While earning a Bachelor´s degree in psychology can provide you with a number of career opportunities, many of the most interesting careers in psychology require you to attend graduate school and earn an advanced degree (such as a Master´s degree, a Ph.D., a Psy.D., or an Ed.D.).
Getting through the graduate school application process can be complex and grueling. Some applications include clear and explicit instructions; others seem like an aptitude test in analytical reasoning. However, you are not alone! The psychology department advisor is available to help you with the application process, and faculty members are always happy to answer any questions you might have. Further, this web page contains information and links to numerous resources on the internet which can help you decide which graduate school to apply to, how to make yourself a competitive candidate, and how to get through the entire process in one piece!
Click on a section or subsection below to learn more about that topic:
Applying to Graduate School Timetable
How to Apply to Graduate School by Linda J. Hayes & Steven C. Hayes
Choosing an Area of Psychology to Pursue
Making Yourself a Competitive Candidate
Deciding Which Schools to Apply to
Applying Now or Applying Later
Applying to Graduate School Timetable
If you intend to go to graduate school right after you finish your undergraduate work, here´s a rough timetable for preparing your applications (bear in mind that the overal preparation for graduate school overall should begin much earlier, with trying to maintain a high GPA, completing your psychology major requirements, getting involved in research and field experience, etc.!):
| Junior Year: Spring Semester |
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| Summer before Senior Year |
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| Senior Year: Fall Semester |
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| Senior Year: Spring Semester |
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Choosing an Area of Psychology to Pursue
Psychology is a very broad field, with many different specialized areas of study. To attend graduate school in psychology, you must first decide which area of psychology you would like to study. The area of psychology you study will, in large measure, determine what you will be able to do with your career. Attending a graduate program in experimental psychology, for example, will not prepare you well for a career as a therapist or counselor.
To learn more about the different areas of specialization in psychology, click on one of the links below:
Making Yourself a Competitive Candidate
Generally speaking, getting into graduate school is partly a game of chance. Many programs are very competitive and there is no guarantee that you will get into the exact program at the exact university that you want. You can improve your chances, however, by understanding what it is graduate programs look at in applications, and trying to strengthen your application in these areas.
Grade point average is one index that many graduate schools take very seriously. Obviously, the higher your GPA the better your chances of getting in. Very competitive programs may look for GPAs at 3.5 or higher, while less competitive programs may accept 3.O or a bit lower.
Many graduate schools weigh letters very highly. Strong letters of recommendation can compensate for GPAs and GREs that are a bit weak. Your letters of recommendation could become one of your greatest assets! Do everything you can to get to know the faculty -- talk to them after class, participate in research labs, join Psi Chi or the Psychology Club. The better the professors know you, the more likely they can write a strong, convincing letter for you. When you ask a professor to write a letter for you, be sure to give the professor some written information about yourself, such as the courses you took from him or her, your grades, any activities you undertook in the department or on campus, etc. One of the best ways to get a good letter of recommendation from a faculty member is to do research with him or her!
In our department you have the unique opportunity to work closely with professors on research projects. Take advantage of this! When professors get to know you in this capacity, they can write a very strong letter of recommendation (assuming you didn´t screw up on the project!). Successfully participating in a research lab also demonstrates to graduate schools that you are a motivated person who can work independently.
In the past students have presented papers at conferences or published articles with the faculty based on such projects. Most graduate programs will be impressed by this! It is unusual for undergraduates to do this sort of thing. Graduate programs that emphasize experimental research may be very impressed by your having been actively involved in research, especially if the research led to a conference presentation or a publication. Programs that emphasize training in counseling (and not experimental research) may be impressed by projects involving case studies, literature reviews, and experiential learning even if these projects did not lead to a publication or conference presentation.
Nearly all of our faculty members allow undergraduate students to participate in their research labs. You can earn both Direct Learning and Psychology Elective credit toward your major by assisting with a research project. Simply talk to the faculty member you wish to work with and, if he or she agrees, you can go to the main Psychology Department office (MSS 438) and get the call number to register for undergraduate research credits (either PSY 275 or PSY 375). Three credits of either PSY 275 or 375 will fulfill the Direct Learning requirement of the major, and you are allowed to take up to 6 credits of each course. If you are serious about attending graduate school, you are encouraged to get as much research experience as possible!
To find out which labs in the department are currently looking for undergraduate assistants, check out the Psychology Department bulletin board on the 1st floor of Mack Social Science (just to the right of the elevator). You may also contact the department advisor for more information.
Many graduate schools will require you to take the Graduate Record Exam. That´s right! It´s the SATs all over again, but on a slightly bigger scale! The GRE consist of three sections: verbal, math (quantitative), and analytic (which measures abstract thinking). Some schools will also require you to take the GRE Subject Test in Psychology (which consists of multiple choice questions pertaining to all the different fields within psychology).
Usually programs will use a cut off. If you don´t get above a certain score, they may not even look at your application. "Graduate Study in Psychology", a book from APA which provides a listing and description of many of the various psychology graduate programs available in the U.S., lists the average GRE scores for students who are accepted into a program. The information a program send you will also usually contain information on average or minimum GRE scores. A few less competitive graduate schools may not have a cut off score or may not require you to take the GREs at all.
It is very unwise to take the GREs cold. Prepare for it. Bookstores sell manuals that describe strategies for taking the test and provide sample exams. You can also take GRE prep classes, such as UNR´s four-week GRE Preparation Workshop. A good way to study for the Subject Test in Psychology is to get a good intro psychology textbook and memorize as much of it as you can. Another way is to serve as a proctor for PSY 101 (contact Dr. Houmanfar for more information) or work at the Academic Skills Center on campus as a PSY 101 tutor -- there´s no better way to learn a subject than to teach it yourself!
The GRE General Test is now offered only via computer-based testing, but the Subject Test in Psychology is still given in the paper-based format (for now!). To get more information on the GREs, including registration materials, you can check out the GRE web site, or stop by the UNR Testing Services office in Room 206 of Thompson Student Services (or call them at 784-4638).
There probably is wide variation in how graduate schools react to your written personal statement in which you describe yourself and your reasons for going to graduate school. Some might take it quite seriously, others may not pay much attention. Play it safe. Spend some time on it and prepare a well thought out letter. Avoid platitudes like "I´m really interested in psychology" or, for a counseling or clinical program, "I want to work with people." Would you be applying for graduate school if you didn´t feel that way?
If you really want to do it right, tailor your letter for each program you apply to. Say something about your background, your accomplishments, what exactly about psychology interests you, what you plan to do in the future but also state exactly why it is you are applying to that program. What is it about the program that attracts you? How will it benefit you, and what do you have to offer it? Be as specific as possible. If you are interested in one or more of their faculty member´s work, say so! If you are interested in a particular program, say so! And explain why you are interested!
Keep the letter short - maybe two or three pages, typed. Experiment with being both creative and informative. Ask friends, professors, and/or the department advisor for comments on what you have written.
Field Work and Other Practical Experiences
Many graduate programs may be impressed by your having had some substantial practical experience in a setting related to their program. For example, experimental programs may find it appealing that a student helped out with a professor´s research project. A developmental program may be impressed by someone who worked with developmentally handicapped children. Clinical and counseling psychology may think it is important that a student worked in a mental health setting.
You have several options for obtaining practical experience. One way is to register for a Field Experience course, such as PSY 439: Field Experience in the Teaching of Psychology, PSY 440: Field Experience in Behavior Analysis, or PSY 447: Geropsychology Field Experience. Three credits of any of these courses also satisfies the Direct Learning requirement of the psychology major. Most of the field experience courses will involve you working for one of the department´s applied projects, such as the Early Childhood Autism Program or our Pre-vocational Assessment, Treatment, and Habilitation (PATH) project. After working for credit, you can often continue your work for the project as a paid student employee!
You also can volunteer on your own or look for part time/summer jobs. It should be remembered that there is no guarantee that a graduate program will highly value field experience. Those programs that emphasize research training (including clinical psychology programs) may be more concerned about your academic achievements than your practical experiences. However, anything you can do to make yourself a more attractive candidate and stand out from the crowd, such as by gaining field experience, can improve your chances of being accepted to a program.
A "vita" is like a resume for the academic world. It includes sections on your personal history, educational history, professional positions, memberships in professional organizations, professional activities, editorial activities, grants, presentations, publications, projects, professional interests, and professional references. You will need to produce a vita if you plan to apply for most graduate schools and professional positions. For instructions on how to write a vita, you should read "Writing Your Vita" (pdf) by Steven C. Hayes and Linda J. Hayes. This short paper was originally published in the May 1989 issue of the American Psychological Society (APS) Observer.
If possible, go see the school even before you know whether or not you are accepted. Talk to the faculty and students. It may help you decide whether or not you want to be there. It also may help you make an impression on them. Making a personal contact can be very effective (even on the phone) as long as you are not pressuring people or being a pest in some way!
Definitely try to visit the programs that accept you! Talk to the faculty, find out everything you can about the program. Do they seem like people you could work with? Are they friendly, helpful, cold, obnoxious? Make a point of talking to beginning and advanced students - they will tell you things that the faculty may not.
Deciding Which Schools to Apply to
Once you´ve made the decision to apply to graduate school, and you´ve decided the area of psychology you´d like to study, your next major decision is deciding which schools you´re going to apply to. This decision will likely involve a fair amount of research on your part, as you try to find programs which will suit your needs and to which you will be well-suited.
Several key factors to look at when making this decision include:
To maximize your possibility of getting in, apply to many schools -- maybe 12 or so (assuming, of course, you can find 12 programs which suit your needs). Apply to really outstanding programs as well as less competitive programs. This will increase your chance of getting accepted somewhere -- even it it isn´t your first choice. And don´t be too upset if you get some rejection letters because chances are very good that you will be rejected by at least one school. Don´t take it as a personal affront -- it doesn´t necessarily mean that you weren´t a good candidate, but perhaps just that they didn´t think you were a good fit for their program.
There are several ways to find schools offering the kind of graduate program you´re looking for. One great resource is the Graduate Study in Psychology book published by the APA. This book provides a detailed listing of over 500 graduate programs in psychology, including information on: degrees offered, degree requirements, admission requirements, financial assistance, and more. It is available in the ASUN Bookstore and the library, or you may order one directly from APA.
Below you can find links to web sites which have lists of graduate programs for each of the specified areas of psychology.
Applying Now or Applying Later
Many students think that they should apply to graduate school immediately after they finish their undergraduate work. If you are the type of person who will lose steam (i.e., motivation) after taking a year or two off, then maybe you should apply right away. But it´s not critical that you apply immediately. If you take a year or two off to work, in order to make money for graduate school or to get some experience in psychology, that could look good in the eyes of the graduate program. They like motivated, determined people. But if you drift from job to job, or if you aren´t working at all and just amble about with no rhyme or reason, that might look bad.
Older students who have been working a number of years or raising a family sometimes think they are in a one down position. Again, this is not necessarily true. If there is evidence that you are a conscientious and motivated person, then those are points in your favor. Some counseling and clinical psychology programs prefer older students. They believe they are more mature, responsible people. Many counseling psychology programs are specifically designed for older people who may be working full time and/or have families.
Education costs money. Graduate school is no exception. Many programs may offer you some financial support. Some programs, usually those at state universities, will support students for the first few years in the form of "stipends." Others may offer a "Research Assistantship" in which you help a professor conduct his or her research in return for pay. For a "Teaching Assistantship" you would help a professor teach a course, or perhaps teach a section yourself, in return for pay. You may not get as much money as you want but, as Jagger might say, you´ll get what you need (just enough to live on). Also, some universities may waive tuition. Find out about stipends, teaching and research assistantships, and tuition remission before you decide to go to a program.
You have many resources available to you within the Psychology Department when applying to graduate school. The department advisor is always available to assist you with the application process, and faculty members and graduate students in the department are also great people to talk to (ask them to review your vita or personal statement, or ask them what to expect during interviews!). Also, you can pick up copies of "How to Apply to Graduate School" and "Writing Your Vita" in the main Psychology Department office.
There are two resources on campus which can be particularly helpful while applying to graduate school. One is the Pre-professional and Graduate Student Advising Office, which can provide information on graduate degree programs across the country, as well as current information about professional school admission requirements and applications for national testing. They are located in Room 106 of Thompson Student Services and their phone number is 784-4485.
The other resources on campus you should be aware of is Testing Services. This office schedules and administers national tests, including the GRE General Test and the GRE Subject Test in Psychology. You will find the testing dates and registration materials for the GRE here, as well. Their office is in Room 206 of Thompson Student Services and their phone number is 784-4638.
The American Psychological Association offers two books useful for the application process: "Graduate Study in Psychology" and "Getting In: A Step-by-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology." Both of these books can be ordered online by clicking the links above, or you can find them at most bookstores or at the library.
Here are a few other books you might want to take a look at: