WHAT TO DO NOW, HOW TO APPLY, ETC. Grad school

Now 4 MAIN POINTS:  Letters of recommendation  Get to know your professors  Prepare a packet for them- forms, copy of your CV, transcript, list of honors and awards, and any additional info you think might be helpful.  Research experience  Get involved in research with a professor.

Now  Grades  Be realistic- a 2.5 GPA probably isn’t going to cut it, no matter how good everything else is…  3.0  GRE scores  Take a GRE prep course Or use books, websites, free practice tests  600 verbal/quant Extras:  Volunteer and participate in campus organizations that relate to your discipline  Psi Chi, Psychology Club, APA, APS, MPA, SPSP  Mental health facilities, etc.

Picking a school Professor, professor, professor  * the semester/summer before apps go out.*  Sample:  My name is Erica Schneid and I recently graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I am now finishing the first semester of my Master's program and hope to transfer out to a Ph.D. program in the fall of '08. In my undergraduate program, I worked with Dr. Robert Fuhrman on a project in which we tested the spontaneous perceptions of drivers based on the type and color of vehicle they drive. Throughout the course of the study, I became interested in judgments and trait attribution. I noticed your current projects are a continuation of your Realistic Accuracy Model research and I was hoping to speak with you further regarding these current studies. Also, I am wondering if you would possibly be accepting any new students next fall. I understand this is a busy time of the semester and I would appreciate any time you could give.

Picking a school Professor, professor, professor  * the semester/summer before apps go out.*  Sample:  My name is Erica Schneid and I recently graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I am now finishing the first semester of my Master's program and hope to transfer out to a Ph.D. program in the fall of '08. In my undergraduate program, I worked with Dr. Robert Fuhrman on a project in which we tested the spontaneous perceptions of drivers based on the type and color of vehicle they drive. Throughout the course of the study, I became interested in judgments and trait attribution. I noticed your current projects are a continuation of your Realistic Accuracy Model research and I was hoping to speak with you further regarding these current studies. Also, I am wondering if you would possibly be accepting any new students next fall. I understand this is a busy time of the semester and I would appreciate any time you could give.

Picking a school Professor, professor, professor  * the semester/summer before apps go out.*  Sample:  My name is Erica Schneid and I recently graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I am now finishing the first semester of my Master's program and hope to transfer out to a Ph.D. program in the fall of '08. In my undergraduate program, I worked with Dr. Robert Fuhrman on a project in which we tested the spontaneous perceptions of drivers based on the type and color of vehicle they drive. Throughout the course of the study, I became interested in judgments and trait attribution. I noticed your current projects are a continuation of your Realistic Accuracy Model research and I was hoping to speak with you further regarding these current studies. Also, I am wondering if you would possibly be accepting any new students next fall. I understand this is a busy time of the semester and I would appreciate any time you could give.

Picking a school Professor, professor, professor  * the semester/summer before apps go out.*  Sample:  My name is Erica Schneid and I recently graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio. I am now finishing the first semester of my Master's program and hope to transfer out to a Ph.D. program in the fall of '08. In my undergraduate program, I worked with Dr. Robert Fuhrman on a project in which we tested the spontaneous perceptions of drivers based on the type and color of vehicle they drive. Throughout the course of the study, I became interested in judgments and trait attribution. I noticed your current projects are a continuation of your Realistic Accuracy Model research and I was hoping to speak with you further regarding these current studies. Also, I am wondering if you would possibly be accepting any new students next fall. I understand this is a busy time of the semester and I would appreciate any time you could give.

Picking a school How to find these professors?  Articles in your area of interest, advisor recommendations What is my area of interest? Where is the professor?  More university than geographical location… What they are currently working on? Published recently?  If nothing recent, may be a red flag… Current lab, students  Possibly current grad students

Picking a school Financial questions  What kinds of resources are available to students (TA, RA, Fellowships, Grants)?  Do they offer summer funding?  Cost of a Master’s vs. PhD (most programs pay to get the PhD, but you often have to pay Program's "track record“  students admitted who graduate, get placed  average number of years required to achieve a degree? Goals and objectives of the program  Academic and research vs. applied (working at a private company/business)?

The End- Questions??