Thanks for all the input. I would say my student did everything "right". Not all her programs were *top* programs, but about 6 were. She had the background credentials--had a one year NSF sponsored undergraduate research experience in forensic psych at Nebraska (did her junior year there and one of her publications was from there); the director of that program in Nebraska wrote letters for her; she took her lightest schedule in college last fall so she could treat the application process as an extra class or two; she did have a first authorship paper under review and included the ms with her app materials (her senior honors thesis paper); she researched each program closely and not only did she tailor each of her letters to the program and faculty at that school, she contacted each school to make sure they were taking students in her area of interest; she gave me very precise descriptions of each program and why she felt qualified to work with people in that program; I wrote m! ! y letters to match those, etc. etc. etc.
We did it all. And I just don't know what else we could have done. I tend to believe the original folks who responded thought it's really a crap shoot after they pick their number one or two and she was not lucky enough. Yes, I realize her GREs were her weakest link. And probably she didn't even make the first cut in some places because of it. Sigh. She has the whole package and such motivation and enthusiasm and interest; and to her credit is a little down in the dumps but definitely not defeated. And yes, she could afford all those applications. So what next? Even though she got into law school, after really thinking it over she wants to wait a year and try to go the PhD/JD route. I think she should look for a research assistant position someplace. Any ideas where? Would it be better to contact some of the programs she did not get into and see if they need a research assistant? Would it matter if it was in any old area of psych or should she stick with trying to work with someone doing work in forensic psych? I know it might seem like she's trying to finagle her way in, but truly she'd just apply to other places come fall and would just want the experience. She could probably squeek by without pay and be a free volunteer (a small windfall helps her be able to apply to all these programs, spend junior year in the NSF program, etc. but isn't that big so she'd need some job to pay basic expenses). BuThe question is, now to find such a position? Thanks for all the input so far! Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [email protected] ---- Original message ---- >Date: Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:17:50 -0400 >From: Patrick Dolan <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [tips] graduate program admissions >To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" ><[email protected]> > >Echoing Bill's point- I'd say ~600s on GREs are bare minimum- I know >some programs don't give you a second look if you don't score ~1350 >combined quant/verbal (or whatever they're called now: and I think it >goes without saying that psych GREs are expected to be quite high if >required at all). My $.02. > >Patrick > >__ >Patrick O. Dolan, Ph.D >Associate professor and chair of psychology >Drew university >Madison, NJ > >On Mar 20, 2010, at 9:54 PM, "William Scott" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I think Karl has identified a crucial point. Students need to do >> what they can in whatever way to connect their interests with the >> interests of a particular and specifically identified faculty member >> at the institution at which they are applying. That has generally >> been the most successful approach that I have seen. That being said, >> a few years back I had two students who were applying to graduate >> school at the same time who both had near 800 scores on their GRE's >> and all of the schools were scrambling to get either one of them. >> There is a portfolio of the generally desirable student who doesn't >> have to be specific in her interests. Really good GRE scores in my >> opinion turn everyone toward the applicant. Of course these students >> have good grades and good letters, but they don't have to be showing >> research interests that match with potential faculty members. >> >> Bill Scott >> >> >>>>> "Wuensch, Karl L" <[email protected]> 03/20/10 9:36 PM >>> >> We get a lot of applications from students who have great >> credentials but who apparently share no research interests with our >> faculty. We tell prospective students up front that their >> application will be rejected if they have not arranged for a member >> of our faculty to sponsor the application, but many just go ahead >> and apply without first arranging such sponsorship. I consider such >> failure to follow instructions a fatal flaw for an applicant to >> graduate school. >> >> >> Cheers, >> >> Karl W. >> >> >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. >> To unsubscribe click here: >> http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13443.99ec8b626a47132c52969dd081cdd808&n=T&l=tips&o=1405 >> or send a blank email to >> leave-1405-13443.99ec8b626a47132c52969dd081cdd...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > >--- >You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. >To unsubscribe click here: >http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a21b0&n=T&l=tips&o=1406 >or send a blank email to >leave-1406-13534.4204dc3a11678c6b1d0be57cfe0a2...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=1417 or send a blank email to leave-1417-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
