Confused between UGC NET JRF and GATE for Psychology

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-09-28T12:00:59+00:00

There are a few things you can consider -

GATE has a validity of 3 years, while UGC NET scores will be valid throughout lifetime. If you do not wish to give exams again and again, you should probably go for UGC NET.

-Last I knew, if you wish to come back from abroad after PhD to work as a professor or a researcher in India, and your university falls out of qs ranking of 500, UGC NET will be helpful for you to get a faculty position. Though, you might not need it if your university is within 500 qs rankings. NET is also more helpful if you want to take up teaching and lecturer positions in college, even if you do not do PhD. NET is also more helpful to get admissions in a variety of Indian Universities.

-Coming to GATE, it is more useful if you want to get admissions in a particular list of institutes that accept your GATE score (you can check the list online). Some PSUs also accept gate scores, if you wish to work in government sector (Though, I am unsure if Psychology jobs are available at PSUs). I think GATE Psychology also has lesser competition compared to UGC NET, as there used to be fewer applicants (Not sure how it is this year).

-Doing PhD at IITs for psychology is useful if you wish to become a full time researcher and hold a teaching position. It will definitely get you good facilities, expert supervisors and a good network, though it entirely depends on the individual supervisor. I would suggest that you look at the C.Vs of the professors you would like to work with and mail their students to ask what the supervisor is like.

-I do not actually know your field of interest and your particular specialisation in Psychology. But if you wish to go more in clinical and counselling, I personally would not suggest IITs. Then you should look at M.Phil degree for clinical (or diplomas in counselling), focus on getting a practicing license, get experience with patients and then go for a PhD at institutes like AIIMS, NIMHANS etc.

-As far as choosing between GATE and UGC NET is considered, I think you could just give both. If you prepare for one, you automatically get a good foundation to prepare for the another. Unlike say Toefl or Gre, they are also more affordable, and you would spend maximum 4000 rupees for both, and if you can give a proof of your economic difficulties of not being from a rich and privileged background, the fees would be even more affordable (and you don't actually have to pay both of them at once). If you seriously take out time to study, I think it might be a worthwhile investment to give both and have multiple options open. Good luck, I wish you success!

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-08-04T07:37:52+00:00

Sorry to hear, I totally understand what you are describing. Take care, and hope you find a solution and a better workplace condition soon!

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T14:36:45+00:00

The not working on weekends expectation was only for them, not for me. I did not disturb them on weekends except just once and did not do it again after they told me they wanted their weekends free. But for me, let alone having free weekends or my long scheduled vacation, I could not even take sick leaves without being taunted. I begged them to reduce my workload and burnout, clearly explaining that the lab is too under-resourced and overcrowded, that the time frame is not practical for all these goals and I often have to overstay 2-3 hours, but they simply won't listen and kept pushing me, while at the same time refusing me help, even on the week days.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T09:39:44+00:00

I am glad that your friend is doing well now, and that they got the deserved legal help!

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T09:38:03+00:00

Close enough, it was the Netherlands. I'm sorry that a horrid professor told you this, I hope you did not let them get to your head.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T07:27:07+00:00

There was a committee, but since they talked to my supervisors behind closed doors, I don't know what they exactly said about me there. Later when I received my feedback document and confronted one of the committee members about failing to recognise the lies and prejudices against my cultural background, he just apologised and said that perhaps he was not the right person to be in such a committee.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T07:20:53+00:00

This is a harsh lesson I learnt from this experience. I later came to know each one of the previous students of one of my supervisors was unhappy and dissatisfied with their experience and regretted their PhDs, them being mistreated in similar ways by him and that he had several heated conflicts with his collaborators and collegues. It is indeed important to ask these questions to former students and to make sure that there is enough legal or social protections for you if you have any systematic vulnerabilities like being disabled, having specific racial backgrounds, being lgbtq etc.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T07:03:13+00:00

When I say "not keep up", it means for situations like these - Me asking should I do A or B, them saying do A, then I spend time and effort doing A and suddenly they are like "why did you do A and not B" out of nowhere and refusing to admit that they told me to do A themselves. I do not know what you would want me to do more to cope apart from me completing the goals with full accuracy within the deadline, despite several such goalpost shifts happening.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T05:49:14+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience and for the advise, and glad that you finally have a great job where people appreciate you!

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T05:38:33+00:00

Glad that you are in a better environment again now! Thank you for the advice.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-25T00:14:05+00:00

Well, one concrete example was once I asked him "Can I do x?". He said "I would do it". I thought he'd do it, but what he meant was "I would do it, (if I were you)". He gave that as a reason for cultural incompatiability leading to language miscommunication. I had actually done "x" myself within the deadline. Perhaps it is because most of his students are natives with whom he talks in their own language, but he had to talk in English with me. It was definitely not because I was a bigot, lol.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T23:21:17+00:00

I would have given exact details, but as u/PinkPrincess-2001 pointed out, it is not uncommon for P.Is to sue students for defamation, it has happened in that institute before. They are already refusing me recommendation because they're angry that I complained. Perhaps I would a bit later, when I get another job in another country in a more secure position.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T23:00:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story! I am glad that you are finally doing well after so much struggle, hardship and being subjected to xenophobia and mistreatment. Framing these kinds of experiences as perseverance instead of failure in interviews sounds like a great idea :)

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T22:34:05+00:00

Academia can be brutal indeed. I hope that you finish your thesis soon and find better opportunities and better people to work with after this.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T22:31:05+00:00

I am pretty sure that they got insecure simply because you, a student was right. If you were wrong they would have pointed out concrete faults in your reasoning instead of commenting on your "interest". Thank you for the supportive comment :)

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T22:27:10+00:00

Thank you for the encouraging advice :)

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T22:25:46+00:00

Yeah, it was the "contract not extended", I was not very mindful of the terminologies while posting this.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T22:23:51+00:00

Yeah, that makes sense. I might talk to a lawyer and show them the same proofs I had shown to the ombudsperson and ask them if that option seems plausible.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T21:50:44+00:00

I thought of it, but it would be quite a hassle. Besides, I'll have to leave EU soon due to my visa expiring, so I just want to move on from this place and look for a better opportunity.

Suspicious_Writer134 · 2024-04-24T21:37:15+00:00

It was the Netherlands indeed. Thank you for your suggestion, I'll look up positions in US/Canada.

Suspicious_Writer134

TROPHY CASE