OFFICIAL Rejection Thread for 2009 Applicants

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make that 2 down, 6 to go... i emailed my POI at Loyola Chicago to inquire as to the status of interview invites (I knew they started extending on Friday), and she wrote back saying that she believed their assistant has already finished extending invites, and sorry if that meant i was not one of them. 🙁
 
Yes I confirm this, I Emailed Dr. Rosenfeld at Fordham and he said all invites extended and they had a record number of aps this year and "many qualified candidates did not receive an interview" I'm so sad 🙁

Not to be a complete buzz-kill, but I am suspecting most programs are going to have a record number of applications this year, especially programs that give full funding. A lot of people consider higher education to be a hedge against the economy... you get a higher degree, and wait out the recession. I also fully expect law and business schools to have a similar flood of applicants, with medical school having a more moderate uptick this year, but continuing through next year's application cycle. And that's only because med school has more specific prerequisites.

On the other hand, if there was ever a time to not take rejections personally, it's this year.
 
make that 2 down, 6 to go... i emailed my POI at Loyola Chicago to inquire as to the status of interview invites (I knew they started extending on Friday), and she wrote back saying that she believed their assistant has already finished extending invites, and sorry if that meant i was not one of them. 🙁


I got a similar email from the assistant in the psychology department...

Loyola has extended invites to all applicants that will be invited.

Thank you.

awesome...
 
Rejection letter received 01/26/09.

My first time checking the rejection thread and find out another rejection "unofficial" by way of somebody else's post.

I need this process to be over.
 
What schools are you applying to? Are they ridiculously competitive?
 
What schools are you applying to? Are they ridiculously competitive?
4 were, another 3 were middle of the road, and the rest were well within my range based on statistics. i thought i would at least get an interview somewhere. my gre is 1100 and i know that is horribly low, but...still. i thought my vitae held some water to make up for that.

i'm staring over my vitae trying to figure out where it's lacking honestly. i'm clueless. outside of bumping my GREs. if thats all that it takes (and the only thing that matters) then i wasted two years researching, getting maters, and working my butt off.
 
4 were, another 3 were middle of the road, and the rest were well within my range based on statistics. i thought i would at least get an interview somewhere. my gre is 1100 and i know that is horribly low, but...still. i thought my vitae held some water to make up for that.

i'm staring over my vitae trying to figure out where it's lacking honestly. i'm clueless. outside of bumping my GREs. if thats all that it takes (and the only thing that matters) then i wasted two years researching, getting maters, and working my butt off.


Cigolon - I know exactly how you feel... this is my third time and I have no idea what I can do to my CV other then taking the GREs again... just keep your head up and use this as motivation for next round!! Thats all we can do now...
 
I'm really sorry, guys. My GRE is low-ish (low for this field, anyway) and I know that horrible feeling of how a little four-hour test can negate years of hard work.
 
While the GRE is a pain in the butt, it is definitely not unbeatable.

The ubiquitous "my GRE success story" does loose its inspirational edge the 20th time you read it on various web forums, but there really is some truth to it. The first time I took a powerprep test, I scored a combined of 800. My test was two weeks away, so I freaked out and cancelled. To beat the test, I had to sit in my room from ten in the morning until eight at night, five days a week, for 2 months. I drilled enough math problems to sink a physics department. I memorized every word from the Barron 3500. I have a stack of note cards as tall as my thighs sitting in my closet. When I took the test, I didn't see one word that I hadn't memorized. I still screwed the pooch on the reading comp questions, but I did well enough with the straight vocab to get a 690 verbal. Math was easier, and I don't think I missed one. Although it wreaked havoc on my social life, I was able to pull my score from a 800 to a 1490.

I don't tell this story so people will stand quietly in reverence (or pity, I can't really tell which), I tell it because if I can do it anyone can do it. I'm quite average in terms of intelligence, I was just really motivated and recognized that doing poorly on the GRE would negate all the hard work I had done. If the GRE is all that is holding you back, then just study freakishly hard and you will get the desired results. You'll be thankful you did when using that 10 years of college and graduate school to pull in 70k/yr 😀.
 
I dunno, I think there's only so much you can raise it.

My score went up 130 points the second time I took it, but the biggest increase was in the area I was already good at (verbal). Quant I'd pulled up from a 350 to a 500 with two years of studying, but I was still never able to break 600, even with additional tutoring.
 
I know, right? I mean I can crack out a mixed model analysis and hack around excel to put it into box and whisker plots within a 5 hour time frame- but my math skills must suck because I can't finish calculating the area of an angle in the allotted time. ahh!😡 It seems so arbitrary, and to make that the measure of a candidate for a position that you really want to fill with the most qualified person possible... I just don't get it. Sorry... just a little frustrated. 😳
 
*sigh*

second round of applications down, and still not a single invite. I don't get what I'm doing wrong. Outside of my GRE i consider myself somewhat competitive. Does every school screen based entirely on that?

Grant committee member? check
director of research & treatment group? check
teaching experience? upper and lower level college courses, check
published? check, check, check, check, check and three more in the next 4 months
presentations? check x 8
match? check. several POIs said my thesis described their longitudinal work.
a masters degree? check

i dont know what else to do honestly.

i am right there beside you. in may, i will have a MA degree in clinical psychology (lack thesis, comprehensive exam). i have 4 publications (1 article, 3 abstracts) and 6 years of research experience. i made 1 B in graduate school thus far.

i have a feeling that the previously mentioned accomplishments are being overlooked because they aren't reaching the faculty due to my GRE score. to make up for this, i've been in contact with POIs from 3 of the universities that I applied to since february of last year. thankfully, i have received the attention of one of the schools, but the GRE is still an issue.

i've read story after story about average people doing well on the GRE after scoring low. i've taken the test 4 times with my highest score mentioned above. solely using GRE scores to make admissions decisions isn't what the test was designed for. this is even stated by ETS, but it seems to fall upon deaf ears in many cases.

studies have shown that the GRE accounts for a minimal amount of variance in first year graduate school performance. one study that i recall found a +0.33 correlation between 1st year graduate student success and GRE score, which accounts for only 11% of the variance. yet, these scores are constantly used in such a way that excludes very good students from programs. i'm sure it is only a matter of time before someone with a high GRE score pops in and claims "restricted range" and that i should probably be studying instead of complaining about this ordeal. 😎
 
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While the GRE is a pain in the butt, it is definitely not unbeatable.

The ubiquitous "my GRE success story" does loose its inspirational edge the 20th time you read it on various web forums, but there really is some truth to it. The first time I took a powerprep test, I scored a combined of 800. My test was two weeks away, so I freaked out and cancelled. To beat the test, I had to sit in my room from ten in the morning until eight at night, five days a week, for 2 months. I drilled enough math problems to sink a physics department. I memorized every word from the Barron 3500. I have a stack of note cards as tall as my thighs sitting in my closet. When I took the test, I didn't see one word that I hadn't memorized. I still screwed the pooch on the reading comp questions, but I did well enough with the straight vocab to get a 690 verbal. Math was easier, and I don't think I missed one. Although it wreaked havoc on my social life, I was able to pull my score from a 800 to a 1490.

I don't tell this story so people will stand quietly in reverence (or pity, I can't really tell which), I tell it because if I can do it anyone can do it. I'm quite average in terms of intelligence, I was just really motivated and recognized that doing poorly on the GRE would negate all the hard work I had done. If the GRE is all that is holding you back, then just study freakishly hard and you will get the desired results. You'll be thankful you did when using that 10 years of college and graduate school to pull in 70k/yr 😀.

indeed, this is great evidence that one can beat the test. i applaud your accomplishment!

however, the GRE is supposed to be a measure of aptitude. studying for the test, then, would seem to provide a false positive. consider studying possible questions from the WAIS months before taking it. would an IQ of 140 be accurate in that case? i would argue that the 140 score may not be reliably produced in subsequent administrations.

i do not intend to undermine your intellectual abilities at all, wrinkles. i am making a point for the fact that the test is commonly used for the wrong purposes. a grave mistake is made when the test is used by itself as a measure of potential.

*sigh* this whole process is just frustrating. i apologize for the rant.
 
I was advised today to give up on clinical psychology by my dept chair and go for something else, like experimental or an unrelated field that would allow the freedom to practice based on course allotment to meet license requirements for a particular state- because of the GRE.

I don't think I'll take the GRE again. It's dumb to rely on that entirely to pick candidates. Maybe I'll never make it, I don't know. I just don't think that it seems worthwhile to try and adhere to a system that doesn't predict graduate success as a means to predict academic success.

Cigolon, I have read plenty of places that you can contact admissions offices or your POIs you've been rejected by and just ASK them what they thought your app was lacking; sometimes they will be very helpful and say why. And besides, all it takes is one interview to be accepted, and it's still early in the game...
 
someone received an invite to the clinical-community PhD program at DePaul. I applied to the clinical-child PhD, but nonetheless, I feel the imminent sense of doom sink to the pit of my stomach. 🙁

(they are both concentrations w/in the same program... maybe it means something, maybe it doesn't, who knows.).
 
I got excited when I received an email from DePaul...

Dear applicant,

Thank you for your application to DePaul's MA/PhD program in Clinical
Child Psychology. We have now completed our preliminary review of the
189 applications submitted to the program. This year over 300 applicants
applied for the 6 positions available. As you can imagine, the
competition has been intense.

I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you an interview at
this time. We wish you the best in your future academic and professional
pursuits and commend you for your accomplishments to date.

An official letter will be sent to address on file.


🙁 😡 🙁 😡 👎
 
I got excited when I received an email from DePaul...

Dear applicant,

Thank you for your application to DePaul's MA/PhD program in Clinical
Child Psychology. We have now completed our preliminary review of the
189 applications submitted to the program. This year over 300 applicants
applied for the 6 positions available. As you can imagine, the
competition has been intense.

I regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you an interview at
this time. We wish you the best in your future academic and professional
pursuits and commend you for your accomplishments to date.

An official letter will be sent to address on file.


🙁 😡 🙁 😡 👎

I was so excited too! But I got the same rejection. 🙁 Did anyone get in the Clinical-Child Track on this board?
 
I was so excited too! But I got the same rejection. 🙁 Did anyone get in the Clinical-Child Track on this board?

so far i've only heard of someone getting an interview invite to the clinical-community... :/
 
So far, I think the only people who got interviews were for the Community track. If anyone got one for the Child track, what a lucky bastard!:laugh:

Don't lose all hope just yet people and it's still super early to be thinking about plans B, C and D.

Peace.😎
 
i am right there beside you. in may, i will have a MA degree in clinical psychology (lack thesis, comprehensive exam). i have 4 publications (1 article, 3 abstracts) and 6 years of research experience. i made 1 B in graduate school thus far.

however, my GRE is a 1070. i have a feeling that the previously mentioned accomplishments are being overlooked because they aren't reaching the faculty due to my GRE score. to make up for this, i've been in contact with POIs from 3 of the universities that I applied to since february of last year. thankfully, i have received the attention of one of the schools, but the GRE is still an issue.

i've read story after story about average people doing well on the GRE after scoring low. i've taken the test 4 times with my highest score mentioned above. solely using GRE scores to make admissions decisions isn't what the test was designed for. this is even stated by ETS, but it seems to fall upon deaf ears in many cases.

studies have shown that the GRE accounts for a minimal amount of variance in first year graduate school performance. one study that i recall found a +0.33 correlation between 1st year graduate student success and GRE score, which accounts for only 11% of the variance. yet, these scores are constantly used in such a way that excludes very good students from programs. i'm sure it is only a matter of time before someone with a high GRE score pops in and claims "restricted range" and that i should probably be studying instead of complaining about this ordeal. 😎


The problem, though, with not using the GRE is that there is really no other standardized way of looking at academic potential. Sure, it's FAR from perfect, but when used as a tool, it can be useful. GPA is a great predictor, but a 3.8 with easy professors at one school vs. a 3.7 at tougher school with tougher classes should give the 3.7 an edge but how do you determine that difference?

Additionally, every combination of school and individual circumstances is going to offer different opportunities for research, etc. For example, if you have done 4 publications over the course of 6 years of research experience, including getting an MA, is that really any better than a student with 2 years and 1 completed publication and a couple of others "in progress"? I would argue that the student with 2 years has probably been more productive overall (because s/he got publications going more quickly and has just begun).

For those reasons, while I agree the GRE is far from perfect, it is WITH the GRE that we get a +0.50 correlation (GRE + GPA). W/o the GRE, we're left with a +0.40 as I recall. Ultimately, I would consider the General GRE, Psych GRE, and GPA as useful tools in the initial screening of applicants so that more time can be spent on those most likely to succeed. Unfortunately, that does mean some potentially doable applicants may not get in; however, if someone is truly unable to learn the necessary skills to attain at least a 550 or 600 on both sections of the test, I would, to be totally frank, have to wonder how that person would do learning to think like a scientist, speed-reading journal articles for content, and so forth. An 1100-1200 should be attainable by most anyone who was able to graduate college as most of the verbal questions at that level use words and text that are extremely common in college textbooks and the quantitative skills at that level contain very few "tricks" -- most of it is just simple math that we all learned in like 10th grade and had to do on the SAT/ACT and/or in our college alegreba/math class.
 
The problem, though, with not using the GRE is that there is really no other standardized way of looking at academic potential. Sure, it's FAR from perfect, but when used as a tool, it can be useful. GPA is a great predictor, but a 3.8 with easy professors at one school vs. a 3.7 at tougher school with tougher classes should give the 3.7 an edge but how do you determine that difference?

Additionally, every combination of school and individual circumstances is going to offer different opportunities for research, etc. For example, if you have done 4 publications over the course of 6 years of research experience, including getting an MA, is that really any better than a student with 2 years and 1 completed publication and a couple of others "in progress"? I would argue that the student with 2 years has probably been more productive overall (because s/he got publications going more quickly and has just begun).

For those reasons, while I agree the GRE is far from perfect, it is WITH the GRE that we get a +0.50 correlation (GRE + GPA). W/o the GRE, we're left with a +0.40 as I recall. Ultimately, I would consider the General GRE, Psych GRE, and GPA as useful tools in the initial screening of applicants so that more time can be spent on those most likely to succeed. Unfortunately, that does mean some potentially doable applicants may not get in; however, if someone is truly unable to learn the necessary skills to attain at least a 550 or 600 on both sections of the test, I would, to be totally frank, have to wonder how that person would do learning to think like a scientist, speed-reading journal articles for content, and so forth. An 1100-1200 should be attainable by most anyone who was able to graduate college as most of the verbal questions at that level use words and text that are extremely common in college textbooks and the quantitative skills at that level contain very few "tricks" -- most of it is just simple math that we all learned in like 10th grade and had to do on the SAT/ACT and/or in our college alegreba/math class.

I agree that the GRE is an important PIECE of an application. The point that I am arguing is that when used by itself (i.e., scores are examined and those below a cut-off point are automatically rejected) is improper.

I too would argue that the student with 2 years of research and 1 publication would seem superior. There are many different reasons as to why that student with 6 years of research has not obtained more than 4 pubs over 6 years that has nothing to do with the efficiency of the student. Publications, mainly at the UG level, are largely up to the professor who oversees the lab. If the professor sits on the paper, it won't get published.

I will agree to disagree with your last paragraph.
 
i called the dept asst because i was thinking of applying to a masters program at NU in the case that i didn't get in to the PhD... but you can only apply to one program per year technically... so i would have to have them transfer my application BEFORE they officially rejected me. so i'm like, i just need to know if i'm in the running for an interview... she had to look into it. called me back and basically i wasn't. 🙁 but transferring my app to the masters program.... my plan B!
 
For those reasons, while I agree the GRE is far from perfect, it is WITH the GRE that we get a +0.50 correlation (GRE + GPA). W/o the GRE, we're left with a +0.40 as I recall. Ultimately, I would consider the General GRE, Psych GRE, and GPA as useful tools in the initial screening of applicants so that more time can be spent on those most likely to succeed. Unfortunately, that does mean some potentially doable applicants may not get in; however, if someone is truly unable to learn the necessary skills to attain at least a 550 or 600 on both sections of the test, I would, to be totally frank, have to wonder how that person would do learning to think like a scientist, speed-reading journal articles for content, and so forth. An 1100-1200 should be attainable by most anyone who was able to graduate college as most of the verbal questions at that level use words and text that are extremely common in college textbooks and the quantitative skills at that level contain very few "tricks" -- most of it is just simple math that we all learned in like 10th grade and had to do on the SAT/ACT and/or in our college alegreba/math class.

Here's my thing. This may seem like sour grapes because I didn't do so hot on the GRE, but hey.

GRE math is not simple. I've heard the claim that it's even middle schol math; my mom, who is a middle school teacher, looked at it and said "This is not middle school math." You have to figure out the trick in only so much time. You're probably super anxious because there is so much riding on this test thanks to the fact that programs use cutoffs (which ETS even advises that they should not do, as myelin pointed out). And, thanks to the amount of CS and engineering majors taking the test, you have to get at least a 610 to even get above the 50th percentile.

Verbal is basically "how much esoteric vocab can you memorize." Reading comp questions don't allow you to infer or use logic, which is really the valuable skill (that's why I kept getting them wrong, actually). And I did well on verbal, so this isn't me whining about my score.

But my main complaint with the GRE is the CAT. What if the first question you get is something that you just happen to know, but it's not that you're really that good in that area? Or, conversely, what if the first question is the one thing that you don't know? I think it's ridiculous that the first ten questions basically determine your score. Why even have more questions if they're not going to do anything? If you get, say, two wrong in those first ten, your score is sunk. I don't think that makes any sense.
 
But my main complaint with the GRE is the CAT. What if the first question you get is something that you just happen to know, but it's not that you're really that good in that area? Or, conversely, what if the first question is the one thing that you don't know? I think it's ridiculous that the first ten questions basically determine your score. Why even have more questions if they're not going to do anything? If you get, say, two wrong in those first ten, your score is sunk. I don't think that makes any sense.

I know, i think that part about it is @$$!!! it's all a game of luck... or rather Russian roulette?
 
i got an official letter saying it was a record year for apps (over 350) and many qualified people didnt get an interview.
 
i got an official letter saying it was a record year for apps (over 350) and many qualified people didnt get an interview.

yeah, i've been hearing that a lot. but then again, does it really make us feel any better?? no! 😡
 
Official rejection from University of Kansas (clinical PhD), sent via snail mail on 1/23.
 
I haven't been extended any invites yet, but I am still hopeful. :xf:
I am a bit nervous because a lot of the schools I applied to have sent out their invitations already. When I called/e-mailed the schools to check my status, most told me my applications are still not complete.

(insert smiley pulling out its hair here)
 
I found this on the Grad Cafe survey (not mine, I didn't even dream of applying to Harvard) and the person's comments made me giggle:

School: Harvard University
Program: Clinical Psychology Is The Hardest **** Ever, PhD
Decision & Date: Rejected via E-mail on 29 Jan 2009
Date Added: 29 Jan 2009
Notes: GRE: 1600. Subj: 99th. 4.0 with 25 A+'s from top 5 school. I got into Harvard MDPhD (MSTP) though. Clinical psych >>>>>>>>>>> MDPHD
 
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I found this on the Grad Cafe survey (not mine, I didn't even dream of applying to Harvard) and the person's comments made me giggle:

School: Harvard University
Program: Clinical Psychology Is The Hardest **** Ever, PhD
Decision & Date: Rejected via E-mail on 29 Jan 2009
Date Added: 29 Jan 2009
Notes: GRE: 1600. Subj: 99th. 4.0 with 25 A+'s from top 5 school. I got into Harvard MDPhD (MSTP) though. Clinical psych >>>>>>>>>>> MDPHD

I thought (for about 1 second) about applying to the program there, b/c the director has my exact research interests, but he wasn't taking a student this year. Did you know their program isn't even APA accredited yet though?? I mean it's Harvard... wtf??!??
 
I thought (for about 1 second) about applying to the program there, b/c the director has my exact research interests, but he wasn't taking a student this year. Did you know their program isn't even APA accredited yet though?? I mean it's Harvard... wtf??!??


I think they very recently became accredited... recently as in the last few months.
 
I found this on the Grad Cafe survey (not mine, I didn't even dream of applying to Harvard) and the person's comments made me giggle:

School: Harvard University
Program: Clinical Psychology Is The Hardest **** Ever, PhD
Decision & Date: Rejected via E-mail on 29 Jan 2009
Date Added: 29 Jan 2009
Notes: GRE: 1600. Subj: 99th. 4.0 with 25 A+'s from top 5 school. I got into Harvard MDPhD (MSTP) though. Clinical psych >>>>>>>>>>> MDPHD

If its okay with everyone, I not going to include info from Grad Cafe because there has been do much debate about this site on the interview thread...
 
Oh, I just found it funny, you don't have to include it.
 
I found this on the Grad Cafe survey (not mine, I didn't even dream of applying to Harvard) and the person's comments made me giggle:

School: Harvard University
Program: Clinical Psychology Is The Hardest **** Ever, PhD
Decision & Date: Rejected via E-mail on 29 Jan 2009
Date Added: 29 Jan 2009
Notes: GRE: 1600. Subj: 99th. 4.0 with 25 A+'s from top 5 school. I got into Harvard MDPhD (MSTP) though. Clinical psych >>>>>>>>>>> MDPHD


That is hilarious!!! What else do you have to have to get an interview there...jeez!!
 
That is hilarious!!! What else do you have to have to get an interview there...jeez!!

I hear their looking for applicants who already have a PhD and have received excellent postdoc training. 😀
 
Well I think I have been rejected from 2 schools, maybe 3.

Loyola-Chicago (I think they are done with invites)
Northwestern--Feinberg (email from Department Secretary telling me I wasn't getting an interview, upon my request for the info)

I got an email from Marquette U stating they don't have my Psychology subject GRE scores, even though every other school has them that I sent my GRE to? Seems weird. I was thinking about sending them there today, but am not counting on getting an interview...I think it will be too late. Thoughts?

Oh well...I have one interview, and that's all it takes!
 
In Harvard's defense, this person didn't mention any research experience. But, still.

I hear their looking for applicants who already have a PhD and have received excellent postdoc training. 😀

Doesn't it sometimes seem that way for all programs? 😉
 
Dear Mrliquorice2005,

The committee met this past Wednesday. I regret to let you know that you were not selected for an interview. We had a very large number of applications. Yours was among several that received consideration, but in the end were only able to invite about 15% of the applicants. I'm sorry to give you disappointing news. I thank you for your interest in our program and I wish you the very best in your endeavors.

Sincerely,

POI
 
imho the problem with the gre is that while it accounts for some portion of variance (using your pearson r of .4- somewhere around 16% of variance alone in graduate school success or 25% when combined with GRE). that portion of variance and that correlation are low given its relative importance and not as significant as implied. it's a worthwhile measurement but there are other factors that weigh in. GRE predicts ability to achieve at a graduate level. if someone has graduate with a MA then that would be more predictive of ability to do graduate level work than a GRE. 16% of variance is a noteworthy amount, but it is not a large enough portion to recieve the attention it gets in the application process as a sole descriminator in many cases. I would also note that the phrase 'likely to succeed' being determined on by the GRE depends on how they define that. If GRE is correlated with graduate GPA/dropout rate then you have a list of people who get the best grades. if gre is correlated with program admittance / rejection, then you are stacking the deck by using the very criteria to determine entrance to determine likelyhood of entrance. Simply put, i question the methodology and reliance on the GRE for any number of reasons.


the problem with that is that the norms of the GRE are based on standard deviations. "should be able to achieve" a score of X for everyone would simply mean that the Mean has been increased and the net effect would be meaningless.

personally, I was kicked out of highschool and never attended middle school. I started skipping school in kindergarden. the basic skills you are talking about are lacking for me. My ability to achieve what I do is based off of my ability to work and work and work. I'm also ADHD and refuse to take medication. I can read, it just takes more time for me to do so and the reading comprehension is impossibly hard for me. my vocabularity and articulation are high, my reading speed is low for areas of non-interest (hard not to skim for me). this is just to underline my point that standardized testing only works with standard cases and non-standard cases don't want to present as non-standard due to labeling effects and expectancy bias.

imho of course.

Nice post. I agree with you.
 
I think they very recently became accredited... recently as in the last few months.


It's a very research oriented program, so if you are interested in a clinical science model and plan on going into academia, the APA accreditation is not necessary, except that it can make you more competitive for some jobs if you can also act as a clinical supervisor. If you want to become a clinician though, it would not likely be the program for you.
 
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