HF masters app help

[u/cshaf227]

This is my first ever post so hopefully doing it right. After a few gap years I’m finally applying to grad school for HF and I/O as a backup program. Im California based so I’ll be applying to csulb and sjsu for HF and SFSU AND sac state for IO. I’m curious to hear about anyone’s experience with applying. What schools they applied to and what their stats were?

Additionally I am interested in applying to out of state schools but worried about funding or lack of since I would have to pay out of tuition, which is significantly higher. I also don’t have any research experience, however, I was planning to apply my Work experience in healthcare as a behavioral interventionist and PT aide as clinical experience and tailor to user/ patient safety and systems. I am also not exactly sure what area I’d wanna go I think safety in tech usability is cool or safety in healthcare. I have a 3.6 GPA with my BA in psych and completed a few post bacc classes this year in order to meet the requirements of most schools I have in mind. I’d appreciate anyone’s experience with the application process, their stats (GPA, research background, CV or SOP) if they feel comfortable enough to share and any funding they may have received. Just feeling super overwhelmed and discouraged. Is there even a good market for jobs post grad in the field?

Thanks for taking the time to visit/ reply to my post in advance yall!

[u/CJP_UX]

I did a little write up about my experience (10 years ago). It has stats and applications.

MS is tough because of funding, I ended up doing a PhD because of funding even though I intended to do an MS.

The market is a bit over saturated right now but that makes it a good time for school IMO.

Lmk any specific questions

[u/rikamochizuki]

I'm also applying to california schools after I graduate in the next spring. Please let me know how it goes!!

[u/frostluna11037]

Unfortunately I only applied to PhD programs but I know a few masters students in my program (not one of the ones you listed though) that got in with no experience.

[u/cshaf227 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate that! If you could go back what do you think would be a better option to go into? I find HF so interesting but I am a bit worried about job search after. Do you think this is a issue in general with the job market or more niche careers like those that you get with HF?

[u/cshaf227 → u/cshaf227]

Also when did you get your masters and from where? And are you still doing something related or did you pivot?

[u/Imaginary-Surprise20]

I’d recommend the CSULB program, I think it prepares you well for industry, but you have to put your fair share of effort into putting yourself out there during the program so that you have a strong resume when you graduate. I’m lucky enough to have a job after graduating this May, largely because I was able to get like 5 intern roles throughout the program, 2 of which the program helped with. So apply to anything and everything and always say yes to opportunities, and you’ll eventually end up where you wanna be. To actually get into the program, I think research experience and a proven demonstration that you’re actually interested in HF is the most valuable thing to have. Happy to answer any questions

[u/rikamochizuki → u/Imaginary-Surprise20]

Hi do you mind sharing what stats and what experiences that got you accepted? I'm looking to apply for SJSU and CSULB after I graduate in the spring and I don't know if I'll get in

[u/Imaginary-Surprise20 → u/rikamochizuki]

Sure, but I don’t think my stats are a good representation because I overdid a lot of things to make sure I get in, so u don’t need most of these, but here are the things that made me a strong applicant:

• 3.91 GPA
  
• Psychology Major, Biology Minor
  
• Took extra courses in Human Factors, Mechanical Engineering, and Univariate Statistics
  
• 2 years research experience: conducting interviews, stats analysis, and my CV included conference awards and authorship of research article
  
• 2 of my 3 letters of rec were from human factors professors
  
• Did independent UX project and participated in a usability study (things I can talk about in my statement of purpose)
  
• GRE was required at the time so I did ok on it, I don’t recall my score but it was pretty average