thinking about applying to graduate school?

Thinking about applying to

graduate school?What can you do this summer to prepare?

Is graduate school for you?

O What are your career goals?O Do you need to go to graduate school?

O Graduate school is a huge investment O Potential 2-7 (or more) yearsO A lot of moneyO Time commitment (full time job)

O Only 33% of undergrads went directly into a Ph.D. program (2011).O If you are feeling burnt out – think about

postponing for a yearO Don’t waste the year off!

Sorting out the lettersO M.S or M.A

O 2 years, thesisO Can be a springboard into a doctoral program

O Doctoral DegreesO 5-7 years (+ 1 year internship for clinical)O Ph.D. – doctor of philosophy

O Research degreeO Emphasized research and academic training

O Clinical – trains for clinical practice as wellO Psy.D. – doctor of psychology

O Professional degreeO Emphasizes clinical training – NOT research or teachingO More $, less financial support

So you want to go to grad school….

Doctoral Programs Masters Programs

O Rated High ImportanceO Letters of Rec (99%)O GPA (73%)O Research Exp (72%)O GRE (59%)O Interview (57%)

O Overall fit or match!

O Rated High ImportanceO GPA (79%)O Letter of Rec (74%)O GRE (48%)O Research Exp (27%)O Interview (26%)

O Overall fit or match!

What should you do this summer to help prepare?

1. GRE!! (more on this later)2. Find programs of interest

O Top 5 programs handout3. Start preparing drafts of

your documents

How to find information about programs?

O Graduate Study in Psychology book O around $25O updated every year

O Online – visit the school’s online siteO Talk to graduate students enrolled in the

program – they can give you insider information / views on the program

How to choose a ProgramO If it is a Ph.D. program that you are considering,

can you get your Master’s Degree along the way? O If you are considering a clinical program, is it APA

approved? O Is the school located in a place that you are

willing to live for two to six years? O Are the research interests of the faculty

compatible with yours? O What is the reputation of the department?

O For information about the national rankings of various programs, visit the following website: http://www.socialpsychology.org/ranking.htm

Documents you can start working on

OPersonal statementOCurriculum VitaOGetting your letter writers

figured out

OMany schools have specific admission essay prompts

The GRE…O Alyssa Nagy

O Campus Manager of Graduate Programs for Kaplan

Future questionsO Come talk to me!! O Smarkuna@depaul.eduO 773-325-4623O Byrne Hall 518

O Look for focused seminars in the fallO Personal statements and vitasO Rec lettersO Application process