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In principle, yes, I will be accepting students. In practice, this depends on all manner of other factors (how many graduate student slots are allocated to the Perception-Cognition-Development area, which other labs are looking for students, who applies, etc.). But most likely yes, I’m likely to accept students.

You should be able to find the information you need on the psych graduate program webpage and the psych grad application FAQ. Additional information about graduate studies at Cornell can be found on the grad school website. To apply, you’ll be using the following on-line application form. If you have any questions not answered by these websites, you can try to contact the Psychology Graduate Field Secretary.

The most important thing is to apply. Put together the best application package you can. The admissions committee is looking for people with an excellent academic record, demonstrated ability, and match in research interests. All parts of your application matter (grades, essay, letters of recommendation, and so on). So just put together the best application package you can, and apply.

The only way to find out is to apply. The admission process in the Department of Psychology at Cornell is organized around research areas. Each faculty member within the Perception-Cognition-Development area goes trough all relevant applications and makes reccomendations for whom to admit. Admissions are then done by a cross-area admissions committee, not by individual professors. So unfortunately, I can’t tell anyone if they’ll get in. There is just no way to know until the admissions process is complete.

We get many applications, and don’t have many available slots, so the competition is pretty tough. Obviously the chances of getting in are not evenly distributed across the applicant pool, so don’t worry about the numbers and just do your best to prepare yourself to apply.

Yes. We often accept students who do not come from a traditional psych background. Lab members have come in with undergraduate degrees in Biology, Engineering, Linguistics, and Philosophy.

It is very rare for people to be admitted to our graduate program without some research experience. Research experience is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps you figure out whether or not you really like research. Second, it helps us figure out whether or not you’re good at it. Third, getting research experience is the best way to get contentful letters of recommendation. So, if you are thinking of going to graduate school, definitely try to get some research experience!

If the application says you do, then yes, you do.

You can get an overall picture of what we do on the CSL Lab Research page. If you would like to get a more detailed picture of what’s happening in the lab, take a look at our publications as well as the talks and posters that lab members are presenting at conferences. We often present work at Cognitive Science, Psychonomics, BUCLD, SRCD, and EvoLang, among others.

If you are selected by the admissions committee, you will be invited to our prospective graduate student weekend, where you’ll get to meet all the folks in the department and spend time with the graduate students and learn a great deal about what we all do here and what life at Cornell is like. So, please apply, and if the admissions committee selects you, you will be invited. We can’t really do department or lab visits otherwise.

In the interest of fairness, I ask everyone to just apply and go through the same application process. I do not set up special meetings or phone calls with folks before they apply because it would not be fair to all of the other people who apply who don’t get a special meeting or phone call. So, please just apply. We look forward to reading your application!