WAMC: What Are My Chances

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fallen625 said:
My Stats:

BA (2011) in Psychology (Honors in Major), Business
Phi Beta Kappa
GPA: 3.85

GREs:
Quantitative: 161 (770 old score)
Verbal: 161 (620 old score)
Psychology GRE: 710
1st Tier Public School University

Research Experience:
Worked in an eating disorders lab for 2.5 years while in school, under a very well known investigator
Worked one year for a sociology study (but tasks was to pretty much interview participants - not sure if it counts)
Will have 1 year of full-time RA experience in obesity lab by the time I apply
1 2nd author publication
1 2nd author international conference
Honors Thesis

Clinical Experience:
None except for a semester big brother / big sisters mentoring
Will soon start volunteering for NEDA (forum moderator for support forums)

Work Experience:
Making a career switch from Wall Street with 1.5 years of experience

Letters of Recommendation:
The two professors I've done research with in college, and one from professor I am doing research with full-time. Except all of them to be good, one person is very well known in the field.

Programs I'm applying to:
Interested in eating disorder research.

Other
Really passionate about ED research - not sure if it will show, but I keep up with the literature, etc.
Member of AED

So far I am thinking of

Duke
Rutgers (PsyD)
Drexel U
Farleigh Dickinson University
Boston University
Florida State
UNC
SUNY Albany
University of Michigan
Maybe University of Notre Dame
Emory
Temple U
University of Connecticut
Loyola University
American University
University of Nevada
Virginia Consortium
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A few updates, would appreciate another look 🙂
 
Hi everyone,

It has been really helpful to read these posts, thanks. I just want to get your opinion regarding my chances in getting accepted to PhD programs in Counseling or Clinical psychology programs. I applied to the following:
U of Hawaii, Auburn U, U of Tx at Austin (counseling) , UofO (counseling), Uof Montana, Loyola U, Virginia Common Wealth U (counseling), Florida State U, and Boston U.

Here are my stats:
Undergrad GPA: 3.4
Graduate GPA (counseling psych): 3.97
GRE: Q 540, V 580, writing is 3.5 (this is what I am really nervous about)

I've done a bunch of research, and have worked as a therapist and assistant clinical supervisor of a treatment program. I have no publications, but have presented my thesis research and other studies at multiple conferences....BUT my GRE is very low.

What do you think? Do you think my sub-par GRE scores will take me out of the running?

I appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
 
I'm a non-traditional applicant, and am wondering how much that will affect my application.
I applied to:
Georgia State
U of Georgia
U of Florida
U of Denver
U of Colorado Boulder
U of Connecticut
Southern Illinois U
U of Houston

I graduated cum laude with a BA in English Ed 10 years ago.
5 years ago I completed a 2nd BA in Psychology from a mediocre state school- GPA 3.85
My old GRE scores were 660V/650 Q- ETS has re-scaled the percentiles for those scores- my verbal score is still in the 90th% but my quant dropped from 60th% to 48th% (same as a 151)! (Has this happened to anyone else- very annoying!)
New GRE scores are 167V/154Q 4.0 analytic- taken in Dec as a hail Mary and sent to programs with hopes they will look at them.

I was first author on a poster for an international conference and am first author on a manuscript that is currently under review. I have been a research assistant for a major research university for 2.5 years. I have also conducted neuropsych testing for a study as a volunteer for a year. 2 of 3 recommenders are working on papers with me, are editors for major publications in the field, and are very supportive.

Finally I started a school psych PhD program three years ago, but promised funding fell through, I left after taking out $35K for the first year that I was not expecting to pay. I addressed this in SOP, but am still concerned people will think I'm fickle.
Thanks for any feedback.
 
Psych488 said:
My GPA is primarily weighted down by classes I took as a freshman when I was a biomedical engineering major (oy), and I also B's through many courses required by my biology major (orgo, biochem, etc). Despite this, I know with a sub-3.5, many of the schools I applied to may not even look at my application. My applications are in for this year, so I suppose what I'm really asking is how do people improve their application when their biggest hold back is an undergraduate GPA, particularly when it's due to an unrelated major?
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A lot of psych students were other majors first before switching (e.g. pre-med) so it's not unusual to have a less than stellar GPA in these cases. An upward trending GPA (especially after you switch to psych) is definitely in your favor. Many people with lower GPAs get a master's first to prove they are capable of completing graduate work. If you don't get in this year this might be a good option
 
syzergy said:
A lot of psych students were other majors first before switching (e.g. pre-med) so it's not unusual to have a less than stellar GPA in these cases. An upward trending GPA (especially after you switch to psych) is definitely in your favor....
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+1

I also had a fairly horrid first-year GPA, which kept my overall cumulative down to around a 3.4 by the time I applied to grad schools way back when. However, the upward trend (had lots of 3.8 and 4.0 semesters during my two years) definitely helped, and I somehow managed to land a few interviews and an eventual acceptance.

As mentioned, attending a masters program can be a good way to combat the "low" undergrad GPA issue, although most doctoral programs also realize that masters GPAs tend to be inflated. Still, a masters program would allow you to show that you can handle grad-level coursework to some degree and, more importantly, could get you additional research and possibly clinical experience that would strengthen your application. Kicking butt on the GRE can somewhat offset a lower GPA as well.
 
Thank you both for your replies and advice. Should I not gain admittance this year, I had planned to stay in my current RC position, to obtain more clinical and research experience in my lab and try got my name on a paper/do a few more poster presentations. It's a well-known psychiatry department, and I spend three days a week in a community psychiatry clinic working on prospective treatment studies, administering neurocognitive assessments and taking psychological histories and symptom reports.

I feel I could improve my GRE score if I took it again (although, I could also do worse, current score: V 163, Q 158, A 5.0). My apprehensions toward a masters program is of course the cost and time commitment. Especially as I know many programs do not let you transfer the credits toward your MA/PhD. Would it be helpful to take graduate courses (I was thinking of taking a statistics course) without enrolling in a full-time masters program? does the value lie in showing you can manage a full course load?
 
Hello everyone. First and foremost, thank you for all of your input and insight. SD has helped me so much on the journey of finding the right grad program for me. I'm a junior in undergrad, and still have some time to improve my resume/application for grad schools. I am aiming for the following Psy D programs, and was wondering what more would I need to make myself competitive for their programs: Rutgers, Baylor, University of Indianapolis, Yeshiva, Virginia Consortium. I am currently still evaluating the schools, (and have many more on my list), but those seem to be my top choices so far.


Current overall GPA: 3.46, last few semesters: 3.7. By the time I apply, I'm hoping to have a 3.6 overall GPA and psych GPA.

I have not taken the GRE's yet, but am studying for them now. I will also be taking the GRE psych.

Awards:
Dean's award, a community service scholarship, Dean's list (4/5 semesters so far).

Experience:
Intern at a Battered Women Shelter (organized and prepared vigils)
Interned at a Center for Women (took notes in group therapy sessions, organized self-esteem group therapy sessions, and advertised the company)
Intern at an afterschool program for special needs children (taught children to swim, helped them exercise and do arts of crafts).
Employee at a nursery - for 4 years by the time of application

Research:
Summer Science Institute (Paid research program; I studied haptic perception in young children)
Directed research

Activities:
Equestrian team (most likely will be captain next year); Civic scholar (community service +100 hours a year) Volunteer Resource Center, Psychology club (currently Co-President), Neuroscience club, and DV8 member (promotes and informs the campus on mental health issues)

So to reiterate: I have about a year till I apply to the Psy D programs, but am wondering what I need to make myself a very competitive candidate. Particularly for the Rutgers and Baylor programs.

Thank you so much, and have a great day!
 
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Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting on SDN, so please forgive me if I forget any important information. I am very concerned that I won't qualify for any programs that interest me, and from what I have seen through this forum, I have good reason to be. I had a fairly poor start towards my B.S. degree which ended with a measly 3.17 GPA. I could really use some help, and I am going to try to provide you all with as much information as possible. I want to know if there are any programs that I am interested in that I actually have a chance at landing an interview at by the end of the year. My Major was Psychology and I minored in Biology. I did atrocious in most of the Biology classes, besides anything that was neuro-related.

Undergraduate GPA: 3.17 Psychology GPA: 3.67

Research Experience:

One year at an I/O lab - Literature review, data entry, data analysis

Currently a research assistant with a graduate student conducting research on smoking cessation.

GRE
Verbal - 152
Quantitative - 148
Analytical Writing - 4

I received these scores with probably under 8 hours of preparation for the exam, I was really just trying to see how well I would perform and what the testing environment was actually like. I know that with adequate preparation, I can receive a higher score.

I am very interested in Health Psychology and Neuropsychology programs, with a focus on research as opposed to anything in a clinical setting.

My main concerns are my GPA and GRE scores. I don't know what else I can be doing, now that I have graduated, in order to continue to my pursuit of graduate school in a productive manner. I can get three letters of recommendation from what I will have accomplished by the end of this year, and wonder if it might be a better option to just start and look into Master's programs, as my numbers are not quite the caliber of other applicants. I would really appreciate some insight. Thank you for your time!
 
Ser Bearistan said:
Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting on SDN, so please forgive me if I forget any important information. I am very concerned that I won't qualify for any programs that interest me, and from what I have seen through this forum, I have good reason to be. I had a fairly poor start towards my B.S. degree which ended with a measly 3.17 GPA. I could really use some help, and I am going to try to provide you all with as much information as possible. I want to know if there are any programs that I am interested in that I actually have a chance at landing an interview at by the end of the year. My Major was Psychology and I minored in Biology. I did atrocious in most of the Biology classes, besides anything that was neuro-related.

Undergraduate GPA: 3.17 Psychology GPA: 3.67

Research Experience:

One year at an I/O lab - Literature review, data entry, data analysis

Currently a research assistant with a graduate student conducting research on smoking cessation.

GRE
Verbal - 152
Quantitative - 148
Analytical Writing - 4

I received these scores with probably under 8 hours of preparation for the exam, I was really just trying to see how well I would perform and what the testing environment was actually like. I know that with adequate preparation, I can receive a higher score.

I am very interested in Health Psychology and Neuropsychology programs, with a focus on research as opposed to anything in a clinical setting.

My main concerns are my GPA and GRE scores. I don't know what else I can be doing, now that I have graduated, in order to continue to my pursuit of graduate school in a productive manner. I can get three letters of recommendation from what I will have accomplished by the end of this year, and wonder if it might be a better option to just start and look into Master's programs, as my numbers are not quite the caliber of other applicants. I would really appreciate some insight. Thank you for your time!
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I think your GPA is not terrible - if your rest of your application shines, it won't keep you out. With that said, taking a few graduate level classes (not online or at a community college) - especially in statistics, and making an A in them might be beneficial if you have the time and money.

As far as the GRE goes - you are right. You can def. raise it! I recommend Manhattan's GRE Prep Book Set, as well as Baron's vocab list for verbal (and just keep reading - it does wonders to your score 🙂)

Try to get pubs in the lab you are working at, and if the lab you are working at is not what you want to study in grad school July might be a good time to switch - everyone is always looking for RAs around that time.
 
Does anyone know until what point is it worth it to retake the GRE? I studied for mine in a month because I was considering applying during this cycle, so I wonder if I could do better. I also have the time to study now (but I could also spend it on other things to boost my application).

My scores were 161 for both the verbal and the quantitative, and 710 for the Psych one. I know these are good scores, but a part of me wonders if could do better (but then again, there is the risk of doing worse!)
 
I think you have a score that is equivalent to a score in the high thirteen-hundreds which is great! But if you could get it into the 1400's (maybe even 1450+) and you have research experience I think you would have an outstanding app so I would say it is definitely worth a try (especially since you are so close). Also, with the new score select you don't have to worry about it looking bad if you get a lower score.
 
Ser Bearistan said:
Hello Everyone,

This is my first time posting on SDN, so please forgive me if I forget any important information. I am very concerned that I won't qualify for any programs that interest me, and from what I have seen through this forum, I have good reason to be. I had a fairly poor start towards my B.S. degree which ended with a measly 3.17 GPA. I could really use some help, and I am going to try to provide you all with as much information as possible. I want to know if there are any programs that I am interested in that I actually have a chance at landing an interview at by the end of the year. My Major was Psychology and I minored in Biology. I did atrocious in most of the Biology classes, besides anything that was neuro-related.

Undergraduate GPA: 3.17 Psychology GPA: 3.67

Research Experience:

One year at an I/O lab - Literature review, data entry, data analysis

Currently a research assistant with a graduate student conducting research on smoking cessation.

GRE
Verbal - 152
Quantitative - 148
Analytical Writing - 4

I received these scores with probably under 8 hours of preparation for the exam, I was really just trying to see how well I would perform and what the testing environment was actually like. I know that with adequate preparation, I can receive a higher score.

I am very interested in Health Psychology and Neuropsychology programs, with a focus on research as opposed to anything in a clinical setting.

My main concerns are my GPA and GRE scores. I don't know what else I can be doing, now that I have graduated, in order to continue to my pursuit of graduate school in a productive manner. I can get three letters of recommendation from what I will have accomplished by the end of this year, and wonder if it might be a better option to just start and look into Master's programs, as my numbers are not quite the caliber of other applicants. I would really appreciate some insight. Thank you for your time!
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Hey in my opinion I would definitely try bringing up your GRE scores. I have heard that is what people look to in order to forgive a low GPA. If they see your low GPA but high GRE scores they might think "their GPA does not reflect their intellect, maybe he/she had difficult coursework or a personal difficulty."

Also in my experience applying, it was rare for a school to ask for my overall GPA and psych GPA. I assume if they dont ask for it, they are not going to calculate it themselves so I'm not sure if I would rely on that distinction.
 
applyingtograd said:
I think you have a score that is equivalent to a score in the high thirteen-hundreds which is great! But if you could get it into the 1400's (maybe even 1450+) and you have research experience I think you would have an outstanding app so I would say it is definitely worth a try (especially since you are so close). Also, with the new score select you don't have to worry about it looking bad if you get a lower score.
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Thanks for the advice! I just looked up the conversions and my score comes out to a 1390. If only I had gotten 10 points higher!
 
The suspense waiting to hear from schools is killing me.

GPA: Cumulative 3.6

My psychology GPA is 3.8 or 3.9 can't remember.

I was NOT a psychology major, but I completed a minor and I took 18 credit hours of psychology including statistics, a statistics specifically for psyc majors, abnormal, and a class on clinical psychology specifically.

Research experience working as a research assistant in a lab for 1.5 years, but it was a cognitive psychology lab.

No clinical related work really. No real publications except a paper that is part of the school's manuscripts now.

GREs: V: 163 Q: 154 AW: 4.0

I applied to 12 phd programs. almost half my schools have sent out invites already, even a couple of the lower tier programs. I konw sometimes they do it in waves but i'm still getting a bit nervous.
 
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Mellitus said:
The suspense waiting to hear from schools is killing me.

GPA: Cumulative 3.6

But, it's actually lower in my last two years because I started at Community College (3.9), then transferred to a mediocre state school (3.8), then transferred to a top public school (3.2). So I have a downward trend but I feel the quality of the schools accounts for that. Also that I had to take all my upper level and hardest classes at the hardest school. My psychology GPA is 3.8 or 3.9 can't remember.

I was NOT a psychology major, but I completed a minor and I took 18 credit hours of psychology including statistics, a statistics specifically for psyc majors, abnormal, and a class on clinical psychology specifically.

Research experience working as a research assistant in a lab for 1.5 years, but it was a cognitive psychology lab.

No clinical related work really. No real publications except a paper that is part of the school's manuscripts now.

I applied to 12 phd programs. almost half my schools have sent out invites already, even a couple of the lower tier programs. I konw sometimes they do it in waves but i'm still getting a bit nervous.
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what was your GRE score? What you could do is start looking for some RA positions for next year to apply to just in case you don't get in this year.
 
applyingtograd said:
what was your GRE score? What you could do is start looking for some RA positions for next year to apply to just in case you don't get in this year.
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oh yeah sorry meant to include those. V: 163 Q: 154 AW: 4.0

Thanks for the suggestion also
 
Hi everyone! Thanks for taking the time to look at this! I'm a third-year undergraduate student in Psychology. My ideal career goal is to be a pediatric clinical psychologist and collaborate with other medical professionals in a children's hospital setting. Clinical psychology scares me with just how selective it is, so feel free to be completely blunt about where my application is lacking! I'm looking at applying to clinical psychology programs at these universities:

The University of California - Los Angeles
The University of California - Berkeley
The University of Massachusetts - Amherst
The Washington University at St. Louis
The University of Houston
McGill University
The University of British Columbia
Northwestern University
The University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

GPA: 3.86/4.0

GRE: Haven't taken it yet, but anticipating a great score (I've been studying for a few months now and am taking it in May)

Research Experience: Departmental honors in psychology at my university (which calls for an independent research project), am a research assistant 10 hours a week in a lab on campus, and will be participating in a summer research experience at my university in May, in which I work with a faculty member on an independent project. So, ideally, I'll have two independent publications by the time I graduate in May 2014. I also do statistics work for an English professor - I create tables and basically crunch numbers for him; he is responsible for the next publication of a collection of Shakespeare's plays.

Work Experience: I've worked in a child center for two years back in my hometown, and then one associated with my university this past semester. I have tutored elementary school kids for about a year. I was recently accepted to a volunteer program at a children's hospital, so I will be doing that this semester. I've found it difficult to shadow a clinical psychologist, as they cite the confidentiality rule as their reason for saying no.

Extracurricular/awards: Member of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society (invite-only to the top 10% of the university), Magna Cum Laude on Dean's List, College Scholar (in top 20% of my college within the university), College of Liberal Arts Merit Scholarship recipient

I have professors who will write me glowing letters of recommendation, so I'm not too worried in this field. 😛

Also, thank you for any feedback, I really appreciate this 🙂
 
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I'm also curious to hear what you all think my chances are for masters programs. ty
 
soccer0730 said:
Hi everyone! Thanks for taking the time to look at this! I'm a third-year undergraduate student in Psychology. My ideal career goal is to be a pediatric clinical psychologist and collaborate with other medical professionals in a children's hospital setting. Clinical psychology scares me with just how selective it is, so feel free to be completely blunt about where my application is lacking! I'm looking at applying to clinical psychology programs at these universities:

The University of California - Los Angeles
The University of California - Berkeley
The University of Massachusetts - Amherst
The Washington University at St. Louis
The University of Houston
McGill University
The University of British Columbia
Northwestern University
The University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign

GPA: 3.86/4.0

GRE: Haven't taken it yet, but anticipating a great score (I've been studying for a few months now and am taking it in May)

Research Experience: Departmental honors in psychology at my university (which calls for an independent research project), am a research assistant 10 hours a week in a lab on campus, and will be participating in a summer research experience at my university in May, in which I work with a faculty member on an independent project. So, ideally, I'll have two independent publications by the time I graduate in May 2014. I also do statistics work for an English professor - I create tables and basically crunch numbers for him; he is responsible for the next publication of a collection of Shakespeare's plays.

Work Experience: I've worked in a child center for two years back in my hometown, and then one associated with my university this past semester. I have tutored elementary school kids for about a year. I was recently accepted to a volunteer program at a children's hospital, so I will be doing that this semester. I've found it difficult to shadow a clinical psychologist, as they cite the confidentiality rule as their reason for saying no.

Extracurricular/awards: Member of Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society (invite-only to the top 10% of the university), Magna Cum Laude on Dean's List, College Scholar (in top 20% of my college within the university), College of Liberal Arts Merit Scholarship recipient

I have professors who will write me glowing letters of recommendation, so I'm not too worried in this field. 😛

Also, thank you for any feedback, I really appreciate this 🙂
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Looks good. You are applying to research-focused schools (McGill, UBC, Northwestern, etc.), so make sure your research interests are well defined. Do you see research having a place in your future career? If not, consider some more balanced programs as well.

The only thing I can suggest is getting as much research experience as possible, which it sounds like you're on track for. You may not have two publications by the time you graduate (though you might have some papers submitted if the projects work out)... But you'll almost certainly have results to submit to a conference, and I suggest talking to your mentor about submitting one of your projects once you have the results.

Good luck! It sounds like you're doing quite well so far.
 
Hello all - thank you in advance for the feedback ... I am new to these boards and considering an application for Lehigh University's Counseling Psychology doctoral program. Not to start this coming fall, but the year after, as I will be moving to the area at that time. I have no concept of the application process for doctoral programs, especially one as competitive as Lehigh's. I read that 4-6 students are in a cohort from about 100 applicants each year. This makes me extremely nervous, but I am not sure if I have a strong background or not in comparison to others in my position, because I simply don't know much about how things work beyond a Master's level! This board has been so useful in beginning to learn more. I am unsure if even applying is worth a shot.

- I am currently three months away from a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology with a 3.95 GPA. I am in the top 10% of all the graduate students in my university, and have been since I began my program. By the time I apply for Lehigh's program I will have a good bit of post-Master's experience.

- I studied English and Psychology as an undergraduate from a well-known university, with a 3.75 GPA. I also completed this degree in 3.5 years. I feel that due to this experience, I am a strong writer.

- I am a member of an honors society.

- I have what I feel is a varied and solid resume for my age: five years of varied field experience, including a supervised clinical internship during my program, outside work experience, and volunteering. My experience ranges from behavioral work with individuals who have developmental delays to sexual assault/trauma counseling in a rape crisis center, to work with children, adults, and families in an outpatient mental health setting. Through these varied experiences I have really come to learn where I'd like my clinical focus to lie in the future.

- I engaged in a research and advocacy project during my time in my Master's program.

- I was a graduate assistant who was very involved in our program and campus community.

- My GRE scores are average, in the high 500s and high 600s range (it has been a while, so I forget my exact scores at this point: I know math was lower than verbal). I have never taken the Psych subject test, but could. I recently passed the NCE. ** I am concerned with my average scores here impacting things.

- I know that I could obtain glowing recommendations by a county judge, professors from my program, the director of my program, and clinical supervisors.

All constructive input is welcome! Thank you! 🙂
 
smearedblackink said:
I'm hoping for some objective assessment of my overall applicant package. I'm applying to clinical Ph.D. programs.

Undergrad GPA: 3.36 (99% of this is due to when I was a Music major the first 1.5 years of college. It's very obvious when you disregard the transcript from that school that my undergrad GPA otherwise is over 3.75. All but 1 psych courses are As or A-s)

Grad GPA: 4.00 (MA in clinical; will finish with 4.00)

GREV: 550
GREQ: 710
GREA: 5.5
GRES: 650 (only took once, didn't really study)


Research experience (in "ascending" order):
- Undergraduate observation/"research" practicum (mostly observation, assessment, and writing a report--this was back in the baby days when I was getting my AA)
- Undergraduate senior thesis
- Lead RA on graduate team for 2 years (this particular team is that of a faculty member who was brand new when I started so everything we've done is from scratch; this has [so far] garnered 4 presentations, 1 mentored presentation, 5 manuscripts in preparation [two I'm first author, two second, one third], and we recently were invited to give a colloquium series)
- 300 hour clinical research practicum at Mayo Clinic (Rochester), which went beyond 300 hours into a Student Internship, which then garnered a position as a...
- RA at Mayo Clinic (this has garnered 4 manuscripts in preparation [one I'm first author, two I'm second, one I'm third], 3 presentations [one of which I'm presenting])
- Master's thesis, which has been accepted for oral presentation at an international conference in behavioral medicine
(I feel like I'm forgetting something, but that's the bulk of it)

Clinical experience:
- One year as a group home counselor
- One year as a "counselor" for transitional youth
- A little over a year giving intellectual/cognitive assessments through the psych department at my grad school for students needing disability assessment

Teaching experience:
- Worked in public school system for 2 years as an undergrad
- Tutored undergrads way back in the day
- A bunch of guest lecturing (at least twice per year for the last 4 years)
- GA for 7 psych classes one year
- Adjunct instructor for undergrad psych stats


-Very strong letters of rec; the one that came from the most accomplished of the group (and pretty well-known in their specialty) I was given the opportunity to see it (I didn't request this) and it contained statements that, well... anything more positive would require simple defiance of logic. I don't mean to be cryptic or boast, but I just want to illustrate that this is a particular strong point that I think will set me apart from other applicants. All other letters are similar.


I believe that's it. I appreciate any feedback or recommendations.

[FYI, the majority of the aforementioned manuscripts are either already submitted (I know that's no different than in prep) or will be submitted in the next year.]
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I think that your experiences both clinical and research could easily mute your mediocre GPA and GRE scores if you apply to POIs that are a good fit with what you have been doing and what you want to do.

An interesting aspect of your profile is that you have 9 manuscripts in prep/submission. I am wondering what other's opinions on this are? I have always been rather conservative about listing unpublished manuscripts on my CV. I might list "submitted" but I would not list "in prep". I would maybe mention in a personal statement "I worked on this project that culminated with a first-author manuscript which is in submission." The fact is that many manuscripts that are in prep never even get submitted and many of those that get submitted never get published. Also 9 manuscripts in prep/submitted seems a little excessive. People might wonder why you have so many that haven't gotten out the door. This is just my opinion and I might be wrong but if you want to list those, maybe only list first-authors or ones you want to highlight? I would be interested in other opinions on this.
 
baconlover said:
An interesting aspect of your profile is that you have 9 manuscripts in prep/submission. I am wondering what other's opinions on this are? I have always been rather conservative about listing unpublished manuscripts on my CV. I might list "submitted" but I would not list "in prep". I would maybe mention in a personal statement "I worked on this project that culminated with a first-author manuscript which is in submission." The fact is that many manuscripts that are in prep never even get submitted and many of those that get submitted never get published. Also 9 manuscripts in prep/submitted seems a little excessive. People might wonder why you have so many that haven't gotten out the door. This is just my opinion and I might be wrong but if you want to list those, maybe only list first-authors or ones you want to highlight? I would be interested in other opinions on this.
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I think when you have no/only a few publications, listing in prep or submitted articles is a way of showing that you do have papers in the pipeline. Publishing something can take a loooong time. However, once you have a few publications, listing in prep papers begins to come off as unnecessary padding. I'm not sure how to handle it when there are that many articles yet to be published, but at the grad school application stage I would say leave them all on- doesn't hurt to show your involvement in multiple projects. But, a published paper or two would be even better 🙂
 
I would agree that listing works that are "in prep" is ok when applying to grad schools. So long as the section is clearly delineated, I doubt many POIs would see it as padding. The issue becomes when these types of works (or even those that are submitted) are listed in a traditional "peer-reviewed publications" portion of the CV; that, to me, comes across as disingenuous.
 
smearedblackink said:
I had the same concern, baconlover, and I appreciate you pointing this out for sure. The quoted section was my and 6+ advisors' rationale, paired with the knowledge that my PI in my master's program was brand new so we have now had 1.5 years to do anything at all (i.e., build a team from the ground up, start projects, etc., versus others having data sets and teams readily utilizable). The same can be said for my other RA position--we simply haven't worked together long enough to collect a respectable data set and publish from start to finish (9 months). All of my LoRs illustrated these facts quite nicely (indeed, illustrating that my talents have been integral to such an infant team being so productive in such little time [in the former case] and how I have taken the reins of several projects and been very productive in what little time I've had [in the latter]).

I understand how having so many in prep might look suspicious, but I think any considerate POI would look deeper into why that is (if they're at all interested) and simply ask (which has so far been the case). In this case, it's for good reason and you can easily extrapolate that from my package as an applicant (without even having to ask).

This is likely not the same reality for others, and I think that if you can't evidence that having so many in prep is a product of circumstance, you should avoid listing so many. Worst case scenario is I don't get in, literally all of those get finished/likely published, and I apply again with what (at that time) will pretty easily be upwards of 10 pubs (CV hasn't been updated since November).
Click to expand...

It sounds like you put thought into this and so I am sure you did the right thing. Publishing can take a long time but some journals are relatively quick (1-3 months). I had a manuscript in prep when I was getting ready to apply and I purposely submitted to a journal that was quicker so it would be accepted by the time I submitted my applications.

Also I think when I was applying, Northwestern specified that only accepted articles should be listed on CVs (no "in prep" or "submitted").

If you applied in November, with interviews coming up, it might be worth emailing editors to the journals you submitted to try and speed things up and maybe get something accepted by interviews. That way you could show up to interviews and be able to prove that your manuscripts were serious. Just an idea in case you havent thought of this.

I know this is a common thought "a considerate POI will read my letters and statement and be able to look past or understand this or that." but considering how competitive programs are now and how many applications POIs read, I am not sure how reliable this is.

Anyway I hope this discussion is helpful in strategizing.
 
Dear All,
I really appreciate the efforts that you guys are putting and all i can say is these Q&As are simply the best for psychology student.
 
Last edited:
Hello everybody,
Thank you for taking the time to help all of us applicants/future applicants!

My background is pretty atypical. I completed two years of liberal arts education at a University of California college. Then I transferred to a highly renowned contemporary music university and graduated with a bachelor of music. During school, I started working in mental health and realized that psychology was more of a passion for me than music. Since graduating, I have continued to take psychology courses at local community colleges. I realize that taking the courses at a four-year university would be preferred, but most universities where I am located will not take students who already have a bachelors degree.

Undergrad GPA:
At the UC: 3.56
At music college: 3.8
Psych courses at community college: 3.8

GREV: 163
GREQ: 155
GREA: 5.0


Research experience
- I am currently working as a full-time RA at the VA on two separate studies in a specialized neurology clinic. I started this position at the end of October. My main PI is the director of the national clinic and is fairly high profile within this subset of neurology. Both of my PIs are MDs and are also professors at a major university. One of the studies is specifically looking at psychiatric comorbidities with our patients and part of my job is conducting a number of psych assessments. For this study, I am the site research coordinator. The other study is less psych related, but I am still getting applicable experience. Duties include informed consent, navigating the IRB process, database management, preparing study invites, patient follow up, etc.


Clinical experience:
- One year as a volunteer HIV/STI test counselor at a free clinic for MSM. Conducted four, 60-minute one-on-one counseling sessions during each shift. Completed 37 hours of training classest. Was trained in Miller and Rollnick’s motivational interviewing.
- One year as program and services manager for an epilepsy non-profit. Supervised 12 monthly support groups for people with epilepsy and their caregivers. Regularly facilitated two separate support groups and filled in for other facilitators as needed. Planned and presented seizure response trainings and information sessions at local elementary schools, psychiatric hospitals, colleges, and other community venues. Conducted presentations about organization’s programs and services at various medical conferences and events. Supervised a group of adolescents with epilepsy and their families on a trip to Washington D.C. to petition congressional
leaders for aid in ensuring better access to care, improved public education, and more research toward a cure for epilepsy.
- Seven months as an outreach worker and educator for an HIV non-profit:
- Five months as a volunteer life skills coach for recovering substance abusers at a homeless shelter

Teaching experience:
- One year as an associate professor of music production at a for-profit university.
- Six months as a paid writing tutor at the University of California
- Six years of private music instruction

The letter of recommendation from my current supervisor is extremely strong. Other than that, I don't have any letters from psychologists or medical professionals, which I believe is an issue. I'm going to try to develop a relationship with my current stats professor who teaches at a major PsyD program, as well as at my community college. She has a PhD from NYU and I think she would be a reputable reference.

I definitely want to attend a funded PhD program and am considering both clinical and counseling. Most of my background would work well in health psychology or LGBT issues. I believe that going for health psychology would be more versatile and practical, and I could always focus on HIV to incorporate the LGBT population (and non-LGBT as well). I am also extremely interested in schizophrenia and personality disorders, but I don't have any experience with severe psychopathology, so I think it might be more of a stretch to apply to programs with that focus.

I am trying to figure out how I can make my application more competitive. By the time next year's applications come around, I will have had one year of professional research experience. Should I try to get an additional volunteer position in a more psych-related lab here at the VA or at a local University? Or would my time be better spent volunteering again as an HIV test-counselor? I am also considering volunteering for an LGBT youth suicide hotline.

Should I retake the GRE? Should I take the psych GRE, even though most of the schools I am interested in do not require it?
 
beaconshome said:
Hi everyone! I’m new to this forum and would like some feedback or guidance on clinical or counseling psych programs. I’m currently in my 4th/5th year of undergrad and have had many troubles along my journey. I began as a chemistry major up until the beginning of this past fall semester (2009). I decided to make the switch to psychology, because my upper level chemistry classes weren’t working out too well for me. Unfortunately, I failed 3 chemistry classes and thought I was destined for failure. In addition, I had to take a medical withdrawl for a whole semester because of a brain tumor.
However, I have now completed 4 classes in psychology (general, statistics, research methods, and theories of personality) and absolutely love it! I have a vast improvement in my grades averaging a 3.25 for psychology classes, but my overall GPA is at a 2.73 from my previous shortcomings.
The questions I have are what is the likelihood of a clinical or counseling psych program of even looking at my application? Should I consider applying to M.A. programs and prove my capabilities and then apply to PhD. or PsyD. programs?
Thank you in advance for your time, consideration, and comments.
Click to expand...

I am basically doing the same thing. I messed around as an undergrad at got serious towards the end but had a GPA of 3.11 which wasn't anything special. I am currently getting a master's degree in Health Psychology, getting research experience, and maintaining a 3.7 GPA. I hope that this will be enough to get me into a quality clinical phd program when I graduate in December.
 
Hello everyone!

I am a junior in undergrad. I was an environmental science major for 2 years so I had to take all the big science intros, bio, chem, physic, calc, etc. It brought down my overall GPA BUT I transferred since then so the actual calculated gpa that they see will only be from my new school and my new gpa is excellent.

I plan to graduate from my new school with ~3.9 for both cumulative and psych. If you were to actually calculate my total with my old school I would have ~3.55 overall and 3.9 in psych.

I am currently a research assistant and hopefully will continue to do so for a total of 1.5 years and perhaps with my name on some published research. I will also have 2 years of weekly volunteer experience in the field of crisis counseling.

I have only taken practice GREs but I get ~1200 each time total.

I'm still deciding whether I should take some time off after I graduate or go right for it. Maybe get a masters right after undergrad and then go for a phd? I don't want to take that path but I will if it gets me to the right place in the end.

I want to get a phd in either clinical or counseling. I'm still on the fence but I'm leaning more toward clinical. These are the schools I'm interested in:

Clark
UC Santa Barbara
UC Boulder
Denver
Vermont
Texas- Austin
NYU
The new school

How closely will they pay attention to my unrelated grades at my old school?

Thanks so much!
 
mobofjoggers said:
Hello everyone!

I am a junior in undergrad. I was an environmental science major for 2 years so I had to take all the big science intros, bio, chem, physic, calc, etc. It brought down my overall GPA BUT I transferred since then so the actual calculated gpa that they see will only be from my new school and my new gpa is excellent.

I plan to graduate from my new school with ~3.9 for both cumulative and psych. If you were to actually calculate my total with my old school I would have ~3.55 overall and 3.9 in psych.

I am currently a research assistant and hopefully will continue to do so for a total of 1.5 years and perhaps with my name on some published research. I will also have 2 years of weekly volunteer experience in the field of crisis counseling.

I have only taken practice GREs but I get ~1200 each time total.

I'm still deciding whether I should take some time off after I graduate or go right for it. Maybe get a masters right after undergrad and then go for a phd? I don't want to take that path but I will if it gets me to the right place in the end.

I want to get a phd in either clinical or counseling. I'm still on the fence but I'm leaning more toward clinical. These are the schools I'm interested in:

Clark
UC Santa Barbara
UC Boulder
Denver
Vermont
Texas- Austin
NYU
The new school

How closely will they pay attention to my unrelated grades at my old school?

Thanks so much!
Click to expand...

Just an FYI, they will almost certainly require you to send transcripts from all universities you have attended. The GPA you will have to work with will be the combined one. Good Luck!:luck:
 
Hey everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I was just looking for a bit of advice on how to approach applying for a PsyD program. I have almost a whole year to apply, so I'm just trying to figure out where i'm at with the process of it all and what recommendations anyone could give me. I'm afraid I won't have a strong enough application so I was trying to see what would make it better. I had a dual major in psychology and criminal justice, and was planning on going to law school all throughout undergrad, so the decision for a PsyD program is pretty new to me. I ultimately want to work with adolescents so I think a program geared towards that is what I'll need to look for. Okay so here's what I have so far:

Undergrad GPA: 3.43
Psych GPA: 3.25

I also studied abroad in England and basically got a 3.0 overall. The classes there were extremely difficult and I tried my hardest, but I couldn't get any higher grades.

Experience:
-Peer Assistance Hotline Program for three years in college
-Internship in a Probation Department (for juveniles) for a semester
-6 months in a Group Home for adolescents
-Currently working in a non-secure detention for juveniles for 5 months now, and plan to be working there up until the Fall 2014 semester when I'm able to start a program.

I have absolutely zero research experience. As I said earlier, I never planned on going to graduate school for psychology, so I never did anything in undergrad. Is it really important to have research when I'm going for a PsyD because I want to work in the clinical setting?

I have a mentor at my current job that is going to help me and write me a LOR, and she said the job I have now is perfect clinical experience for this type of program. I work kind of closely with her when it comes to the residents.

I haven't take the GRE's or Psychology GRE yet, but I am studying and taking one in April and then the other over the summer so I have ample amount of time to study. Does anyone have any other suggestions for me? I know my psychology grades aren't that great either, but would this deter a program from accepting me?

Thank you guys for reading and for advice!
 
Hi all,

Pretty new to the forum and planning to apply for 2014-2015. Just wondering what my chances are and if anyone has any specific suggestions to make me more competition.

I'm currently finishing a MA program in Clinical Psychology.
Graduate GPA: Most likely will be a 3.8
Undergrad GPA: 3.5

GRE scores:
Verbal: 500
Quant: 610
(I know these are meh. I plan on retaking)

Clinical Experience:
1 year internal practicum
1 year external practicum
Currently employed part time in an inpatient facility
I've also attended 2 clinical training workshops outside of my clinical training at my MA program

Research Experience:
4 Undegraduate RA positions (1 not in psych, but I've been told to keep it on my CV because it adds uniqueness?)
Currently a graduate RA
3 poster presentations (Again 1 not in psych, but I have been told to keep it on my CV)
4 posters accepted, not presented yet
1 symposium accepted, not presented yet but I will be the presenter
1 brief report in preparation, hopefully submitted by March
And working on 2 projects which will hopefully submitted by the time applications roll around.

Any feedback is welcome. Thanks!
 
General feedback for applicants/prospective applicants....

Non-psych research work is fine/good. I'd rather see students who have had a wider range of experience, or at least experience doi, then thing more than just coding/data input/lit review/etc.

Knowing how to really use the various stats programs out there is very helpful. SPSS is popular and most common, but programs like Stata and R will get you noticed much more quickly. They aren't easy and require a solid foundation in stats....but they will be far more useful to you than SPSS once you get a class or two into real stats. Being able to dig into the statistics will separate you from the "stats are icky" crowd, which is recommended.

Programming. Not HTML, but back-end/database developemtn. This ties in with the stats stuff above. If you plan on doing things w. large data sets (e.g. imaging research), then you'll want to have somewhat of a programming background. Again...this isn't for everyone, but it will help you stand out if the rest of your application is strong.

I'm *not* a big stats person, so I'll defer to Ollie or Jon Snow for specific recs on things to learn, but I'm starting to see how valuable these skill sets are at my job (as a clinician who is being offered more research opportunities). I'm getting more and more involved with large-scale research, and it is amazing how much easier it is to play in this sandbox when you know about database design/architecture, the pros/cons of the various stats programs, etc. If you can bring in some basic knowledge at the training level, you will be ahead of the curve at most programs.
 
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I am applying for Pacific University's 2013-2014 Psy.D. I have not applied elsewhere due to the inability to relocate. I am attending their Interview Day on Mar. 1st

Undergrad:
Graduated: 2008
BA: Psych
Minor: Soc
Cumm GPA: 3.742

GRE
Verbal: 610
Quantitative: 700
Analytical Writing: 4

Research
Essentially none, beyond what I did in undergraduate.

Clinical Experience
6 mo: Internship with the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center.

6 mo: Internship with the Universal Inst. Inc. (TBI rehab.)

1 year: Mental Health Technician at a psychiatric hospital. Primarily in the Dual Diagnosis Unit, but also spent some significant time in the Adolescent, Geriatric, Acute, and Detox Units.

2 years: Floating Skills Trainer with a behavioral healthcare company for clients with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Spent time in secure, non-secure, and supported housing sites.

2 years to current: Program Supervisor for a 16 bed residential treatment facility for the criminally insane and clients with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Includes coordination of medical care, coordination of mental health services, coordination with the PSRB and conditional releases, clinical services, crisis intervention, and the regular administrative duties that come with the position.
 
Is anybody willing to take a shot here? I've got things moving forward, but I would love to get some input from experienced psychologists and students.

I've decided to stick to the HIV test counseling because I don't have time to go through the training programs for the suicide hotline.

I'm also actively looking into volunteering in another lab. I believe I have an opportunity to volunteer in a schizophrenia lab, but I'm not sure if it's a great move for a few reasons: 1) Although I've always been fascinated with schizophrenia, it doesn't really fit into my clinical and research background. I'm also wary of continuing down that path and then realizing that working (clinically) with that population on a daily basis would be too intense. My mom is a nurse and did psychiatric nursing for awhile and she insists that I wouldn't like it on a daily basis. 2) I read in the Insider's Guide that it's important to have letters of recommendation from well established psychologists, so I think it might behoove me to try and find a lab with a more renowned PI. The person running this lab is great, but relatively new to the field. So I'm considering trying to get into a study on PTSD, HIV (mental health aspects), substance abuse, or other mood disorders, as these better align with my current path and interests.

Taking the psych GRE seems to make sense, so I am moving forward with that. Even if the program doesn't request it, I will likely still send it (if I do well, of course) in hopes that it will make up for my lack of a psych degree.

One member on here suggested that I retake the GRE because I am close to getting a 1400:
163 verbal = 650 (old) 91%
155 Quant = 700 (old) 64%
5 Writing = 92%

Would retaking it and improving by 500 (if I pull it off) be advantageous enough to make it worthwhile? I know that I could do better on the quant, as I didn't study as much as I would have liked. I imagine my verbal will stay about the same, although I continued to learn new vocab (from kaplan flashcards) for a few months after I took the test, just for fun. I could continue to do that for a few months before the retake.

Thanks in advance! This board has been unbelievably helpful for me thus far with my career path exploration; so thank you to everybody who makes this what it is 🙂


Control4Smilers said:
Hello everybody,
Thank you for taking the time to help all of us applicants/future applicants!

My background is pretty atypical. I completed two years of liberal arts education at a University of California college. Then I transferred to a highly renowned contemporary music university and graduated with a bachelor of music. During school, I started working in mental health and realized that psychology was more of a passion for me than music. Since graduating, I have continued to take psychology courses at local community colleges. I realize that taking the courses at a four-year university would be preferred, but most universities where I am located will not take students who already have a bachelors degree.

Undergrad GPA:
At the UC: 3.56
At music college: 3.8
Psych courses at community college: 3.8

GREV: 163
GREQ: 155
GREA: 5.0


Research experience
- I am currently working as a full-time RA at the VA on two separate studies in a specialized neurology clinic. I started this position at the end of October. My main PI is the director of the national clinic and is fairly high profile within this subset of neurology. Both of my PIs are MDs and are also professors at a major university. One of the studies is specifically looking at psychiatric comorbidities with our patients and part of my job is conducting a number of psych assessments. For this study, I am the site research coordinator. The other study is less psych related, but I am still getting applicable experience. Duties include informed consent, navigating the IRB process, database management, preparing study invites, patient follow up, etc.


Clinical experience:
- One year as a volunteer HIV/STI test counselor at a free clinic for MSM. Conducted four, 60-minute one-on-one counseling sessions during each shift. Completed 37 hours of training classest. Was trained in Miller and Rollnick's motivational interviewing.
- One year as program and services manager for an epilepsy non-profit. Supervised 12 monthly support groups for people with epilepsy and their caregivers. Regularly facilitated two separate support groups and filled in for other facilitators as needed. Planned and presented seizure response trainings and information sessions at local elementary schools, psychiatric hospitals, colleges, and other community venues. Conducted presentations about organization's programs and services at various medical conferences and events. Supervised a group of adolescents with epilepsy and their families on a trip to Washington D.C. to petition congressional
leaders for aid in ensuring better access to care, improved public education, and more research toward a cure for epilepsy.
- Seven months as an outreach worker and educator for an HIV non-profit:
- Five months as a volunteer life skills coach for recovering substance abusers at a homeless shelter

Teaching experience:
- One year as an associate professor of music production at a for-profit university.
- Six months as a paid writing tutor at the University of California
- Six years of private music instruction

The letter of recommendation from my current supervisor is extremely strong. Other than that, I don't have any letters from psychologists or medical professionals, which I believe is an issue. I'm going to try to develop a relationship with my current stats professor who teaches at a major PsyD program, as well as at my community college. She has a PhD from NYU and I think she would be a reputable reference.

I definitely want to attend a funded PhD program and am considering both clinical and counseling. Most of my background would work well in health psychology or LGBT issues. I believe that going for health psychology would be more versatile and practical, and I could always focus on HIV to incorporate the LGBT population (and non-LGBT as well). I am also extremely interested in schizophrenia and personality disorders, but I don't have any experience with severe psychopathology, so I think it might be more of a stretch to apply to programs with that focus.

I am trying to figure out how I can make my application more competitive. By the time next year's applications come around, I will have had one year of professional research experience. Should I try to get an additional volunteer position in a more psych-related lab here at the VA or at a local University? Or would my time be better spent volunteering again as an HIV test-counselor? I am also considering volunteering for an LGBT youth suicide hotline.

Should I retake the GRE? Should I take the psych GRE, even though most of the schools I am interested in do not require it?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Control4Smilers said:
Is anybody willing to take a shot here? I've got things moving forward, but I would love to get some input from experienced psychologists and students.

I've decided to stick to the HIV test counseling because I don't have time to go through the training programs for the suicide hotline.

I'm also actively looking into volunteering in another lab. I believe I have an opportunity to volunteer in a schizophrenia lab, but I'm not sure if it's a great move for a few reasons: 1) Although I've always been fascinated with schizophrenia, it doesn't really fit into my clinical and research background. I'm also wary of continuing down that path and then realizing that working (clinically) with that population on a daily basis would be too intense. My mom is a nurse and did psychiatric nursing for awhile and she insists that I wouldn't like it on a daily basis. 2) I read in the Insider's Guide that it's important to have letters of recommendation from well established psychologists, so I think it might behoove me to try and find a lab with a more renowned PI. The person running this lab is great, but relatively new to the field. So I'm considering trying to get into a study on PTSD, HIV (mental health aspects), substance abuse, or other mood disorders, as these better align with my current path and interests.

Taking the psych GRE seems to make sense, so I am moving forward with that. Even if the program doesn't request it, I will likely still send it (if I do well, of course) in hopes that it will make up for my lack of a psych degree.

One member on here suggested that I retake the GRE because I am close to getting a 1400:
163 verbal = 650 (old) 91%
155 Quant = 700 (old) 64%
5 Writing = 92%

Would retaking it and improving by 500 (if I pull it off) be advantageous enough to make it worthwhile? I know that I could do better on the quant, as I didn't study as much as I would have liked. I imagine my verbal will stay about the same, although I continued to learn new vocab (from kaplan flashcards) for a few months after I took the test, just for fun. I could continue to do that for a few months before the retake.

Thanks in advance! This board has been unbelievably helpful for me thus far with my career path exploration; so thank you to everybody who makes this what it is 🙂
Click to expand...
The solar garlic starts to rot
Was it for this my life I sought?
Maybe so and maybe not
 
Hey guys,

I'm new to this site, so I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this.

I'm applying to seven Psy.D programs this cycle, and so far, I've received four interview invites. All of my credentials are at least average or above average, with the exception of my verbal GRE score (I got a 153/500 V, 154/690 Q, 4.5 AW, 710 Psychology, 3.97 GPA, glowing recommendations, two teaching internships, clinical volunteer work with developmentally disabled individuals/online counselor for teens, and research experience in an advanced research methods class).

Basically, I am wondering how much GRE scores matter once you make it to the interview stage. My verbal score is worrying me because most of the schools that I am applying to have anywhere from a 520-560 mean V score in their full disclosure data. Will this matter or will the other parts of my application make up for this?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
psychstudent17 said:
Hey guys,

I'm new to this site, so I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this.

I'm applying to seven Psy.D programs this cycle, and so far, I've received four interview invites. All of my credentials are at least average or above average, with the exception of my verbal GRE score (I got a 153/500 V, 154/690 Q, 4.5 AW, 710 Psychology, 3.97 GPA, glowing recommendations, two teaching internships, clinical volunteer work with developmentally disabled individuals/online counselor for teens, and research experience in an advanced research methods class).

Basically, I am wondering how much GRE scores matter once you make it to the interview stage. My verbal score is worrying me because most of the schools that I am applying to have anywhere from a 520-560 mean V score in their full disclosure data. Will this matter or will the other parts of my application make up for this?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
by the interview stage no one cares about your numbers. They may ask you about them but in most cases it will no longer be considered a criteria for admission.
 
Hello all, I am a first year student in a 2 year Master's program in Experimental Psych. I really love my Master's program; I already feel like I've learned so much, and I hope I'll be a competitive applicant in the next cycle.

My question is how confident I should feel going in with a Master's. I've read in a few places that it is a big leg up because it shows you can be successful in grad level classes, but I've also read that it can hold you back.

Here are my numbers:

Undergrad GPA: 3.45
Grad GPA (so far): 4.0
GRE Verbal: 163 (91st%)
GRE Quant: 165 (92nd%)
GRE writing: 4 (49th%)

By the time I graduate from my program, I will have the following research experience (if all goes well):
4 poster presentations (one as first author)
1 publication (collecting data now, but obviously it's possible it won't get published by the time I'm done here)
My thesis

Here are the schools where I've found PIs I want to work with (in no particular order, and I'll only end up applying to 8-10 of these):

Yale
NYU
Berkeley
UCLA
UC Irvine
UC San Diego
Brown
Kansas
Pittsburgh
Northeastern
Lehigh
Penn
Toronto
Maryland (College Park)
Indiana

Do I have a competitive app?
 
CogHopeful said:
Hello all, I am a first year student in a 2 year Master's program in Experimental Psych. I really love my Master's program; I already feel like I've learned so much, and I hope I'll be a competitive applicant in the next cycle.

My question is how confident I should feel going in with a Master's. I've read in a few places that it is a big leg up because it shows you can be successful in grad level classes, but I've also read that it can hold you back.

Here are my numbers:

Undergrad GPA: 3.45
Grad GPA (so far): 4.0
GRE Verbal: 163 (91st%)
GRE Quant: 165 (92nd%)
GRE writing: 4 (49th%)

By the time I graduate from my program, I will have the following research experience (if all goes well):
4 poster presentations (one as first author)
1 publication (collecting data now, but obviously it's possible it won't get published by the time I'm done here)
My thesis

Here are the schools where I've found PIs I want to work with (in no particular order, and I'll only end up applying to 8-10 of these):

Yale
NYU
Berkeley
UCLA
UC Irvine
UC San Diego
Brown
Kansas
Pittsburgh
Northeastern
Lehigh
Penn
Toronto
Maryland (College Park)
Indiana

Do I have a competitive app?
Click to expand...

What kinds of programs are you applying to? Some of these schools don't have a Clinical Psych PhD program (e.g., Toronto), and your username suggests you might be interested in Cognitive Psych PhD programs? If so, you'll likely be quite competitive. Nice job on the GRE. 🙂
 
What kinds of programs are you applying to? Some of these schools don't have a Clinical Psych PhD program (e.g., Toronto), and your username suggests you might be interested in Cognitive Psych PhD programs? If so, you'll likely be quite competitive. Nice job on the GRE.
Click to expand...

Yes I'm looking at Cognitive Psych, sorry I didn't clarify that before. Thanks!
 
Hi all,

I'm hoping for some honest and constructive feedback about my qualifications for a PhD program in School Psychology. I am currently a junior with hopes of applying to programs during my senior year (next year). I have not yet taken the GRE (which is, of course, a critical element), but I have a decent understanding of where I need to score to be competitive.

Here's are my details:
Undergrad School: Big, research-heavy university
GPA: 4.0
Psychology major, Statistics minor

Research Experience:

2 years in a health/social psychology lab (studying adolescents)
1 year (and counting) in a clinical psychology lab (focus on adolescents)
1 first-author poster presentation at the Society for Research on Adolescence
2 second-author poster presentations at large national conferences
3 posters at on-campus research symposia (should I even include these?)
Submitted manuscript (not sure if this will make it to publication before I graduate)

Volunteer experience:
2 years as a crisis line counselor

I am primarily interested in adolescent adjustment and mental health. Much of my current research focuses on sexual minority (LGBT) youth, and I am hoping to study issues such as school climate, school achievement, peer victimization, and protective factors at the graduate level. In the long run, I want a career in research and teaching, though I leave open the possibility that I will fall in love with practice.

Where can I improve, and how competitive would I be for a PhD program? Would I be better suited by apply to master's programs and later pursuing a PhD?

Thanks for taking a look!
 
Hey gang,

I recently graduated from University of North Texas with my B.A. in sociology and a minor in psychology. My overall uGPA is a 3.3, my major GPA is a 3.8 and my minor GPA was a 3.77. I took general, developmental, abnormal, personality, history and systems, and social (in sociology department). I also have a general statistics class and a sociology statistics class as well as a research/ design class in my sociology major.

I am wanting to go into clinical or counseling psychology...I just want to get some feedback on my background so far. I am procrastinating on taking the GRE at the moment.
 
Hello everyone,

I was wondering if you could give me advice about how to improve my chances when I decide to apply to clinical/counseling Ph.D programs in the future (probably in about 2 years).

I did not major in Psychology as an undergrad (I wanted to, but I let my parents dissuade me... which I highly regret), so I am planning to take about 6 undergrad psych/stat courses as a non-degree student starting this coming fall. I will get grades for those courses, but they won't be included in my overall GPA (which was 3.65); do you think that's a major problem? Also, I will be taking the courses at a school nearby home (George Mason University); as long as I make good grades (I'm aiming for straight A's!!!), do you think the reputation of the actual university will be a problem? George Mason isn't terrible, but it's not really up there in terms of school rankings.

I know letters of recommendation and research experience are important, both of which I hope to obtain through my time at George Mason. I am also planning to start prepping for my GRE's in the next couple of months. I currently work in accounting, but I would love to get at least a part-time job or internship in a field that relates to counseling/therapy/psychology. However, as I have absolutely no experience, I was wondering if anyone could give me suggestions on where to even start looking for opportunities?

I would love to be accepted into a counseling psychology program, but how possible do you think it will be in the next couple of years given my lack of experience in the past? And besides LORs, GRE, and research experience, what recommendations do you have for me to become a competitive applicant?

Thank you so much! I've been reading through this forum, and it's been such a help (and very overwhelming)!!
 
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