Surviving Graduate School Applications and Interviews

1. Surviving Graduate School Applications and Interviews Amy Stamates, B.S. Research Assistant/Lab Technician Department of Psychological Science Northern Kentucky University

2. Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying • Can you afford it? • Research? • Time commitment?

3. 2011-2012 Clinical Applicant Data Results

4. Why is it competitive? • Apply to work with 1 mentor • Tuition waived • Stipend paid by TA/RA assistantship (20 hrs/week) • Fellowships • Health care coverage • Schools won’t take you in they don’t have funding

5. Increasing Your Chances • Apply to 10-12 or more programs • Don’t restrict yourself geographically • Program rankings • Narrow your research interests • Start applications early • Deadlines are in Dec/Jan • Have a back-up plan

6. Emailing Professors Before Submitting Application • New trend • You may not hear a response • Example: • “Dear Dr. ____ My name is Amy Stamates, and I am Cecile Marczinski's Research Assistant at Northern Kentucky University. I'm interested in applying to ____ and joining your lab. I was hoping you might have some time to discuss your research and any opportunities that might be available for incoming graduate students to work in your lab for 2013. I can call at your convenience, or we can correspond via e-mail if that works best. Thank you for your time.”

7. Application Requirements • Official Transcripts ($7) • GPA: 3.5 or higher • Official Revised GRE ($185) • Above 300 total raw score • 50th percentile • Writing section: 4.0 or above • Option to mail 4 for free ($25) • Barron’s GRE Prep • Subject test is required sometimes • Offered only in April, October, and November

8. Application Requirements • 3 Letters of Recommendation • Choose professors/mentors that know you well and will write a great letter • Most will not let you read it before submitting • Follow NKU guidelines • Give them enough notice

9. Statement of Purpose • Rule #1: Follow program instructions • For example: word count restrictions, clinical training • Rule #2: Don’t get too personal • Rule #3: Revise, revise, revise • Roughly 750 words (2-3 pages) • Describe academic background • Research experience • Research interests • Desired mentor and your “fit” with the program • Future goals

10. Reading Material • Appleby, D.C & Appleby, K.M. (2006). Kisses of Death in the Graduate School Application Process. Teaching of Psychology.

11. Additional Items • Department vs. Graduate School Application • Type everything! • Sometimes Sample of Work • Ideally, publication • If not, Honor’s thesis or research paper • Curriculum Vitae • Application Fee ($30-$70) • If mailing via postal service, write cover letter

12. Application Timeline

13. Tips for Organization Use a Excel for organizing requirements • Make spreadsheet for Recommenders • Username/password spreadsheet

14. Phone Interviews • Professors may ask for a phone interview as a pre-screening to the actual Interview Day • This is a good time to get a sense of the professor’s personality, research interests, and any general questions you have about the program and its requirements • They may give you contact information for current graduate students • Take notes!

15. Interview Day or Weekend • Interview Days/Weekends are January-March • Stay with graduate student host • Take advantage, especially if the student is in the lab you are applying to • Sleeping arrangements vary

16. Pre-Interview Day Gathering • Typically, there is a gathering the night before interviews • Meet everyone, including applicants you are against. • No more than 2 drinks

17. Interview Day • Starts at 8 AM • Ends at 4 or 5 PM • 30 minute interviews with • Future mentor • Current Lab Students • Campus Tour • Lab Tour • Other Faculty and Graduate Students • Breakfast and lunch provided • Stay excited! • Drink coffee! • The interviewers are tired too!

18. Post-Interview Party • Graduate students throw a post-interview party • Once again, DO NOT get drunk • Fellow applicants could potentially be your cohort, so make friends!

19. Dress Code • Interview Day • Wear a suit • Recommend no skirts or heels • Pre-Interview/Post-Interview Parties • Jeans are OK • No t-shirts or gym shoes

20. Questions They Will Ask You • What research experience do you have? • What are your research interests? • Why did you apply to this program? • What career do you eventually want? • What do you do for fun? • What other programs did you apply to?

21. Caught Off-Guard Questions • What is your favorite movie and why? • How do you relieve stress? • What has been the most difficult/rewarding part of your psychology career?

22. Ask Questions! • Clinical • Describe the clinical training process. • External placements? • What is your match rate? • Research • Describe current research • How many students to you advise? • Grant writing/publication/conference opportunities? • Teaching opportunities? • Current Graduate Students • Like/Dislike about the program? • Cost of living? • Mentoring style?

23. The Waiting Game • Acceptance deadline is April 15th • Accepted, Wait-listed, or Rejected

24. “I didn’t get in. Now what?” • Cry... • Remember your back-up plan • Figure out WHY you didn’t in

25. Contact Information • hengesa1@nku.edu • MEP 142 in the AmED Research Lab • Academic website: Astamates.jimdo.com