Finishing the Finishing the Undergraduate MarathonUndergraduate Marathon

Preparation for Graduate Studies in Preparation for Graduate Studies in PsychologyPsychology

Presented by: RenPresented by: Renée El-Gabalawy ée El-Gabalawy

What it takes to win a What it takes to win a marathon marathon

Training Training

Devotion Devotion

Stamina Stamina

Commitment Commitment

Training and PreparationTraining and Preparation

GPAGPA Extracurricular activities (e.g., Extracurricular activities (e.g.,

research, teaching, and research, teaching, and volunteering)volunteering)

GREGRE Developing professional Developing professional

relationships relationships Funding and graduate school Funding and graduate school

applications applications

Ideal Timeline Ideal Timeline

Year 1Year 1::

University 1 University 1

Year 2Year 2:: Register in honours psychology Register in honours psychology

program (B.A. or B.Sc.) program (B.A. or B.Sc.) Volunteer as a research assistant (or Volunteer as a research assistant (or

other psychology related other psychology related endeavours)endeavours)

Ideal Timeline Ideal Timeline

Year 3:Year 3: Paid or volunteer research assistant Paid or volunteer research assistant January-February: Set up several January-February: Set up several

interviews with potential interviews with potential undergraduate advisors undergraduate advisors

January-August: Study and register January-August: Study and register for your GREfor your GRE

Summer: Write your GRESummer: Write your GRE Apply for TA positions Apply for TA positions CUPE Student: Human CUPE Student: Human

Resources Resources

Ideal TimelineIdeal Timeline

Year 4:Year 4: Write honours thesis Write honours thesis TA 1 or 2 classes or RA TA 1 or 2 classes or RA September: Prepare national funding September: Prepare national funding

applications (SSHRC, CIHR, applications (SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC)NSERC)

November: Prepare grad school November: Prepare grad school applicationsapplications

NoteNote: : Deadlines range from December Deadlines range from December 11stst to January 15 to January 15thth

Why volunteer as a research Why volunteer as a research assistant?assistant? Opportunity for paid work Opportunity for paid work Addition to curriculum vitaeAddition to curriculum vitae Possibility for publications Possibility for publications Building a relationship with a Building a relationship with a

professor (letters of reference, professor (letters of reference, honours and MA advisors) honours and MA advisors)

Some people see being an RA as Some people see being an RA as

essential for grad school applicationsessential for grad school applications

Other unique volunteering/work Other unique volunteering/work opportunities in the communityopportunities in the community

WISH ClinicWISH Clinic KlinicKlinic Women’s Health ClinicWomen’s Health Clinic St. Amant’s St. Amant’s Canadian Mental Health AssociationCanadian Mental Health Association Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Macdonald Youth Services Macdonald Youth Services Artbeat StudioArtbeat Studio……to name a few to name a few

Why set up interviews in Why set up interviews in January for honours advisors? January for honours advisors? First pick First pick Options for research Options for research Starting off on the right foot Starting off on the right foot Possibility of early research Possibility of early research

assistantshipsassistantships

Do your homework! Check out potential Do your homework! Check out potential advisors at:advisors at:

http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/psychology/people/departments/psychology/people/faculty_bios.htmlfaculty_bios.html

The GRE The GRE

Preparation for the Graduate Preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)Record Examination (GRE) Purpose:Purpose:

To make your life miserable To make your life miserable

True Purpose:True Purpose:

To use as an evaluative tool in To use as an evaluative tool in your application for graduate your application for graduate school school

Is it important? Yes, but it dependsIs it important? Yes, but it depends

It depends?It depends?

On prospective schools On prospective schools

The strength of other aspects ofThe strength of other aspects of

your application your application

Should you prepare? Should you prepare?

Absolutely!Absolutely!

GRE Prep Tools GRE Prep Tools

GRE Forerunners GRE Forerunners

GRE Prep: Advice from Grad GRE Prep: Advice from Grad StudentsStudents

““Princeton Review SUCKED for the Princeton Review SUCKED for the General. I would recommend General. I would recommend Kaplens instead “ Kaplens instead “

““I had a book from Princeton Review I had a book from Princeton Review that I found extremely helpful. It that I found extremely helpful. It came with a CD-Rom with practice came with a CD-Rom with practice tests formatted like the GRE and the tests formatted like the GRE and the book had old paper and pencil book had old paper and pencil versions to practice with as well” versions to practice with as well”

Components to the GRE Components to the GRE

1) Quantitative Reasoning (math)1) Quantitative Reasoning (math)Problem solving, arithmetic, Problem solving, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data algebra, geometry, and data analysisanalysis

2) Verbal Reasoning (english)2) Verbal Reasoning (english)Reading comprehension, verbal Reading comprehension, verbal and analogical reasoning, and analogical reasoning, evaluating written materialevaluating written material

Components to the GREComponents to the GRE

3) Analytic Writing (essays) 3) Analytic Writing (essays)

Critical thinking and analytic Critical thinking and analytic

writing skills writing skills

Logistics Logistics

Score range:Score range:Verbal and QuantVerbal and Quant: 200-800: 200-800(10 pt increments)(10 pt increments)AnalyticAnalytic: 0-6 (0.5 pt increments): 0-6 (0.5 pt increments)

Cost:Cost: $180 (US) $180 (US)

You can write the GRE 1 per month butYou can write the GRE 1 per month but no more than 5 times within a 12 no more than 5 times within a 12 month periodmonth period

SectionSection No. of No. of questionsquestions

Time (min)Time (min)

Analytic Analytic Writing Writing

1 “issue” 1 “issue” and and

“argument” “argument” taskstasks

Issue: 45Issue: 45

Arg.: 30 Arg.: 30

Verbal Verbal Reasoning Reasoning

3030 3030

Quantitative Quantitative ReasoningReasoning

2828 4545

Unscored Unscored Varies Varies Varies Varies

ResearchResearch VariesVaries Varies Varies

Sample Questions Sample Questions

AnalyticAnalytic

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

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."

VerbalVerbal

Analogies:Analogies:

COLOR: SPECTRUMCOLOR: SPECTRUM

A)A) Tone: ScaleTone: Scale

B)B) Sound: WavesSound: Waves

C)C) Verse: PoemVerse: Poem

D)D) Dimension: SpaceDimension: Space

E)E) Cell: Organism Cell: Organism

Quantitative Quantitative

Quantitative Comparisons:Quantitative Comparisons: Column A Column BColumn A Column B (-6) ^4 (-6)^5(-6) ^4 (-6)^5

A)A) if the quantity in Column A is if the quantity in Column A is greatergreater

B)B) if the quantity in Column B is if the quantity in Column B is greater greater

C)C) if the two quantities are equal if the two quantities are equal D)D) if the relationship cannot be if the relationship cannot be

determined from the information determined from the information givengiven

Adaptive Testing Adaptive Testing A form of computer-based test that adapts to the A form of computer-based test that adapts to the

examinee's ability level examinee's ability level

Test Day 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!)

GRE Prep: Things that work GRE Prep: Things that work for everyonefor everyone

Verbal:Verbal: Flashcards Flashcards Word rootsWord roots Memorizing words from ‘target lists’ Memorizing words from ‘target lists’

in workbook in workbook Be curious Be curious

Quantitative: Quantitative: Practice makes perfect Practice makes perfect

Analytic:Analytic: Use examples from GRE Use examples from GRE

website website Practice on simple word Practice on simple word

processor processor Look over high scoring and low Look over high scoring and low

scoring essaysscoring essays Familiarize yourself with Familiarize yourself with

components required to components required to succeedsucceed

General Practice:General Practice: Practice tests (get as many as Practice tests (get as many as

you can!) you can!) ETS practice*ETS practice* Practice timing Practice timing Work on your weaknesses Work on your weaknesses Conservation of scrap paper Conservation of scrap paper

Answering Questions: Answering Questions: Spend time on question 1 Spend time on question 1 Complete all questions. If your Complete all questions. If your

running out of time – guessrunning out of time – guess Don’t randomly guess, use Don’t randomly guess, use

LOGIC LOGIC

Things you SHOULDN’T do…. Things you SHOULDN’T do….

Not studyNot study CramCram Try to memorize the entire Try to memorize the entire

dictionary dictionary Write during a high stress time Write during a high stress time

(e.g., November)(e.g., November) Read random intro math and Read random intro math and

verbal reviews verbal reviews

Final Point Final Point

Always accept your score at the Always accept your score at the

end of the GRE and don’t beat end of the GRE and don’t beat

yourself up about it yourself up about it

Psychology GRE Psychology GRE

Required at some schools Required at some schools

Intro psych knowledgeIntro psych knowledge(experimental/natural science, (experimental/natural science, social/social science, general)social/social science, general)

Preparation: Specialty prep or Preparation: Specialty prep or intro psych booksintro psych books

Psychology GRE: Logistics Psychology GRE: Logistics

Paper and pencilPaper and pencil

205 multiple choice questions205 multiple choice questions

Fee: $150 (US) Fee: $150 (US)

Offered in October, November, Offered in October, November, and April and April

Graduate Funding Graduate Funding

Funding ApplicationsFunding Applications

When in doubt…apply! When in doubt…apply!

Deadlines (national funding):Deadlines (national funding):Internal: End of NovemberInternal: End of NovemberExternal: Mid December External: Mid December

Value and Duration: Value and Duration: $17,500 (12 months) $17,500 (12 months)

Tri-Council Funding Bodies Tri-Council Funding Bodies

1) 1) SSHRCSSHRC (Social Sciences and (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)Humanities Research Council)www.sshrc.orgwww.sshrc.org

2) 2) CIHR CIHR (Canadian Institutes of (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)Health Research)www.cihr-irsc.gc.cawww.cihr-irsc.gc.ca

3) 3) NSERC NSERC (Natural Sciences and (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada)Engineering Research Council of Canada)www.nserc-crsng.gc.cawww.nserc-crsng.gc.ca

Other Funding OpportunitiesOther Funding Opportunities

UMGF/MGSUMGF/MGS ($12,000-$15,000/year) ($12,000-$15,000/year) Deadline: February (automatic)Deadline: February (automatic)

MHRCMHRC (Manitoba Health Research (Manitoba Health Research Council; $17,850)Council; $17,850)

Deadline: January Deadline: January

OtherOther (check out the award database) (check out the award database) http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/

gradawards/gradawards/

How to ApplyHow to Apply

Prepare application (online)Prepare application (online)

2-3 letters of reference 2-3 letters of reference

1-2 page research proposal 1-2 page research proposal

Common CVCommon CV

What schools and how many?What schools and how many?

Check out CPA accredited Check out CPA accredited schools at:schools at:

www.cpa.ca (under: accreditation) (under: accreditation)

How many?How many?

2: don’t have a shot 2: don’t have a shot

4: think you have a shot4: think you have a shot

2: know you’ll get in 2: know you’ll get in

Preparing Grad School Preparing Grad School ApplicationsApplications

Contact prospective advisors in Contact prospective advisors in September September

Give 1 month notice for referees Give 1 month notice for referees (i.e., letters of reference)(i.e., letters of reference)

Prepare personal statement Prepare personal statement Order transcripts and GRE Order transcripts and GRE

scores (costs money)scores (costs money) Prepare CV Prepare CV

Choosing an Advisor Choosing an Advisor Important questions:Important questions:

Does this advisor have a Does this advisor have a developed research program?developed research program?

Does this advisor have a website?Does this advisor have a website?

Has this advisor recently published?Has this advisor recently published?

Is this advisor currently funded?Is this advisor currently funded?

Does this advisor have other Does this advisor have other students?students?

Is this advisors research interests similar toIs this advisors research interests similar tomine?mine?

Contacting Prospective Contacting Prospective AdvisorsAdvisors

Notes:Notes:Clear and concise Clear and concise Non-exhaustive Non-exhaustive Knowledgeable Knowledgeable Non-binding Non-binding

EMAIL

Introduction Research Interests Goals

Inquiry of Acceptance

Making a Final Decision Making a Final Decision

Talk to advisor’s current Talk to advisor’s current studentsstudents

Be familiar with funding (don’t Be familiar with funding (don’t

be afraid to ask)be afraid to ask)

Be familiar with external costs Be familiar with external costs (e.g., cost of living)(e.g., cost of living)

Programs at the U of MPrograms at the U of M

PsychologyPsychology:: Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Brain and Cognitive ScienceBrain and Cognitive Science Clinical Clinical DevelopmentalDevelopmental Social and Personality Social and Personality Methodology Methodology SchoolSchool

Community Health SciencesCommunity Health Sciences

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

Special thanks to:Special thanks to:

Dr. Corey Mackenzie

Adam Rossi

Kristin Reynolds

Lisa Dredger

& Clinical MA 1 and 2 Students

Questions Questions

Contact me: relgabalawy@gmail.com