Chapter 12: Applying to Graduate School in Psychology: A Summary
Is Graduate School in Psychology Right for You?
Graduate school in psychology requires significant time (4+ years), energy, and enthusiasm. Assess your motives and prepare early.
Preparing for Graduate School
Begin developing an application strategy early, ideally by your junior year. Grades are important, and competition for graduate programs is intense, sometimes more so than for medical school. Therefore, you should consider the selectivity of programs - rigorous programs are more selective than less selective programs. Also, speak with instructors to find out which graduate programs they know, where their graduates have been able to apply and succeed, their perception of the quality of those programs, and whether one of them might be a place for you to consider applying.
Consider program costs, research mentors, location, and placement rates of graduates.
Coursework
Take a range of psychology courses, including:
Introductory psychology
Research methods
Statistics
Core areas: neuroscience, developmental, cognition, and sociocultural
Applied courses (e.g., health psychology)
A capstone course
Focus on acquiring skills like designing experiments, data analysis, and APA-style writing.
Depth: Choosing an Area of Interest
Identify a specific area of interest within psychology. Research programs and faculty specializing in those areas. Use online resources, academic advisors, and the APA's Graduate Study in Psychology (GSIP) website.
Key Admission Criteria
According to the GSIP, the most important factors for admission are:
Letters of recommendation
GPA
Statement of goals
Research experience
GRE scores
Extracurricular activities are the least important.
Research Experience
Gain research experience by assisting faculty or conducting a senior thesis. This experience can strengthen your application and help you determine if a research career is right for you.
Research Assistant Tasks:
Literature reviews
Participating in lab meetings
Data collection and analysis
Writing summaries
Senior Thesis:
Undertake an in-depth research project
Independent Study:
Focus on a specific topic, supervised by a faculty member.
Teaching Assistant:
Assist during class and discussion.
Presenting Research at a Conference
Share your research at psychology conferences through poster sessions or oral presentations. These opportunities can enhance your potential as a graduate student.
A poster is a highly visual summary of a research project that more or less follows APA style (i.e., introduction, Method, Results, Discussion) but does so with little text and with an emphasis on tables and graphs.
An oral presentation is a talk where the speaker stands in front of an audience to present his or her research, usually for 15 or 20 minutes.
Applying to Graduate Schools: Planning and Process
Assess your chances of admission honestly. Balance "reach" schools with "safety" schools. Contact researchers directly to express interest, but be prepared for rejection. To determine if you should apply to doctoral or master-level programs, aim for doctorate programs because many professional opportunities in the discipline, such as full-time tenure-track teaching in a 4-year college or university or being a practicing psychologist, require a doctorate.
Application Strategies
Only apply to programs you would consider attending.
Consider the location and debt load.
Clinical Psychology Programs
Clinical psychology programs are highly competitive. Develop a backup plan. Consider PsyD programs, but be aware of accreditation status and internship placement records.
Number of Applications and Grades
Apply to more than one program. Strive for high grades in all courses. The minimum starting cutoff for GPA is probably . Competitive programs can and do require higher GPAs, if only in the major courses.
Standardized Test Scores
Prepare for the GRE, including the Psychology Subject Test. Retake the exam if you receive disappointing scores. Helpful information about the nature and type of questions, scoring and score ranges, as well as tips on test taking can be found on the ETS websites for each test.
Letters of Recommendation
Request letters of recommendation from instructors and supervisors. Waive your right to see the letters to encourage honest feedback. Provide recommenders with necessary materials, including addresses, CV, personal statement, and transcripts. Follow up to ensure letters are submitted on time.
Personal Statement
The personal statement introduces you and describes your interests, skills, experiences, and career goals. Be concise and tailor each statement to the specific program. Avoid excessive discussion of mental health struggles. Issues and areas you should try to cover in your personal statement include:
Your academic interest areas in psychology
Your academic background and achievements
Why you are applying to this program and what attracted you to it
Specific research experiences in psychology or related disciplines
Teaching experiences relevant to psychology
Relevant internship or volunteer experiences (e.g., youth counseling, work in clinical settings)
Objectives for graduate school and career plans (What do you hope to accomplish? Where do you see yourself in the future?)
One or two faculty in the graduate program with whom you might want to work because of similar research interests
Particular skills you possess (e.g., math, statistics, programming, foreign languages)
Any personal material you think the admissions committee should know (but be judicious in what you share)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV summarizes your academic life. Include personal information, education, honors, professional experiences, research interests, publications, presentations, and references.
Finalizing the Application
Allow ample time before the deadline to complete all requirements. Review each program's requirements carefully.
Interview
If invited for an interview, attend in person or inquire about an online option. Prepare as you would for a job interview.
If at First You Don’t Succeed
If not admitted, reassess your credentials, test scores, and experience. Consider applying to both doctoral and master's programs and seek feedback from your advisor. Persist in your efforts.