Lab Problem

[clinicalhopeful]

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So right now, I am going to be a junior in college, applying to clinical Ph.D. programs in fall 2009. This summer, I began a job as an RA in a lab at another university near the one I go to. I am going to be continuing in this lab through the academic year and possibly even into next summer and the following year. Here is the catch: the lab is part of my top-choice clinical Ph.D. program. To add to that, the head of the lab is my top-choice potential advisor. Although it sounds like it's a good thing to get to know the advisor and work there and show extreme enthusiasm and hard work beforehand, is it really a good thing or is it actually going to hurt my chances of being admitted to this program? (As I said before, I don't attend this university, I just work in the lab in the psych department there.) Also, what would I do about getting a recommendation for other programs from the person I'm applying to work with as my #1 choice? Has this ever happened to anyone before?

 

[erg923]

I am not sure how this would hurt your chances, if anything, I think it would help

 

[clinicalhopeful]

Well, I would think so too but I've also heard that clinical programs don't take students from within and although I know that means from within their own university, does it all extend to just people who worked in their lab?

 

[erg923]

This varies my university. I don't think many programs have a strict rule about not taking their own. I know several people who have done this. It just depends on the how much pull an individual professors has in choosing their students. Some professors have alot of influence and pull if they want someone one particular. Conversely, the decision has to be made unanimously at the committee level at some universities.

 

[clinicalhopeful]

Does it help that at least I don't attend this university and just work in the lab there?

 

[paramour]

Once again, it depends. Upon the program and upon the professor. Some programs may allow it but the professor will not. Some professors may consider it but the program may not want to. The best thing to do would be to ask the professor about it.

 

[clinicalhopeful]

Once again, it depends. Upon the program and upon the professor. Some programs may allow it but the professor will not. Some professors may consider it but the program may not want to. The best thing to do would be to ask the professor about it.

Is it appropriate to talk to this professor so early about my desire to attend this program? I'm only going to be a junior so I don't want to seem "stalkery" that I'm so interested in the research going on in the lab.

 

[JockNerd]

Is it appropriate to talk to this professor so early about my desire to attend this program? I'm only going to be a junior so I don't want to seem "stalkery" that I'm so interested in the research going on in the lab.

Re: working in the lab: some profs oppose this, because they view it as homogeneity in training that will produce a potentially weaker researcher or clinician. If the prof holds this opinion, then you would have trouble working in that lab in grad school. For profs who endorse this point of view, it's less about attending the same school than it is about not being exposed to an adequate level of diversity in training, so it might not matter that you're enrolled at another school.

And some profs couldn't care less.

Whenever people mention this topic, I mention that I worked for a Canadian research funding agency that very much looked down on funding applicants who spent their entire education, BA/BSc to PhD, at the same place. But, that obviously doesn't apply to you since you don't attend the school you're doing research at.

I'd say just ask if the prof is willing to consider you for graduate school in a few years, if things go well with you working in the lab. I'd think it should be easy to make this come out as ambitious and focused rather than stalker-ish. Either way, with that info you can modify tasks you're doing now to best suit whichever scenario might be the case.

 

[deleted176373]

Is it appropriate to talk to this professor so early about my desire to attend this program? I'm only going to be a junior so I don't want to seem "stalkery" that I'm so interested in the research going on in the lab.

Just ask the question, "Does anyone who works in the lab ever gain admission to the program?" There is nothing wrong with stating your intentions up front. I have seen within our program both failure and success. One student who was a researcher in one of our labs was selected and one (or more) were not. Given that the number of slots is slim, I think that the question is a fair one. I think that given you are not an undergrad at that institution is something that works in your favor, however all professors are different.

Mark

 

[Sarahanne]

So right now, I am going to be a junior in college, applying to clinical Ph.D. programs in fall 2009. This summer, I began a job as an RA in a lab at another university near the one I go to. I am going to be continuing in this lab through the academic year and possibly even into next summer and the following year. Here is the catch: the lab is part of my top-choice clinical Ph.D. program. To add to that, the head of the lab is my top-choice potential advisor. Although it sounds like it's a good thing to get to know the advisor and work there and show extreme enthusiasm and hard work beforehand, is it really a good thing or is it actually going to hurt my chances of being admitted to this program? (As I said before, I don't attend this university, I just work in the lab in the psych department there.) Also, what would I do about getting a recommendation for other programs from the person I'm applying to work with as my #1 choice? Has this ever happened to anyone before?

Hey, I've worked in several labs over the past couple of years, and working in a lab with the professor of choice has only helped the candidates who wanted to apply in my experience. Ex: I worked in a lab that collaborated with UCLA. (She attended another university while working in this lab). The other lab coordinator worked her tail off and was accepted into their program (and it was her #1 choice).... although this is anecdotal I've seen this happen numerous times. In fact this was one of the best ways that professors get to know a person, rather than just viewing an application. This is also helpful for you because more than likely your POI can write on your behalf to others in the same area of research at other programs and can help you network.

One of the things I did with my POI was sit him down and explain to him my intentions, showed him my credentials and asked him how I could improve my application. I then asked if he would help mentor me through the process of applying to clinical psych ph.d. programs. He reached out to everyone he knew in the field to make sure they would take a good look at my application, and I got accepted into my top choice. Just be open and honest about your intentions with your POI and that should give you an excellent shot. Best of luck!