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#GradAdmissions chair here @UOPsych. Congrats to all the PhD applicants this year - you deserve a HUGE round of applause! 
In scouring the web I'm having trouble finding a handy reminder/checklist to faculty evaluating applications in the context of #GRExit and #COVID19 
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In scouring the web I'm having trouble finding a handy reminder/checklist to faculty evaluating applications in the context of #GRExit and #COVID19 1/
So I'm compiling a list here (will post sporadically including subthreads over the evening due to family care), but PLEASE, thread in additional advice and things I missed so that we can all give these incredible applicants the thoughtful, unbiased consideration they deserve! 2/
Did your dept #GRExit this year? If you made it optional, tread carefully with applicants who submitted GRE scores. Implicitly favoring apps with GREs defeats the purpose of making it optional, but for some underprivileged applicants a high GRE score may (?) be helpful. 3/
How about letters of recommendation? They can also introduce multiple forms of bias. Recommenders write differently about male than female applicants, as well as BIPOC applicants. We also privilege letters from famous PIs and highly-ranked schools, introducing more bias. 4/
We often put a high priority on research experience, but there are significant barriers to access it for trainees who are not financially privileged because it’s underpaid/unpaid labor. Meta-analyses (of limited data) suggest it’s not that predictive of success. 5/
Significant research experiences like postbacc RA positions also expose applicants to the hidden “curriculum” so they better understand the application process, and get more guidance/feedback on their application materials including personal statements. 6/
Also remember that in the context of COVID, opportunities for this year’s seniors to participate in research has been constrained in important ways. Wondering aloud... in some ways might this level the playing field, evaluating everyone more on ideas than experiences? 7/
How about those ratings? If your department asked recommenders to rank applicants on anything resembling emotional maturity or mental health, PLEASE IGNORE those rankings. 8/ https://twitter.com/Professor_Tong/status/1333405628727963649?s=20
Not to mention that the reference group for those ratings is often unclear. So don’t forget that you can’t be sure who the recommender is comparing the applicant to – just their previous RAs? All undergrads they’ve taught in class over 2 decades? Etc. 9/ https://twitter.com/GregoryRSL/status/1333809753559076865?s=20
If you spoke with any applicants in the months leading up to the deadline, maybe do an internal check to be careful not to pre-privilege those applications. Contacting faculty in advance is a hot tip that not everyone knows about. 10/
Unfortunately, I don’t have clear answers. I can only hope that the changes forced on our system by the pandemic can motivate us to all mindfully adopt an equity lens when evaluating PhD applications. It’s what they deserve AND it will be good for the field! 11/
Returning to celebrating applicants for a second here. Please don't be discouraged by this thread - there is SO much excitement from faculty everywhere about thoughtfully considering your applications! 
12/ https://twitter.com/laurel_joy_gd/status/1333954825877385218?s=20
12/ https://twitter.com/laurel_joy_gd/status/1333954825877385218?s=20
