Admissionisms

College Admissions Consulting | Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Do You Really Want A Ph.D. in Psychology?

do you really want a ph.d.

Over the years, I’ve had plenty of students come by my office to chat about career plans. Many, of course, are undecided about which path they’d like to take. Some are clear about wanting to go to graduate school, but don’t know how far they’d like to pursue it.

This may sound surprising, but I’ve advised plenty of students to think twice about pursuing a Ph.D. This has nothing to do with aptitude, qualifications, or level of motivation, but simply, that most people do not fundamentally understand what the degree is or what it entails.

What Is A Ph.D.?

A Ph.D., or doctor in philosophy degree, is understood by most to be the highest academic degree awarded by universities. It usually requires 5+ years of specialized education and training in a particular field, comprehensive exams, and dissertation. Your dissertation is an original piece of scholarship that passes muster by a committee of experts, who are soon to become peers.

You’re not just taking classes and taking tests. You are being trained as a researcher. You read extensively and find out all there is to know about a specific topic. Then your job is to analyze what is already known and extend it into a brand new piece of scholarly work.

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How Hip Hop Led Me To Graduate School

hip hop led me to graduate school

Yes. You read that right. And no, it’s not like how you’re thinking.

Hip hop music has been feared and labeled as the source of at least a dozen and a half of society’s ills: wanton hypersexuality, materialism and the ugliness of American consumptionism, senseless street violence, steering kids off of the path of legitimate careers, and the list goes on and on.

I’m not here to defend hip hop. I can name dozens of lyrics that I personally do not agree with. On the other hand, I can recite lyrics that made me feel proud of who I am and where I’m from and to believe in the fruition of unrealized dreams.

I was a kid who came to age in the late 1990s. You know, before hip hop became more mainstream. Hip hop culture informed the backdrop of my adolescence and young adulthood. I grew up alongside a broad cross-section of super smart and successful people – who’d go on to Ivy Leagues or become MDs or industry leaders – who have very catchy, yet problematic rap lyrics of our youth solidly burned into our brains. At the same time, other contemporaries have ended up in not-so-savory life situations, and the music of our formative years is laid to blame.  …

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I Wanna Be Rich: Will Grad School Get You There?

There’s a really cheesy song from the early ’90s with the repeated refrain “I wanna be rich.” It was a pretty big hit at the time. The melody and hook runs through my head every time I daydream about untold riches.

Tonight, I started reading Ramit Sethi’s book “I Will Teach You To Be Rich,” of which there is a highly successful blog that is its namesake. In the very first chapter, he references the average college student’s dreams of being a millionaire by 40 years old. He doesn’t mention it explicitly but I imagine that for many of these college students, the imagined path to wealth involves a trek through grad school, which begs the question:

Lifetime Earnings

Several months ago, I spent several hours of a Saturday hunting down trustworthy figures on lifetime earning potential based on education level. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, a grad school education does pay off in several ways: lower unemployment rates and higher lifetime earnings, on average.

I’m not talking about chump change when it comes to higher lifetime earnings. Current figures predict anywhere from $400,000 more with a masters degree to $2+ million more with a professional degree, such as an MBA or J.D. Even in fields like psychology, which is by no stretch of the imagination a “highly paid field,” holding a graduate degree most certainly means a boost in salary.

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What Is A Personal Goals Statement?

personal goals statement

What Is a Personal Goals Statement?

Personal statement. Statement of purpose. Now a personal goals statement. Each of these terms boils down to the same thing – in order to complete your application to grad school, you have to write an essay.

A personal goals statement is a short essay describing why you want to pursue a graduate degree, how it will help you realize your ultimate career goals, and why you’re applying to the program. Even though the often-used terms personal statement and statement of purpose doesn’t lay this out explicitly, you should be presenting your case outlining each of these points in ANY essay submitted for graduate school application.  …

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Academic Resume Templates – Where To Find ‘Em

academic resume templates on computer

In the first part of this series, I introduced you to the usefulness of the academic resume, and why you want to consider drafting one if you’re applying for graduate school this cycle. You know what basic information to include, but what should the finished product look like?

Using a template makes the format and style process of creating an academic resume easy as pie. Finding academic resume templates may be even easier than you ever imagined. You can find them pre-loaded on widely used computer programs. Creating your own academic resume is as simple as filling in your information.

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When Academic Resumes Come A-Calling

 

academic resume

Academic resumes are similar to the traditional resume with one notable difference – rather than describing your work experience or on-the-job-accomplishments, you will give a rundown of your academic accomplishments and college-related qualifications. There are two major reasons why you want to have an academic resume handy if you’re interested in applying to grad school in the near future:…

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Spring Training In the Winter – The Pre-Application Phase to Grad School

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I’m a tiny bit of a Jay-Z fan. I’ve written before about how contrary to what you will hear in the media, there is positivity and motivation and inspiration to glean from hip hop music. Not only has the music been a soundtrack for my life, but hip hop helped me get into grad school, through it, and beyond.

I’m listening one of my favorite cuts from Jay-Z’s “The Blueprint” and I’m realizing how applicable these lyrics are to applying to grad school. It’s ironic, at best, because Jay-Z never attended college – much less graduate school, but applicable nonetheless….

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There Are No Scantrons in Grad School

 

no scantrons in grad school

If there is one thing I remember vividly about my college years, it is the multiple choice test via Scantron. I also remember all-night studying marathons the night before the big test. And then there were times when I was dialing into the last minute prayer line to plead with God, Allah, and Buddha that I scored high enough to pass.

That was a joke. Sorta.

At any rate, these are the sometimes not-so-great study habits of your typical everyday college student. Rinse and repeat semester after semester. Eventually the question of “What’s next after I finish my degree?” starts to loom ominously over visions of Graduation Day.

For many students, the answer is graduate school. Entry level jobs may not look too appealing and advanced degrees typically mean more money. What’s another few years of school? What’s been working so far can get you through the next couple of years when you’ll emerge with a graduate or professional degree in hand. If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it. Right?

Wrong….

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Depression: Coming Clean About the Road to the Ph.D.

depression during phd program

I witnessed a very courageous act. A tenured university professor admitted to the entire Interwebs her battle with debilitating depression. Why was this such a simple act of bravery? Because so many people experience the same debilitating issue and yet no one ever talks about it.

I was one of those people. I can relate wholeheartedly to Dr. Coleman’s daringly honest essay on her struggle with depression. When I look back at my graduate school years, I recall most vividly the moments that don’t appear anywhere on social media or my academic resume. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was far from alone. Life happens along the way to the Ph.D. and oftentimes so does depression….

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Personal Statement = Statement of Purpose = Admissions Essay

 

personal statement essay

One of the biggest and most challenging aspects of completing your applications to grad school is the *dun dun dun* essay portion of the package. Sometimes the essay is called a personal statement. Sometimes it is called a statement of purpose. Sometimes it is called a goal statement and sometimes the instructions are as simple as write an essay. No matter what term is thrown out there, make no mistake, writing one of these bad boys can be confusing, especially knowing WHAT to write about, and then HOW to write about it.  …

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