Okay, so I’ve been digging into the John Jay PhD program in Clinical Psychology, and let me tell you, it’s been a JOURNEY. I wanted to share my experience, from start to finish, because honestly, finding all the info I needed was kinda like pulling teeth.
First Steps: Figuring Out What I Was Getting Into
First thing I did was, obviously, hit up their website. I spent a good chunk of time just browsing, trying to get a feel for the program. What are their specializations? What kind of research are they doing? It felt like I was reading a different language at times, haha.
I really wanted to understand what they were looking for in applicants. So, I started looking at the faculty profiles. I went through, like, every single one, trying to see what their interests were, what kind of publications they had. It was a bit overwhelming, to be honest.
Getting My Ducks in a Row: The Application Process
Next up: the actual application. Oy vey. This was a whole other beast. Gathering transcripts, getting letters of recommendation…it felt like it took forever. I spent weeks just making sure I had all the right documents.
- Transcripts: Had to request them from my undergrad, which was a surprisingly long process.
- Letters of Rec: Reached out to old professors, hoping they remembered me! It was nerve-wracking, for sure.
- GRE Scores: Okay, the GRE… let’s just say it wasn’t my favorite part. Spent months studying for that thing.
- Personal Statement: This was the big one. I rewrote it, like, a million times. Seriously. I wanted to make sure it really showed who I am and why I wanted to be in this program.
The Waiting Game…and the Interview!
After I finally submitted everything, it was just…waiting. The longest wait of my life, I swear. Checking my email every five minutes, driving myself crazy.
Then, finally, the email came: an invitation for an interview! I was so excited, but also super nervous. I spent days preparing, reading up on potential questions, practicing my answers in the mirror. I felt like a crazy person, talking to myself, haha.
The interview itself was…intense. I met with a few different faculty members, and they asked some tough questions. It was definitely challenging, but I also felt like I got a good sense of the program and the people.
The Result
After the interview, it went back for more waiting… I hate waiting…
Then I got an email and… finally got in!!!.
