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Finishing the Undergraduate Marathon

Finishing the Undergraduate Marathon. Preparation for Graduate Studies in Psychology Presented by: Ren ée El-Gabalawy . Training Devotion Stamina Commitment . What it takes to win a marathon . Training and Preparation. GPA

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Finishing the Undergraduate Marathon

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  1. Finishing the Undergraduate Marathon Preparation for Graduate Studies in Psychology Presented by: Renée El-Gabalawy

  2. Training Devotion Stamina Commitment What it takes to win a marathon

  3. Training and Preparation • GPA • Extracurricular activities (e.g., research, teaching, and volunteering) • GRE • Developing professional relationships • Funding and graduate school applications

  4. Ideal Timeline Year 1: University 1 Year 2: • Register in honours psychology program (B.A. or B.Sc.) • Volunteer as a research assistant (or other psychology related endeavours)

  5. Ideal Timeline Year 3: • Paid or volunteer research assistant • January-February: Set up several interviews with potential undergraduate advisors • January-August: Study and register for your GRE • Summer: Write your GRE • Apply for TA positions CUPE Student: Human Resources

  6. Ideal Timeline Year 4: • Write honours thesis • TA 1 or 2 classes or RA • September: Prepare national funding applications (SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC) • November: Prepare grad school applications Note: Deadlines range from December 1st to January 15th

  7. Why volunteer as a research assistant? • Opportunity for paid work • Addition to curriculum vitae • Possibility for publications • Building a relationship with a professor (letters of reference, honours and MA advisors) Some people see being an RA as essential for grad school applications

  8. Other unique volunteering/work opportunities in the community • WISH Clinic • Klinic • Women’s Health Clinic • St. Amant’s • Canadian Mental Health Association • Winnipeg Regional Health Authority • Addictions Foundation of Manitoba • Macdonald Youth Services • Artbeat Studio …to name a few

  9. Why set up interviews in January for honours advisors? • First pick • Options for research • Starting off on the right foot • Possibility of early research assistantships Do your homework! Check out potential advisors at: http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/psychology/people/faculty_bios.html

  10. The GRE

  11. Purpose: To make your life miserable True Purpose: To use as an evaluative tool in your application for graduate school Is it important? Yes, but it depends Preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

  12. It depends? • On prospective schools • The strength of other aspects of your application Should you prepare? Absolutely!

  13. GRE Prep Tools

  14. GRE Forerunners

  15. GRE Prep: Advice from Grad Students “Princeton Review SUCKED for the General. I would recommend Kaplens instead “ “I had a book from Princeton Review that I found extremely helpful. It came with a CD-Rom with practice tests formatted like the GRE and the book had old paper and pencil versions to practice with as well”

  16. Components to the GRE 1) Quantitative Reasoning (math) Problem solving, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis 2) Verbal Reasoning (english) Reading comprehension, verbal and analogical reasoning, evaluating written material

  17. Components to the GRE 3) Analytic Writing (essays) Critical thinking and analytic writing skills

  18. Logistics Score range: Verbal and Quant: 200-800 (10 pt increments) Analytic: 0-6 (0.5 pt increments) Cost: $180 (US) You can write the GRE 1 per month but no more than 5 times within a 12 month period

  19. Sample Questions Analytic Issue: "The study of an academic discipline alters the way we perceive the world. After studying the discipline, we see the same world as before, but with different eyes."

  20. Argument: The following appeared as a letter to the editor of a farming publication. "With continuing publicity about the need for healthful diets, and with new research about the harmful effects of eating too much sugar, nationwide demand for sugar will no doubt decline. Therefore, farmers in our state should use the land on which they currently grow sugar cane to grow peanuts, a food that is rich in protein and low in sugar. Farmers in the neighboring country of Palin greatly increased their production of peanuts last year, and their total revenues from that crop were quite high."

  21. Verbal Analogies: COLOR: SPECTRUM • Tone: Scale • Sound: Waves • Verse: Poem • Dimension: Space • Cell: Organism

  22. Quantitative Quantitative Comparisons: Column A Column B (-6) ^4 (-6)^5 • if the quantity in Column A is greater • if the quantity in Column B is greater • if the two quantities are equal • if the relationship cannot be determined from the information given

  23. Adaptive Testing A form of computer-based test that adapts to the examinee's ability level

  24. Test Day • Arrive early • Do not do anything out of the ordinary (e.g., decide to be a coffee drinker) • Bring identification • Bring snack and change • Have an idea of what grad schools you will be applying to so you can directly send your scores (for free!)

  25. GRE Prep: Things that work for everyone Verbal: • Flashcards • Word roots • Memorizing words from ‘target lists’ in workbook • Be curious Quantitative: • Practice makes perfect

  26. Analytic: • Use examples from GRE website • Practice on simple word processor • Look over high scoring and low scoring essays • Familiarize yourself with components required to succeed

  27. General Practice: • Practice tests (get as many as you can!) • ETS practice* • Practice timing • Work on your weaknesses • Conservation of scrap paper

  28. Answering Questions: • Spend time on question 1 • Complete all questions. If your running out of time – guess • Don’t randomly guess, use LOGIC

  29. Things you SHOULDN’T do…. • Not study • Cram • Try to memorize the entire dictionary • Write during a high stress time (e.g., November) • Read random intro math and verbal reviews

  30. Final Point Always accept your score at the end of the GRE and don’t beat yourself up about it

  31. Psychology GRE • Required at some schools • Intro psych knowledge (experimental/natural science, social/social science, general) • Preparation: Specialty prep or intro psych books

  32. Psychology GRE: Logistics • Paper and pencil • 205 multiple choice questions • Fee: $150 (US) • Offered in October, November, and April

  33. Graduate Funding

  34. Funding Applications When in doubt…apply! Deadlines (national funding): Internal: End of November External: Mid December Value and Duration: $17,500 (12 months)

  35. Tri-Council Funding Bodies 1) SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) www.sshrc.org 2) CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca 3) NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada) www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca

  36. Other Funding Opportunities • UMGF/MGS ($12,000-$15,000/year) Deadline: February (automatic) • MHRC (Manitoba Health Research Council; $17,850) Deadline: January • Other (check out the award database) http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/gradawards/

  37. How to Apply • Prepare application (online) • 2-3 letters of reference • 1-2 page research proposal • Common CV

  38. What schools and how many? • Check out CPA accredited schools at: www.cpa.ca (under: accreditation) How many? 2: don’t have a shot 4: think you have a shot 2: know you’ll get in

  39. Preparing Grad School Applications • Contact prospective advisors in September • Give 1 month notice for referees (i.e., letters of reference) • Prepare personal statement • Order transcripts and GRE scores (costs money) • Prepare CV

  40. Choosing an Advisor Important questions: Does this advisor have a developed research program? Does this advisor have a website? Has this advisor recently published? Is this advisor currently funded? Does this advisor have other students? Is this advisors research interests similar to mine?

  41. Contacting Prospective Advisors Notes: Clear and concise Non-exhaustive Knowledgeable Non-binding

  42. Making a Final Decision • Talk to advisor’s current students • Be familiar with funding (don’t be afraid to ask) • Be familiar with external costs (e.g., cost of living)

  43. Programs at the U of M Psychology: • Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) • Brain and Cognitive Science • Clinical • Developmental • Social and Personality • Methodology • School Community Health Sciences

  44. Acknowledgements Special thanks to: Dr. Corey Mackenzie Adam Rossi Kristin Reynolds Lisa Dredger & Clinical MA 1 and 2 Students

  45. Questions Contact me: relgabalawy@gmail.com

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