1. Applying to Graduate School
PSY 100
Dr. Blakemore

3. Master’s and Doctoral programs
Go straight from bachelor’s to one or the other
Master’s programs may be part-time, but doctoral programs hardly ever are (at least Ph.D.s)
Funding for graduate school

4. Grady Study in Psych article
P. 959, Programs
>40,000 full time students in about 2000 programs
Graduate Study in Psychology book published annually by APA presents information on all programs in US & Canada

5. P. 964, Admission criteria, Table 3
Letters of recommendation
Research experience
Work experience
Clinically-related public service
Extra curricular activities
Interview
Personal statement and goals
GRE/MAT
GPA

7. Weighted most Letters of recommendation GRE GPA Personal statement
74% of doctoral and 57% master’s institutions required GRE generals
29% doctoral and 13% of master’s require GRE psychology
Less than 10% of either required MAT
GPA
Personal statement
Research experience

8. What do graduate programs want?
Good grades and test scores
Fit between the applicant and the program’s goals
Research experience
Courses in statistics and sciences
Interest by a faculty member in the department in working with the student
Clear, focused application essays

9. GRE scores and GPA V and Q used to range from 200-800
Now ranges from 130 to 170 (conversion chart on lecture web page)
Writing ranges from 0-6 in .5 increments
P. 966, Table 4
Minimum and actual GRE scores required
Minimum and actual GPAs

11. How many are accepted? Table 7 for doctoral programs, p. 969
Table 8 for master’s programs, p. 971
Table 9 for clinical doctoral programs, including Psy.D.s, p. 972

15. The Process of Applying

16. When to start?
Start preparing with research experience and grades as soon as you can
Some clinical doctoral, and certainly master’s programs look for practical experience – internships, field placements, volunteering – begin no later than junior year
Plan for the GRE during your junior year
Attend MPA during junior and senior year
Start looking for schools no later than the summer before your senior year (look at details in Chapter 10)
This can be extremely time consuming
Some schools have certain specific undergraduate requirements, so you would want to know that
Think in terms of three levels of schools (high, medium, and “safety” – different for everyone)
Plan to apply to about 6 – 10 programs, maybe more

17. How to choose schools? Depends on your interests
Unless you are geographically limited, don’t use geographical area
Choose the various levels
For doctoral programs: Are there faculty at that school you would want to work with?
For master’s programs: What is the focus of that program – it is what you are interested in?

18. When to apply? Look carefully at Chapter 10
Doctoral programs’ deadlines are sooner than master’s – usually December or January versus February and March, but figure out in advance
Be preparing the materials in Fall semester
Some students take a year off – pros and cons – your letters of recommendation are very important, so you don’t want your professors to forget you
If you take that time to boost your research experience, then fine
And it depends on whether it’s a master’s or doctoral program
Take the GREs in the Fall so they will be ready in time

19. Writing the essay This is incredibly important See advice in handout
And in Chapter 10
Be specific and professional, and focus on academic and research interests
It’s usually better not to say something general such as that you want to help people, or any general platitudes, and avoid discussing your own or family member’s mental health issues. Also better to avoid a focus on personal biography (e.g., “when I was in elementary school. . .).
Schools may ask for different things in these essays, so make sure you write a specific one for each application and do what they ask you to do
More later on things to avoid in these essays

20. Letters of recommendation
Usually you need three
The stronger the better, but again it depends on the type of program and how competitive it is
Almost always they should be from faculty, on university letterhead
Not usually from employers (some exceptions) and certainly not from friends or relatives

21. How to get a good letter of recommendation
See:
Assuming the faculty member knows you well enough, follow the advice on
Face-to-face
Time
Provide information about yourself and the schools
Be organized

22. What to give your professors
Provide a packet to each professor containing:
Envelopes typed with addresses for each school, if paper, but most now online
If paper, provide each school’s required forms and fill out all information possible (i.e., names addresses etc.)
Instructions on what they need to do for each school (i.e., seal and sign flap, return to me/mail to school, specific questions the school would like answered about you etc.)
Deadlines – specify the date you need them returned to you or mailed to the school not the school’s deadline for applications
The department has a handout on asking for letters of recommendation

23. Interviews
If, invited and you want to be accepted, go on the interview
You will meet the faculty and they will meet you
They often use the interview to adjust their rank ordering
You will get to see the program which will help you determine fit
You usually get to meet other graduate students, and this can be invaluable information
They vary in length from a few hours to more than one day, but for doctoral programs, a day is common

24. What will they ask?
Some questions may concern your background experience
Or they may ask about you personally
Or specific questions to understand how you think
Such as how you would design a study to answer a particular question
Or they may ask about your research interests
Or why you want to come to their program
They will also be looking to see if you get along with the other applicants, students, and others

25. You should ask questions too
Ask the faculty about the program
What they think its strengths and weaknesses are
In particular, ask graduate students what they like and what they don’t, and if they would go there again
Find out information about the area – cost of living, housing opportunities, etc.

26. Be prepared for the expense
Applying to graduate school can be expensive
You have to pay for transcripts, the GREs, application fees, mailing expenses, etc.
So, plan ahead