Deciding to go to grad school post-graduation and talking to professors!

[annieluvv]

Hi all.  So I just graduated from college, and AFTER everything I finally decided that I want to get a Master's in social psych.  However, when I was actually in college, I spent way too much time being completely indecisive about what I wanted to do, my GPA isn't that stellar (3.15, but I did major in Molecular Cell Bio...ugh) and I never talked

Comments

[aonde]

I think that visiting professors in office hours is great if you have something you want to talk about and aren't just trying to come to their office to show that you come to office hours. If you're going, prepare a list of questions and be ready to talk about what your specific interests are. I know that the professors I have been close with always seemed very pleased when I came in with a list of things to ask and didn't just sit around and try to seem like I had questions to ask. I only ever went in to office hours 2-3 times a semester per professor, since I compiled what I wanted to ask. I think it depends a lot on how the professor is and how many hours they hold a week and how well attended their hours are - if the professor teaches a huge class and only has 1-2 hours a week and there is always a long line of students to see him/her, they would probably really appreciate it if you are to the point, organized, and actually have something to ask

[annieluvv]

Thanks for the advice! Wow, just hearing from someone else is really relieving...I'm the only one I know who's trying to get into grad school right now, so I feel so lost sometimes.

[aonde]

Haha, I just reread my comment and it makes 50% sense. I'm kinda sleepy, sorry! :)

Glad I could help! :D

[tisiphone]

I usually go to office hours when I have a question that got bypassed in class or that would have been too in-depth to examine in class, or when I didn't get something. If I don't have a reason for going I don't go though.

[annieluvv]

Thanks! :)

[ex_stilettos309]

Sadly, I'm in the same boat as you. I tried to establish some sort of relationship with my professors that always fell through -- probably because I fail at socializing and maintaining relationships D;.

Good luck, though!

[annieluvv]

LOL. I tell my boyfriend the same thing--I have enough trouble maintaining frienships as it is, and now they want me to make friends with three professors?!

[midnight_pauses]

I would definitely make sure you knew what you wanted to ask about before going. After the initial visit you will be able to judge how they feel about you stopping by: did they seem to hurry you along, etc. It really depends on the professor. It does show interest on your part though.

I've been in my favorite professor's office more days than not this semester, but I wouldn't advise that :)

[seashell3686]

I've been in my favorite professor's office more days than not this semester, but I wouldn't advise that :)

Lol, me too!

I agree with what everyone else said about having questions to ask, at least at first. As far as how often, it really depends on the prof. One of my profs I'm really close to (and get along with really well) so I talk to him almost every day he's on campus. But on the other hand, I have a lot of things to talk with him about (he's my advisor for my research project, advisor of the clubs I'm president of, and I'm his research assistant, etc). Others I talk to maybe a couple times during the semester, and they had no problems writing my LORs.

Don't be intimidated by them. I know it's hard not to be at first, but you'll realize that in many cases they love it when a student comes in to talk, especially about their field. Also keep in mind that if they do rush you, it could be that they are having a busy day. Talk to the students to see which profs are good/bad.

[annieluvv]

Thanks for your guys's advice! That makes me feel better, I was imagining that I had to stop in every other week and develop a close friendship before they'd feel comfortable writing a letter of rec. Knowing that people only stop in a few times takes a bit of pressure off of me.

[anese]

Can I ask why you are thinking about social psych? Is it because you want to go into counseling or therapy? Because if that is the case, you would be better off getting something like a MSW...or even working as a research assistant for a year and applying to a doctoral program. Other posters might have other ideas, but I was under the impression that an MA in Social Pscyh, if you are interested in counseling or therapy--is generally a waste of money. Especially at a school like NYU, where I'm not sure if they offer any funding for that program.

[annieluvv]

Yeah, I read elsewhere that people generally don't go for an MA because it's not very practical. I'm not considering doing therapy or counseling, however, and I decided that I want to go into social psych because I love the material. And for me, since I've only taken about 5 psych classes and my GPA isn't that spectacular, I find the concept of applying for a PhD program incredibly daunting and a huge commitment. And as much as I like psychology, I'm not a huge fan of school. I'm not sure if I'm ready to commit myself to four to six more years of it. I'm also itching to get my actual career rolling in terms of making money, and I see the MA as more of an educational venture and experience, rather than a career choice. But maybe I'm not looking at it in the right way

[annieluvv]

I might be selling myself short and not pushing myself to my full potential though, and I do have a history of doing that. I'm pretty lucky to go to a school and to have taken a class with a professor who actually got her PhD in psychology from NYU, so everything may change if I develop a close relationship with her and she shows signs of believing that I can do it. I did get an A+ on one of her midterms, so we'll see. :)

[daddysambiguity]

You only need an MSW to do therapy/counseling and this really is the most direct route to that kind of job -- you'd work as a "licensed psychotherapist" or something. If you did a PhD in clinical psych, you'd be a "psychologist" typically