Considering and Getting into Graduate School:

1. Considering and Getting into Graduate School: Information and Tips that I Wish I Had As an Early Undergraduate Student Kari L. Tucker, Ph.D. Irvine Valley College

2. What is “Graduate” School? • A school that awards advanced degrees, with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate (i.e., bachelor’s) degree. • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_school

3. Best Tips • Pay attention to what is interesting to you! • Seek out resources to help you learn what you need to know to get into a particular graduate program. • BUILD YOUR CURRICULUM VITAE!!! • Competitive programs = Research experience!

4. What Will Be Covered in This Presentation • Considering Graduate School • Is it worth it? • Choosing a sub-disciplines in Psychology • Available Resources • Things to consider when deciding which program to apply • What universities want you to prepare for your completed application • Other recommendations for you when applying • Approximately time-line (what to do when) • Things to consider to build up your CV • Taking the GRE • Hopefully…. encouragement because of what you now know. 

5. Considering Graduate School • Cost-Benefit Analysis • Costs: • Time • Energy / Effort / Motivation • Financial • Benefits: • The benefits are personally defined, but…… • Gain in knowledge about an area of interest • Increases in financial compensation • Increased opportunities to expand experiences • Self confidence / pride of accomplishment • Bond with others with similar interests / talents • Get to wear the “cool” special gown at graduation

6. Getting Into Graduate School: Which Program? • Areas of concentration • Biopsychology / Physiological Psychology / Neuropsychology / Behavioral Neuroscience • Developmental Psychology • Psychometrics • Social Psychology • Personality Psychology • Clinical Psychology • Counseling Psychology • Industrial / Organizational Psychology • Cognitive Psychology • School Psychology • Educational Psychology • Health Psychology

7. Resources for Getting Into Graduate School and Deciding Which Program? “Graduate Study in Psychology” • LIST PRICE: $28.95MEMBER/AFFILIATE PRICE: $23.95 • www.apa.org • http://books.apa.org/books.cfm?id=4270091

8. “Graduate Study in Psychology” • GIVES A LOT OF INFORMATION • number of applications received by a program • number of individuals accepted in each program • dates for applications and admission • types of information required for an application (GRE scores, letters of recommendations, documentation concerning volunteer or clinical experience, etc.) • in-state and out-of-state tuition costs • availability of internships and scholarships • employment information of graduates • orientation and emphasis of departments and programs • other relevant information

9. Table of Contents • Considering Graduate Study • Accreditation in Professional Psychology • Programs, Degrees, and Employment • Admission Requirements • Competition for Admission • Time to Degree • Tuition and Financial Assistance • Application Information • Rules for Acceptance of Offers for Admission and Financial Aid • Explanation of Program Listings • Contact Information • Department Information • Programs and Degrees Offered • APA Accreditation Status • Student Applications/Admissions • Financial Information/Assistance • Employment of Department Graduates • Additional Information • Application Information • Department Listings by State • Index of Programs by Area of Study Offered

10. Another Resource: “Getting In: A Step-by-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology” LIST PRICE: $19.95MEMBER/AFFILIATE PRICE: $19.95 www.apa.org http://books.apa.org/books.cfm?id=4313012&toc=yes

11. “Getting In: A Step-by-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology” • AS DESCRIBED IN THIS BOOK: • Describes the application process, and increases chances of being accepted. • Gives timelines, tips, and organizes the tasks into manageable steps, and helps in defining goals, selecting programs, and working through the application process. • Gives monthly timetable and detailed worksheets for selecting the best program, and gives a resource section that provides a list of publications and organizations that are useful in the various phases of applying. • Gives criteria admissions that committees use to evaluate applicants, how to improve qualifications, and how to showcase your talents in personal essays, letters of recommendations, and preselection interviews. • Also gives costs of a graduate education and financial aid information • Gives resources and guidance to members of special populations, such as women, ethnic minorities, gay and lesbian applicants, and applicants with disabilities for their particular needs. • See handout for the Table of Contents for this book

12. Getting into Graduate School:Things to Consider When Deciding Which Program • To Help You Make Your Decision: • Compare your qualifications with admission requirements • Contact program and individuals directly to obtain additional information • Visit programs • Compile a list of programs to which you will apply

13. Getting Into Graduate School:What Universities Want You to Prepare for Your Completed Application • Transcripts • Contact Admissions and Records Dept of EVERY university that you have attended • Confirm with the program that you may send directly (some times, they prefer all materials are sent to them in one packet) • Allow 6 weeks

14. Getting Into Graduate School:What Universities Want You to Prepare for Your Completed Application • Three letters of recommendation • These are VERY important! • For competitive programs, it is best if these letters are from faculty with whom you have conducted research. More on this later…. • Make sure they know you • Make sure they can speak highly of you and your work • Where possible, complete the forms for them (their name, job title, office phone, etc.) – type this information if possible • Include stamped and addressed envelopes • Make copies of the blank forms in case problems arise

15. Getting Into Graduate School:What Universities Want You to Prepare for Your Completed Application • Curriculum Vitae (i.e., “CV”) • Your CV can be VERY important! • Can give to letter writers • Enhances the application • Suggested that it is no longer than two pages • Should include the following information when relevant: • Career objectives • Education • Papers presented at professional conferences • Papers published if relevant • Honors or awards • Research experience • Teaching experience if relevant • Clinical experience if relevant • Psychology-related field experience if relevant • Professional affiliations • Job experiences if relevant

16. Getting Into Graduate School:Building Your CV • Research experience!! • GPA • Membership and Leadership positions in Honor Societies • Psi Beta • Psi Chi • Honors / Awards • Involvement in the field • going to and presenting research at conferences, • internships if relevant • publications • grant writing

17. Getting Into Graduate School:What Universities Want You to Prepare for Your Completed Application • Statement or letter of intent / purpose • Long-term career plans • Areas of interest • Reasons for choosing the program (e.g., focus of their program, the research of faculty within the program) • Match between self and program • Think about what is being asked • Background: Skills and accomplishments; Experiences and events that helped shape you as a person and influence your present goals and ambitions – BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE IRRELEVANT INFORMATION • Demonstrate the relationship between career goals and academic interest and how the programs focus and philosophy can help you (faculty, resources, and training which are compatible with your goals)

18. Getting Into Graduate School: Other Suggestions for Your Statement of Purpose • Think about what is being asked • Avoid platitudes like “I’m really interested in Psychology,” or “I really want to help people” • Tailor this to EACH program that you apply • Try to convey your passion! You are trying to influence their decision about you! • Keep relatively short—it is usually recommended to keep to no longer than two pages • Should be typed and single-spaced

19. Getting Into Graduate School:What Universities Want You to Prepare for Your Completed Application • GRE: Graduate Record Exam • GRE test (general) • GRE test (subject) • http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=b195e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD • “The GRE® General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field of study.” • “The GRE® Subject Tests gauge undergraduate achievement in eight specific fields of study and can help forecast a candidate's potential for success in graduate school. Each Subject Test is intended for students who have majored in or have extensive background in that specific area.”

20. GRE General Test—Sample Verbal • Directions* • Each question below consists of a word printed in capital letters followed by five lettered words or phrases. Choose the lettered word or phrase that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in capital letters. Since some of the questions require you to distinguish fine shades of meaning, be sure to consider all the choices before deciding which one is best. • Sample Question • DIFFUSE: • (A) concentrate • (B) contend • (C) imply • (D) pretend • (E) rebel

21. GRE General Test—Sample Verbal • Directions* • In each of the following questions, a related pair of words or phrases is followed by five lettered pairs of words or phrases. Select the lettered pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair. • Sample Question • COLOR : SPECTRUM : • (A) tone : scale • (B) sound : waves • (C) verse : poem • (D) dimension : space • (E) cell : organism

22. GRE General Test—Sample Verbal • Directions* • Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five lettered words or sets of words. Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole. • Sample Question • Early ________ of hearing loss is ________ by the • fact that the other senses are able to compensate for • moderate amounts of loss, so that people frequently • do not know that their hearing is imperfect. • (A) discovery . . indicated • (B) development . . prevented • (C) detection . . complicated • (D) treatment . . facilitated • (E) incidence . . corrected

23. GRE General Test—Sample Quantitative • Directions* • The passage is followed by questions based on its content. After reading the passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer all questions following the passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. • Presented with the passage • According to the passage, the two antithetical ideals of photography differ primarily in the • (A) value that each places on the beauty of the finished product • (B) emphasis that each places on the emotional impact of the finished product • (C) degree of technical knowledge that each requires of the photographer • (D) extent of the power that each requires of the photographer’s equipment • (E) way in which each defines the role of the photographer

24. GRE General Test—Sample Quantitative • Directions* • Each of the sample questions consists of two quantities, one in Column A and one in Column B. There may be additional information, centered above the two columns, that concerns one or both of the quantities. A symbol that appears in both columns represents the same thing in Column A as it does in Column B. You are to compare the quantity in Column A with the quantity in Column B and decide whether: • (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. • (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. • (C) The two quantities are equal. • (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the • information given. • Sample Questions • Column A Column B • 1. 9.8 SQ. RT.10 • 2. (-6)4 (-6)5

25. GRE General Test—Sample Quantitative • When walking, a certain person takes 16 complete steps in 10 seconds. At this rate, how many complete steps does the person take in 72 seconds? • (A) 45 • (B) 78 • (C) 86 • (D) 90 • (E) 115

26. GRE General Test—Sample Quantitative • Number of Graduate Student Applicants at University X, 1982–1991 • Presented with a graph • In which of the following years did the number of graduate student applicants increase the most from that of the previous year? • (A) 1985 • (B) 1986 • (C) 1988 • (D) 1990 • (E) 1991

27. GRE General Test—Sample Analytical Writing • Directions* • Present your perspective on the issue below, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views. • Sample Topic • “In our time, specialists of all kinds are highly overrated. We need more generalists—people who can provide broad perspectives.” • What scorers are looking for in this: • Readers are evaluating the skill with which you articulate and develop an argument to support your position on the issue.

28. GRE General Test—Sample Analyze an Argument Task • Directions* • Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. • Sample Topic • “Hospital statistics regarding people who go to the emergency room after roller skating accidents indicate the need for more protective equipment. Within this group of people, 75 percent of those who had accidents in streets or parking lots were not wearing any protective clothing (helmets, knee pads, etc.) or any light-reflecting material (clip-on lights, glow-in-the-dark wrist pads, etc.). Clearly, these statistics indicate that by investing in high-quality protective gear and reflective equipment, roller skaters will greatly reduce their risk of being severely injured in an accident.” • What the scorer is looking for: • How well you “discuss the logical soundness of the author’s case by critically examining the line of reasoning and the use of evidence. So, you should consider the structure of the argument—the way in which these elements are linked together to form a line of reasoning; that is, you should recognize the separate, sometimes implicit steps in the thinking process and consider whether the movement from each one to the next is logically sound.”

30. Getting Into Graduate School:3 Important Things • How Can I Prepare for the GRE? • ETS: http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.1488512ecfd5b8849a77b13bc3921509/?vgnextoid=302b66f22c6a5010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&vgnextchannel=d687e3b5f64f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD • Kaplan: $1199.00 http://www.kaptest.com/Graduate/GRE/Kaplan-Programs/Classroom-Courses/GR_gre_class.html (25 hrs. private $3,299) • Princeton Review: $1099.00 http://testprep.princetonreview.com/CourseSearch/AdvancedSearch.aspx (grps of 3 tutoring $1440)

31. Getting Into Graduate School:3 Important Things • Where Do You Take the GRE? • http://etsis4.ets.org/tcenter/cbt_dm.cfm • What are the fees? • $140 General Test—U.S., U.S. Territories*, and Puerto Rico • Will be sent to 4 institutions for free, but then it will be $ 20 for each additional score report (ASR) requests

32. Getting Into Graduate School:Recommendations • Other recommendations: • It is suggested to give at least 2 months before the deadline • Buy a calendar to record deadlines • Prepare a checklist for everything you send AND everything the program receives • Examples: Program, application date, financial aid deadline, transcripts, GRE general, GRE psychology, letters of recommendation, program application packet, financial aid packet. • Keep records to keep thorough record of everything you send in case mistakes happen • keep photocopies if possible of requests for transcripts and score reports, letters of recommendation, correspondence, and application materials, type applications, • Have someone proofread your work

33. Getting Into Graduate School:What Universities Want You to Prepare for Your Completed Application • Completed financial aid forms • Completed application forms

34. Getting Into Graduate School:General Timetable • Fall of your Sophomore year: • Get information and tips on getting into graduate school! • Get involved in Psi Beta, Psi Chi, or other co-curricular groups in psychology • Go to a psychology conference • Create sections of your CV • Spring of your Sophomore year: • Stay involved in Psi Beta / Psi Chi • Think about what area of concentration you’d like to pursue • Discuss ideas with faculty members • Find faculty members with whom you’d like to do research • Present research at a Psychology conference (could be from data collected in a Research Methods course) • Update CV

35. Getting Into Graduate School:General Timetable • Fall of your Junior year: • Stay involved in Psi Chi • Look over your book, “Graduate Study in Psychology”: begin narrowing your areas of concentration • Pursue doing research with professors at the transfer institution (preferably 3 different professors) • Begin examining the sections of the GRE test –study words (e.g., Vis Ed cards) • Update CV • Spring of your Junior year: • Stay involved in Psi Chi • Decide on area of concentration • Make a rough list of schools to which you might apply • Visit programs if possible • Begin writing your personal statement • Continue studying for GRE test – consider taking a prep course for this (e.g., Princeton Review, Kaplan) • Take the GRE test

36. Getting Into Graduate School:General Timetable • Fall of your Senior year: • Stay involved in Psi Chi • Solidify the list of programs to which you will apply – get application information for all • Finish personal statement • Request transcripts • Update CV • Complete all application materials and send them off toward the middle/end of the semester—send application, financial aid information, statement of purpose, CV, etc. • Create checklists for application materials • Retake GRE if needed • Toward middle / end of semester, ask professors to write letter of recommendation – give at least a month • Contact professors of interest to find out if they are taking new graduate students for the Fall (they will tell you not to do this, but this is important information for you) • Read his/her work, and go see them if possible • Exchange ideas • Show your knowledge, interest, and motivation for working with him/her.

37. Getting Into Graduate School:YOU CAN DO IT!!! • Keep moving forward—in your mind and actions! • Remember your successes, and keep repeating to yourself, “I can do this! I can do this!” • Avoid self-defeating statements (“This is too much,” I can’t do this,” Who would even want me?”) • Stay focused on one step at a time • To avoid getting overwhelmed, write your goals down, and then only concentrate on completing the NEXT needed step (don’t focus on ALL the things you need to do across all the years…. too overwhelming!). Ask for help when needed! Try to enjoy each step along the way—You are developing YOU!

38. Getting Into Graduate School:The Next “Good” Problem • After all of this, your next biggest problem will be deciding on which program to choose! That’ll be a nice problem to have! Good luck to ALL of you! • Thank you for letting me share the information that I wish I had as an early undergraduate student! 