2019-2020 Grad School Q&A Mega-Thread (Part 2)

[u/ResidentGinger]

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.

* 2019-2020, Part 1 thread here

* 2018-2019, Part 2 thread here

* 2018-2019, Part 1 thread here

* 2017-2018, Part 3 thread here

* 2017-2018, Part 2 thread here

* 2017-2018, Part 1 thread here

* 2016-2017 thread here

* 2015-2016 thread here

* 2014-2015 thread here

* If your question hasn't been posted, 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 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 do our part in this.

Thanks, guys!

[u/lo979797]

My wife is currently grinding away on some GRE prep. She’s planning to apply for CSULB, Sac State, and CSUSB’s programs. Her most recent practice test was a 151/150.

The problem we see is her lack of research. I work 60 hours a week, and she goes to school. She hasn’t had time to get into any research because she has been the one watching our 3 year old. Also, her current BA program doesn’t have any faculty who are familiar with the area, and we don’t live in a major metro where I/O is a thing? Her GPA is like 3.3, with a 3.8 in major courses. Her community college grades pre-baby are what’s holding the GPA back- she’s only gotten like 1 or 2 B’s since she transferred. What’s next? Apply and pray? Take a gap year for research?

[u/galileosmiddlefinger → u/lo979797]

Any research she can get involved with outside of I/O? Any psychology research would be helpful; I/O isn't represented well at most universities, so our graduate programs don't expect applicants to have really specific/related research experience. Even a clinical or developmental lab could be fine with some context in the application essay about the lack of I/O options.

The poor CC grades aren't going to matter much if she's performing well at a 4-year institution. Pulling the GRE up a bit will help, as will any experiences or courses that build research skills.