Undergraduate Lab Experience

[clinicalhopeful]

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I was wondering how many labs is reasonable to be a part of as an undergraduate. It appears that you need quite a few recommendations for a clinical Ph.D. program and my advisor keeps telling me not to volunteer in too many labs because that would be spreading myself too thin. So how many labs would be reasonable?

 

[erg923]

Varies I'm sure. I did a year in an eye tracking lab, and 2 years (with considerablly more resposibililty) in another lab. So, it was only 2 for me.

 

[Mr Violin]

I Don't want to steal this thread but didn't want to start a new one so AHHh I'll just go ahead and post here.

Question: how long did it take you as an undergrad to secure a RA position once you started looking? I'm gettin' a little nervous since I go to a smaller school that only has about 35 psych professors (not all doing research) and barely ANY clinical psychologists. So far no luck for me. Either they are not doing any research, have a full lab, or it seems I am not top priority when I interview with the developmental psychologists etc. because my research interests are so different.

Any tips about what to do in this kind of situation? I graduate in a year so it is critical that I get one or two positions lined up this upcoming fall. I don't understand what I am doin' wrong. I haven't been able to get a position and have been trying for about three months. I have normal social skills, I am not immature, I have a 3.6 GPA (not the best I know but at least its not horrid!), and I think at least that I convey strong ideas and a seriousness about going to grad school. So yeah, any pointers for me or is this just the normal process of trying to get into a lab? Should I be selling myself as someone eager to attend grad school or someone who would be great in a lab? Or both?

BTW being a two year transfer student from a community college and not thinking about what I wanted to do with my future until last year kind of screwed me over for the whole grad school application process it seems hehe. I feel like I should have started preparing for grad school during freshman year!

 

[Ollie123]

I'd say 2-3 is the norm for anyone grad-school bound to do while an undergrad. Obviously more for those who took time off. I ended up with 8 total before applying, but that was a result of an odd sequence of events, and I think actually hurt me. Better to have fewer labs and more in-depth experience in them.

Really though, the number isn't terribly important. What matters is getting good experience in areas that are of interest to you. The number of labs you need to work in to do that really depends on your individual situation. I wouldn't fret about the number - just make sure you are getting the experience you need.

Mr Violin - 35 psych professors is actually a pretty large department, so there should be plenty of opportunities. If not, look to local academic hospitals or other nearby universities. Nothing says the research HAS to take place at your undergrad, that's usually just the most convenient place to get started since many people end up working for a professor whose class they really liked.

 

[erg923]

I Don't want to steal this thread but didn't want to start a new one so AHHh I'll just go ahead and post here.

Question: how long did it take you as an undergrad to secure a RA position once you started looking? I'm gettin' a little nervous since I go to a smaller school that only has about 35 psych professors (not all doing research) and barely ANY clinical psychologists. So far no luck for me. Either they are not doing any research, have a full lab, or it seems I am not top priority when I interview with the developmental psychologists etc. because my research interests are so different.

Any tips about what to do in this kind of situation? I graduate in a year so it is critical that I get one or two positions lined up this upcoming fall. I don't understand what I am doin' wrong. I haven't been able to get a position and have been trying for about three months. I have normal social skills, I am not immature, I have a 3.6 GPA (not the best I know but at least its not horrid!), and I think at least that I convey strong ideas and a seriousness about going to grad school. So yeah, any pointers for me or is this just the normal process of trying to get into a lab? Should I be selling myself as someone eager to attend grad school or someone who would be great in a lab? Or both?

BTW being a two year transfer student from a community college and not thinking about what I wanted to do with my future until last year kind of screwed me over for the whole grad school application process it seems hehe. I feel like I should have started preparing for grad school during freshman year!

To be honest, this is becoming more and more true. The people you will be competing against in the Ph.D. application process are these people that started from day one. So, it may set you back, but it is certainly something you can make up for. Although, you are now at the proverbial last minute. But keep in mind that more and more applicants are taking jobs as RAs for a couple years after undergrad in order to make themselves the most competitive candidate they can (for Ph.D programs anyway). I don't have any great advise other than to keep trying, and that you don't have to limit yourself to your university. Any academic medical center or medical schools around? Any other research centers? A state hospital? Also, considering the circumstances, try not to be too picky with what the research actually is. Programs care very little about the topic of your research at the undergrad level. They just want to see that you were involved, dedicated, and got the basic skills. Just get some.

PS: 35 full-time professors in a psych department sounds plenty large to me.

 

[Mr Violin]

I should have mentioned that seven profs are only lecturers and do no research. There are one or two retiring and two behavioral neuroscience profs who only accept students majoring in behavioral neuroscience. So I am down to 24-25 hehe. This does not really change anything though but I just thought I would clarify because I was like yeah wait a sec, 35 does sound like a lot what is goin' on!

erg923: Any academic medical center or medical schools around? Any other research centers? A state hospital?

I will start looking into this thanks! There is hope hehe!

One more question: does the research that you do during the year your application is processing count for anything? I will have a year off after undergrad and plan to be a full-time RA to become more familiar with what it means to do research and hopefully refine/expand/mature my own research interests.

Thanks!

 

[erg923]

"One more question: does the research that you do during the year your application is processing count for anything?"

I am not really sure what you mean by this. Its not gonna get you out of any classes or shorten your time in the program or anything. Like you said, it will just make you more competitive and allow you to develop and refine your research skills. If you can get any pubs out of your research that year, that would be great too...and of course you can put that on your vita.

 

[Mr Violin]

I am not really sure what you mean by this. Its not gonna get you out of any classes or shorten your time in the program or anything. Like you said, it will just make you more competitive and allow you to develop and refine your research skills. If you can get any pubs out of your research that year, that would be great too...and of course you can put that on your vita.

Not thinking anything along those lines. I mean if I am sending in my app during the fall of 2009 for the 2010-2011 year and plan to work as a RA from 2009 to 2010 do you even mention it in your app? My guess is no because it would seem weird to put: I intend to do work in a lab while my app is being processed. Is this makin' sense? In other words, does one mention what in the heck they are gunna be doing while their app is being processed or is it trivial? I guess I feel like my app is going to be semi weak when the time comes around because if everything goes right I will only have one year of research experience. That is unless I say hey wait a sec, I'm good for 1.5-2 years because I am getting more experience even while you process my app!

Thanks!

 

[erg923]

I see what you are saying. Yes, I would mention it in the essay. However, I would just add that if you dont have a RA position by late fall of 2009, and you want to start a program in the late summer/fall of 2010 (9-10 months later), some people are gonna be reluctant to hire you. Alot of professors/researchers want at least one year commitments, as it takes a good couple of months just to get someone trained and up to speed on everything. Constant turnover of RAs year after year costs them time, money, and ultimately productivity. This has been my experience anyway.

 

[Mr Violin]

I see what you are saying. Yes, I would mention it in the essay. However, I would just add that if you dont have a RA position by late fall of 2009, and you want to start a program in the late summer/fall of 2010 (9-10 months later), some people are gonna be reluctant to hire you. Alot of professors/researchers want at least one year commitments, as it takes a good couple of months just to get someone trained and up to speed on everything. Constant turnover of RAs year after year costs them time, money, and ultimately productivity. This has been my experience anyway.

Point taken. I will have to see if I can convince the profs/researchers by saying I will put in the extra hours to make it equiv. to one years worth of work! Either that or I'm screwed! Just jokin'

Thanks for your comments!

 

[RayneeDeigh]

I worked in one undergraduate lab for three years. I think more than the experience, the relationship I built with the prof (who later supervised my honours thesis) turned out to be the most helpful. She wrote me a great letter, we're still adding to my UG thesis to make a big superarticle, and she was a huge support this year when I thought about quitting grad school a million times.

My undergrad institution wasn't huge, there were relatively few clinical profs so I picked a social psychology prof who was studying relationships 'cause I could at least spin that in a clinical way. Any experience is better than nothing.

Oh, and it took me about five seconds from the time I started looking. In one of my courses the prof warned us to start looking ASAP for research experience, I went to my next class where I knew I liked the prof, walked up to her, asked if she needed help, and started right away.

 

[bludreamz]

I Don't want to steal this thread but didn't want to start a new one so AHHh I'll just go ahead and post here.

Question: how long did it take you as an undergrad to secure a RA position once you started looking? I'm gettin' a little nervous since I go to a smaller school that only has about 35 psych professors (not all doing research) and barely ANY clinical psychologists. So far no luck for me. Either they are not doing any research, have a full lab, or it seems I am not top priority when I interview with the developmental psychologists etc. because my research interests are so different.

Any tips about what to do in this kind of situation? I graduate in a year so it is critical that I get one or two positions lined up this upcoming fall. I don't understand what I am doin' wrong. I haven't been able to get a position and have been trying for about three months. I have normal social skills, I am not immature, I have a 3.6 GPA (not the best I know but at least its not horrid!), and I think at least that I convey strong ideas and a seriousness about going to grad school. So yeah, any pointers for me or is this just the normal process of trying to get into a lab? Should I be selling myself as someone eager to attend grad school or someone who would be great in a lab? Or both?

BTW being a two year transfer student from a community college and not thinking about what I wanted to do with my future until last year kind of screwed me over for the whole grad school application process it seems hehe. I feel like I should have started preparing for grad school during freshman year!

Maybe you already did this, but have you checked the psych bulletin boards? Usually there are ads for RA's. You can also offer to do research as a volunteer (no credit) if you haven't offered to do so already.

 

[Mr Violin]

Maybe you already did this, but have you checked the psych bulletin boards? Usually there are ads for RA's. You can also offer to do research as a volunteer (no credit) if you haven't offered to do so already.

Hmmm psych bulletin boards? Didn't even know about those until you said anything! 😳 I will def. go strolling around the psych department and look! As for the no credit thing, yeah I have. I think I may have just lined up something for the fall with a developmental psychologist at my school. Woohoooo

Thanks for the tips 😎

 

[cara susanna]

Oh, I hear you about not being able to find an RA position. I contacted every professor that I'd ever met and got many resounding rejections. This was with non-clinical people too, minus one professor. I was getting really sad and thought that I would never get the research experience that I needed.

Finally as a last-ditch effort I contacted one of our dept's social psychologists, whom I had never even met but whose research interested me, and he let me help with one of his studies. Then, awesomely, he recommended me to his wife, a clinical psychologist who was joining the department that fall. I contacted her and have been in her lab ever since.

So, my message is, don't give up hope! Just keep trying. 😀