Accepted into Ph.D. program

[M.C COB]

So as of yesterday, I have now been accepted into a Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program. Hell yea!

[sdbrown]

Whoa, major congrats! Do you already have your Master's or is it one of those programs where you earn both in one swoop?

[M.C COB]

Two in one. After the second year you receive a Master's, followed by a formal assessment as to whether you will make it three more years.

[Swayback]

Congrats man! Get ready to spend your days studying!

[spriltsc]

study hard man.

[M.C COB]

Yea, it will be a lot of work and studying. One awesome aspect is that tuition is covered in full. With the average program lasting five years, at about $15K/semester (graduate credits are more expensive than undergraduate), that winds up being a $150k deal.

[Petzl]

Nice man, congrats. I'm looking forward to applying to a Chemistry PhD program.

[i like guitars]

Congrats
ya i was gunning for a PhD in organic chem but i decided i wouldn't be happy doing that. I love being in a lab so well see how life turns out.

[M.C COB]

Nice man, congrats. I'm looking forward to applying to a Chemistry PhD program.

Good dude. I am not 100% sure on how competitive chemistry programs are, but I will guess very. As far as jobs are concerned, there would have to positions along the production line of a drug that would call for a chemist. But yea, the program I got accepted to is heavily research oriented, which I like.

[Petzl]

Good dude. I am not 100% sure on how competitive chemistry programs are, but I will guess very. As far as jobs are concerned, there would have to positions along the production line of a drug that would call for a chemist. But yea, the program I got accepted to is heavily research oriented, which I like.

Research is great man. Did you do any research as an undergrad? I know that for the sciences most of the upper level schools will pretty much laugh at you if you haven't engaged in any kind of student/faculty type research as an undergrad...just wondering if it's any different for the social sciences, it seems like that kind of research is a little more difficult?

[KellyGleason]

Congratulations, what an honor! Work hard boy! :-)

PS: I, too, love research based programs.

[Heart-A-Tact]

Good luck, man. Hope you do well.

[M.C COB]

Research is great man. Did you do any research as an undergrad? I know that for the sciences most of the upper level schools will pretty much laugh at you if you haven't engaged in any kind of student/faculty type research as an undergrad...just wondering if it's any different for the social sciences, it seems like that kind of research is a little more difficult?

My last two years were spent doing a lot of research. You are totally correct, big schools like Duke, Stanford, Penn State focus primarily on research. It is kind of crazy because a lot of these schools are so research oriented that some professors never step foot in a classroom, the college will hire them only to do research. The most difficult aspect of research, in my opinion, is the grant writing. No grant money = No funds = No research.

[M.C COB]

Congratulations, what an honor! Work hard boy! :-)

PS: I, too, love research based programs.

Definitely. What is your major?

[stayforawhile]

Whereee?

[KellyGleason]

Definitely. What is your major?I'm a Nursing major as of right now (I'm only in my Sophomore year), and I'm about to transfer after this semester. Not too much research involved in my field currently, but I always make sure my elective classes are research based.

[cupcakeomg]

I want to study psychology when i get out of highschool.
what classes do you really need? what kind of marks do you need?
i'm an average student, getting above 70% in all my classes. is that good, or do i need to get higher?

[M.C COB]

Whereee?

University of Alabama, Columbia, and UMASS

[M.C COB]

I'm a Nursing major as of right now (I'm only in my Sophomore year), and I'm about to transfer after this semester. Not too much research involved in my field currently, but I always make sure my elective classes are research based.

That is really freaking cool. I currently work in the mental health unit of a hospital. The past three weeks I have been working with RN's and shadowing them around on a regular med/surg floor. Funny you say you are a nursing major because there are always nursing students on the floor getting taught.

[M.C COB]

I want to study psychology when i get out of highschool.
what classes do you really need? what kind of marks do you need?
i'm an average student, getting above 70% in all my classes. is that good, or do i need to get higher?

While in high school it does not matter what classes you take. Even throughout your first two years of college, you will most likely have your schedule full of general classes and requirements (i.e. history/basic science/math classes). If your grades are around 70%, that works out to about a C average. Of course this will vary college to college, but generally you are going to want to do as best as you can (4.0 GPA or A's would be optimal). If you really want to go to graduate school, then grades are going to be very important and you will want to do as best as you can.

One more note. Psychology is a VERY VERY vast field. Most people, when the word psychology is brought up, think of counselors/therapists/social workers. In fact, there are HUGE differences between just those three. I mean you can tie in psychology with just about anything.

[KellyGleason]

That is really freaking cool. I currently work in the mental health unit of a hospital. The past three weeks I have been working with RN's and shadowing them around on a regular med/surg floor. Funny you say you are a nursing major because there are always nursing students on the floor getting taught.I hope you don't mind that I ask but - where do you go to school? When I transfer schools I'm going to start looking at jobs in hospitals. I just have to take my Nursing test, which will be done in the next few months.

[FeynmanWannabe]

As a current grad student, I saw:

Run Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. haha

[stayforawhile]

University of Alabama, Columbia, and UMASS
Ohh damn go to Columbia! UMass Amherst? I hated it there.

[M.C COB]

I hope you don't mind that I ask but - where do you go to school? When I transfer schools I'm going to start looking at jobs in hospitals. I just have to take my Nursing test, which will be done in the next few months.

I graduated from SUNY Oswego (a semester early at that). Unfortunately it is not a school to go to if you are pursuing health care. Syracuse has the Upstate Medical University, which is amazing.

[M.C COB]

As a current grad student, I saw:

Run Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay. haha

Haha, thanks for the advice.

[NickLopez]

I plan on making this thread in four years, except change Developmental to Cognitive. Possibly going social-cognitive.

MC Cob, what undergrad are you going to? Also, I'm only a freshman, but I'm already an RA in a cognitive lab. Any other advice? I'm just trying to stay as involved as I can with psychology at my school.

[M.C COB]

I plan on making this thread in four years, except change Developmental to Cognitive. Possibly going social-cognitive.

MC Cob, what undergrad are you going to? Also, I'm only a freshman, but I'm already an RA in a cognitive lab. Any other advice? I'm just trying to stay as involved as I can with psychology at my school.

I received my BA from SUNY Oswego (State University of New York). My major was psychology, but there is a Human Development program as well that a decent amount of kids are enrolled in. On deciding whether or not you want to apply to a Master's or a Ph.D. program depends largely on what it is you want for a career. Being a professor at any major university will require a Ph.D. If you want to just become a researcher or a grant writer, then you can do with a Master's.

A popular topic in Cognitive Psychology is "cognitive aging". As implied by the title, a lot of emphasis is geared toward geriatrics. Even just within cognition, you can go a million different ways. Being involved in research is one of the best things you can do at the stage you are in. Hopefully you can eventually take part in presentations and conferences. Even if it is just a local one at your school, do it. This past summer I presented at APA in Boston. What this does is network you with others in the field. Networking could wind up being the factor that ultimately leads to a recommendation from a professor that you would like to work with in graduate school. A professor's recommendation is almost guaranteed to get you in.

Start studying for the GRE's asap, you can never learn enough vocabulary words and definitions.

[KellyGleason]

I graduated from SUNY Oswego (a semester early at that). Unfortunately it is not a school to go to if you are pursuing health care. Syracuse has the Upstate Medical University, which is amazing.Haha yeah, I already sent out my applications, I was just curious! I didn't apply upstate at all - I need a faster lifestyle.

[Adrian Villagomez]

Very cool, all the best in your continuing education.

[SgtSmegma]

I epic failed applying for Ph.D programs because the fucking postal service lost my letters of recommendation. Fucking cuntlickers

[NickLopez]

I received my BA from SUNY Oswego (State University of New York). My major was psychology, but there is a Human Development program as well that a decent amount of kids are enrolled in. On deciding whether or not you want to apply to a Master's or a Ph.D. program depends largely on what it is you want for a career. Being a professor at any major university will require a Ph.D. If you want to just become a researcher or a grant writer, then you can do with a Master's.

A popular topic in Cognitive Psychology is "cognitive aging". As implied by the title, a lot of emphasis is geared toward geriatrics. Even just within cognition, you can go a million different ways. Being involved in research is one of the best things you can do at the stage you are in. Hopefully you can eventually take part in presentations and conferences. Even if it is just a local one at your school, do it. This past summer I presented at APA in Boston. What this does is network you with others in the field. Networking could wind up being the factor that ultimately leads to a recommendation from a professor that you would like to work with in graduate school. A professor's recommendation is almost guaranteed to get you in.

Start studying for the GRE's asap, you can never learn enough vocabulary words and definitions.
Any advice on getting a BA or BS? I was told BS is best for Ph. D, but maybe I'm an idiot.

Thanks for the advice, man. Also, is it strange to just randomly e-mail a professor from another school and ask if they have RA positions open during the summer? That's what I'm looking to do, volunteer in a lab.

[SgtSmegma]

Any advice on getting a BA or BS? I was told BS is best for Ph. D, but maybe I'm an idiot.

Thanks for the advice, man. Also, is it strange to just randomly e-mail a professor from another school and ask if they have RA positions open during the summer? That's what I'm looking to do, volunteer in a lab.

I mean, it really depends what field you're looking to get into.

[sdbrown]

I plan on making this thread in four years, except change Developmental to Cognitive. Possibly going social-cognitive.

MC Cob, what undergrad are you going to? Also, I'm only a freshman, but I'm already an RA in a cognitive lab. Any other advice? I'm just trying to stay as involved as I can with psychology at my school.
Get involved with as many research programs as you can, join Psi Chi if your school has it, get to know Professors extraordinarily well, etc. Get involved in some advanced research classes if you can (may lead to getting involved in a published study). I love Cog Psych. If I hadn't switch my major 4 times (fucking myself in the process) I'd go to grad school for it. I work in an Amnesia and memory lab and it's so freaking fascinating.


I received my BA from SUNY Oswego (State University of New York). My major was psychology, but there is a Human Development program as well that a decent amount of kids are enrolled in. On deciding whether or not you want to apply to a Master's or a Ph.D. program depends largely on what it is you want for a career. Being a professor at any major university will require a Ph.D. If you want to just become a researcher or a grant writer, then you can do with a Master's.

A popular topic in Cognitive Psychology is "cognitive aging". As implied by the title, a lot of emphasis is geared toward geriatrics. Even just within cognition, you can go a million different ways. Being involved in research is one of the best things you can do at the stage you are in. Hopefully you can eventually take part in presentations and conferences. Even if it is just a local one at your school, do it. This past summer I presented at APA in Boston. What this does is network you with others in the field. Networking could wind up being the factor that ultimately leads to a recommendation from a professor that you would like to work with in graduate school. A professor's recommendation is almost guaranteed to get you in.

Start studying for the GRE's asap, you can never learn enough vocabulary words and definitions.
Yes yes yes, all of this. A really interesting field in cog. is Psychophysiology. It's the study of how exercise improves brain functioning in older adults. One of the most fascinating classes I've ever taken.

[Ohlax51]

This is kind of related to this topic but whats the level of difficulty on the GRE? I tend to do great test wise on reading comprehension and vocabulary, however i am very bad at math. I'm looking into a masters program in political science so I don't think they will place too much weight in math scores but I still fear it will destroy my overall score.

[NickLopez]

I mean, it really depends what field you're looking to get into.
I'm looking to teach/research. Unless you mean which field of psychology, in which case probably either cognitive, social-cognitive, or positive, if I'm smart enough.

[sdbrown]

This is kind of related to this topic but whats the level of difficulty on the GRE? I tend to do great test wise on reading comprehension and vocabulary, however i am very bad at math. I'm looking into a masters program in political science so I don't think they will place too much weight in math scores but I still fear it will destroy my overall score.
It's just high school math. The big problem is that you have to relearn it but if you study you can do really well on the math. The format on some ?s is they have two numbers labeled A and B and you have to makr is one is bigger or if they are equal

ex. A. 9^7 B. 9^5(81)

1. a > b
2. b> a
3 they're equal
4. can't determine

[M.C COB]

This is kind of related to this topic but whats the level of difficulty on the GRE? I tend to do great test wise on reading comprehension and vocabulary, however i am very bad at math. I'm looking into a masters program in political science so I don't think they will place too much weight in math scores but I still fear it will destroy my overall score.

Just a logistical note on taking the GRE's, you need to prepare yourself mentally to sit at a computer for 4 hours and stay sharp and mentally alert. After a couple of hours your brain will start to turn to mush. Do not let this happen, be vigilante.

[M.C COB]

I'm looking to teach/research. Unless you mean which field of psychology, in which case probably either cognitive, social-cognitive, or positive, if I'm smart enough.

Positive is such a new field. I remember receiving e-mails asking me to pay for a membership. Also, being smart is only a piece of it. Sure it helps, but being in involved also plays a huge role in making you look good to graduate schools.

[NickLopez]

Positive is such a new field. I remember receiving e-mails asking me to pay for a membership. Also, being smart is only a piece of it. Sure it helps, but being in involved also plays a huge role in making you look good to graduate schools.
Positive is so interesting, though. I'm really into that. I think I'll just follow around Martin Seligman until he offers me an RA job.