, Case Western, Bloomington, Loyola, Marquette, Michigan State, Ohio State, Northern Illinoi, U of Chicago, Urbana, U of Iowa, U of Michigan, Minnesota, U Notre Dame, Wisconsin-Madison, Wayne State.

Goal is to have that list narrowed down to 15 clinical programs, and 5 developmental. I may apply to 2 masters as a backup plan (no research done on those yet).

Scheduled to take subject GRE 11/13, general GRE will be 10/16 or 10/23. Been studying on and off for 6 weeks, in depth studying began this week.

Began contacting faculty of schools, in attempts to eliminate schools based on no available faculty that I want to work with....so far working I have heard responses.

Currently have received confirmation from 1 professor and 1 supervisor who will write letters (recently promoted to lead of 3 coding teams on research project and that is project where I'll get two letters).

Starting senior thesis next week....hope to get letter from mentor

Starting new RA position next week....hope to get letter from professor.

Stress level today - moderately low
Anticipated stress level in 2 weeks - extremely high as GRE date approaches


BTW.....I would love to hear feedback on my school choices. Some I think I'm shooting too high (ie; Harvard, Yale, Minnesota, Wisconsin)...I guess GRE scores will tell. My GPA is OK for 100% of schools on list.


Thanks for reading!
I'll update this as process goes on!

Feel free to add your own...then we'll start a new thread January 1 (as majority of applications go out then).

Maybe an interesting side note: How much have you spent so far?

GRE test book Princeton -$33
GRE ETS Book - $25
Reg for Subject - $130

Long distance phoning schools - $15.00 (and climbing)

 

[Kushkeeee]

How much have I spent so far??? Ha ha. Let's see.

130 General Gre Test.
115 Psychology GRE test (or maybe it's the other way around, can't remember now.)
30 dollar application fee, times the number of schools I"m applying to (5) =150 in application fees.

Transcript fees were somewhere around 130 dollars. I went to two colleges which means I had to get two transcripts for each school I applied to. Plus, some schools wanted 2 copies of each transcript so, 3 dollars here plus 4 dollars there, and soon enough it adds up.

Then there are my GRE preparation books. I got one psychology book, and a couple General books... spent about 100 dollars total, give or take 10 dollars.

So there you have it. I've spent more money just applying to grad school then I'll probably spend all year for other things. And if I don't get accepted this year I get to do it all over again next year.

Oh joy.

 

[twiggers]

You're well ahead of me....I haven't even started the transcripts yet....then fatcor in the ETS fees for score reports ($30 each school for both tests)...then add in the postage to send to each school.
No Christmas this year for me...it all goes to applications.

 

[Allotheria]

Haha, You know I remember how stressed I was with the GRE and applying. But take it from me if I can get into a Ph.D. program and do well anybody can. Getting into a program isn't the hard part... surviving the anxiety of the application process... now that's the hard part 😛

 

[Portlymutt]

I've only been on this forum for a few weeks and I'm really enjoying it. Some of the most interesting topics are the Rx privileges debate and the type of degree debate. I still have more to learn about the former, so I haven't made up my mind yet on that one. I'm applying for a Master's degree Counseling Psychology for a few reasons. The main ones are that I'm not as interested in research as I am in clinical work and being 35, I don't want to go to school for as long as it would take to get a PhD. The biggest risk I'm taking is that I'm applying to only one school due to location, work, and family. But, I've had a lot of clinical experience so I think I have a good chance. All my application materials are together and now I'm writing my personal statement. That's about it, I suppose.

Chris

 

[twiggers]

Well it's a new week....with a whole bunch of new challenges. This week starts the new school year, and with everything else going I know I'm gonna be stressed....trying to do all the grad school stuff and my coursework..eek 🙂

Got registered for the subject test for 11/13....still not registered for the general. Going to do another computerized practice test and see where my scores are at....if they're within 50 points of my goal then I think I'll be ready in about 2 weeks.

I still need one more person for a letter of rec...so by following the advice of a friend I'm going to start going to office hours of a psych prof with questions, and then in about a month hit him up for letters 🙂 Sometimes I feel sorry for these profs and all those darn letters.

Got invited to join Golden Key Honor Society....will probably join it just to strengthen my resume....will also be joining Psi Chi this month.

That's it for now......stress level this week = (anticipated) moderate

New costs : Another $5.00 for long distance calls to schools

 

[lazure]

Golden Key Honor Society....will probably join it just to strengthen my resume

spend the money on dinner out with friends instead....grad schools really don't care about honour societies unless you're actually doing something for the society.....join APA as a student if you must join something....

 

[twiggers]

Just out of curiousity.....

If honor societies don't matter...then why are there so many of them? It can't be just for money...or else people would stop joining them if they weren't useful. Many grad school applications I've seen have an area to list scholarships, awards, honor societies.

 

[twiggers]

Well things have started out good this week. One of my schools that I emailed I actually got a response from a faculty member who is interested in my senior thesis ideas, and is telephoning me at home to discuss. She even came right out and said she is only taking students interested in academia/research careers.

Advice maybe to others.....check that out with faculty members before applying and wasting your time.
I didn't realize that it was an important factor to the individual faculty members, but apparently it can be.


Nothing else new...just bought my prep book for the subject test.

Those who registered early for the psych test..did ETS send you a practice test in the mail (for the psych subject test NOT the general)?

Still putting off my general test date.....arggg...I should just get it done...I think I'm just scared 🙂

 

[winnie]

The interest in your senior thesis sounds really promising. I guess that faculty member is doing research in gambling?

Yeah, ETS will send you a practice book for the subject test. But you can download the same thing from the ETS website if you don't want to wait for it.

 

[twiggers]

She's actually doing research on impulse control disorders....of which gambling falls into. I'm excited about the call though! Won't be until November 3rd...but it could be promising.

 

[twiggers]

Quick update:

Registered for general GRE October 25th is my test date. Add another $115 to my running total 🙂

Have received numerous emails from profs in last week...all have been nice responses. So far all profs I've emailed are taking students (even got a reply from Minnesota....my top choice school).

Crossed DePaul University off my list. Out of 10 profs only 2 emailed me back...and I figure if they can't take 30 seconds to email a response back do I really want to be there? And yea I understand business but 8 profs not emailing back? hmmm.. So I need to eliminate about 15 more schools.

 

[twiggers]

More replies from Minnesota this week....really positive. One prof even noted that I should not apply if I was above 3.5 and 1200 combined GRE. Kinda good news because there website shows the stats as being higher so I was nervous to apply with only 1200 n GRES (if I get that score that is).

Nothing else new......been talking to my clinical psych prof this week...she's super nice and has 2 practices and teachs on side. I will most likely be approaching her for a letter of rec.
My last letter I am unsure of. Spoke to another prof briefly and he seems nice...but it makes me sooo nervous approaching these profs. Someone needs to study that!

 

[twiggers]

Totally getting behind....GREs in 6 days and I'm freaked! My practice math scores are progressively climbing to the area I need but the verbal actually fell on a recent test....arrgggg.
Midterms this week and next (actually have a midterm on day of GRE). Just generally stressed out right now.
Letters of rec: been talking to clinical psych prof.....seems positive....gonna approach at end of month/beginning of November. Talked to my social psych prof for a couple hours about grad school..he seems really nice but I don't know.... Think what I'm going to do is prepare packages for about 5 or 6 people and cross my fingers.

Have requested and reviewed transcripts from one school...hopefully other school will come in next week. I want to review them carefully before sending them off to schools.

Haven't even been thinking about personal statement, and have been slacking on emailing profs....hoping to get caught up on that after next Monday.

Nothing else new 🙂 Just good to vent on here.

 

[twiggers]

Woohooo the biggest stressor is gone! General GRE is done and over with. Scores kinda sucked but they were good enough that retaking the test wouldn't do me any good if schools simply take the average. I ended up in the mid 1200s (1240 to be exact). So its not phenomenl, but whatever I'm just glad to be done.

On other fronts....was able to cross Michigan and Wisconsin-Madison off my list now because their average GRE scores were in high 1300s...and one prof from Wisconsin had emailed me saying she doesn't even look at anyone under 1350. So no biggie..Wisconsin was one of my top choices but I'm not that heartbroken. Minnesota is my top choice and they told me 1200 is needed to be competitive.

The rest of this week I'll be concentrating on emailing schools, researching some developmental psych schools as backups, and putting together my letters of rec packages for my writers. Maybe even start on my personal statement this weekend. Plus gotta start studying for the subject GRE that comes in 2.5 weeks.

Stress Level: Right now its relatively low.....basking in the fact that I didn't bomb GRE. I'm sure it'll go right back up later this week.

 

[twiggers]

Quick update:

Letters of rec: Asked 4 people and every one said yes!!!! Woohooooo. I asked 4 people because I don't want to be left hanging if someone doesn't give them back to me in time.....but if they all do then I'm worried about which ones to include....arggg erverything is a dilemma lately.

Haven't started personal statement....but have been thinking about it alot! Gonna start it this weekend.

Have 3 schools due 12/1 and have already ordered GRE general and subject scores to be sent to those 3.

Haven't started studying for subject GRE yet and its in 1.5 weeks....so kinda freaking about it but gonna study hard starting tomorrow night and carrying on through the weekend. I am hoping I'll be OK since I've taken most of the detailed psych classes in the last year.

No new money spent in the past week on grad school.....but have been stockpiling the bank account in preparation.

Have a professor calling me tomorrow morning.....cramming her recent articles in my head tonight and writing down questions to ask her. Hopefully it goes well tomorrow 🙂


How's everyone else doing?

Haven't been able to eliminate any schools lately...added U of Notre Dame and Marquette University to my list as well.

 

[twiggers]

Update:

All letters of rec packages compiled and given to letter writers. Woohoo! That took all weekend and glad to be done with it.
No progress on personal statement
Started studying for subject test....know my weak areas and concentrating on those 🙂
List of schools is down to exactly 20.....2-3 may get eliminated before final due date.

Have 3 schools with 12/1 due dates....so emphasis on those right now, and still emailing faculty of schools that are due later.

Spent another $15.00 this weekend on envelopes, paper, etc. for letters of rec package. Ugh and it hasn't even begun!

Also still waiting for official GRE scores in mail....been 15 days and still nothing...I'm just curious about my writing score 🙂

 

[twiggers]

Took subject GRE on Saturday.....it was a little tough....hopefully I did OK...I didn't really study that long for it....so we'll see.

Got my official general scores in mail. My percentile for the math sucks (the other 2 were good). So I am gonna have to emphasize my math classes, and how the test didn't accurately measure my math skills. Ugh :-(
But my writing score was good...figures since they don't even really look at that score.
Got transcripts ordered from my 2 schools...but only for the first 3 schools that are due 12/1. I figure instead of overwheliming myself I'm just gonna take it one due date at a time.

Haven't started personal statement yet....I swear I'm gonna start this week...if I don't I'm screwed. I want to have people review it, but the people I could ask are writing my letters of rec and I want them to worry only about those. I might email it to my english prof just for grammatical stuff, but as for someone in psych I just don't know.

Updated costs: $5.00 long distance $32.00 transcripts $3.00 to fax transcript request.

 

[Portlymutt]

Well, I got an interview with my first choice. I'm so relieved and very nervous. I guess my goal statement must have been ok. I really didn't think it was very good, but I suppose I'm not very objective. My interview is on Tuesday, so if anyone has advice, send it my way. Hopefully, I won't show how nervous I am.

Christina

 

[winnie]

That's great news, Christina. Good luck Tuesday!

I've written drafts of two of my statements...gotta stop procrastinating.

 

[winnie]

Quick question...how to go about identifying your personal statement? Should it have a cover sheet, or a title?

 

[lazure]

Title: Personal statement,
Your name in header

Stick closely to their page/word number limits...

Good luck 🙂

 

[winnie]

Thanks, Lazure. I appreciate it. 😳

 

[twiggers]

Wow.....an interview already? My first deadline hasn't even come up yet!

 

[Portlymutt]

Hi all,

I applied for the spring quarter which starts jan 11th, so it's not really that early. In fact, since I still have to find out about financial aid, find a house to rent and move by then, it seems to be cutting it close for me.

My interview was yesterday, and I had the flu! I couldn't believe it, one of those life tests I guess. I felt like I didn't do very well, but the professors said that I seemed articulate and well prepared. I swear, I thought I was going to toss cookies right there. I managed to wait until right afterwards! Can you even imagine if I had not been able to wait? I'm just so glad it's over. Now, I'm resting and on my way to being well enough to eat my turkey tomorrow.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Stay healthy!

Christina

 

[winnie]

You got the flu?! 😱 Sounds like you actually did well, though 🙂 And since the program starts in January, you don't have much longer to wait...gotta admit I envy you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow applicants.

 

[Portlymutt]

I don't believe it. Only an hour after my last message, the school called me and told me I'm in! I'm so happy, I can hardly stand it. A friend told me that it was good I had the flu, because I was concentrating more on not being sick than I was on my answers. Maybe so. Either way, I'm just plain relieved. So, onward to turkey. Then to figure out how to afford moving. LOL

Christina

 

[winnie]

I don't believe it. Only an hour after my last message, the school called me and told me I'm in! I'm so happy, I can hardly stand it. A friend told me that it was good I had the flu, because I was concentrating more on not being sick than I was on my answers. Maybe so. Either way, I'm just plain relieved. So, onward to turkey. Then to figure out how to afford moving. LOL

Christina

Congratulations!

 

[lazure]

Congratulations 🙂 So where are you going..... can I say "I told you so" ?

 

[Portlymutt]

You can say whatever you like. lol. I'm going to St. Martin's College in Lacey, WA for a Master's in counseling psych. I may pursue a Phd afterwards, but I'm 35 and wish to be employable by 2007. I have thought ahead just in case and talked with the phd program at UW. One step at a time though. I'm looking at a house tomorrow to rent and we'd likely move on Dec 16th. I'm very excited.

Christina

 

[twiggers]

Well Fedexed first application off today. It's now officially out of my hands! I estimate that rejection letters could start as early as the beginning of January (from the 12/1 due dates).
I'm hoping for interview calls, but my #1 choice does not do interviews.
Ugh no use getting frustrated now.....the way I see it is that the worst is behind me (GREs, getting letters, etc.) now it's just the waiting.

I'll keep you updated.

So addition to $$:
U of Illinois App Fee: $40.00
Fedex Charges: $20.00


After this is all done I am going to go back through these posts and add all these charges up....lol it'll be a scary number I'm sure.

 

[twiggers]

Well the 15th of the month deadlines have past:

5 schools completed and mailed off.

IN my english class we were assigned to write a personal statement, so I used to the one I've been sending out. Actually got an A on it....so I feel pretty good about it now.

Ordered all transcripts for the rest of my schools (14 more to go).

Called in and got my score report for the subject test. I did OK....ended up in high 600s...so not phenomenal, but I did only study for 3 days.

Updated costs:
Fedex: $96
Post office: $25
Application Fees: $215

 

[twiggers]

Arg....only 4 more schools to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope to have them completed early...by the end of this weekend.
I have spent so mjuch money on darn apps in the last 2 weeks that I think I have lost count.

So far no problems with any of my apps.....just the usual waiting on GRE scores which is no biggie.

How is everyone else doing with their apps???

My earliest school starts sending out decisions at the end of this month, also my top choice school, so I keep anxiously checking the mail everyday.

 

[PsychStudent]

twiggers, I'm just curious as to why you're applying to both clinical and developmental programs. Clinical programs are totally different from most other psych PhD programs since you have clients and learn both assessment and treatment methods, so I'd think you'd either have a strong preference for or against that type of work. Are the developmental programs your fall back, or do you genuinely have overlaping research interests?

 

[twiggers]

Hi there,

Clinical is truly where I want to get into.....specifically focused on the development of psychopathology. Ultimately I have no desire for private practice...research/teaching is where I want to end up.

The developmental programs I am applying to have a focus on developmental psychopathology...so they still fit into my goal.

I am applying to two human/child development programs as backups since they are focused on my secondary area of interest which is the study and development of prevention/intervention programs for at risk families (ie; child abuse, substance abuse, etc.)

My dream school is a combined program: child development and clinical psychology.....ahhhh one can dream.

 

[PsychStudent]

twiggers: I am impressed that you seem to have thought everything out so well! It definitely seems like you could do either developmental or clinical since you want to go into academic psychology. Good luck with the application process. 🙂

 

[twiggers]

Thanks psych!!!!!