Personal Statement for Masters Programs in Experimental Psychology

[Marissa4usa]

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hi,
I was wondering how the personal statement for masters programs in experimental psych would differ from the one for PhD programs. What if the school I am applying to does not have a professor with my research interest? When I check out their website it usually seems like the grad students at the MA programs work in a professor's lab and have matching interests. Should I even bother applying? Should I even state a professor whose research interest I share? Should I go in depth about how my research interest (that noone at this MA program shares) developed?

Thanks!!

 

[Ollie123]

Well, why is it you are applying there?

Experimental master's are generally geared towards getting you research experience and making connections so you can apply to doctoral schools. What about the school made you decide to apply there if they don't have anyone who you would be a good fit with?

 

[KillerDiller]

Honestly, if you don't share any of the faculty's research interests, I wouldn't apply to that program. You'd just be miserable spending a year or two in a lab doing work that you aren't interested in doing.

 

[Marissa4usa]

Well, I though that MA programs are more general, meaning that one does research in one's area of interest but that it isn't AS dependent on a match with a faculty member...that's my dilemma: I simply didn't think that "fit" would be as essential as with PhD programs. I like the program but I don't know if i even have a chance to get in if I mention my research interest (because it doesn't really match with any of the faculty's interests). I also thought that one isn't admitted by a professor to work in one's lab but rather the psychology department and then things will just work out in terms of one's research interest? Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[deleted176373]

Honestly, if you don't share any of the faculty's research interests, I wouldn't apply to that program. You'd just be miserable spending a year or two in a lab doing work that you aren't interested in doing.

+1!!! I spent the past year working on a topic that just didn't excite me. It was not pleasant.

Mark

 

[Ollie123]

...maybe its a little less important in the sense that its not as competitive so you don't need that crystal-clear "perfect match" to be accepted. It sounds like your situation (no one even close) is vastly different.

Not all schools are the same but I can't imagine any remotely legitimate research-based program accepting students it isn't really qualified to train. That's basically the case here. The reason schools utilize the mentor-model is because research has become SO specialized its impossible to even know everything in your own area, let alone across areas. Some skills generalize (stats, experimental design), but the idea that someone can know the literature outside their area well enough to help you develop a great master's is laughable. I don't know there's even such a thing as an "expert" in any single disorder any more. You can be an expert in treating the disorder. An expert in the biological bases for the disorder. I think there's just plain too much literature for someone to know it all. Since the main reason for those degrees is the research experience - I'd go wherever you can get the best research experience.

Even if you do get in, you're setting yourself up for both an unpleasant, and probably pretty poor experience relative to what you'd get from someone with your research interests.

You are still working in a lab in an experimental program, at least the ones I know of. They're usually the main ones supervising your master's. If they don't know your area at all, I don't see it working out well.

 

[KillerDiller]

You are correct that a research match isn't as important for an MA/MS as it is for a Ph.D program. A lot of people know a very general area of interest going into a program (e.g. personality, health psychology, infant development, etc.) and then work with a faculty member within that to get training in a much more specific aspect of that interest. That being said, if you already know what research you want to do and know that this program is not going to be able to provide you with that experience, I would definitely focus on programs that will set you up better to acheive your goal (which is, presumably, to have a career working in your area of interest).

 

[blindblonde]

I am a little slow in responding to this, but hey, better late than never, right? 🙂

Anyways, I am currently in an experimental master's program. Part of the reason you go into a master's program is either to develop your interests or to figure out what exactly your interests are. I came into the program with the full intention of going onto clinical Ph.D. programs studying PTSD. I knew that I could not get any training like this at my masters program. Therefore, I kept an open mind and just worked in an area that seemed interesting to me that I thought I would enjoy working on for a couple years. My thought was that people get accepted into Ph.D. programs even if they have limited exposure to a population they wanted to work with. The key thing is that you have the research skills and experience that can transfer to whatever program you go to.

That being said, don't apply to a program if you have zero interest. However, keep an open mind about professor's interests--you never know what may happen. As for me, I opted to change my career direction based on my experience in a master's program. Being flexible can help you out in the long-run. 🙂

Good luck!