Applying to Graduate School Prepared by the Section for Students in Psychology and the Scientific Affairs Committee, Canadian Psychological Association

Outline Where do I begin? Where do I begin? How do I best prepare myself for How do I best prepare myself for graduate school? graduate school? What things should I know in order to apply to graduate school? What things should I know in order to apply to graduate school? What are the odds of getting in? What are the odds of getting in? What are the demands of graduate school? What are the demands of graduate school? What different career options are available once I graduate? What different career options are available once I graduate?

Where to Begin What is graduate school? What is graduate school? Is it for me? Is it for me? What is my interest? What is my interest? What are my goals? What are my goals? Undergraduate courses Undergraduate courses

Experience and References Research Experience Research Experience Human Service Experience Human Service Experience Extra Curricular Activities Extra Curricular Activities References References

The Application Process Do your research early! Do your research early! When to apply? When to apply? How many schools to apply to? How many schools to apply to? Contacting schools Contacting schools Potential supervisor(s) Potential supervisor(s)

Putting the Pieces Together Application fees Application fees Grades Grades Graduate Record Exams (GREs) Graduate Record Exams (GREs) Transcripts Transcripts Statement of Interest Statement of Interest Scholarships/Funding Scholarships/Funding Curriculum Vitae Curriculum Vitae

Additional Things to Consider Total Application Cost Total Application Cost Error Free Application Error Free Application Competition Competition

Applicants: Offers University# Applied# Offers% Western Ontario Queens Manitoba McGillNA 5-8 Dalhousie Memorial New Brunswick53713 Ottawa Laurier Windsor York This table is based on data acquired for the academic year

% Offers by Area of Psychology Area of Psychology% Accepted Neuroscience28 Clinical8 Developmental20 Social/Personality25 Industrial Organizational22 This table is based on data acquired for the academic year

Additional Things Cont… The Waiting Game The Waiting Game If at first you don’t succeed… If at first you don’t succeed…

Graduate School What are the typical demands of graduate school? What are the typical demands of graduate school? Course work Course work Practica (for applied areas of psychology) Practica (for applied areas of psychology) Thesis Research Thesis Research

Career Options are Available after Graduate School Clinical or Counseling Clinical or Counseling Social Social Developmental Developmental Neuroscience Neuroscience Personality and Measurement Personality and Measurement Cognition and Perception Cognition and Perception Educational Educational Industrial/Organizational Industrial/Organizational

What is the Job Market Like? For all areas of psychology, the job market looks very promising and will continue to. For all areas of psychology, the job market looks very promising and will continue to. Retiring faculty (35% of psychology faculty are 55 years or older and many will retire within the next 10 years) Retiring faculty (35% of psychology faculty are 55 years or older and many will retire within the next 10 years) Canadian universities will likely have to hire about 32,000 faculty members over the next years to deal with upcoming retirements and enrolment increases. Canadian universities will likely have to hire about 32,000 faculty members over the next years to deal with upcoming retirements and enrolment increases.

Helpful Resources CPA Graduate Guide : CPA Graduate Guide : The American Psychological Association - careers in psychology The American Psychological Association - careers in psychology “The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission” by Patricia Keith-Spiegel is an excellent source of information about applying to graduate school “The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission” by Patricia Keith-Spiegel is an excellent source of information about applying to graduate school Dr. Margaret A. Lloyd's absolutely superb Careers in Psychology site includes a wealth of information about applying for graduate school. Dr. Margaret A. Lloyd's absolutely superb Careers in Psychology site includes a wealth of information about applying for graduate school.

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements This presentation was developed by the following individuals: This presentation was developed by the following individuals: Dr. David J. A. Dozois, Director-Science of the Canadian Psychological Association Dr. David J. A. Dozois, Director-Science of the Canadian Psychological Association Roxanne Sterniczuk, Undergraduate Affairs Coordinator, CPA Section for Students in Psychology Roxanne Sterniczuk, Undergraduate Affairs Coordinator, CPA Section for Students in Psychology