1. Applying to Graduate School and Being a Graduate Student

2. Where to start? Clinical vs. Experimental programs MS programs PsyD
Counseling
Social work
Experimental psychology
PsyD
Practice-oriented
Less likely to be funded
Bigger cohort (20 – 40 people vs 5 – 10 for PhD)
PhD
Research-oriented: clinical
Research-oriented: experimental (Social, Cognitive, Developmental, IO, Neuroscience…)

3. Steps towards applying
GRE
Letters of Recommendation (x3 in most cases)
Personal Statement
Relevant experience (Resume/CV)
Contact future mentors
GRE: 60th percentile, combined score of 300, Some schools require the psychology subject test
Letters of Recommendation: Choose professors who know you well, Give a guide sheet reminding them of your awesomeness
Personal Statement: Different for each area
Relevant Experience: Research, honors thesis, TA work, clinical experience (Very important for Clinical programs), Look up sample CV’s/resumes online to get ideas of how to format/what to include
Contact Mentors: , let them know you’re interested, Ask if they are taking students, Meet if possible

4. While Applying, Give Yourself…
Enough Time:
It takes several months/ a solid year to put together strong applications.
Outside Advice:
Have someone else revise your resume, personal statement, etc. (Advice from both psych and non-psych* people is helpful)
A Budget:
Anticipate costs of ordering transcripts and GRE score reports, application fees, and interviews.
*Grace – story about mediation auto-correcting to meditation and going unnoticed by psych advisors…..oops.

5. Being in Graduate School
More responsibility
Teaching, research/lab duties, coursework, therapy clients (clinical students)
Independence
Training to be an independent scientist/practitioner
You are also responsible for how you are coming across to others
Actively seek opportunities & information
Propose own research ideas, take steps towards implementing projects, seek outside help
Ask for help when you need it!

6. Relocation Considerations
Will you be moving to a new city?
Check the weather
Research whether you need a car*
Speak to the admin office for your program about the actual cost of attendance **
Compare your funding to the cost of living in that area
Look at websites like living/
*(You might not!)
** (including whether you will pay fees, and how much those are)

7. Who are you, really?
Going to graduate school can sometimes be an identity crisis:
Sometimes you question everything you thought you knew about yourself
In some cases, you applied because you panicked about having to adult, and now you’re here and you don’t have a clue*
Try to come up with a statement to tell others about what you know so far about yourself**
Think before you arrive about how you would like to be seen
*(this is okay, but probably best not to introduce yourself to your cohort this way)
**It’s okay (even good) to have multiple research interests

8. Alternatives to graduate school
Is graduate school right for you?
Psychology is a large field, and very competitive
Do you need a higher degree to do what you’re interested in?
take time between undergrad and grad school
Not seen as a negative, more likely to be a positive
Sign up for list-serves in your area of interest to be notified about job opportunities like Research Assistant or lab coordinator
Interested in counseling but don’t want a masters?
Social work