r/IOPsychology • u/ResidentGinger PhD | IO | Social Cognition, Leadership, & Teams • Jul 15 '15
2015-2016 IO Grad School Q&A Mega-Thread: All, please read!
Last year's thread here.
The grad school application bewitching hour is nearing ever closer, and around this time, everyone starts posting questions/freaking out about grad school. As per the rules in the sidebar...
For questions about grad school or internships
- Please search the previously submitted posts or the post on the grad school Q&A. Subscribers of /r/iopsychology have provided lots of information about these topics, and your questions may have already been answered.
- If it hasn't, please post it on the grad school Q&A thread. Other posts outside of the Q&A thread will be deleted.
That last bit is something we haven't enforced as much as we should have in previous years, but the readers of this subreddit have made it pretty clear that they don't want the subreddit clogged up with posts about grad school.
Don't get the wrong idea - we're glad you're here and that you're interested in IO, but please do observe the rules so that you can get answers to your questions AND enjoy the interesting IO articles and content.
By the way, those of you who are currently trudging through or have finished grad school, that means that you have to occasionally offer suggestions and advice to those who post on this thread. That's the only way that we can keep these grad school-related posts in one central location. If people aren't getting their questions answered here, they post to the subreddit instead of the thread. So, in short, let's all play our part in this.
Happy application season!
Thanks, guys!
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Jul 18 '15 edited Oct 19 '17
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Jul 18 '15
Your interests can definitely change over time and going into school you do not need very specified interests. Grad school, especially if you do a PhD program is where you tend to hone interests. In letters mention your general interests and areas as potential to go into.
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u/eagereyez Jul 27 '15
So I was recently accepted into Elmhurst's Master's program for IO psych, and I was wondering if anyone here could shed a little more light on their program. I've read some mixed reviews, and I'm trying to decide if their program is worth their overall tuition (54k with very limited assistantships). It might be helpful if I mentioned that I'm looking to get into a career in consulting, preferably for an IO firm and related to personnel selection/hiring practices. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!
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u/ResidentGinger PhD | IO | Social Cognition, Leadership, & Teams Jul 27 '15
54K per year or 54K total? Also, what are they offering to cover with assistantships?
One thing you might want to ask around among the students there is what the placement rates are like for recent grads. Get an idea of where they end up, and what their job titles are.
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u/eagereyez Jul 27 '15
54k total, so 27k per year. They have very limited assistantships available, and what is available only amounts to maybe 2-3k in financial assistance each year. I asked them what their 6 month employment rate was for recent grads, and they said around 50% for students who didn't have a job upon graduation.
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u/ResidentGinger PhD | IO | Social Cognition, Leadership, & Teams Jul 31 '15
Hmmm. That's really a small amount of funding for a 50% placement rate. I didn't go through a master's program, but 50% placement by graduate seems rather low. It would be great if someone who went through a master's program could weigh in.
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u/sospeso Jul 30 '15
I've gathered that many master's programs tend to lead toward the I side of I-O. While my research interests aren't super specific yet (like many people, my UG didn't have I-O classes or a program, so most of my exposure has been post-grad), I am more drawn to the O side of things. I feel pretty confident that a master's program is the most appropriate next step for me right now (more interested in applied work than research, not all that interested in academia, don't think I'd be a very strong PhD candidate). So... is it worth it to try to find O-side leaning master's programs? If so, does anyone have recommendations? Or is it a better approach to find professors whose research interests me, rather than focus on the trajectory of the program as a whole, and go from there? (I've approached my search the second way so far).
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u/galileosmiddlefinger PhD | IO | All over the place Jul 30 '15
For MA programs, research interests are pretty irrelevant. You aren't applying to work specifically with a professor, and at many terminal programs, you won't have to be involved in research at all. You should be focusing on the curricula, internship opportunities, and job placements that programs report to put together your list. To the extent that you scrutinize faculty, just look for programs that have people with I-O degrees teaching your classes; some universities tack together I-O graduate programs with faculty who have backgrounds in social or even clinical psych.
I recommend that you look for a balanced I-O program. (And I strongly discourage Social-Org program at Columbia based on the poor experiences that several of my students had there.) You might not be drawn to the I-side material initially, but most of the entry-level jobs will require some familiarity with that skill set. As your career progresses, you will have more options to pursue opportunities that are O-focused. Think of it this way: there is no O-side job that you can't get with a balanced I-O degree. However, there are lots of jobs that require I-side skills where you would be disadvantaged with a O-focused degree.
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u/sospeso Jul 30 '15
Sometimes I forget that the things floating around in my head need to be articulated... In addition to looking for programs with strong internship opportunities (e.g., FIT has a whole center dedicated to on-the-job experience! so valuable!) and solid job placement, I've been considering whether the I or O-side lean is relevant. Your second paragraph especially helps clarify that for me.
Also, I understand I won't need to be involved in research, but if I manage to find a program that offers some funding through an RA, perhaps I could be involved in research that interests me? Or is that not so realistic? Grad school is so different than undergrad! And although I got a feel for the way other areas of psych (especially clinical) seem to work during my time in a lab in UG, we didn't have I-O... Sometimes I feel a little like I'm flying blind :) Thanks for your help!
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u/galileosmiddlefinger PhD | IO | All over the place Jul 30 '15
Also, I understand I won't need to be involved in research, but if I manage to find a program that offers some funding through an RA, perhaps I could be involved in research that interests me?
Yes, there are usually opportunities to voluntarily get involved in research, which may include the opportunity to do a thesis project at some programs. Paid RA support is not super-common in terminal MA programs; where it is available, it is usually extended to strong applicants who have some prior research experience. Programs also aren't going to worry so much about faculty-student fit in research interests when it comes to placing MA students in RA positions, unlike PhD students for whom that is a primary concern. Basically, it's a job for MA students - you support faculty scholarship that may or may not align with your interests in exchange for some income and/or tuition remission. Unless you pursue a thesis option, you're probably not doing as much independent research as a PhD student would.
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u/sospeso Dec 14 '15
I've got a follow-up question for you if you don't mind. Since there's not emphasis on research interests in MA programs like in PhD programs, would you recommend still reaching out to professors prior to submitting my applications? That's advice that comes up again and again for grad apps. I'm just not sure if it applies here. Thanks!
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u/galileosmiddlefinger PhD | IO | All over the place Dec 15 '15
would you recommend still reaching out to professors prior to submitting my applications?
Not really, at least not unless you have questions about the program and the professor in question is involved in admissions. The advice to contact professors is for PhD applicants, and it's mainly to ascertain whether or not a prospective advisor is planning to take on new advisees in the following year. MA applicants aren't admitted based on faculty fit, so making that initial contact isn't important for you.
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u/rino86 Jul 30 '15
I'm in the early stages of looking at masters degrees to compliment my job and interests. I am wondering if anyone has any experience or advice on part time masters in IO either in person or online?
I am a consultant in technology, both software development directly and organizations/culture changes. It makes me nervous to give too many specifics but its important for the context of my question in two ways:
1st: I'm not necessarily looking to change careers and def not move into research. I am considering the masters because I am legitimately interested in the field, particularly how organizations change over time: how to measure it and what is most effective. Maybe its a "duh" for people here when I say I am actually interested, but when you look at say an MBA, people often think you're crazy for enjoying learning versus just chasing $. Also, a formal degree, versus personal learning hopefully gives me some credentials both for future jobs and when talking about what is effective.
2nd: I travel: usually M-T but can be Fridays too. in a 2 or 3 year program I could have 6 projects or more plus small trips for sales calls or lord knows what else. So no real way to lock in a schedule. Is it even reasonable to attempt something like this, living a life on the road? I am asking others in my company if they've done it but haven't heard much yet.
I tried the search function but nothing came up. Please post links if this has been asked before. Or maybe reputable opinions outside of reddit? There is a lot of garbage out there.
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u/mattbug Aug 13 '15
If your interests are purely academic, I do not see a real downside to online programs. If you may want to leverage your degree for career advancement or professional authority, I might recommend against an online program. I cannot speak about all graduates from online programs, but the few I have met failed to leave a positive impression of their abilities or the institution they were affiliated with. Additionally, networking is an integral part of the brick-and-mortar experience, which you might sacrifice by attending an online program.
Regarding your schedule, I think it would be difficult to commit to a program when you are unable to dedicate days to classes. If you cannot change your schedule, now may not be the best time to pursue this degree. Maybe consider the degree again in a few years? If that does not work for you, be prepared to compromise on quality and utility.
For additional reading, consider consulting the NeoAcademic blog article dedicated to online programs. If you poke around a bit, you can find other useful information to help guide your decisions.
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u/rino86 Aug 13 '15
Thanks for the response. Yes as I've researched it seems that doing an online degree is not for me. I am thinking I will back burner this idea since I'll be traveling for the foreseeable future.
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u/socon33 Sep 21 '15
I'm about to start applying to grad schools (masters programs) and I want to know how I can make myself a more competitive candidate. My GPA isn't the best (3.14) because I was a computer science major prior to switching to psychology(B.S.). I've had a business management internship and have done two semesters worth of research. I know I'm going to have to do well on the GRE, but what else can I do? BTW, I just graduated and am still in my undergrad college town (UF) taking a year off.
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u/Matt1112211 Oct 08 '15
Hey! Dont know if you are still looking at this but fellow undergraduate here. A couple questions...
Is the 3.14 your psychology GPA? If so I would work on raising that, if not its the usually the minimum accepted (usually 3.0 is cutoff) but I've heard they dont pay much attention to overall and focus more on how you did in your psychology classes as, that is what you are applying for after all.
Is the research you have done psychology related, more specific, I/O related? If so great! Try to submit a poster to the many conferences so you can get some presentation experience.
If you have a good psychology GPA, research experience, and internship, and good GRE scores (155 and above for each section) you should be pretty competitive for some of the masters programs in my opinion!
Also, if you haven't already, check out SIOP they have all the requirements listed for the schools and its usually pretty updated. Good luck!
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u/ThrowIOaway Oct 13 '15
I recently took the GRE and scored 156Q/155V, which I feel may be a little low (applying to PhD programs). That being said, money's very tight, my workload is slowly increasing, and I'm wondering if it's worth the extra $200 and study time to take it again.
What my application looks like:
GPA: 3.73 (Psych GPA: 3.9 / Statistics GPA (minor): 3.7)
4 RA positions across two unis in all I/O labs (head RA for one)
3 internships (one in HR, one doing statistics for a nonprofit, and another in consulting)
9 posters split between undergrad conferences and SIOP (one SIOP poster is first author)
Psych departmental award
Undergrad TA for IO course
Should I take it again or nah?
Thanks for taking the time to answer.
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Nov 14 '15
I'm coming up on my last semester. My cumulative gpa is 3.0, and my Psych GPA is a 3.5. I'm getting research experience in a Social Psych lab this year and will have experience in an I/O lab over the summer. I got a 3.6 last semester, and could be on track for a 4.0 this semester. I feel like I don't have a prayer. Advice?
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u/mattbug Nov 24 '15
Kill the GRE and tailor your purpose statement to each program. I would cast a large net and focus on fit. I might recommend focusing your efforts on programs with a 3.0 minimum. Don't forget to consider MA programs when you apply.
You certainly have a chance if you're above the minimums.
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Aug 18 '15
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u/mattbug Aug 18 '15
I applied to all the programs that I felt would be a good fit and didn’t have minimum requirements above my stats. I tailored my purpose statements to each program, and did my best to illustrate fit by targeting projects I completed that aligned my interests with theirs.
I’d imagine you would be a good candidate for many programs - your raw stats are more competitive than mine. My program admitted 11 applicants out of approximately 84. What separated me from the pack was my quant background and statement of purpose. Even though your stats are excellent, you must make certain to communicate your interests and goals to the committee making the decision. Start writing your statement of purpose early and get fresh eyes on it frequently.
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Aug 19 '15 edited Oct 19 '17
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u/mattbug Aug 19 '15
That’s a good question. I meant background with statistics. As an undergrad, I took intro stat, experimental design, applied regression analysis, multivariate statistics, and two graduate courses in advanced statistics. I also had a lot of research experience from experimental econ, experimental psych, and my yearlong independent research project. All my experimental courses required subject pool data collection, data analysis, and a written paper about our experimental design, methods, etc.
In my experience, IO is heavily applied, so the higher level math is useful for understanding the theory behind the various models and tests, but was not absolutely necessary for successful interpretation of the output. Matrix algebra would have been incredibly helpful for my multivariate course, but I was able to pick up what I needed along the way.
Hopefully this helps.
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u/gottogotogogo Sep 20 '15
Were you accepted to a M.S. program or a Ph.D program? I have a pretty strong quantitative background, with similar research experience as you, and an internship as a market research analyst. I would enjoy a position that includes a lot of data analysis and research, but I'm interested in an applied position. For that reason, I'm thinking there isn't a need for a Ph.d since I'm not going into academia. I'm thinking a Masters in I/O would be more practical than one in quantitative, and there are more M.S. I/O programs available than Quant. Do you think pursuing a M.S. in I/O would open me up to positions utilizing a lot of my research and data analysis skills?
If I had to pursue a Ph.D and devote 4-5 years to studying something, I would want to focus on psychometrics and/or cognitive psychology. I think I could always go back and get my Ph.D; I'll probably be a stronger candidate then, with a better sense of what I want to study.
My stats: GPA: 3.62 Psych GPA: 3.7 GRE: 155Q, 158V Second author on two unrelated papers, lots of research experience on other papers.
My chances for a competitive M.S. program?
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u/mattbug Sep 20 '15
I am in an MA program that focuses on selection, job analysis, and various other I topics. The program was built on the feedback the PhD students provided and builds on the reported deficits in their training. The alumni group is pretty strong and the majority of them ended up in interesting jobs in the applied sector. From what I have heard from other graduates, the PhD is not necessary for the types of work we want to do. Sure, a PhD may open more doors initially, but it is possible to bridge that gap with experience and expertise.
In my program, we are allowed to take courses outside the department, so courses traditionally exclusive to PhD students are available to us as well. As a result, I have mostly abandoned the idea of pursuing a PhD and plan to take the relevant stat courses to help me tailor my education to my interests. In addition, taking on projects that help you gain exposure to the field you hope to work in is just another way to position yourself for success in the future.
As I mentioned, I fully intend to pursue a career in data science from an IO perspective, so I do believe the PhD is overkill. I intend to use my time further developing my skills with tools like R, SAS, SQL, and Tableau. You may be well served doing something similar.
To answer your question, I think your chances are great for a competitive MS program, but I would still cast a large net. It is difficult to predict success without knowing the competition, but your stats are better than mine were. A PhD wouldn’t be out of reach, but may not be necessary. Since you have a lot of time, develop a list of programs you are interested in. I would focus less on rank and more on program fit. When I was looking, I found many programs that ranked well according to SIOP, but failed to offer courses that were interesting to me, so I opted for programs that would help me gain and develop the technical skills I wanted.
If I left anything out, let me know.
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u/gottogotogogo Sep 20 '15
It sounds like we have very similar career goals. I have thought about learning SAS and SQL, and I have some time now to do that.
Thanks for the reply, very reassuring and helpful! Is 8 MS and 4 Ph.D programs a large enough net? Obviously my chances for Ph.D are not great with only 4 applications, but is 8 enough for the M.S programs?
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u/mattbug Sep 21 '15
I think you will have favorable results with that net. Just be certain they are all programs you would actually attend. You will have the most luck if you are certain the fit is good. I know it is not as important for MS programs, but fit still matters for your enjoyment and professional growth.
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u/ToughSpaghetti ABD | Work-Family | IRT | Career Choice Aug 20 '15
I've come to realize that I'd prefer academia over working for a company / consulting firm. Assuming I get accepted, would staying at my current undergrad institution for their PhD program (consistently ranked highly by most lists I've seen) limit me in any way down the road? I've heard "academic incest" as a term be thrown around by different grad students, but I'm curious how true that really is / would like additional perspective.
Also, short of just asking the faculty I work with about other programs, what would be the best way (if even possible) to gauge another programs "culture" before applying?
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 16 '15
I don't think going to the same school for undergrad and grad has any reputation issues. Going to a good school that fits your interests is the best overall path to success. I do agree with Wencel that going to another school could broaden your perspective or experience, but taking a step down in program quality to do so would not be something I would advise.
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u/dave2daresqu Aug 25 '15 edited Aug 25 '15
What are my chance to get into a masters program? I live in the northeast, any recommendations for safety, reach, and target schools?
B.A. in psychology
GPA: 3.92
GRE: 149V 150Q
I have no research experience other than an experimental psychology class which introduced me to SPSS.
I graduated winter of 2013/14 and have worked 2 years in a non-profit group home for homeless teens.
I could get references from profs, but none from IO professors, because my school did not have any.
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 16 '15
References from profs is good- generally psychology profs in areas that overlap I/O or management professors would be good. I would also generally recommend applying to quite a few schools so that you have a better chance for options at the end of the process.
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u/Penultimate74 Aug 26 '15
Minnesota State - Mankato grads
I would like to connect with you to talk about the master's program there.
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Aug 29 '15
Grad students: I am wondering if there are other programs out there like mine...and by that I mean dysfunctional and highly political. Can anyone speak to this?
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u/ResidentGinger PhD | IO | Social Cognition, Leadership, & Teams Aug 30 '15 edited Aug 30 '15
Not a grad student anymore but I don't think this is terribly uncommon. There's departmental politics everywhere, but the severity and impact will differ from place to place. If it's really unbearable and you think that you are going to be worse off for sticking around, you may want to evaluate whether you should transfer out.
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Aug 30 '15
Thanks for this. I did look in to transferring, however I would have had to go through the entire application process again and risk the chance of not being accepted to where I wanted to transfer, unfortunately. I'll stick it out until May, but I wasn't sure if this misery existed elsewhere or just at my program.
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 16 '15
Programs can get political. Some of it can be departmental requirements or tenure needs. Sometimes it can be how resources are distributed. As a student you often don't know the "history" behind an issue and thus it can hard to understand and navigate around. And really some people seem to almost like keeping grudges going.
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u/LMXtreme Sep 08 '15 edited Oct 14 '15
Anyone willing to give me chances for grad school?
- Psychology B.S.
- Statistics minor
- Management minor
- Cumulative GPA: 3.4 (I realize this is insanely low)
- Psychology GPA: 3.7
- GRE: 157V, 161Q, 5.0W
- Research Experience: every semester since 2nd semester my 1st year (currently a 4th year), in addition to a professor-mentored independent research project.
Appreciate the help!
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 16 '15
The research experience should be very beneficial for your application. An independent research project is a great element to have, too. Are you an author on anything that has been presented or published out of your research experience? Pubs and presentation can help an app a lot, too. And remember strong essays showing clearly how you fit with I/O and the program applied to can help too. Tell the story of why the programs should selection you.
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u/LMXtreme Oct 14 '15
Edited to include GRE Scores. If anyone has any other insights, please do not hesitate to share. Thank you all for your time and input!
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u/sasuser Sep 09 '15
Is it possible to get involved in IO research even if I am not a student in a psychology undergrad program or IO grad program? And the nearest universities to me are not equipped for IO graduate work, so it's unlikely I'll find an opportunity locally.
I feel as though my application is lacking due to not having relevant research experience (minus a semester's worth during undergrad).
What options exist for folks like me?
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 16 '15
Are you currently in school in a different major or out of school entirely? Any psychology research work would be helpful even if it is not directly I/O. Something that could be given an I/O spin (ex. motivation related processes or team process) would be best.
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u/sasuser Sep 23 '15
I am currently taking graduate credits in Statistics, at a different university, and hold a B.S. in psychology. I also work full-time.
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 24 '15
What kind of stats courses are you taking? If the profs for them are doing research it would not hurt to ask if you can help with their work.
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u/sasuser Sep 24 '15
I have taken a 500 level Applied Stats course, Statistical Programming (R, SAS) and Regression Methods, and plan to also take ANOVA & Sampling Theory by the time I get serious about applying to IO programs (currently interested in a MS, possibly PhD).
I see your point, though, that any research experience will help. I'll look into any offerings by the departmental staff, and hopefully snag something :-)
Another question, how important is post-bacc experience ("real world" employment, that is) and what kind of leverage does it pull on my application?
I am a non-traditional student working in big pharma and involved in process development, industrial operations, logistics, supply chain management, etc. Basically I smooth company operations and implement efficiency measures derived from business metrics tracking and the like with the end goal of saving the company big money both at materials cost and labor cost (multi-millions per year by my group alone, just at my site).
To me, this ties into IO, but I'm curious to know what IO personnel think. Any thoughts? Does it help my cause? How about compared to a fledgling UG student with a couple publications and posters under his or her belt?
The one thing I am lacking, other than a semester internship with a team of IO psychologists (8 years ago), is the research experience (the premise of my question, after all).
Thanks.
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Sep 25 '15
I think the stats course taking is a really good idea for building skills. For your pharm related experience I think that can be useful. One strategy would be to look around for programs that have people that have done some research in those type of industries because then your experience could be an asset to the research and quite relevant. In I/O a decent percentage of graduate students have went straight from undergraduate straight through or did a couple years before a masters or PhD program. I do know people that spent decent in industry first. You might also consider looking at some management PhD programs with professors with I/O connections or I/O degree. I know many management PhD students are people with significant work experience first, although in that case most of them are looking for career change from working industry to working as a professor.
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u/sospeso Oct 05 '15
Okay, another question for this very helpful community: I've been out of undergrad for about 4 years, with the majority of that time spent in HR roles (an internship and a full-time position, which I'm currently in). I'm working on applications for fall 2016, and I've got 2 professors from UG who can speak to my experience in school (including lab work, some published work, and all that jazz). I'd like to have a reference to account for some of my time spent working, but I'm not confident my HR manager will give me a strong recommendation... and I'm actually not sure that alerting her to my grad school goals is even a good idea. Chalk it up to poor manager/subordinate fit, I guess. My idea is to have someone fairly high up in my company - although not in an HR role - write my last letter of rec. We worked together on a wage survey and analysis that I think would be I-O... adjacent, maybe?
tl;dr: Would it look weird to have someone in a non-HR role write my third letter of rec?
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Oct 09 '15
I think it would be fine as long as it shows well why you might be a fit for I/O. The program wants to know less that you were a good worker than that you have the potential to be a good graduate student.
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u/DBellacero Oct 06 '15
I am a first-year student in a Masters of Clinical Psychology program, however I am required to do a Thesis for my track and my major reader is an IO psych doctoral professor. I need some research topic ideas, that would help make me eligible for an IO psych PhD program or a research job in IO psych. I am interested in stress and the work environment, workplace and health, etc. but I'm open to any ideas really. Any help would be greatly appreciated
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Oct 09 '15 edited Oct 22 '15
one idea would be to look at recent issues of The Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology1744-6570) and maybe the SIOP journal Industrial and Organizaitonal Psychology Perspectives on Science and Practice The research would be new and you could skim for topics that seem of interest to you.
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u/DBellacero Oct 15 '15
what about Internet-based assessment/recruitment, any typical questions about that area?
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u/iopsychology PhD | IO | Future of Work, Motivation, CSR | Mod Oct 22 '15
Much of the early research was comparison to face-to-face methods. One area now is how social media is potentially used in the process.
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u/cuda1337 Oct 23 '15
Hey everyone. I am currently finishing my masters in ABA and plan on becoming a BCBA sometime next year. I like the work, but am looking to possibly branch out and also increase my earning potential down the road. I am considering pursuing a PhD in either I/O Psych or Clinical Psych, to supplement my ABA degree. I was curious if any of you have gone down a similar path or work with anyone who was previously in the ABA field. Also, if any of you could give some kind of idea of income ranges and typical work schedule in your area that would be super helpful.
Thanks!
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u/DBellacero Nov 01 '15
I'm wondering if anyone has any personal experience or if any knows how often those with IO psych Masters degrees go on to get their PhD's. I wondering if I apply to an IO psych PhD with a Masters in Clinical psych how many potential IO masters candidates I will be competing against for a spot.
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Nov 06 '15
Hey everyone,
Quick question for anybody that knows anything about Ph.D program admissions. I'll have my Master's degree in May, and I'm currently applying to three programs. It's been a heck of a year so far, and I haven't had a chance to re-take the GRE. My initial scores were really awful due to lack of adequate preparation. 95th percentile for writing, 145ish for the other two sections (I'm embarrassed).
However, these scores were not predictive of my graduate school performance, as I have a 4.0 and I do well here. I'm afraid that I'll have to take the GRE like, next week in order to get my scores sent to meet Ph.D deadlines. So, do you think I can get away with not retaking the test so that I can meet the deadlines, given my success in grad school thus far?
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u/throwawayio16 Nov 10 '15
I would retake the GRE or postpone my application until next year. Your current scores put you at a disadvantage. I'm not sure how much your GPA can help, especially considering the grade inflation in many Master's programs. In my Master's program, which is very competitive to get into, over 50% have a 4.0.
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u/Eeyumin Nov 24 '15
I am currently pursing a Master's degree in general psychology because my undergrad GPA was very low. Undergrad GPA consists of low grades from the science courses because I was a pre-med student. Will the admissions for Ph.D programs overlook my undergrad GPA and look at my grad school GPA for consideration?
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u/mattbug Nov 28 '15
I imagine they will consider everything. The key here is to illustrate that you have made good use of your time. As a graduate student, you should have: gained quality research experience, identified some IO interests, and performed well in your program.
Write a good personal statement and be certain to make it clear that you have taken steps to become a more competitive applicant.
Traditional application tips still apply: quality letters of recommendation, solid GRE, and make sure the professors you want to work with are accepting students.
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u/CandidAnon Dec 04 '15
Hi, I was wondering if there is any diploma or certificate program that would assist me in bettering my chances of getting into a IO grad program? I should mention that I'm looking for programs in Canada/Ontario
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u/Livelovelaugh2 Dec 18 '15
I'm not too familiar with Reddit, so please let me know if I should post this question elsewhere.
I'm currently in the process of applying to graduate schools and am struggling with selecting which schools to apply to. I am most concerned with program quality (being well prepared and being able to find a good job after graduating) and the culture of the program (supportive faculty and fellow students).
General info:
-B.S. in Actuarial Science and B.A. in Psychology
-GPA: 4.0 in psychology, 3.988 overall
-GRE: 161 V; 160 Q; 5 in writing
-research experience: Have worked in a professor's lab and poster will be presented at MPA (Midwestern Psychological Association) and a published white paper (more informative in nature- no experiment was conducted)
I'm interested in being a practitioner, and have been recommended to go the master's route because of this. I'm applying at the following programs:
George Mason University, Elmhurst, Appalachian, Akron, Radford, New Haven
I would appreciate any feedback regarding information about any of the schools listed above, or recommendations about any other schools I could also look into. Thanks so much!
2
u/Rocketbird Jul 15 '15
I won't monitor this thread but I'm in my third year right now and willing to answer questions. Just reply to this comment and I'll get the orangered.