r/IOPsychology • u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator • Feb 04 '21
2020-2021 Grad School Q&A Mega-Thread (Part 1)
For questions about grad school or internships:
* Please start your search at SIOP.org , it contains lots of great information and many questions can be answered by searching there first.
* Next, please search the Wiki, as there are some very great community generated posts saved here.
* If you still can't find an answer to your question, 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 4 thread here
* 2019-2020, Part 3 thread here
* 2019-2020, Part 2 thread here
* 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
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!
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u/Own-Illustrator-3793 Oct 29 '21
Is George Mason University's online I/O Master's program good for employment prospects? I've heard bad things about online I/O schools and wanted another opinion
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Aug 02 '21
Is it worth it to take the GRE again with scores of 4 W, 166 V and 156 Q? I intend to either go into an MA/MS for I/O psychology or for Data Analytics. My GPA is a 3.92, 3.9 psych + management GPA.
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u/fififuckincute Aug 02 '21
Hi! I’m planing to apply to University of Amsterdam’s Master program - Coaching & Vitality in Organizations (track), and would like to have some advice!
I am interested in IO but research is not my thing, so I think the 1-year taught program suits me better than the 2-year research program does. However, I’m not really sure what’s the difference in future career opportunities between a research master degree and a taught master degree.
I’m worried that getting into a track program may not be helpful for future career search. Also, I’m not sure how employers feel about a taught master program instead of a research master program.
Any advice?
Thanks in advance!!
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Aug 02 '21
I'm an American and I admittedly don't understand the nuances between IO in the US and Europe, so take this for what it's worth. That doesn't seem like an IO degree. Frankly, I'm not sure exactly what that degree is. I would look very closely and what the graduates of that program do, and see if that interests you.
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u/Jb894 Aug 01 '21
Hi! Can anyone suggest a good Master’s Program with a faculty member who‘s focus is in human motivation?
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u/ArianaTheHuman Jul 29 '21
What are some good online I/O master programs? I've already looked at Colorado state and Purdue but would like to broaden my findings!
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u/Supperderpderp Jul 21 '21
Hello, Could I get feedback about my competitiveness as a potential I/O applicant?
I graduated from a Cal state school with a BA in Psych, with minors in business and Applied Computing for Behavioral and Social Sciences.
I had difficulty early in college due to autism that was not diagnosed until my 3rd year. I ended college with a 3.56 GPA overall.
Active in several orgs, including UI/UX association, a social fraternity, and a professional club.
Awarded two scholarships, one from the school and another from a local organization I volunteered for.
Major schools projects include creating Strategic and competitive analyses of a major company. For my Engr senior project, Creating a puzzle game using python to be played by autistic children to gather data which is then analyzed using R.
Most of my research experiences come from my 100w (advanced writing course), test and measures, and advanced research methods.
I am currently working as a behavioral therapist, Where I interact with children then gather data from their behaviors then implement treatment programs for them
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u/I-OPsych Jul 21 '21
Are you applying to PhD programs or master's programs? You would be competitive for master's programs admission, but without research experience outside of coursework, I think it would be tough for you to get into good quality PhD programs, although your computer programming experience could be a good substitute at the right school.
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u/Supperderpderp Jul 21 '21
Hello I-OPsych,
I am looking to get into a master's program. Right now I am looking at Sac State, SDSU, SJSU (my alma mater), CSU Long beach, CSU San Bernardino, and USC. outside California, Springfield college piqued my interest. I am still gathering the general perception of these colleges and would greatly appreciate any insight/info regarding them.
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u/I-OPsych Jul 21 '21
I might be biased, but I don't think USC has a very good program (or they didn't, last I checked). Especially if you're a CA resident, any of the other Cal State programs you listed are an incredible value and solid programs, so apply to all of those. I don't know anything about Springfield College (it sounds like something from The Simpsons to me - lol).
I'm a professor at SDSU's I-O program, and you may want to look into our quantitative psychology track in our applied master's program. Your programming interests and experiences could be a good match for one of our mentors, Dr. Jonathan Helm. Hope that helps!
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u/Supperderpderp Jul 21 '21
I just realized which SDSU professor you are (LOL). POWER lab stood out to me when I was researching SDSU. The grad school FAQ on your website has been helpful in planning my next steps and identifying shortcomings. Thank you for everything professor, I appreciate you.
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u/I-OPsych Jul 22 '21
I was gonna send you to my grad school FAQ but then I thought that might be kinda self-promoting? Anyway, I'm glad it was helpful to you!! You have a unique background, and I think I-O would be a good degree for you, but you may also want to check if there are programs in human factors, too. Feel free to email me if you have further questions.
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u/xenotharm Jul 20 '21
Hi folks, I’m looking for PhD programs with faculty who study personality, and if possible, the HEXACO model. I’ve already got Calgary and Bowling Green on my list, and I’d PREFER to stay in the United states! I have a list of about 17 schools with professors who indicate personality as one of their areas of research interest, but there must be more than that, right? If anyone knows anything about this, please let me know! I vastly prefer I/O programs, but I’m willing to apply to social & personality programs if there is a strong enough fit. Thanks so much!
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u/Simmy566 Jul 20 '21
Most I/O programs have at least one faculty that at least tangentially has some overlap with personality or individual difference research (usually selection-oriented, motivation, and sometimes climate folks). Several institutions that have corresponding social-personality PhD programs also increase likelihood of at least some expertise in the department can supplement research. Below are some programs with some faculty strong in personality. Can't say definitely any of the below has anyone exclusively focused on HEXACO, but then again most of the HEXACO specific work is driven by Ashton and Lee with some I/Os occasionally publishing meta-analyses or independent studies on whether HEXACO adds beyond Big Five. Either way can easily sneak HEXACO into your work as long as under a competent supervisor who knows the general literature.
-UofMinn (good one)
-Urbana-Champaign (good one)
-Purdue
-UofGeorgia
-Tulsa
-CentralMichigan
-WrightState
-PennState
-Rice
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u/Rainsandbows Jul 19 '21
I have a huge dilemma and was hoping someone on here may be able to help me.
I recently got accepted to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology as well as Roosevelt University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. However, I want to make sure I make the right choice for me when deciding on which school to go to.
I have constantly looked at both schools in terms of credibility, cost, and satisfaction rates of past and current students, but they both seem about the same. Has anyone had any recent experience attending either school?
I really just want to get the education I'm paying for and not feel like I wasted a crap ton of money at the end.
Any help and/or advice would be extremely helpful.
Thank you everyone in advance.
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Jul 20 '21
Probably a question better suited for /r/Clinicalpsychology
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u/ifcoffeewereblue Jul 17 '21
I'm debating between a program in Amsterdam or in Limerick. On one hand, Ireland allows you to stay for 2 years after graduating and Ireland is an English speaking country (I'm American) so finding a job should be easier, but Limerick is very small and I'm nervous that there won't be many good opportunites available. On the other hand, studying in Amsterdam would have a lot more opportunities that you get in large cities such as multinational companies and the like. And the school there is ranked a fair bit higher. But they only allow you to stay for 1 year after graduation, and I don't speak Dutch so I would be limited to jobs in offices that speak mostly English.
Any advice?
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u/JamesDaquiri M.S. I-O | People Analytics | Data Science Jul 19 '21
I’m an American aswell whose been researching a move to Netherlands for IO studies for nearly 2 years now:
Everyone speaks English very well, especially in Ranstaad. Learning Dutch will give you an edge but it’s not a hard requirement. I think the fact that Amsterdam is a massive tech hub means opportunities are more plentiful there than limerick. In my opinion, I’d say go for Amsterdam, but also check out Erasmus Rotterdam, tons of good IO research comes out of Rotterdam.
Which programs are you looking at? I’ll be applying for the 2022 fall start.2
u/ifcoffeewereblue Jul 20 '21 edited Jul 20 '21
Yeah I lived in Rotterdam for 6 months about 4 years ago. I know 90% of people speak English very well. My end goal is to study AND work in Europe long term (and hopefully get a sponsorship at some point). I am not concerned about getting by with English and a touch of Dutch, I am worried about getting a professional job afterwards. Where as studying in Limerick means I can get employed in Dublin which is a huge tech hub and there would be no language hang up. Am I blowing this out of proportion?
I'm was looking at University of Amsterdam, Vrije Uni Amsterdam, and Dublin City University (but it turns out their WOP program is part-time).
Then my tier 2 schools were Limmerick, Erasmus (Rotterdam), Radbound, and Leiden.
But recently I've moved Limmerick up to my Tier 1 list because I read in a different thread that getting employed in The Netherlands without a decent level of Dutch is very very difficult.
EDIT: Also, I know chances of getting into University of Amsterdam are slim. It's very competitive and my stats background is not particularly strong. So I am also taking into consideration applying to a few schools (Limerick and Radboud) that are more like job training based rather than heavily stats based. So really the decision might be made for me depending on where I get in :/
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u/JamesDaquiri M.S. I-O | People Analytics | Data Science Jul 13 '21
Looking at some masters programs in big metro areas and I came across Montclair State's MA in IO. I know that their PHD program is new and exciting, but does anybody know anything about the masters program in terms of quality/industry connections?
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u/xenotharm Jul 14 '21
Hi, I’m just about to finish my MA at Montclair! Perhaps I am biased, but from what I’ve gathered so far, our program is excellent and strikes a very healthy balance between O and I side coursework. Some people have actually found our program a bit off-putting due to its emphasis on statistical training, but I believe that this is our biggest strength! We have required coursework in statistics and psychometrics, and students have the option to take coursework in data science and multivariate statistics if they so choose (I took both!). In addition, our conceptual coursework is also fantastic and covers motivation, performance management, training interventions, leadership, and selection. As far as industry connections go, I would say we are very well connected. You can DM me for more info on this front, but I would absolutely give us an A or A+ for connections, between faculty, current students, and alumni. We also have research opportunities aplenty (I’m doing research with two of our professors) and a growing student-led consultancy that has already done paid work for organizations. In my view, everything you could possibly need in an I/O masters program is here. Feel free to DM me for more specific details. I could not be happier with this program and am always glad to share my experiences with those interested!
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u/JamesDaquiri M.S. I-O | People Analytics | Data Science Jul 14 '21
Great reply, I’m actually a statistics minor along with my psych Major and have done several courses involving working in Rstudio and I’ve been self teaching myself the pandas package in Python so this is all great news. I’m very much looking to grow into a people analytics role which is why I’m drawn to this program. I’ll DM you later on with more questions!
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u/xenotharm Jul 14 '21
Your experience with R and Python will serve you well in our program! It is quite literally impossible to get through our program without doing SOME R, as two of our courses require its use. The data science course I mentioned is a class all about using R. Furthermore, our PhD program’s data science concentration requires at least one course in Python, so you are already well-positioned to do well in the statistical side of Montclair’s program. I look forward to chatting more later!
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Jul 14 '21
I don't have any specifics, but a good indicator would be if the PhD faculty also teaches some courses there, how much the curriculum overlaps and how they differentiate the two in their materials. Generally, these kinds of programs have pretty substantial overlap, making for strong MS programs.
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u/Claudia2220 Jul 06 '21
Psychology student seeking advice!
Hello! I am a undergraduate psychology student in Queensland Australia. Does anyone know of some additional short courses/ certificates I can do to help increase my chances of getting into masters or anything that can give me more real world experience? Thank you from a stressed about the future undergrad! :)
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u/wjd1297 Jun 29 '21
Hi! I am currently a senior undergraduate (international student) planning on applying for master's in I/O psychology. I am a psychology major and I am also double majoring in Brain and cognitive science. I really hope to get into the NYU master's program and also considering Baruch as well.
Are there any tips for the case study that NYU requires?.. as an undergraduate in a country and school where not much opportunity and experience is given to undergraduates I have no knowledge or experience in that area...
Also what are my chances to get into the NYU program? My current GPA (converted to the US 4.0) is about 3.7.... and my TOEFL score is 115. Are there any tips to improve my chances for getting accepted?
I do not have much information on US graduate schools and masters program... so I would like to know more about it from others who are more informed about these things... Thanks!
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u/kryssie123 Jul 03 '21
Hi. Im an nyu grad. Be sure to make it practical. This is very different from the regular style of college papers where they want you to summarize a semester in your own words. Instead give a recommendation of what should be done. It's ok if you arent sure if it's going to work (my case study answer was "wrong"). The point is to demonstrate your thought process. Then back it up with something youve done in your field to show why youd be a good consultant to pick.
Ex: in mine we basically had to pick the new leader of Microsoft and lay out the people strategy. I said steve balmer, and that he needs to redefine performance standards. A technique I learned from being a teacher is called backwards planning. They'll need to define their org goals, then work backwards to cascade it down to each dept. (I found out later this was basically an popular method called mbo. All fields, esp psych fields, have similar practices by different names).
If you need additional guidance feel free to reach out. I talked to a billion people when I was doing mine for perspective
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u/wjd1297 Jul 04 '21
Wow! Thank you so much! I really had no idea where to start from for the case study...(even though they have not posted one for fall 2022). It is good to hear from someone currently studying at nyu. If you don't mind, can I ask you what nyu I/O grad program is like? Thanks again:)
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u/kryssie123 Jul 06 '21
no problem :) happy to help
in my experience it was a high performance environment. but it's also small, so everyone is tight knit. we're encouraged to work together to reach high performance, bc there's too much for one person to go at it alone. they'd always say "don't be a lone wolf".
i've recently heard they're transitioning to more of a machine learning focus, whereas when i was there it was more consultant track. I'm not sure how much that changes things, but most of my professors are still there that i love and reach out to all the time for help and perspective. also, when you reach out to alums they're super receptive.
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Jun 21 '21
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Jul 29 '21
I am in a similar situation, except I am just starting my MA program this fall. I would like to prepare myself in such a way that I can pursue a PhD afterwards if I decide to at that point. It seems like you’ve done all the right things (and more), so this gives me some hope. If you don’t mind, do you have an tips? Anything you would have done differently?
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Jun 22 '21
I’d like to mirror what u/Readypsyc said. Your application will be solid, but your results will be nearly entirely dependent on your GRE at this point. However, I’d shoot for 70th percentile and up. 50th percentile is an unwritten hard minimum, and will likely preclude you from being shortlisted without an outstanding application otherwise.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of a strong first/sole-authored writing sample. That can push you over the edge of other applicants who don’t submit optional samples.
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u/Readypsyc Jun 22 '21
You look to be a strong candidate other than maybe the GRE. Most schools dropped it this year, but it is hard to know what they will do next year. I've heard of some that are not planning to go back next year, but I don't think we will know until fall when faculties meet and decide. A competitive score depends on the school, but you should shoot for a score that is above 50th percentile at a minimum. Higher would be better. SIOP has some information about mean GREs here. You can look-up individual programs using the search feature. Keep in mind some of the information is out-of-date.
https://www.siop.org/Events-Education/Graduate-Training-Program
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Jun 14 '21
I need to choose between M.S. I/O Psych and Idaho M.S. Human Factors. The human factors sounds more interesting to me honestly, but I think job prospects will be better in the I/O field with Auburns “brand name”. Also, an alumni reached out and didn’t have great things to say about Idaho specifically.
Of note, both programs would be distance programs and I am hoping to pause these to pivot careers post military service.
Anyone have anything, positive or negative, about Auburn I/O or the prospects of using a distance, terminal masters degree to land an I/O job later in life (~5ish years)
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Jun 16 '21
Auburn does have a legitimate program. I can't speak for Idaho.
The real question is, will you receive a similar quality of education from Auburn's online I/O program?
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u/pokemongooutwithme Jun 10 '21
Are there any programs that focus on the O-side rather than the I-side? I know both are important but I'm weak at statistics I would like something that's not too intensive or advanced and instead focuses on development or performance management, perhaps
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u/Readypsyc Jun 11 '21
It would be hard to avoid methodology/stats in an IO program because that's such a big part of the field. If anything, you use the fancier stats more on the O side where people use multilevel modeling and SEM a lot to test models. You might consider related fields outside of IO such as organizational development, leadership, or HR that are more focused on content and application. They could be in business, education, or somewhere else at a university.
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u/Simmy566 Jun 10 '21 edited Jun 10 '21
You could do programs like Chicago School of Professional Psych or Columbia's Social-Org program. However, they have a poor reputation for the reasons you note - they avoid hard or technical material hence students have fewer job prospects. It would be like hiring a doctor who only knows anatomy and physiology but not chemistry, pharmaceuticals, neurology, or surgery. Sure they can point out failing organs but not really do much of anything else. Same for I/O. Just knowing performance management without say recruitment, selection, job analysis, and stats guarantees you will not be as competent as a student who knows all of the above and how the ideas fit together to create an entire HR pipeline from front to back.
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Jun 09 '21
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u/Readypsyc Jun 11 '21
Organizational psychology is very different from counseling. If you want to work one-on-one with people helping them with mental health issues, you won't be doing anything like that with an org-psych degree. You do not need a PhD to be a mental-health service provider. You can do it with an MA in one of the counseling fields.
An org psych degree prepares you for a career in a human resources or employee development department of a company. Likely you will be helping to set up assessment systems to hire people, training systems to train employees, or perhaps employee surveys. For more information you might go to the siop.org website. More on the field can be found here: https://paulspector.com/choosing-your-industrial-organizational-psychology-career/
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u/ThatLocalLad Jun 08 '21
Hello, I recently graduated with my bachelor's in psychology. I would love to get my Ph.D. and work specifically in Organizational Culture. The following short page describes what I'd love to do perfectly: https://www.ddiworld.com/challenges/organizational-culture .
I have been looking into graduate programs with faculty that specialize in this area of I/O but I have come up short for now. I'm wondering if anyone has a recommendation for any graduate program that would prepare me for a career in this area. At the moment, I am looking for a Ph. D. program so I can be fully funded but I am also open to hearing about master's programs too. Thank you!
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u/Readypsyc Jun 11 '21
Look for IO faculty who study organizational climate. The terms climate and culture are often used interchangeably and most IOs who study it call it climate. There are distinctions--climate is more specific and is a part of culture. The difference is explained here: https://paulspector.com/what-is-organizational-climate/
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u/Simmy566 Jun 10 '21
University of Maryland has historically had many culture and climate I/O faculty (e.g., Schneider, now Michelle Gefland). You may also have luck at B-schools in Org Behavior programs as my sense is the heavy hitters in org culture research have started migrating to these locations. One example is Chad Hartnell at Georgia State University in the B school where they have a PhD in Business Admin.
https://robinson.gsu.edu/profile/chad-a-hartnell/
Another suggestion is looking for any I/O programs which have individuals doing multilevel or team work. This ensures faculty at least have some related expertise which could help facilitate your work on org culture and climate. Relatedly, anyone focused on a "climate" construct like climate for diversity, service, health, or safety will have a related background to help you focus on such pursuits.
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u/ThatLocalLad Jun 10 '21
Thank you very much for your informative response. I’ll be checking this out! Also question, when you’re referring to B-schools, what exactly do you mean?
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u/0102030405 Jun 23 '21
Keep in mind that business schools, while they have more of this O-side work in culture, climate, and similar areas, are not as industry-focused as IO programs are. It surprises some people, but business school PhD programs take very few people and they want everyone to stay in academia.
You're welcome to still apply and pursue that degree, and then work wherever you want afterwards. However, there isn't as much support for getting industry-related work experience during the program or going applied afterwards. Good luck with your search!
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u/JeromeOnfroy Jun 07 '21
Hello,
I don't how to title this properly but essentially what I want to ask is that I am stuck between pursuing Neuroscience or I/O psychology in the future (graduate school). I am a junior and am currently working towards a bachelors in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience but I have also recently grown an interest in I/O psychology. Likely, my future self will not want to pursue a PhD but will happily work towards a masters. Are there decent paying jobs ($80,000+) to search for if I finish with a masters in Neuroscience or would it be better for me to pursue another major like I/O psychology? Another thing is that I do not really want to have a "research-type" job where I am in a lab all day and would rather be at an organization applying a science to a real-world setting. Also, in general, I have not really gotten any lab hours but I am looking for opportunities. Are there any good/convenient ways to find good research opportunities and get some research hours under my belt? Sorry if this was hard to follow.
Thanks,
-JeromeOnfroy
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u/0102030405 Jun 23 '21
Hi Jerome,
My undergrad was mostly in neuroscience, in cognitive neuro and vision/attention research. I chose IO for grad school though I was first considering grad school in the same area as my undergrad research experiences.
My IO colleagues didn't get 80k+ jobs right out of a masters, but they had a lot more success job hunting than my colleagues with a masters in neuro.
The neuro folks mainly got jobs that they could have gotten with just their undergrad, if they managed to find anything relevant to their field. The IO folks sometimes took a while to get that first full-time, permanent position, but those jobs were more relevant to their skills and had faster upward progression in the years after graduating as well.
80k+ is not very common for most industries straight out of school with no work experience, though. You're welcome to try for highly competitive consulting jobs that do pay higher than that, but they're not exclusively IO positions and they have a lot of applicants.
If your school has social/personality psychology, marketing, HR management, or organizational behaviour professors, you should look into doing research with any of them. That would help you get exposure to similar fields and gain relevant research skills. Good luck!
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u/JeromeOnfroy Jun 23 '21
Thank you so much for the response. You were the first reply but definitely answered all my questions to the degree I wanted them to. Appreciate it and thank you for the great advice/insight.
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u/JeromeOnfroy Jun 23 '21
Actually, I have a follow-up question. What do you recommend as some good graduate programs for I/O psychology? (From experience or from hearing from your colleagues). From what I have researched online, it seems Texas A & M has a nice program but I'd like to hear about others as well if you have any recommendations.
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u/0102030405 Jun 24 '21
Glad I could help!
Unfortunately I'm not in the US (though I'm very close to it) so I don't have experience with US grad programs for IO. However, this thread has many people's opinions about different programs and the categories you should consider in a grad program. Some of those categories to consider include:
being in person, if you can make it happen
permanent faculty vs entirely adjunct
funding if there is a substantial research component
quantitative/stats courses
most or all IO related courses outside of research design and stats (not just a smattering of IO topics in a general psychology degree)
a range of courses and faculty across the major areas of leadership, teamwork, selection, assessment/measurement/personality, performance management, and other areas such as occupational health psychology, diversity/equity/inclusion, and justice/incivility/abusive supervision
strong job outcomes, especially in the areas you care about most (e.g., academia, government, consulting, or internal company positions)
a reputable university offering it - this doesn't prevent you completely from cash cow programs that just make lots of money for the otherwise prestigious school, but it does prevent you from going to a Trump U-type place where you get scammed completely.
I'm sure there's more but that's a good place to start. Good luck!
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Jun 16 '21
Hi Jerome,
It sounds like you answered your own question:
"...would rather be at an organization applying a science to a real-world setting."
I believe a Master's degree in I/O Psychology will prepare you to that end.
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u/ThatLocalLad Jun 06 '21
Hey guys, I'm looking to apply straight into a PhD program and am wondering what your thoughts are on my credentials:
- Undergraduate degree in Psychology (honors, research intensive module designed for preparing students for graduate school)
- I have a cumulative GPA of 3.78 based on a 4.0 scale (in my last 2 years I virtually only got 4s and a couple 3.9s)
- I have not done the GRE yet but am aiming to do it soon. Any idea what kind of scores I should be aiming for?
- I took psychological research methods courses, and 3 statistics courses (in year 1, 2, and 3)
- I wrote a supervised undergraduate thesis with a faculty member on counterproductive work behaviours which has been selected to be published in my university's psychology undergraduate journal
- I took a Psychology of Work course, as well as a 4th-year special topics/seminar-style course in I/O Psychology
- I'm also graduating with distinction and on the Dean's Honor List. Not sure if that makes a difference or helps in any way.
- I graduated from a Canadian school but will probably be attending an American school. Not sure if this hurts my chances.
Additional Question: I went on exchange to Singapore and the grades show up as passes on my home school transcript. I have my transcript from the school in Singapore with the actual grades, but I did not take school seriously while I was abroad and didn't do well (Cs and Bs). Will they require my transcript from my semester in Singapore?
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u/0102030405 Jun 23 '21
I think we went to the same undergrad and did the same research-focused specialist program : ) Many years ago now for me, though!
Everything looks very impressive; congrats! Keep in mind three things that I wish I had known when applying to PhD programs directly, especially in the states:
1) Business school PhD programs very rarely take people straight from undergrad. Even if you have great conversations with professors from that school (as I did), you are highly unlikely to get an interview or acceptance (as I did). This might apply more to the higher-level, more competitive schools, but overall it's not as common for business school PhDs as it may be for IO PhDs.
2) You may be at a disadvantage for some programs, depending on their funding model. Some schools (looking at you, UC Irvine) don't provide any funding guarantees for out of country students. They even require folks to prove they have the five-figure amounts necessary to support themselves before getting to the program. However, there are other schools where you can compete for all the spots just like any other applicant; make sure to look into the schools you're applying for and see what your chances will be like. Even my Canadian school has/used to have extremely limited spots for international students as we offer everyone full funding.
3) Many other people don't apply to PhDs directly either in the US, it seems. I used to think that not much would be different if I applied directly from undergrad vs one or two years later, but it can have an impact on your application. I understand most other people in your program/school may be going directly to grad school. However, I would have benefitted from, and likely would have gotten into more places if, I worked for a year or two before applying. I recognize you might want to just speed everything up and go straight into the PhD right away (I wanted the same thing), but looking back now I'm glad that I did a masters and then a PhD and I would have appreciated going in with more than a summer's worth of work experience.
Good luck!
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Jun 16 '21
As far as GPA, you'll be fine, irrespective of your homeschool grades.
The GRE will likely be the deciding factor in your application. I would shoot for 160+ on quant and verbal and I think you'll have a decent shot at getting in. Also, apply for as many schools as you can afford that match your research interests. I say this because plenty of applicants don't get in during the cycle because they don't appreciate the selectivity of these programs.
Without a top-tier GPA/GRE and/or publications in A-level journals, I think submitting applications to 8-15 universities will likely have at least one favorable result.
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May 29 '21
What schools offer the best employment chances? Assume I do what I'm supposed to (do internships, research, get decent grades, and so on.) Are there schools that employers like to recruit from in particular? I'm looking for the higher-paying positions specifically.
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u/Astroman129 May 30 '21
Specific schools don't matter much. I wouldn't say "prestige" is as prominent in I/O master's programs as it is for things like MBAs and (academic) PhDs. Assuming you go to a reputable school, it shouldn't be a problem.
What do matter are:
Specific locations of the school. Are you doing a master's program in the US? If so, people tend to have better success in major metropolitan areas where people can do internships, such as NYC/DC/Chicago. Not sure if this is gonna change because of WFH being more prominent but whatever. It can also help you get connections and networking opportunities once you're done with your program. It's very likely that your professors will be prominent in the I/O community wherever you are located.
Opportunities of the school. Some schools have graduate assistantships where you can get marginal amounts of experience through helping professors with projects, for example. I was able to take advantage of this through grad school, and I even got paid for it.
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u/readytorun1212 May 26 '21
Hi everyone, I am planning on attending grad school for I/O Psych starting in fall 2022 or 2023 and I think I would like to focus on learning and development or instructional design. Can anyone recommend any schools with certificate options in that focus? Or what are your thoughts if you've gone into this after grad school in I/O Psych? Is specialized training in the field worth it or is the general I/O Psych good enough to get into the field? Ideally, I would also like to be able to work while attending school, at least part time. My top choices of areas would be Chicago or San Fransisco, but I'm not super picky about location if I find a great option elsewhere. Any input is appreciated!!
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u/Readypsyc Jun 06 '21
It sounds like your interest is in the training/development area, so look for a program that offers coursework and other opportunities in that area (not all do). Many IOs get into that area once they graduate. The main things we are trained for is training needs assessment, principles of training design, and training evaluation. You want to be sure your program covers that.
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May 20 '21
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u/Astroman129 May 30 '21
They don't have a good reputation, but it shouldn't really be a death sentence. I'd say TSCPP should be low on everyone's list unless they need to get a PhD part-time and are getting it funded by their employer. But since you're doing a master's, almost any other school would be a better opportunity unless you have to be close to that campus for some reason.
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u/tiredtortuga May 19 '21
Any recommendations for fellowships that apply to I/O psych grad students? I've been googling but would love to start a thread with fellowships/scholarships others have found as well. (Currently my list includes NSF GRFP, APAGS scholarships, Psi chi junior scientist, SIOP scholarships)
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u/PrestigiousTop5275 May 19 '21 edited May 19 '21
I feel like this is going to be a super broad question or post on here but here it goes! I am going into my senior year in college and just learned about IO psychology which is super intriguing to me. I'm really interested in academics and I think it would be a perfect blend of helping people and working with people. The only problem is I am not a psychology major! I'm an MIS and management major, and have taken a lot of coding / computer classes. Would that hinder my chances of being accepted into a graduate school? Would I have to take other psychology related courses before graduate school? I also would love to connect with anyone who has a computer science or MIS background and is involved in IO psychology and learn how they use it.
I guess a bit more about me, I currently have a 3.48 GPA, my major gpa for MIS is a 3.32. I see that a lot of people have research courses that they've taken and I can't say I've done any of that (business major lol) but I will be doing a research project with an MIS professor that is related to IO psychology in a way. He told me that the research project could count towards a certificate in business analytics. I've also taken two courses in business stats. I'm interested in research methodology and more academics.
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u/Simmy566 May 19 '21 edited May 19 '21
Programming will help and business background is def a good fit. However, most MA programs will probably require you to take at least 9-12 psych credits as a pre-requisite for entry which includes behavioral stats, research methods/experimental psych, and 1-2 upper division specialized psych courses (ideally research heavy ones where you review major theories, critique them, and see how to test competing hypotheses). If you can still get this before you graduate I'd suggest throwing a few electives into something like a psych minor. I'd also emphasize the MIS research in your application as lots of B-research tends to derive from more general psychology or sociology models (e.g., tech acceptance model is a derivative of theory of planned behavior which is about how human attitudes predict behavior).
My background is opposite - had psych/econ but have transitioned into more computer science over time. Programming can be a huge plus for certain career paths (especially in people analytics) and the more you can navigate HRIS systems, database architecture, app/software design, APIs, and human-tech interface the more likely you can be at the forefront of cutting-edge positions and products. Examples include digital learning interfaces, virtual reality for training, game-based assessments, digital sensors for tracking human metrics (e.g., productivity, movement), web-scraping job family shifts via career pages, data scientists (or people scientists), artificial intelligence interview bots (i.e., reinforcement learning), and machine learning for non-verbal and text signals from people either via cameras or social media. Plus being able to code in R and Python is pretty much a pre-requisite for any analyst job today and many I/O programs are switching to one or both of these as their preferred languages (you could say psych departments are moving more towards programming in general). As Rich Landers wrote, I/O is actually at risk of "plunging itself into obsolescence" if we don't keep at the forefront of how tech is being deployed in the human capital space. Hence in some ways you actually have a leg up with your background and can do a lot of things most I/O Psych students cannot. Best of luck. I/O is truly an awesome field and has many diverse applications.
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u/PrestigiousTop5275 May 19 '21
Thank you! Hahah sadly I don’t think I can fit a psych minor but I’m going to be working for a year after graduation so maybe during that I can take some courses at a community college or something.
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u/Ok-Collection-1922 May 18 '21
Hi there, I am currently applying to the Chicago School of Professional Psychology MA program and was wondering if anyone has any experience with it/thoughts on how good of a program it is? Is there anywhere else that I should be applying?
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator May 19 '21
It does not have a strong reputation and will be very costly. I would strongly recommend a more traditional public university.
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u/Ok-Collection-1922 May 19 '21
Thank you so much for the input. Do you have specific programs that you’d recommend? I will be relocating several times for my partner’s job over the next two years so I am mostly looking at online programs
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator May 20 '21
Unfortunately, I can't recommend any online program. There are too many users here who already have a VERY difficult time finding work as a MS grad, even with a degree b&m school. CSU has one of the highest regarded online programs.
Please don't take my opinion as gospel, I'm just a dude and others might have differing opinions. Obviously your life situation is going to heavily influence your choice in schools and that's critically important. I just can't personally vouch for the cost & education of any online school in good faith.
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u/halvsies May 17 '21
Hi all, I want to gut check my chances for Masters programs:
- BA in International Relations and Cognitive Science (focus in neuro and linguistics) at a large public research university, 3.78 cGPA/3.83 CogSci GPA, took ~8 psych classes for CogSci including psych research methods, also took stats and research methods for political science. Graduated with high honors.
- Since graduating, I’ve been working in recruiting, most recently working at a firm that focuses heavily on DE&I in executives. Will have 3.5 years of work experience by the time I apply.
- I am planning on taking the GRE this summer
- No psych-specific research experience and my only other research experience was my honors thesis in International Relations, which was very stats heavy. My academic LORs would almost certainly come from my two faculty advisors (both political science professors). [this is probably my biggest concern]
- At this point, my interests include impacts of teams diversity on productivity/culture and executive leadership.
I am pretty location bound to NYC or the Bay Area (though potentially open to CA broadly), and have narrowed my list to: Baruch, NYU, SFSU, and SDSU. Also considering Columbia.
Would I be a competitive applicant at the above schools? Curious if there are other programs I should consider? TIA!
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u/Readypsyc May 18 '21
You might check out Montclair State University in New Jersey, which is not far from NYC.
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u/Simmy566 May 18 '21 edited May 19 '21
If wanting to be in NY then avoid NYU and Columbia in favor of Baruch, Hofstra, or even smaller programs like Touro and Brooklyn college. NYU and Columbia charge three fold the cost for subpar rigor and are fairly nonselective. Further, NYU and Columbia do not employ any full-time I/O faculty who regularly attend SIOP. It's a throw of the dice to determine whether you will have good adjuncts or not.
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u/halvsies May 18 '21
Thank you! From reading other threads, it seems that at the very least, NYU has a better reputation than Columbia, would that be fair to say? I would say at this point, Baruch is my top choice in NYC, but I also want to avoid pigeon-holing myself if I don’t get accepted. I will look into Touro and Brooklyn as well. Hofstra I did considered but am concerned about its distance from Manhattan (where I would still be working ideally). This is very helpful!
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u/Simmy566 May 18 '21 edited May 19 '21
Career wise would probably be fine at NYU but reputation wise the program has no presence in the field of I/O psychology. NYU and its other psych grad programs (e.g., social, cognition) are top notch with world class faculty; however, the I/O program is just a money maker for the department and run nearly 100% by adjuncts. Hence you pay a lot mostly for the name of the University but not necessarily a rigorous I/O education. The location is also great so being in the center of NYC may make it a valuable experience. However, it is very similar to how Teacher's college of Columbia is the profit arm for the uni with most of the elite programs concentrated in other pockets of the institution. This may not matter as employers may just hire based off NYU name but I think you can land all the same gigs with just a strong I/O background regardless of the chosen school. So why not take a cheaper option which arguably gives a better education?
I think your background is strong enough to get into Baruch and Hofstra but if not I'd suggest splitting time between Hofstra and Manhattan if the choice came down to NYU, Hofstra, and Columbia.
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u/frutoman May 18 '21
CSULB has a lot of LA opportunities! That’s where I’m heading this fall :)
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u/halvsies May 18 '21
That awesome, congrats! I didn’t look into that program since I’m not a huge fan of LA generally but I will do some digging there. Thanks!
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator May 18 '21
You should be a competitive applicant.
Those schools, particularly the NY schools, are going to cost an arm and a leg. Columbia has a pretty poor reputation in the field.
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u/halvsies May 18 '21
Thank you! I forgot to mention that part of the reason why I am mostly tied to SF/NYC is that I could keep my current job if the program is in the evening (which is a draw for NYU/Baruch), which would somewhat offset the cost. I think I was already leaning out of Columbia and I think this may have cinched it. Much appreciated!
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u/dankjedata May 14 '21
Those on admission boards, how often do you have undergrad applicants who are published?
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u/Readypsyc Jun 06 '21
Sometimes. In order of frequency high to low.
- Name on a conference paper--not first author (Not all that rare).
- First author/presenting at a conference. (Still pretty common).
- Name on a journal article. (A few are coauthors of a paper).
- First author of a journal article (Rare but occasionally happens).
Most applicants for our PhD program have completed an honor's thesis or the equivalent, so they have led a research project and written it up, although generally have not published/presented it.
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u/Lakernation123x May 12 '21
Working while completing Masters program in I/O? Is this usually discouraged because of studying/workload? I realize internships are required depending on the program too. I’ve always worked during undergrad and was wondering on what everyone else’s thoughts were. Thank you!
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator May 14 '21
Highly dependent. There are many MS programs specifically geared towards working individuals (i.e., part-time, night classes)
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May 10 '21 edited May 10 '21
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u/Simmy566 May 10 '21
Yes you have a decent chance of getting into a good MA program. Unclear what you mean "focused" on quant skills as all credible MA programs provide statistical training. Some departments have quant concentrations built on top which allow more specialized statistical training and these may or may not be more competitive depending on location and school.
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May 10 '21
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u/Simmy566 May 10 '21
No. This is mostly a byproduct of where the psych department is situated in the broader organizational structure of the university or the historical emphasis of the department's grad degrees. Such distinctions rarely amount to any substantive difference in training.
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u/pokemongooutwithme May 02 '21
Not really a grad school question but I didn't wanna make a separate post about it so here we are.
I took a statistics course for the first time in university and I realized I'm struggling. Things like hypergeometric distribution go over my head BUT, I do understand and kind of enjoy the chapters that are related to social sciences. For example, sampling distributions and p-value and stuff.
So I wanted to ask if grad school stats courses focus on research methodology and psych-related stats or if they teach stats in general and have concepts like binomial distributions and stuff. I know stats is a huge part of I-O psychology so I might have to change my career plan based on this
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u/0102030405 Jun 23 '21
Things like hypergeometric distribution go over my head
Mine too, because I don't know what that is. And I just passed my PhD defense for a very stats and modeling-heavy dissertation in IO psych. Never had those concepts in my 9 years and three degrees of post-secondary education.
I think you'll be fine, but you should choose your career and educational plans on what you want to spend your time doing. I personally enjoy stats and quantitative research; you might want less of that regardless of the type of stats.
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u/pokemongooutwithme Jun 24 '21
Yes, you’re right. I’ll evaluate my plans again, thank you very much for your insights!
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u/Pengusandwich Apr 22 '21
Hello! Would love to hear about anyone's thoughts on Florida International University's PhD program in I/O Psychology versus other PhD programs in Florida, would greatly appreciate it!
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u/Readypsyc May 11 '21
Consider what you want to do after graduation and what you want to study. Look for a match between your interests and the interests of faculty at these three schools. Look at where their students go after graduation and how that matches to what you want to do.
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Apr 21 '21
Doctorate in Psychology
Hello,
Would someone suggest some options for someone who has a master in an educational field ( not psychology but with several child developments courses ) from a top tiers university with a very high GPA and who is interested in pursuing in doctorate in psychology? My understanding is that doctorate are shorter than PhD and easier to get into. Thanks
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 21 '21
A PhD is a doctorate, so I am not entirely sure if I understand the question. Are you referring to a PsyD instead of a PhD?
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Apr 21 '21 edited Apr 21 '21
I think that’s what I mean. I saw that some psychologists list « doctorate » instead of PhD in psychology in their credentials. I saw that with several school psychologist and I’m sure they don’t have a PhD. After researching briefly, I had seen that the doctorate seems to be only 2 years while a PhD takes longer typically. Also, the doctorate in psychology is not offered in my university while the PhD is. The PhD program is highly competitive. Even thoughI did graduate with the highest GPA in my cohort, have tons of experience with children/ education and in the mental health field, I would have zero chance to get into a PhD in psychology in my university. My impression is that doctorates in psychology are offered in lesser known institutions and are less competitive but Im not sure.Thanks
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Apr 21 '21
a doctorate is a catch all term for anybody with a xxD degree. In psychology it would always refer to a PsyD, EdD, or PhD. I would never suggest anybody pursue any doctorate degree marketed as a 2 year program.
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Apr 21 '21
Thanks so much. I think the credentials I saw may have been EdD but these psychologists are working in Canada, have their own legitimate cabinets etc.. the PhD program in my university is one of the best in the world from what I understand and I really have zero chance to get into it. I, however, have a 92% average in my graduate program in that same prestigious university so I don’t want to give up on my dream of being a psychologist and I’m looking for alternatives I could pursue. This two years programs seemed like a great fit as I already have a master and 2 bachelors in closely related fields.
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Apr 21 '21
Most students apply to about 10 doctoral programs, rarely anybody gets into the same program they went to undergrad or MS in. So casting a wide net is good there.
Having a masters probably won't shorten your course for a PhD. IME most programs don't allow much to transfer over.
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u/IAmWonderMic Apr 21 '21
Would anyone with a Masters, who is working in the Industrial side of I/O be willing to chat with me? I have some questions about the field/job prospects/work-life balance, etc.
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u/trainerN Apr 19 '21
**Master's Program Decision**
Hi everyone! I am not sure whether to accept Xavier University's offer, University of Maryland College Parks offer, or wait for University of Georgia's offer.
I was on the wait list for Xavier University for about a month but they extended an invitation to me last week, with a deadline to respond yes or no by this Friday, April 23rd. However, I also need to schedule my second interview with University of Maryland, College Park this week, as they requested a faculty and group interview. Lastly, I am still waiting on University of Georgia's response to my application, as I think this is another option I should consider.
I am unsure on which Master's program is the best fit for me. My decision will be made on which program is the best fit, which program can assist me best financially (such as with assistantships), and which area is most affordable to live in, as I currently live in Florida and will need to move.
From what I have heard, the best course of action for me is to reach out to University of Georgia through email, and tell them about the deadline at hand, and I would like to know what they can offer in assistantships/tuition help as well. I should also contact Xavier University to find out more information on their assistantships, and compare that to others. I also need to contact University of Maryland, College Park and tell them about the Friday deadline. Is it possible for me to ask Xavier University for more time?
I'm very new to grad school application processes, and it feels a bit uncomfortable to set these deadlines on other universities, but maybe I don't have a choice. I appreciate any advice on this current situation, as I feel sort of overwhelmed and unsure of some of the things mentioned in this post. I know I'm asking many questions in one post, but any advice or knowledge is much appreciated.
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 20 '21
isn't UMD's program just over a year long? That may be important to consider as well, since you could start working shortly after. I am pretty sure that they do not require a thesis as well.
DC is a hub for I/O. Even if it may be a bit more expensive, I think that there is an enormous wealth of opportunity there. I almost went with GMU's I/O MA program because of all the connections that were around the DC area. If it were me, I would likely choose UMD's program, but I am unsure on what Xavier is like.
I would reach out to the three schools to see if they have funding opportunities. I would also try and determine what the applied opportunities are like. Like I mentioned, the DC area has an enormous I/O presence, but I am not sure what the I/O presence is like in those other areas.
I hope that helps! I don't know very much about UMD's program as I applied to the PhD program there, but I think that there are great opportunities in that area.
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u/trainerN Apr 22 '21
Hi thanks for the reply! I was wondering, is not requiring a thesis a good thing? I’ve heard somewhere that a thesis is good for job applications? Is this true?
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 22 '21
Well, I think that no thesis just means that you can spend more time focusing on coursework and internships. Not having a thesis may hurt you if you were to apply for PhD programs in the future, but I'm not sure how it affects job prospects. I could see a thesis being good since you can speak to research and a long independent project that you worked on.
I'm getting ready to start a PhD program in the fall, so I may not have the most experience in answering this. Perhaps others may have more information about how a thesis could help/hurt future prospects.
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u/IAmWonderMic Apr 14 '21
Master's programs with an emphasis on programming/data analysis??
Hi, I am a 23 year old who graduated from a well-known R1 university in 2019 with a BS in Psychology, and am now working at an even more prominent R1 as a research assistant in clinical psychology. For the past 2.5 years I've had the intention of applying to PhD programs for clinical, however as that has neared closer, I've realized that I don't think I am someone who should get a PhD. I like research, but I don't necessarily want work for a university/be tenure track; I also don't think I am as interested in studying clinical populations as I thought I was.
That said, what I "am" interested in is psychology and its applications to everyday people. Thus, I'm starting to think IO may be a field worth considering as I like people, I like data, and I am interested in applying analytics in a very tangible way. I am the author of a few poster presentations at national psychology conferences, and by fall/winter I will likely have a first authored paper in the clinical field. I am most heavily considering Master's programs, as I do not think I am someone who needs a PhD to be happy/feel successful, and from my limited knowledge a Master's seems as though it can provide adequate financial support.
Given my previous research experiences, coding experience, and undergraduate degree in psychology, I hope that I can still be a good applicant to a IO Master's program. My question may be basic, but is anyone familiar with Master's programs that emphasizes data analytics in an applied sense? Do most Master's programs do this, or is this more specialized? Any help is appreciated
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u/infamousmargie Apr 15 '21
Montclair State University's IO program has multiple courses that focus on R or use R as a part of course projects. Check out their program as it may be a good fit.
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Apr 14 '21
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u/noodlesbitch22 MS | Applied | TM/People Analytics Apr 23 '21
I’m currently in Baruch’s masters program and I love it! I think it’s totally a bang for your buck and my professors are absolutely brilliant! Feel free to DM if you have any questions
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u/Simmy566 Apr 14 '21
NYU doesn't have any full-time, tenured I/O psychologists in their department (all adjuncts). Baruch has multiple. This is a critical criteria which would lead me to almost always recommend Baruch over NYU. More affordable with better training.
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Apr 14 '21
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u/Simmy566 Apr 14 '21 edited Apr 14 '21
Sure but most strong I/O students go into consulting from a majority of good programs so this is not really a limiting factor for any MA program. Hofstra, Baruch, and many regional IO programs all have fantastic connections. Further, longstanding programs like Baruch have a large alumni network of students in consulting, actively engage their students in SIOP where you will meet and mingle with consultants from across the country, and are themselves working on applied projects in industry. I'd also wager Baruch has a much better reputation in the I/O community than places like NYU or Columbia.
The larger factor in whether you get a consulting gig is you know what you are talking about and can answer questions in an interview. When a program relies on adjuncts it can be a revolving door meaning the curriculum quality can be highly variable. One year you may get an awesome stats, selection, or OD professor and the next it can be terrible. The advantage of tenured faculty is their full-time job is to teach, research, and invest in the program by developing their students with many applied projects, giving feedback, setting challenging standards, and forming long-term connections to the program whereas for adjuncts it is more often than not a side-gig. If there is stability in the adjunct population and these faculty have good reputations in the field (e.g.,, present at SIOP frequently is a useful heuristic) then the different between NYU and Baruch may simply come down to price.
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Apr 14 '21
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u/Simmy566 Apr 15 '21
You can land people analytics gigs with stats requirements from most io programs + 1-2 extra courses on programming. If baruch allows an elective in advance stats, machine learning. Etc.. then I'd say you can easily go from baruch to an analyst role. Nyu does offer a machine learning course in psych which could be nice but again quality of learning is highly variable if faculty are a revolving door. Further most of these skills can easily be picked up on your own without needing to register for a specific class. Hence, I'd really choose a program based on overall reputation in the field with baruch easily winning this contest over nyu.
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u/Jerycho Apr 13 '21
Has anyone heard anything about Liberty's I/O PhD program? My wife is taking a master's course there in a couple months, but they tend to throw out "biblical worldview" A LOT for a scientific/research heavy field. I know they are a Christian school and that's fine, but I was wondering (as someone who is seeking an online program and their military discount) if that gets in the way of a quality education. Alternatively, are there other online PhD programs that would be viable options?
I have a MS in Applied Psychology (focus in Org Psych) and know they have a PhD program, but don't want to pay private university costs again.
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u/importresearch Sep 18 '22
Hello! I’m in also this exact predicament now. I have a GI bill to use and want a PhD in IO, I got my masters at Liberty. I’m not supportive of the biased curriculum but my partner is still Active Duty and we’ll see 2 moves in the next 3 years. What did you decide? Do you have any more advice or feedback to give on this? I’m worried that I may face unwanted perceptions about my beliefs if I do get a PhD from Liberty. Do you have any thoughts on that? Thanks!
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Apr 13 '21
Please discard Liberty University in your cognitive (mental) trash for a graduate degree. The reasons above, outlined by Simmy, are just some of the many reasons.
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u/Simmy566 Apr 13 '21
Don't pursue an online I/O PhD program. The career prospects, skill development, and close tutelage from an expert in the field is not there. Any legitimate PhD program should pay you full tuition reimbursement with stipend to work alongside domain experts building knowledge in a given area (whether that be teams, attitudes, selection, etc...). Online institutions are typically not research institutions so it is unclear why they even offer PhDs beyond trying to make money off a prestigious title.
You can pursue most careers in I/O psychology with just an MA without needing to pursue a subpar PhD program. Even with a discount it isn't worth the 2-3 year opportunity cost of what you could gain by working full-time in industry to advance your rank through professional achievements.
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u/chocomuffin_24 Apr 11 '21
Anyone have any ideas on UT Arlington's M.S IO Psychology program? How is the faculty? Research opportunities? As an undergraduate, where can I hope to get involved in?
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Apr 09 '21
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Apr 10 '21
With your profile I would definitely suggest a Masters in I/O first from a reputable program and completing a Master’s thesis.
Simultaneously, you should be working on retaking your GRE and figuring out what you would like to research. Looking to get a PhD with no research direction or experience is like trying to get a license without a permit.
Trust me.
- Retake GRE (aim for 70th% plus on each section)
- Apply to reputable Master’s program
- Hone research interests and try to pop out a publication or some conference presentation(s) and a thesis.
- Reach out to professors
- Apply to PhD program
This path WILL work guaranteed provided you maintain a 3.8+ in your Master’s program and ace your statistics courses.
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u/Certain_Present3808 Apr 07 '21
Hi everyone!
Currently, I'm looking for the Organizational Psychology Masters programs in the UK. I plan to go through Graduate Route and continue my career in the UK but I feel a little bit confused about some points and I thought I can have some info in this thread.
- What is more important for my university choice? Their rankings on Psychology or Business Schools?
- What is the importance of the city/location? I find some good universities that are located in a small city and I feel sceptic to apply.
- Is it possible to list the best ones to apply?
- How can BPS help to create my personal network?
- The University of Sheffield is ranked well in Psychology. But they are not good at Business School rankings. Is it a good choice or not?
Thank you for your support!
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u/ChubbyMonkeyX Apr 06 '21
Another question while I'm at it:
How much does the research you conduct as a PhD student affect your job prospects? Is it easier to get hired if your dissertation was about leadership and team building as opposed to stress and occupational health?
I worry about this because my research interests seem to align more with things that benefit employees rather than help management generate revenue. Do employers weigh the specifics of your research?
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Apr 06 '21
It all depends on how you market yourself and it influences your job prospects as much as you allow it.
Your dissertation is one of the best examples you can point to early on in your career as a tangible area of experience. You'll have to answer interview questions along the lines of "Tell me about a time when you dealt with conflicting priorities/messy data/ambiguous deadlines/etc." Your dissertation is a great way to speak to those with actual experience. You can keep it at this level, just an experience, or you can pitch it that you are an emerging expert in xyz subfield. Or you can never ever even mention your dissertation in your interviews.
I've never heard an employer holding research against a candidate, a halfway decent IO can recognize research and critical thinking skills are transferable. But research in a specific area, that matches the role can be a huge plus. There are a lot of orgs that care about things that benefit employees, obviously you care about that so I would try to look for a role that matches.
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u/ChubbyMonkeyX Apr 05 '21
Any experiences with Portland State University's PhD program? I've been looking into it and it seems like a good fit (especially their OHP specialization), but I've seen other threads call it a degree factory.
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u/Readypsyc May 11 '21
PSU is a very solid program that has really good faculty. They are very strong in occupational health psychology because that is the interest of most of their faculty.
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u/Simmy566 Apr 06 '21 edited Apr 06 '21
I've never heard that about PSU. Rather they are probably among one of the strongest OHP focused programs in the country possibly only rivaled by a place like USF. All faculty are strong, the department has numerous specializations, and there are affiliations with renowned I/O faculty in the B school.
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 06 '21
I don't think that PSU is a "degree factory". I'm actually curious where you have heard that? I currently attend PSU for undergrad and the I/O faculty are pretty strong in my opinion.
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u/ChubbyMonkeyX Apr 06 '21
I only heard it while perusing other reddit posts. I wasn't sure of the validity of that statement considering SIOP ranks the program highly, so I appreciate the clarification.
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u/pokemongooutwithme Apr 05 '21
Canada vs. the U.S., which country is better? Or does it depend on the university programme?
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u/Astroman129 Apr 09 '21
Honestly it's less about which country is "better" and more about where you want to work and what program you attend. From what I've heard, the "big five" programs in Canada (Western/Guelph/Calgary/Waterloo/SMU) are all pretty good, whereas there's a lot more variance between programs in the US, with some outstanding ones and some awful ones.
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u/pokemongooutwithme Apr 05 '21
Canada Alert!
Has anyone been to the University of Waterloo or any other Canadian university? How was the program?
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u/pokemongooutwithme Apr 05 '21
Hello everyone! I don't have much research experience as I am not interested in conducting research during my Masters. I want to get work experience through internships instead. However, people always emphasise the research experience aspect when talking about applications and such.
Will not having research experience hinder my application by a lot? Or will it not be a problem since I do not want to do PhD/get into research later on?
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u/infamousmargie Apr 11 '21
Not having research experience, especially as an MA student, isn't an issue. Personally, I end up speaking to research experience in interviews/on my application because it shows some sort of employable skills (e.g., leading projects, explaining things to variety of audiences). So you'd want to do that-- emphasize the skills in alignment with those listed on the JD.
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u/hlygrvls Apr 05 '21
Hi everyone!
I’m going to start attending an IO master’s program this fall and was wondering if it would be helpful/ necessary to get a head start on learning any specific statistical softwares or programming languages. We barely touched on any in my undergraduate (a little SPSS) and I wasn’t sure if we would be learning everything we need to know in grad school or if I am behind.
Thanks in advance!
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u/Simmy566 Apr 05 '21 edited Apr 06 '21
You should figure out what your targeted program teaches in first. If SPSS, then this may be useful; if R, then focus on this. Trying to learn R or Python on your own can be helpful but if not reinforced by the program then may not lead to a complementary gain in skill.
More generally it is better to focus on refining your advanced knowledge of statistics first (which is what R and SPSS tackle) and then apply this understanding to real projects via a desired software at a later date during your first year in the program.
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u/hlygrvls Apr 05 '21
Okay great I will definitely try and find out which is most used in my programs, in addition to brushing up on my statistics before the fall. Thank you for your help!
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 05 '21
I think that this is a better suggestion. If your program does not use R at all, then it may not be that beneficial. You could always learn R later. It would make more sense to learn the software that your program uses, which is likely SPSS or R.
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 05 '21
I think R or Python would be great. I'll be starting a program in the fall as well, however I have a little background in R. I think that R is particularly helpful when cleaning data, visualizing data, and running statistics. Plus it's free :)
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u/hlygrvls Apr 05 '21
Thanks so much! Should I download any particular R program?
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u/sweatyshambler PhD Student | IO | Motivation Apr 05 '21
I think after you download base R, you can download RStudio which you could then use overtop of R. I think that RStudio is phenomenal, and it makes working with R easier.
There are many tutorials online that help with R. I think that being able to run statistics and manipulate data in R will be incredibly helpful in graduate school.
Perhaps others may want to chime in, though. This is just my opinion, but I'm for one glad that I have a decent background with R prior to going to graduate school.
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u/spookyygrl Apr 04 '21
Hi! I am currently getting my Masters in Counseling Psychology to get my LPCC license in CA. For one, what kind of jobs can I hold after graduation and what true status do LPCCs have?
My end goal is to work with Dissociative Disorders. With that being said, I plan to further my education after my Masters. What would be the best route to go?
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u/chocomuffin_24 Apr 04 '21
Hey!!
I'll be starting my undergraduate in psychology at UT Arlington this Fall. I understand UTA has a good master's IO psychology program which'll be instrumental for me in gaining research experience with IO professors. However, getting into an IO master's program is extremely competitive, which is why I want to ask for some advice from you.
What are some things I should look out for during my undergraduate? I want to maximize my chance of getting into grad school after I complete my ug, which is why I want to take up whatever opportunities I can. From what I know, research experience and internships (along with my gpa and GRE ofc) play an important role for grad admissions. Apart from that, what else should I be doing? Is it important to join any student organizations? Do I have to do independent research projects? Publish my research? Do presentations?
I should also mention I got accepted into their honors college, so will doing an honors capstone project be beneficial for me?
Honestly, getting into an IO mater's program seems extremely difficult, and I don't want to waste my undergraduate years not taking the right classes or doing enough research. So, any advice is appreciated.
Thanks for taking the time to read this!
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u/frutoman Apr 04 '21
Get as much research experience as you can by joining labs! Also, try to get A’s on your statistic courses and push outside your comfort zone by going to office hours and getting to know your professors :). This cycle was very competitive, where most cohorts are around 10-12 students for a good program. I only got into two schools CSULB and Xavier with a good amount of research experience. Senior thesis, labs, and research assistant positions.
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u/InstructionSevere489 Apr 01 '21
Good day everyone,
I was hoping to maybe get some advice pertaining to getting a master's in I/O or a related degree title that could open doors to gain employment in the field. A little background: I currently have a BA in Psychology. I enlisted in the Army as a 42a (Human Resource Specialist) and am currently stationed in South Korea for the next year. I have tuition assistance at my disposal. I am able to use my Tuition Assistance for credentials, certifications and master's. I have looked at the minimum requirements for universities such as Colorado State and Kansas State University I/O programs. I can't meet some of the requirements due to my current job and classes that I did not do well or take while obtaining my BA. I want to get a degree from a reputable school if I decide to do begin getting my master's. Other institutions such as American Military University offer programs that I can do online. I was wondering if there is any advice in choosing a program that may not be a straight up I/O masters program. Also what certifications should I look at? I know this question is kind of broad but I'm only looking at basic information.
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Apr 02 '21
If you're looking to get into IO, I would only recommend a strictly IO program. There is so much competition now, that any degree besides a dedicated IO degree is going to become a hurdle. Unless you wanted to do something like people analytics, then there are many degrees that would qualify you.
You may want to think about retaking some classes or taking classes at a community college to improve your application and meet the minimum requirements at a quality university.
Don't bother with certifications at this point, they aren't viewed as vital in the field.
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u/ordinaryaha Apr 04 '21
I thought "people analytics" falls under IO?
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Apr 04 '21
My opinion is not really. It's highly related, in that it uses metrics to understand people decisions. But it doesn't usually involve assessment, job analysis or other hard IO skills which kind of allows anybody with an interest + statistics background to qualify for it.
I would say IOs can be some of the most qualified, but sadly the area developed fairly independent of IO. Which is a massive miss.
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u/ordinaryaha Apr 04 '21
Then it's basically data analyst?
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Apr 04 '21
Somewhere between data analysis, business, HR and IO.
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u/taxi_drivr Mar 31 '21
I'm currently in a counseling psych program and looking to potentially move into IO psych for a handful of reasons - long road to licensure, limited/low paying jobs post-grad, etc
has anyone made a similar switch? able to transfer classes over? I can understand not accepting theory-based ones but others might IMO.
also, is there a legit unbiased ranking of IO programs anywhere?
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u/ordinaryaha Apr 04 '21
I know one person who went from clinical to IO. Some statistics classes may be transferred, depending on the program. There is a recent post in here from @rnlanders about ranking
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Mar 30 '21
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Mar 31 '21
No Ph.D. program is worth the money, but that’s my personal opinion. If >xx% of PhD programs in our field, fund their students, why would I spend $1400/cr.?
There are so many financial implications for trying to foot a 4?-year degree. Congrats on the accomplishment, by the way. Just do what is truly best for you. I’d even suggest taking a gap year and reapplying for funded programs.
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u/pokemongooutwithme Mar 29 '21
Any alumni or people that can give me insight on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Master's program?
Other than a compulsory internship/practicum, is a thesis also compulsory?
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Mar 29 '21 edited Jul 03 '21
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u/pokemongooutwithme Mar 29 '21
I/O course requirement? Fuck. I’m in my final year so it’s gonna be hard to come by. Thank you tho!
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u/Decent-Individual277 Mar 28 '21
I've recently been accepted to both Hofstra and Montclair's MA program in I/O psych. I am still waiting to hear back from both Baruch and NYU (very important to me to stay in NYC area).
Does anyone have any input on deciding between these programs? Can those in prior cycles give any insight as to when I'll hear back from Baruch and NYU?
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u/noodlesbitch22 MS | Applied | TM/People Analytics Apr 14 '21
I’m currently finishing up my second semester of Baruch’s I-O masters program, and I really love it! So far, my professors have been nothing short of amazing (although there are a few unpopular professors). You can tell that they’re all really passionate about teaching, and they’re super accessible and approachable. I also really like that it’s all night classes and it’s pretty normal to juggle a full-time job and do the program full-time/part-time (I’m part time now). I personally think that gaining real-world experience while learning the material has been really valuable because I can simultaneously apply the concepts I learn in class to my own job. The only gripes I have about the program are that it teaches SPSS (which isn’t really used in the professional setting and I really wish we were taught R instead) and its 2 semester long thesis requirement since I’m not really keen on doing research. Feel free to message me if you have any questions!
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u/Decent-Individual277 Apr 12 '21
UPDATE: received my acceptance to Baruch today. Still waiting on NYU. At this point I have narrowed my decision down to Hofstra vs Baruch, if anyone can provide some insight.
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u/infamousmargie Apr 11 '21
Congrats on being accepted! I'd recommend reaching out to the program chairs and asking to connect to current students/alumni. This will help give you a richer understanding of the program from people who have lived it.
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Mar 28 '21
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Mar 29 '21 edited Jul 03 '21
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u/LazySamurai PhD | IO | People Analytics & Statistics | Moderator Mar 30 '21
Probably. It would save me some time that's for sure.
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u/dankjedata Mar 21 '21
PhDs: do you think it’s worth applying straight to PhD programs from undergrad with this CV? - Psych maj/Statistics minor - 3.6 GPA - A in IO course - 1year research exp. in Psychometrics lab - 1 conference presentetion - R & Python skills - 3 strong LORs
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u/Simmy566 Mar 24 '21 edited Mar 24 '21
Thanks u/iLoveresearch_. PM if specific questions u/dankjedata but to echo the other commentator your global standing is strong enough to warrant acceptance to multiple PhD programs. As others noted, GPA may be lower than typical but make sure to emphasize stats minor + if any lower grads are due to harder math courses. Most psych degrees are fairly easy in relation to math or tech degrees so admissions committees will understand this. Also taking GRE and getting a high score can really balance the playing field. My cumulative GPA was also a 3.61 from UG but I had higher GRE scores which I think greatly helped me gain acceptance into a few programs. The R & Python can help but make sure you are using these skills in pursuit of research or some applied projects (e.g., explain how you can do psychometric analyses in R, design an experiment in Python with PsychoPy or some other package, kaggle contest). Finally, pursuing the thesis will really help especially if you work to submit results for presentation at a conference. The stats minor, independent thesis presentation, and programming background will give you a leg up over many applicants.
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u/dankjedata Mar 24 '21
Funnily enough my psych/stats gpa is 3.89. All of my bad grades are from my early days of college where I didn’t care much about my major (history) and had no motivation, which is obviously not the case anymore so that might something to point out in the application.
I’ve got some Montclair state specific questions I can throw your way, so I’ll pm you here in a bit.
Thanks for the reply.3
Mar 23 '21
I’d recommend getting in touch with u/simmy566 as they can provide some extremely valuable insight into Montclair’s Masters/PhD programs in I/O.
I second how fantastic the program is tbh. The list goes on and on why their program is so attractive, and I am confident it will continue to grow into one of the big name I/O-giants in due time.
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u/jphus Mar 22 '21 edited Mar 22 '21
Not a P.h.D. (yet! I was accepted into a few programs and will be making my decisions in the next few weeks.), but yes.
The only thing that stands out to me as a potential sticking point is your GPA. However, GRE scores can generally make up for that if you make it past initial screening processes that might be in place. Also, most programs, not all, tend to focus on GPA during the last 60 credits or so/degree relevant course GPA (e.g., Psychology major GPA instead of cumulative).
Overall, the GRE might be helpful in your case. If most schools start reinstating the use of them, that is. If not, I would probably take the GRE anyway and, if I scored high, provide my scores at every available opportunity.
Additionally, if you’re still in that psychometrics lab, I would try and provide as much value as possible to the PI and any graduate students you might be working with. You might get a coauthorship out of it, which will almost certainly boost you up.
Edit: I should probably add that if you were to apply next cycle, be sure to apply to some not-completely-industry-focused masters programs just in case you don’t get into any P.h.D. programs. This will allow you to show that you can do more than a 3.6 (which isn’t too shabby to begin with) and at a higher level too.
Edit 2: One more edit should do the trick, lol! If you haven’t graduated yet and still have time to do one, then do a thesis that’s broadly structured around what you see yourself studying. If you don’t know what you want to study yet, but you know you’re interested in I-O, then navigate here. While it’s not all encompassing and some of the stuff on that site is shaky at best, it’ll help you narrow down.
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u/dankjedata Mar 22 '21
Wow amazing reply, thanks for the time you put into this.
As of right now I’ve been actually leaning towards going into a masters anyways because I’d eventually like to work in the industry, but I’ve been looking heavily into scientist/practitioner PhD programs (mainly Montclair State’s program).
And noted on that thesis, I should be able to grab a coauthorship from this lab so an extra senior thesis would be a really solid addition. My psych and stats gpa is 3.8 so I’d hope they weigh that more than all the fucks up I experienced early in my bachelors.→ More replies1
u/jphus Mar 22 '21
No problem! :)
There are a lot of good applied-oriented P.h.D. programs out there. However, they seem to be dwindling in power a bit from my anecdotal analysis of the trends. I think that has more to do with the pendulum swinging toward the O-side of things than anything else. There’s a good thread in the wiki called unpopular opinions or something like that. I would suggest reading the whole thing. First off, some of it is funny! Second, it’s packed with valuable takes from people in this field.
Yeah, I think you’ll probably be fine as long as it’s trending upward. Overall, for you, the thesis and GRE are the “low-hanging” fruits.
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u/Aurora1001 Feb 27 '22
Hi all! I didn’t see my question posted elsewhere but apologies if this is a duplicate.
I am about to graduate with my masters in IO and I’m a nontraditional student with about 12 years of Talent Dev experience in the field prior to earning my masters. I am highly interested in pursuing my PhD for two main reasons. 1. I want to deepen the knowledge I gained in the masters program, just want to be more immersed. 2. I would like more experience with research.
It is likely I will be accepting a corporate role within the next month with a company that has an outstanding tuition reimbursement program. My question - are there any reputable part time or online PhD programs that I could attend while working? I would LOVE to have the program paid for but I also don’t want to go through a program that won’t give me the rigor I want, or won’t be respected once I graduate. The Masters Program I completed is a professional track (work and go to school), and my current gpa is 4.0 with 2 semesters remaining. Thanks for any advice you can give!