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Graduate School Preparation

Applying to graduate school:

Applying to graduate school is a detailed process that requires a great deal of initiative and planning. Graduate school applications differ from undergraduate applications, in that it is a more competitive process. Typically a large number of students are competing for a small number of spots. Therefore it is important to spend time preparing to apply to graduate school.

This page includes information about a number of specific things to keep in mind as you prepare:

Time frame
Start early
Choosing a Field
Choosing a School
Applications
Common Elements of an Application
Financing Graduate Education
Not sure you want a PH.D in psychology?

Time Frame:

Most graduate schools admit students for Fall semester/term of each academic year only. Although some graduate schools have "rolling admission", meaning that they admit students throughout the year, this is atypical. Applications are usually due about nine months in advance of the actual start date of the program. So, in order to be eligible for fall admission, students typically submit their applications the winter (December through February, depending on the specific program) before they hope to begin.

Start Early:

Give yourself plenty of time to build the strongest application possible. You can do this by:
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    • developing relationships with Professors or Employers who can write informed, high-quality letters of recommendation
    • cultivating a relationship with a mentor
    • preparing to take the GRE test in the spring or summer before your senior fall semester. Scores generally take 4-6 weeks to arrive at the school, so plan on having your GRE completed so that your scores will arrive before the application deadline.
    • www.gre.org provides information regarding the registration and preparation needed to successfully take this test.

Choose a Field of Psychology:

Take some time to study the nuances of the distinct areas of study available to you at the graduate level. The APA recognizes 14 areas of study in psychology.

Most undergraduates are confused by the difference between Clinical and Counseling psychology. A brief description is provided below.

Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. These range from short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from adolescent rebellion, to more severe, chronic conditions such as schizophrenia. Some clinical psychologists treat specific problems exclusively, such as phobias or clinical depression.

Others focus on specific populations: youngsters, ethnic minority groups, gays and lesbians, or the elderly, for instance.

There are two types of degrees available to students interested in Clinical Psychology- the Ph.D. and Psy.D. The Ph.D. is a research-oriented degree that enables graduates to pursue careers in therapy, teaching, or research (or some combination of these). Clinical Ph.D. graduates go on to study things like the efficacy of certain treatment modalities and/or to practice therapy. The Psy.D. degree is much less research oriented than the psychopathology Ph.D. Although both are doctorates, the Psy.D. trains students primarily to be practitioners. This degree is suitable for someone who is not at all interested in teaching or research but wants to be trained as a therapist.

Counseling psychologists help people to accommodate to change or to make changes in their lifestyle. For example, they provide vocational and career assessment and guidance or help someone come to terms with the death of a loved one. They help students adjust to college, and people to stop smoking or overeating. They also consult with physicians on physical problems that have underlying psychological causes.

Choosing a School:

Choosing a school is important, and you should devote significant time and effort to making this choice. You can begin a search on the web using the following sites:

    Factors to consider in Choosing a School:

    • Schools that offer programs in the area of your interest
    • Programs that have at least two professors conducting research in an area that interests you -- research the work of the professors at the institutions which appeal to you!
    • Programs that provide financial assistance for students
    • Programs whose graduates are working in settings that appeal to you
    • The number of students who apply and the number of students accepted
    • Programs in which your application will be competitive, based on gpa, GRE scores, experience, etc.
    • Class size
    • Average amount of time students take to complete degree
    • Notes: 
      • As you are looking at programs, check to see if they require the Psychology Subject Test (this will be helpful later on)
      • Request applications from the schools to which you plan to apply. Allow some time for these to be sent to you
      • Some schools' application materials will be available for you to print out on line. Be sure to see if this option available; it will save time and effort for you.

Applications:

    • Completing applications is a time consuming process, so plan on it
    • You can reduce your labor by filling out all of you applications at one time
    • Follow all instructions on each application including knowing how to submit letters of recommendation
    • Neatly type the applications
    • Pay attention to when each application is due. BE SURE to get your application in on time.
    • DO NOT rely on the schools you are applying to contact you if your application is incomplete. It is YOUR responsibility to see that all materials are in on time for review. An incomplete application will usually NOT be reviewed.
    • The Most common elements missing in a grad school application are GRE scores, letters of recommendations and transcripts.

Common Elements of an Application:

    Each application will be different so pay attention to the details of how to complete accordingly. The list below is in general what you can expect an application to include. Some elements may not be included in specific applications.

    General Information about your academic performance:

    • GPA
    • Transcripts can be ordered through the registrar’s home page , or in person at the registrar’s office on the First Floor of the Shields Building.
      • At busy times in the semester, transcripts take an average of 2-3 days to be sent out. PLAN EARLY to request that a transcript be sent. In most cases it is better to send out a transcript which does not include your Fall grades versus waiting to send a transcript that contains Fall. You can always send a new transcript if needed, and will be required to send a final transcript anyway upon graduation. There is a fee to send out transcripts.
      • If you have attended multiple institutions, that is if you transferred to PSU or took classes at another institution for credit, you will be required to have those transcripts sent as well. Depending on the schools' policy, it could take a week or more to be sent.

    GRE Scores -- General (and perhaps the Psychology Subject Test)

    • The schools to which you are applying will require your Official GRE scores. Consult the GRE web site on how to have these sent.
    • The Psychology Subject Test will be required by some schools. This test is only given 3 times per year and the November test date registration deadline is generally in early September. It is important to visit the GRE web site early to get all the information about the tests

    Resume- list all research and work experience

    • If you need assistance in compiling a resume or feedback, please visit Career Services located in the MBNA Career Services Center

    Letters of Recommendations

    • Most schools will request 3 letters of recommendation . Usually all three letters should come from professors, unless you have a letter from an internship directly related to your field.
    • Ask Professors who are familiar with you and your work to write letters. If they are in a field related to your goals, that is helpful, but personal knowledge of you and your abilities is most important. Your references should be able to enhance your chances of admission, so it is important that they have good sense of you as a person and student.
    • It is not a good idea to ask a professor who does not know you, even if you got an A in their class
    • If you must ask someone who does not know you well, bring them your resume and personal statement and schedule some time with them so that you may have a discussion about you
    • Know how the school wishes to receive letters of recommendation. Some schools request that you collect them and send them all together, but others prefer that the recommenders send their letters to the school directly. If the school prefers to receive letters directly, be sure to sign all forms prior to giving them to your references. Additionally, it is good practice to include an addressed, stamped envelope for each letter.
    • If there is a Recommendation Form to be filled out, it will usually ask you if you Waive or Do Not Waive your right to see the form. The best practice is to check that you Waive your right as this will indicate that you have trust your reference to speak on your behalf. This decision however is ultimately up to you, but most professors feel more comfortable writing detailed letters if they know the letters will remain confidential.

    Personal Statements

    • This is your chance to "sell yourself" to the schools. Spend a good deal of time on these. Be sure that they are error free, read easily, answer all questions thoroughly and highlight your experience and enthusiasm.
    • Some schools will ask you specific questions about yourself. Other schools will be more general. Pay attention to the differences.
    • Design your responses with your specific audience in mind. 
    • Try to convince your readers that you are qualified, motivated, and committed to the field
    • List any relevant experiences
    • Address any irregularities on or in your application
    • Ask someone else to read your personal statement before sending it. It is often hard to find an appropriate tone for personal statements, and a friend, a graduate student, or a professor can help make sure that you come across as you've intended.
    • Proofread, proofread, and proofread!

Financing Graduate Education:

    Financial assistance is available for graduate education. Especially in Ph.D. programs, this is often in the form of fellowships or assistantships that include tuition waivers. Check on the financial assistance possibilities before deciding that you can't afford graduate school! Some basic things to know about financial assistance for graduate education include:
     
    • Fellowships are based on merit and vary in amount. They may be awarded by the university, government and private agencies.
    • Assistantships are usually awarded by the department to which you have been admitted. Unlike a fellowship (which is essentially a scholarship), an assistantship is much like "work study" where you will be required to do a certain type of work to earn your money. Jobs vary from being a Graduate Research Assistant to being a Teaching Assistant. In some cases, Assistantship can come from other funding sources such as Residence Life, Housing, Career Services, Counseling Services etc. Each school will provide lists of departments which fund assistantships if you are unable to obtain an assistantship from the department of study. Assistantships usually include a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend.
    • Graduate Loans are available to most students pursuing graduate education.
    • Graduate programs will usually contact you about financial aid after you have been accepted. Often the letter offering admission will include information about financial aid.

Not sure you want a doctoral degree in Psychology?:

If you are not sure that you want to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology, a number of options are available to you:
    • Obtain work experience, then apply to grad school once you are ready to make a choice about your career path.
    • Seek out other grad opportunities; for example, many psychology students consider degrees such as:
      • Masters in Education
        • Guidance Counseling
        • Student Affairs
        • Addictions Specialist
        • Higher Education Administration
        • Adult/ Work Force Education
      • Masters of Social Work (MSW)
        • Community Service Agency Administration
        • Private Counseling setting
        • Marriage/ Family Counseling
    There are many career paths available to you. Again, the American Psychological Association's on-line brochure on Careers in Psychology provides a lot of useful information. We also recommend that you take some time to visit Career Services to help you find appropriate positions for you. If you are unsure about your future, seeking help early is your best bet to being prepared.

This page was last updated on 08-06-07.