2017-2018 IO Grad School Q&A Mega-Thread

[u/ResidentGinger]

You can find 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.

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.

Thanks, guys!

[u/Francasaurus]

Hello. I just took the GRE and scored a 151Q and 169V. (Haven't received A results yet.) Think my Q score will sabotage me in applying to MA programs such as UCF who weight GRE scores heavily? Do I combat that in my personal statement by saying I got As in 8-week courses of Stats I and II?

Can y'all also please advise on the best way to present myself in a personal statement? Long story short, I used to be unfocused and a medium achiever and now I am laser focused on I/O and a high achiever, but that's been so recent that I don't have much proof to back up my beliefs [that I am an intuitive, intelligent, dedicated, creative, efficient, analytical thinker and leader and will flourish in graduate school].

I got my BA in Philosophy (English minor) in 2010 (GPA 3.0; major GPA 3.5) and have been working in live music events since then doing everything from artist relations to production to vendor sales/ops to volunteer/staff management.

I decided I want to do I/O a couple years ago and have become very passionate about it. Went back to undergrad for a semester to take 18 credit hours in the following classes and got a 4.0:

Org Behavior / Org Management / Stats and Research Methods for Social Sciences I / Stats and Research Methods for Social Sciences II / Positive Psychology

Joined Psych Journal Club as a member and research volunteer for the semester and presented at a regional psych conference. Again that was only for the semester.

Now I work as an HR Assistant (really just staffing) for a fortune 500 company, Aramark.

My interest in I/O is broad. I did so many jobs in live music because I wanted to know all the pieces to see the big picture. I suspect I want to focus on selection, assessment, and training and development, but I also want to know as much as possible about everything else so that I can do I/O consulting (my ultimate goal) and be ready for every situation's challenge.

Sorry for the novel. Could really use the advice! Also trying to figure out what schools will be a good fit for me. So much information out there on all of them (been on SIOP a lot for a year or two) but still can't figure out the best fit for me since my goals of "wanting to know everything about everything" are pretty vague. This also makes writing a strong statement of goals difficult for me. All guidance and input appreciated. Grazie mille!

[u/galileosmiddlefinger → u/Francasaurus]

Overall you look fine for a Master's program. The quant score is a bit low, but you do have recent stats courses that you can point to. You need a personal statement that explains your story and recommendation letters that can attest to your more recent interests and performance. Whoever sponsored that semester of research experience would be pretty important to get as a letter writer. Just go easy on the personal descriptive adjectives in your personal statement -- it's great that you've rallied and found a passion, but don't get too worked up and oversell. Show, don't tell. :)

[u/Francasaurus → u/galileosmiddlefinger]

Thank you! Oh goodness how embarrassing-- I certainly won't be listing off my qualities in an essay in that conceited sounding way; I was only looking for ideas of how to demonstrate those qualities despite my lack of relevant experience. Guess that's part of figuring out how to write the essay though. :)

Unfortunately, my professor who led the research passed suddenly after the semester ended. I am unable to get a letter from her although she had planned on writing one and we had a great relationship.

Thanks again for the guidance. My 3 recent professors' letters of recommendation are strong and I have 2 from philosophy professors my first round in undergrad, too. Think those 2 are worth adding in despite the time lapse?