Being an AiO in the Being an AiO in the United States, from United States, from

Start to FinishStart to Finish

Pamela K. SmithPamela K. SmithRadboud University NijmegenRadboud University Nijmegen

(Ph.D. from New York University)(Ph.D. from New York University)

p.smith@psych.ru.nlp.smith@psych.ru.nl

OverviewOverview

Getting in: How to apply for a graduate Getting in: How to apply for a graduate student position in the U.S.student position in the U.S.

Surviving and thriving: What it’s like to be Surviving and thriving: What it’s like to be a graduate student in the U.S.a graduate student in the U.S.

A quick comment on termsA quick comment on terms

What is a “graduate student”?What is a “graduate student”?– Officially, it is someone who has their Officially, it is someone who has their

bachelor’s degree and is now working bachelor’s degree and is now working towards a master’s degree towards a master’s degree oror Ph.D. Ph.D.

However, in the U.S., most people who However, in the U.S., most people who want to get a Ph.D. in social psychology go want to get a Ph.D. in social psychology go straightstraight into a Ph.D. program after into a Ph.D. program after receiving their bachelor’s degreereceiving their bachelor’s degree– So when I say “graduate student,” I So when I say “graduate student,” I

mean “Ph.D. student,” someone working mean “Ph.D. student,” someone working on their Ph.D.on their Ph.D.

The application processThe application process

You apply in the fall to start in the fall of You apply in the fall to start in the fall of the following yearthe following year

Application deadlines vary by university, Application deadlines vary by university, but are generally from early December to but are generally from early December to middle of Januarymiddle of January

From January to April, you find out if you From January to April, you find out if you got in or not (maybe you have to interview got in or not (maybe you have to interview too)too)

You have until You have until April 15April 15 to decide whether to decide whether you will accept an offer from a schoolyou will accept an offer from a school

If you accept an offer, you generally start If you accept an offer, you generally start in late August/early Septemberin late August/early September

Picking universitiesPicking universities

I wrote universitI wrote universitiesies, not universit, not universityy, for a , for a reason: People usually apply to multiple placesreason: People usually apply to multiple places

You are applying to a department, NOT to work You are applying to a department, NOT to work with a specific person on a specific project!with a specific person on a specific project!– Look for places where you would be happy Look for places where you would be happy

working with more than 1 personworking with more than 1 person– However, in your application you will indicate However, in your application you will indicate

the people with whom you want to workthe people with whom you want to work www.socialpsychology.orgwww.socialpsychology.org – source for rankings – source for rankings

of schools and lots of other infoof schools and lots of other info

Questions to consider when Questions to consider when picking universitiespicking universities

What kind of research am I interested in doing?What kind of research am I interested in doing?– Your interests may change (and faculty may Your interests may change (and faculty may

move!), so look for places with more than 1 move!), so look for places with more than 1 person whose work interests youperson whose work interests you

Where am I willing to live?Where am I willing to live? What sort of funding can I get? How much What sort of funding can I get? How much

teaching will it require?teaching will it require? How hard is it to get in—do I have a real How hard is it to get in—do I have a real

chance?chance? You can find this information on websites, in You can find this information on websites, in

books, and by contacting the university directlybooks, and by contacting the university directly

The applicationThe application

Online applications commonOnline applications common Generally provide 5 main kinds of Generally provide 5 main kinds of

informationinformation– Undergraduate gradesUndergraduate grades– Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores – Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores –

general, sometimes also psychologygeneral, sometimes also psychology– Letters of recommendation (usually 3)Letters of recommendation (usually 3)– Description of previous research Description of previous research

experienceexperience– Personal statementPersonal statement

Useful resourcesUseful resources

Books on applying to graduate programsBooks on applying to graduate programs– The Complete Guide to Graduate School The Complete Guide to Graduate School

Admission: Psychology, Counseling, and Admission: Psychology, Counseling, and Related ProfessionsRelated Professions

– Getting in: A Step-By-Step Plan for Getting in: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology Psychology

How one student got into Stanford’s social How one student got into Stanford’s social psychology program: psychology program: http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~amiawakhttp://www-psych.stanford.edu/~amiawake/how/e/how/

Don’t forget to contact specific faculty and Don’t forget to contact specific faculty and graduate students themselves!graduate students themselves!

So you’re in. Now what?So you’re in. Now what?

How do you fill the 4-6 years it takes on How do you fill the 4-6 years it takes on average to get a Ph.D.?average to get a Ph.D.?– With classesWith classes– With teachingWith teaching– With RESEARCHWith RESEARCH– . . . and with a social life. . . and with a social life

Ph.D. Ph.D. studentsstudents take classes take classes tootoo

Most Ph.D. programs in the U.S. make you Most Ph.D. programs in the U.S. make you take classestake classes– How many? Depends on the universityHow many? Depends on the university– At NYU, I took 16 courses in total (only 12 At NYU, I took 16 courses in total (only 12

were required)were required)– Princeton University – must take 5 coursesPrinceton University – must take 5 courses

Usually you complete most of your courses in Usually you complete most of your courses in your first 2 yearsyour first 2 years– I took 3-4 courses/semester for first 2 I took 3-4 courses/semester for first 2

years, then 1 course/semester for next 2 years, then 1 course/semester for next 2 yearsyears

. . .but classes are . . .but classes are notnot your first your first priority!priority!

Most classes are very interactive, with reading Most classes are very interactive, with reading assignments, presentations, and in-class assignments, presentations, and in-class discussionsdiscussions– Students need to be prepared enough to be Students need to be prepared enough to be

active participantsactive participants You need to pass, but classes are not the top You need to pass, but classes are not the top

priority—priority—researchresearch is is– However, classes can be useful sources of However, classes can be useful sources of

research ideasresearch ideas Classes give you Classes give you breadthbreadth and and depthdepth of of

knowledge—that means some classes will be knowledge—that means some classes will be fairly unrelated to your interestsfairly unrelated to your interests

Comprehensive/Qualifying/ Comprehensive/Qualifying/ Preliminary examsPreliminary exams

Also known as “comps” or “quals” or “prelims”Also known as “comps” or “quals” or “prelims” Taken at the end of your second year or Taken at the end of your second year or

beginning of your third yearbeginning of your third year Come in different formsCome in different forms

– A thesis (usually convering the research you A thesis (usually convering the research you did in the first 2 years)did in the first 2 years)

– A written exam (take-home or in-house)A written exam (take-home or in-house)– An oral examAn oral exam

Some universities do more than 1 of the above, Some universities do more than 1 of the above, some universities don’t do this at allsome universities don’t do this at all

You have to pass this before you can continue You have to pass this before you can continue and get your Ph.D.and get your Ph.D.

My experience at NYUMy experience at NYU

The summer after my second year we had The summer after my second year we had “comps”“comps”

Take-home exam: 72 hours to answer 4 out of Take-home exam: 72 hours to answer 4 out of 5 questions5 questions– Could write no more than 5 pages (double-Could write no more than 5 pages (double-

spaced, 12 point font) per questionspaced, 12 point font) per question– Could not ask people for help, but could use Could not ask people for help, but could use

all notes, articles, books we wantedall notes, articles, books we wanted Spent 1.5 months preparing for it, filled a Spent 1.5 months preparing for it, filled a

cabinet drawer with notes, paperscabinet drawer with notes, papers BUT. . . almost everyone who took comps at BUT. . . almost everyone who took comps at

NYU, passed themNYU, passed them

How often do you have to How often do you have to teach?teach?

That depends on. . .That depends on. . .– what sort of funding you havewhat sort of funding you have

Some funding stipulates that you must teach Some funding stipulates that you must teach for a certain number of semestersfor a certain number of semesters

– what the requirements are for a Ph.D.what the requirements are for a Ph.D. At NYU, I had to teach at least 2 classes to At NYU, I had to teach at least 2 classes to

be allowed to receive a Ph.D.be allowed to receive a Ph.D.

Teaching as a grad student = Teaching as a grad student = being a TAbeing a TA

TA = teaching assistantTA = teaching assistant At many universities, graduate students At many universities, graduate students

almost never teach an entire class themselvesalmost never teach an entire class themselves– Professors teach a large lecture course, Professors teach a large lecture course,

then students attend “discussion sections” then students attend “discussion sections” (similar to werkgroupen) related to the (similar to werkgroupen) related to the lecturelecture

– These discussion sections are taught by TAsThese discussion sections are taught by TAs– In sections, TAs answer questions about the In sections, TAs answer questions about the

lecture, discuss additional materiallecture, discuss additional material– TAs often also responsible for grading TAs often also responsible for grading

papers, other assignments, examspapers, other assignments, exams

Research!Research!

In the U.S. you generally work on several In the U.S. you generally work on several projects as a graduate studentprojects as a graduate student– Probably at least one of these projects Probably at least one of these projects

will not be with your advisorwill not be with your advisor Could be with other faculty, even other grad Could be with other faculty, even other grad

studentsstudents

– As a grad student, you are allowed to As a grad student, you are allowed to publish without your advisor’s name publish without your advisor’s name being on the paperbeing on the paper

The goal is to become an The goal is to become an independentindependent researcher with researcher with multiplemultiple lines of research lines of research

AdvisorsAdvisors

In the U.S., your advisor can be an In the U.S., your advisor can be an assistant professor (UD), associate assistant professor (UD), associate professor (UHD), or a full professor professor (UHD), or a full professor (hoogleraar)(hoogleraar)– You do not have to work with a full You do not have to work with a full

professor unless you want toprofessor unless you want to There are pros and cons of working with There are pros and cons of working with

junior facultyjunior faculty There are pros and cons of working with There are pros and cons of working with

senior facultysenior faculty

Independence from the Independence from the advisoradvisor

Often you are less dependent on your Often you are less dependent on your advisor in the U.S. than you are in the advisor in the U.S. than you are in the NetherlandsNetherlands– You are usually paid by departmental You are usually paid by departmental

funds rather than by your advisorfunds rather than by your advisor– It is often expected that you will work with It is often expected that you will work with

multiple people (and that your advisor will multiple people (and that your advisor will notnot be involved in all of these projects) be involved in all of these projects)

– It is often not hard to switch advisorsIt is often not hard to switch advisors You simply talk to both parties involved, then You simply talk to both parties involved, then

notify the departmentnotify the department BUT this is not true of all U.S. universities or BUT this is not true of all U.S. universities or

all advisors!all advisors!

The issue of IRBsThe issue of IRBs

Before you can do any research, that Before you can do any research, that research will need to be approved by an research will need to be approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)Institutional Review Board (IRB)– The IRBs job is to determine if your The IRBs job is to determine if your

research is ethically okayresearch is ethically okay Depending on where you are, this process Depending on where you are, this process

can take weekscan take weeks– Sometimes IRBs only meet once or twice Sometimes IRBs only meet once or twice

a montha month

The dissertationThe dissertation

Compared to Dutch dissertations, U.S. Compared to Dutch dissertations, U.S. dissertations are dissertations are shortshort– They generally represent one line of researchThey generally represent one line of research– They generally consist only of work you have They generally consist only of work you have

done in your last 1-2 years of grad schooldone in your last 1-2 years of grad school My dissertation consisted of 5 studies (typical My dissertation consisted of 5 studies (typical

for the type of research I did)for the type of research I did) In the U.S., do not make books of your In the U.S., do not make books of your

dissertation to give to peopledissertation to give to people

The dissertation process The dissertation process

Varies by university (like everything else!)Varies by university (like everything else!) During third year (sometimes in beginning During third year (sometimes in beginning

of fourth year) you write a proposal for of fourth year) you write a proposal for your dissertation and get it approved by your dissertation and get it approved by your proposal committeeyour proposal committee

Then you spend the next 1-2 years Then you spend the next 1-2 years collecting data and writing your collecting data and writing your dissertationdissertation– It’s not as rushed as it sounds—It’s not as rushed as it sounds—

sometimes people (like me) collect some sometimes people (like me) collect some data before the proposal is approveddata before the proposal is approved

The dissertation timetable for The dissertation timetable for meme

Warning—this is not typical!Warning—this is not typical! March 2003 – came up with ideaMarch 2003 – came up with idea April 2003 – started collecting dataApril 2003 – started collecting data November-December 2003 – wrote and November-December 2003 – wrote and

defended proposaldefended proposal April 2004 – finished collecting data April 2004 – finished collecting data May 2004 – wrote dissertationMay 2004 – wrote dissertation June 10, 2004 – defended dissertationJune 10, 2004 – defended dissertation

The dissertation defense The dissertation defense ((promotiepromotie) )

Begin with a short presentation of your Begin with a short presentation of your dissertation (10-20 minutes long)dissertation (10-20 minutes long)

Then committee asks you questionsThen committee asks you questions The defense is generally NOT publicThe defense is generally NOT public

– Sometimes the short presentation is open to Sometimes the short presentation is open to the public, but before the questioning the public, but before the questioning everyone leaves except the committeeeveryone leaves except the committee

There is NO time limit for the questioning periodThere is NO time limit for the questioning period– 1.5-2 hours is typical1.5-2 hours is typical– You are done when you have answered all the You are done when you have answered all the

committee’s questions to their satisfactioncommittee’s questions to their satisfaction Usually no big party afterwards—just informal Usually no big party afterwards—just informal

celebratingcelebrating

It’s not a job, it’s a It’s not a job, it’s a passionpassion

Graduate school in the U.S. is intenseGraduate school in the U.S. is intense– You are expected to work far more than You are expected to work far more than

40 hours a week40 hours a week– You can choose your hours, since you You can choose your hours, since you

generally have 24/7 building accessgenerally have 24/7 building access Students may come in not much before Students may come in not much before

lunchtime, then stay until late in the eveninglunchtime, then stay until late in the evening

– Coming to the university on weekends is Coming to the university on weekends is not uncommonnot uncommon

However, not all those hours at the However, not all those hours at the university are spent hard at workuniversity are spent hard at work

It It hashas to be a passion because to be a passion because it doesn’t pay like a job!it doesn’t pay like a job!

Graduate students in the U.S. are generally paid less Graduate students in the U.S. are generally paid less well than graduate students in the Netherlandswell than graduate students in the Netherlands– They are students, They are students, notnot employees employees– Graduate stipends (the money you get to live on) Graduate stipends (the money you get to live on)

vary between universities, but this variation does vary between universities, but this variation does not completely make up for differences in cost of not completely make up for differences in cost of livingliving A graduate student at NYU will find it harder to make ends A graduate student at NYU will find it harder to make ends

meet than a graduate student at OSUmeet than a graduate student at OSU You also get less money for conferencesYou also get less money for conferences

– Often must pay part of conference expenses Often must pay part of conference expenses yourselfyourself Find ways to save money (e.g., share a hotel room with 4 Find ways to save money (e.g., share a hotel room with 4

other students)other students)

. . . but even U.S. grad . . . but even U.S. grad students have fun toostudents have fun too

The social side of social The social side of social psychologypsychology

Because new grad students only start at Because new grad students only start at one time every year (Aug-Sep), you have a one time every year (Aug-Sep), you have a cohortcohort– You go through similar things at similar You go through similar things at similar

timestimes– Can commiserate, provide supportCan commiserate, provide support

For example, I prepared and studied for For example, I prepared and studied for comps with my cohortcomps with my cohort

Cohort togethernessCohort togetherness

The social side (cont.)The social side (cont.)

In the U.S., people rarely get their Ph.D. at the In the U.S., people rarely get their Ph.D. at the same place they received their bachelor’s same place they received their bachelor’s degreedegree– You are not the only new kid on the block!You are not the only new kid on the block!– Foreign students are common at many Foreign students are common at many

universitiesuniversities In fact, a current grad student in NYU’s social In fact, a current grad student in NYU’s social

program is from the Netherlandsprogram is from the Netherlands

– Foreign faculty are also fairly commonForeign faculty are also fairly common Better universities and universities in bigger Better universities and universities in bigger

cities are more likely to have foreign students, cities are more likely to have foreign students, facultyfaculty