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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Psychology

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions, send them to the director of the Developmental Area, Dr. Lisa Scott at lscott@ufl.edu.

Answers to the FAQs.

How do graduate students feel about the resources in the Department and at UF?
Overall the Psychology Department and labs within the Developmental Area are very well supported. Several use innovative technology and techniques to examine development and our faculty garner significant grant funding for research. UF’s many colleges and research centers offer workshops and talks on a variety of topics relevant to student professional development. The Department of Psychology has had a history of generous donors who support graduate student awards, travel, research grants and fellowships. Many developmental faculty and students are affiliated with research institutes and centers on campus which also offer travel, research, and training fundings.

What is the learning atmosphere at UF like? Is it intellectually stimulating?
Yes! We have a really great group of faculty who designed a lifespan curriculum that focuses on understanding change over time using innovative quantitative and qualitative methods. The McKnight Brain Institute, the Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and many other campus units have a colloquium series that brings prominent researchers from many disciplines to campus. Students and faculty get exposed to all kinds of research and often have the opportunity to meet with the speakers.

How’s the social life? Is it friendly and supportive?
The developmental area students are very friendly and supportive. Students within and across labs, work together and often provide mentoring for each other. As an area and within labs, we organize several social activities and enjoy celebrating the accomplishments of our students.

How’s the attrition rate of the program?
The developmental area has a very low attrition rate. Most students stay in the program through their Ph.D. and are competitive for both academic and non-academic positions.

Do students get jobs when they finish?
Professors work with students to help meet important career objectives throughout training. Students who motivated and you work closely with their advisor, typically have sufficient publications and presentations to be competitive on the job market. Many graduate students go on to do postdoctoral work, others take assistant professor positions at good universities or strong liberal arts colleges, and some go on to take non-academic positions in health care, education, or technology sectors.

What is life like in Gainesville?
If you come from a big city, Gainesville may seem small at first as it is a ‘college town’. That said, about 150,000 people live in Gainesville. Most students love this area. The University Area has lots to offer including a Natural History museum and an Art museum that are both free to students. There are plenty of interesting, independently-owned restaurants, bars, art galleries, theater venues. There are student rates for the local professional theater, the Hippodrome, and the Performing Arts Center, which brings in shows from all over the country. Other examples of activities are stargazing with the Astronomy group, recreational sports and gyms, and incredible outdoor hiking, biking, wildlife watching, fossil hunting, and swimming in the springs. Gainesville also has an art walk each month and an array of boutiques, health food stores and markets.

What impresses new students the most about living in Gainesville?
North Florida is beautiful. If you enjoy being outdoors, the weather from September through April is perfect. We have several bike and nature trails, and natural springs to swim, canoe, paddleboard, tube, or scuba dive in. The beach, either the Gulf or the Atlantic, is only 90 minutes away. And we are under two hours away from Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa. The heat and humidity in the summertime can be tough but most people adjust to it and spend time indoors or in a pool or spring! Here are some links to places noted above:

  • Ichetucknee Springs – beautiful, natural springs at a nearby state park. A very popular tubing site.
  • St. Augustine, Florida – oldest city in the US, wonderful shopping and antiques. Just 75 miles from Gainesville
  • Tampa, Florida – Home of Busch Garden’s theme park, big city shopping, Ybor City (terrific nightlife and restaurants), Clearwater Beach, etc.
  • Orlando, Florida – home of Disney World, Universal Studios, and much more

What about transportation? Is it hard to get around?
Transportation is great. In Gainesville, the University has a special arrangement with the City of Gainesville to reduce car traffic on campus and to provide safe transportation around the city and campus. With a student ID you can ride the bus on campus and in the city of Gainesville for free. That includes all routes and all times. Some of the bus routes run until 2am (along with a service called “Later Gator” that runs downtown to the bars and clubs to help prevent drinking and driving.) The bus schedule depends on where you live and what route you take. In terms of driving a car or scooter, the traffic level is very manageable, and parking is available on campus for a fee (although you may need to walk).

Is the assistantship money sufficient to support me?
When you are accepted into the program you will receive some type of assistantship to help you pay living expenses. Assistantships including Teaching Assistantship (TAs), a (competitive) Departmental Fellowship, a Training Fellowship, or a Graduate Research Assistantship on a faculty funded grant. All grad students receive a full tuition waiver that pays their tuition every semester. After the first year, most students work with their mentor on obtaining external funding for yourself and your research through a federal or foundation grant or fellowship. Sometimes these fellowships provide a higher stipend and money for research or travel. There are also chances to apply for travel funding and research funding every year, and small awards are given annually for research productivity and excellence. The cost of living in Gainesville is typically less than programs in larger cities. Students sometimes consider living with roommates to reduce costs.