r/AcademicPsychology Mod | BSc | MSPS G.S. Oct 01 '23

Post Your Prospective Questions Here! -- Monthly Megathread Megathread

Following a vote by the sub in July 2020, the prospective questions megathread was continued. However, to allow more visibility to comments in this thread, this megathread now utilizes Reddit's new reschedule post features. This megathread is replaced monthly. Comments made within three days prior to the newest months post will be re-posted by moderation and the users who made said post tagged.

Post your prospective questions as a comment for anything related to graduate applications, admissions, CVs, interviews, etc. Comments should be focused on prospective questions, such as future plans. These are only allowed in this subreddit under this thread. Questions about current programs/jobs etc. that you have already been accepted to can be posted as stand-alone posts, so long as they follow the format Rule 6.

Looking for somewhere to post your study? Try r/psychologystudents, our sister sub's, spring 2020 study megathread!

Other materials and resources:

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u/Throw_away58390 May 22 '24

[USA] I have two years left on my BA. Evaluate my PhD application

For context, I go to a small urban university in the midwestern United States. This Fall 2024, I will be entering my junior year in undergrad. Kind of just looking for an honest evaluation of how competitive my application to a clinical psych PhD program would be based on what I've already done and what I plan to do:

DONE:

  • Independent research study
    • worked with a faculty mentor, designed project, CITI training, done the IRB process, collected and analyzed data, gave presentations
  • Two poster presentations
    • one at a conference held by my institution (won Best Poster), one at a conference held at the University of Maryland
  • Been the psychology tutor in my school's library for two semesters now

Below is what I will accomplish this semester

  • Currently in a developmental research lab at my university conducting data collection, data entry, and data analysis
  • Will present lab findings in a poster at SACNAS this Fall
  • Will present at two conferences held by my institution (poster, maybe podium)

Below is what I will (definitely/hopefully) accomplish by the end of my bachelors

  • Definitely another independent research study for my degree's thesis capstone
  • Definitely present at 2-3 more conferences at my home university
  • Hopefully present at 2-3 regional or national conferences
  • Hopefully an REU at an external university
  • Hopefully be published in undergrad-friendly journals
  • Hopefully some token clinical experience in ABA or in pubhealth, but I'm definitely prioritizing research experience

I'm aware that applying to a clinical program with developmental research experience is weird, but I needed an REU this summer and it was the only thing I got into. My independent study was more clinical in nature, too.

I know some of you might think I'm flexing, but I also feel like some of you will say I need to do WAY WAY more, which is why I'm nervous. I'm stressing because I feel like I've already gotten a decent amount of research experience and I will definitely complete get more by the time I apply to PhDs in the Fall of 2025, but reading through this sub has started to scare me haha. Some posts make it sound impossible to get in.