Question on Departmental Strength When Applying

AmericanDiogenes
Wed, 27 May 2009 07:52:46 +0000

To make a long story short, I was waitlisted and then declined by the Master’s of Psychology school/program I had my heart set on. The only option left to me is a program that, while I do not have a negative view of it or find it unable to serve me acceptably in the short-term, is not particularly strong. To be a little more descriptive: Getting in doesn’t take too much, and from what I am reading/hearing, the program isn’t known for being particularly competitive or challenging.

This concerns me, as I plan to continue my education beyond the Master’s level, and I speculate that attending a Master’s program of this sort could hinder my chances of getting accepted into a doctoral program that will suit my future credentials and aspirations. Truthfully, I would attend this program a year and then attempt transfer into a more suitable Master’s program after improving my credentials, but from what I have read/heard, that’s frowned upon for a variety of reasons.

If I retake the GRE and get a substantial score, do well on the Psychology GRE, and get research published, can I overcome the program’s reputation (or, to be more accurate, lack thereof) and still be received into a very strong doctoral program?

Thanks for any and all feedback–I’m feeling bummed.