<p>The title is rather ambitious, it seems, but all it really means is that I don't know anyone else with a similar situation :| This is a looooong post, but I hope it's entertaining. If you feel inclined to respond, please do read the whole thing somewhat closely first, because I've tried to make all the info here count, and not having to clarify would save time for both of us :)</p>
<p>Anyway, allow me first to say hi to everyone here. Sooo...I'm a senior at a very elite New England private liberal arts college. I'm thinking of grad school in research psychology, and change my mind about it pretty much every other day depending on how I feel about my chances and the research process. The reason I'm so unsure is because my situation is pretty unique AFAIK. It got to a point where I found the career center and my own advisor to be of no help at all, and am hoping you guys would have better and more friendly advice :)</p>
<p>OK, so I'm an international student from SE Asia. English is my second language, but somehow I achieved near-perfection in it, according to people. Anomaly #1. This leads to a very high GRE score, again according to people (770M, 720V). Anomaly #2. I'm the only Asian int'l student I know who majors in psychology without any other, more "practical" backup major such as econ. Anomaly #3. </p>
<p>Somehow, I kept screwing my psyc classes in my last 3 years at college, leading to a rather mediocre major GPA of around 3.4 (never bothered to calculate because it's depressing), and a cum GPA of 3.54. Keeping in mind my school has an insane grade inflation problem, especially the psyc department, so when I say my GPA is low, it really <em>is</em> low. You won't find many foreign students, especially at a school like mine, who does such a mediocre job (got a C+ in stats, no kidding). Anomaly #4. </p>
<p>Finally, not really an anomaly, but it does complicate things so I might as well mention it. I need a full ride at whatever school I'm going to. Neither my family nor myself can shell out a cent toward an advanced degree (I'm already on a full ride here at college). Anomaly #5. Oh and since I'm on a roll, here's #6: I have no professor who can definitely write me an impressive rec, because, well, AFAIK I don't think I managed to impress anyone in the dept. Maybe my thesis advisor, who I'm at least friendly with and don't feel awkward around.</p>
<p>I didn't take the GRE Subject, because I forgot that one needs to register a month in advance for the paper tests. So, no GRE Psy Subject. I'm writing an empirical thesis, but it's about the only research experience I've had, and I haven't even started running trials yet. I have a few research interests, none of which overlaps with my thesis topic. And they're in the most general of terms. Intelligence, romantic interpersonal relationships, affective forecasting, positive psychology. Basically they're things I enjoy pondering on, and things studied by psychologists I admire, e.g. Dan Gilbert, Robert Sternberg, Martin Seligman, Howard Gardner, Mike Csikszentmihalyi, etc. Now the question is, should I even bother to apply, and if so, where? Keeping in mind each school on the list translates to $100 in application expenses. No fee waivers, of course.</p>
<p>Someone will probably recommend taking a year off. The pre-emptive answer is, I'd love to, but it's very hard, because of visa issues. Heavens knows I want to stay stateside, because home is unbearable. I can't help feeling, as I write this, that I've screwed myself in several different bodily orifices. Up to you to judge though.</p>
<p>Phew, there, that's all my fears and insecurities laid out on the page for all of you to see. Any and all feedback is appreciated! Seriously, if things work out, I'll actually send you real cookies in the mail!</p>
<p>PS: I posted a similar thread over at Grad Cafe. Not sure if that constitutes a felony with CC, but I hope you'll at least tolerate the transgression, because I do need all the feedback I can get :)</p>