UF application

[notfullyfathomd]

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I'm having some problems with University of Florida's application, and when I called and emailed the department, no one responded -- so frustrating! I was wondering if anyone else is having a similar issue.

Basically, they require that you apply to both the graduate school and the Clinical and Health Psychology department. The graduate school application is online, and requires a statement of purpose and three online recommendations. The department application, however, also requires these things, but with a twist (e.g. the grad school wants a page and a half SOP, the department has two essays). Is anyone else running up against this too? Or did I completely misread the application instructions?

 

[Psy01]

I emailed them a question in late August, and I didn't get a response until a few weeks ago...

 

[notfullyfathomd]

I tried a different email this morning and got a response within an hour or so. I guess it's just a matter of sending the right question to the right person.

I'm going to post the response as it was pretty helpful.

The UF application is totally separate from the Departmental application. Typically I recommend that you list your recommenders on the UF application but do not include their email addresses. The rationale for this is ,that some recommenders get very confused when they are prompted to do an online letter of recommendation by UF and a hard copy from the Department. Our Program requires that we receive hard copy letters with the Graduate School rating form attached. We don’t use the UF online recommendation forms because they usually aren’t as detailed. If you have already done the UF application and listed their email addresses, it is strongly suggested that you contact your recommenders and let them know that they still need to do need a hard copy letter and the appropriate form (available on our website). The letters should be either be sent directly from the recommender to our Admissions Committee or they can seal it and sign across the seal and give the letter directly to you to include in your Departmental packet.

The statement of purpose for UF is usually less characters than what you would submit to the our Program, for that issue it is recommended that you write the one for the department and then condense it to fit for the UF application. As long as the statements are not distinctly different it will be OK. Also note that, as stated on the website, you can combine your statement of purpose and financial statement into one document; as long as it is clearly indicated or labeled as such it will be fine to have one statement that addresses both topics/content.

 

[Psy01]

It can be frustrating. Some schools websites and instructions are simple and straightforward, whereas others can be rather confusing.

 

[PhDToBe]

Hi everyone,

I have been reading this forum for a while now, but just joined today. I am trying to apply to the University of Florida, too, and have a question about how many GRE scores to send.

Their site says: "a copy Official GRE scores MUST be submitted to both the University of Florida Admission's office and the Clinical and Health Psychology program office."

I have their institution code (5812) and their departmental code (2001), but do I send the score to the same place two times, or once just to 5812, and once to 2001?

Thank you!!

 

[notfullyfathomd]

According to my score report, I sent one copy to 5812/2001 and one copy to 5812/5199. I think that 5199 is just a placeholder for "no department." But I haven't called to see if the grad school has received my scores yet -- planning on doing that this week.

 

[PhDToBe]

Thank You! I am probably going to call them tomorrow, but please let me know what they tell you when you verify!

Also, did their website prhibit you from a) seeing the full disclosure data and b) let you apply online?

I have the Insider's Guide so I have a rough estimate of the mean GREs, but I trust the schools' websites more.

 

[jenn1015]

I am also applying to UF.
Fyi, I sent my scores to both the department (2001), and just to the school (whatever their code is).

I have a question about the personal statement:

For all other schools, they ask you discuss your previous experience, and UF doesn't. Since I'm using essentially the same statement for each school (just being wary of word limits and changing the paragraph where I discuss the research interest match), do you think it'd be ok to include? Or should I change the statement entirely to fit theirs: Describe your interest areas in clinical psychology and your career plans. Describe your strengths and weaknesses for graduate study, and your need for financial support.

 

[PhDToBe]

yeah, i thought that was really odd, too. also, idk if you're familiar with the DCT who answers students' questions, but someone told him about the UF personal statement, and he said financial need should not be discussed in a PS.

however, i chose to list the weakness and strength, and respond to their $ question, too. i believe they fully-fund almost everyone, if not everyone, but i figured i should address it...

 

[PhDToBe]

To anyone else who was having issues with their GRE scores:

I confirmed that sending the scores to 5812 and 2001 will send a copy to both the graduate admissions and the program. ETS and UF staff assured me!

 

[hopefulpsych]

Sorry I'm a little anxious about this, do you mean that we only need to send it once with the clinical psychology dept specified?

 

[PhDToBe]

Yes, that is how both ETS and UF made it sound, and that is what I did.

I specifically asked ETS if I put 5812 and 2001 will it go to the Graduate Admissions and the Clinical Program (or whatever their specific names are) and they said yes, a copy will be forwarded to each place.

And, UF told me that 5812 = Grad Admissions and 2001= Clinical Program

Hope this helps!

 

[terpskins10]

Yes, that is how both ETS and UF made it sound, and that is what I did.

I specifically asked ETS if I put 5812 and 2001 will it go to the Graduate Admissions and the Clinical Program (or whatever their specific names are) and they said yes, a copy will be forwarded to each place.

And, UF told me that 5812 = Grad Admissions and 2001= Clinical Program

Hope this helps!

This is good to know. I was getting worried that sending test results to the psychology department wasn't enough.

 

[jenn1015]

Ugh I could have saved $40 if I knew that!!!!! Better safe than sorry I guess.. 🙁

 

[jenn1015]

Working on this statement is so annoying--Do you think I need to spell out "My strengths are... and my weaknesses are..."? In the draft I have already I say something like "I don't know too much about xyz and so I am eager to learn more about it"-- does that count as a weakness? Or do you think I should have a paragraph for each?? What are you guys doing?

Also, what about past experience? What about naming the profs I want to work with? None of that is in their description of what should go in the statement.... 😕

 

[researchgirl]

consider your strengths to be your past research experience. answer the weakness like you would in a job interview

 

[jenn1015]

consider your strengths to be your past research experience. answer the weakness like you would in a job interview (hint: i haven't had much experience with statistical analysis, but i'm excited to take graduate level statistics courses so that i can apply that knowledge to future research).

my personal statement for uf last year wasn't any different than any of my other statements (other than length and tailoring to specific profs)

THANK YOU. After going over it again that is how I worded it, actually-- I am so glad that you just reinforced my guessing haha

 

[PhDToBe]

I tried to list one of those weaknesses that can be turned into a strength.

And, I hate that financial question...both of these questions seem like subtle tricks, lol

 

[PhDToBe]

i have a few more UF app questions:

1) did you guys just kind of do an abbreviated version of your UF personal statement for that 4-500 word essay required by the grad admissions app?

2) when you convert your GPA, do you only include your jr/sr years or all 4+? it defines when jr yr is, but then it says to include all coursework...and no one called me back!

3) to figure out what to put in the converter box things, is this what you do:
if you have 10 As that were 3 credits each and 3 that were 4 credits, do you put 42 in the "A" box? and so on...?

i've never done this before, and it doesn't explain how to do it well...and i don't understand why they need this done when they are getting an official copy!

thanks!!

 

[psychlady]

i have a few more UF app questions:

1) did you guys just kind of do an abbreviated version of your UF personal statement for that 4-500 word essay required by the grad admissions app?

2) when you convert your GPA, do you only include your jr/sr years or all 4+? it defines when jr yr is, but then it says to include all coursework...and no one called me back!

3) to figure out what to put in the converter box things, is this what you do:
if you have 10 As that were 3 credits each and 3 that were 4 credits, do you put 42 in the "A" box? and so on...?

i've never done this before, and it doesn't explain how to do it well...and i don't understand why they need this done when they are getting an official copy!

thanks!!

for the ps i literally just cut it down to 500 words and it sounded funny but oh well.

for gpa only include jr/sr years, so as soon as you hit 60 credits include any classes after that.

and for the grades, if i had 3 a's i just put 3 in the box or whatever, i didn't multiply it, but i am not sure if that was right or not.

hope this helps

about the ps, did you guys include the fellowship information in yours or did you write a separate thing for it. also what is the difference for all the options?

 

[PhDToBe]

for the ps i literally just cut it down to 500 words and it sounded funny but oh well.

for gpa only include jr/sr years, so as soon as you hit 60 credits include any classes after that.

and for the grades, if i had 3 a's i just put 3 in the box or whatever, i didn't multiply it, but i am not sure if that was right or not.

hope this helps

about the ps, did you guys include the fellowship information in yours or did you write a separate thing for it. also what is the difference for all the options?

thanks! you were a big help! so if i hit 60 credits in my 4th semester (but actually wound up with 74 that same semester) i should just start with my 5th semester? sorry.. i just don't want it to be wrong

i haven't done the fellowship part yet...i'm hoping to get to it tom/sat, so i'll let you know then!

 

[PhDToBe]

for the ps i literally just cut it down to 500 words and it sounded funny but oh well.

for gpa only include jr/sr years, so as soon as you hit 60 credits include any classes after that.

and for the grades, if i had 3 a's i just put 3 in the box or whatever, i didn't multiply it, but i am not sure if that was right or not.

hope this helps

about the ps, did you guys include the fellowship information in yours or did you write a separate thing for it. also what is the difference for all the options?

ok i talked to an admissions rep and she said that you multiply all your As, A-s, etc. by the credit hrs, like: 5 As at 3 credits each = 15 goes in the box

and i looked at the fellow/assistantship thing...it basically asks for the same experience and more, so i just kind of changed my personal statement around, but did you still address your "need for financial assistance" in your regular PS?

also, what options are you speaking of regarding the fellow/asstship essay?

and one more, on the regular phd clinical psych app, if you are proficient in a language should you answer yes or no? i was going to put yes, and write proficient...

thanks!

 

[psychlady]

ok i talked to an admissions rep and she said that you multiply all your As, A-s, etc. by the credit hrs, like: 5 As at 3 credits each = 15 goes in the box

and i looked at the fellow/assistantship thing...it basically asks for the same experience and more, so i just kind of changed my personal statement around, but did you still address your "need for financial assistance" in your regular PS?

also, what options are you speaking of regarding the fellow/asstship essay?

and one more, on the regular phd clinical psych app, if you are proficient in a language should you answer yes or no? i was going to put yes, and write proficient...

thanks!

in my regular, full length ps i did address my need for financial aid with a small paragraph towards the end. for the fellowship essay there was also a sheet that needed to be filled out and it had you check off what you are interested in, i think there were options for a fellowship and then a teaching and research assistantship, so i just wasn't sure.

and for the language thing i would definitely put yes.

 

[PhDToBe]

in my regular, full length ps i did address my need for financial aid with a small paragraph towards the end. for the fellowship essay there was also a sheet that needed to be filled out and it had you check off what you are interested in, i think there were options for a fellowship and then a teaching and research assistantship, so i just wasn't sure.

and for the language thing i would definitely put yes.

oh ok yeah i saw that sheet. i think i checked off all of them.

was your fellowship/assistantship essay pretty similar to your regular PS too?

 

[hopefulpsych]

Does anyone know of a way to verify online that everything was received and an application is considered complete?

 

[psychlady]

Does anyone know of a way to verify online that everything was received and an application is considered complete?

calling is probably best but you can also check it through the same page as when you did the online application through the general school. you use your uf id as a log in and you can check

 

[jenn1015]

Yeah, I called at the beginning of the week. The woman I spoke to on the phone was able to look up my stuff and said it was all there- but I sent everything (transcripts, letters of rec, the dept form) all in one envelope. She said that they were still going through massive amounts of stuff, but that they stamp everything when it first comes in, so not to worry about the deadline even if when you call they say that they don't have everything, it just hasn't been sorted yet. I'd try calling- she said that they should mostly be done by the end of the week anyway. 🙂