What do I need to do to get into graduate school?

GET GOOD GRADES

• • Overall GPA must be at least 3.0

– – Much higher to be most competitive

• • Psych GPA is likely to be more important

• • Trends are important

RESEARCH

• • If interested in research degree (Ph.D., M.S.), research experience is extremely important

– – Research assistant

– – Honors thesis

• • If interested in other degree, it helps get to know professors

GRE (www.ets.org/gre)

• • Very important

• • The better the school, the higher it’s expected to be

• • Many schools use cutoffs

– – Sometimes these cutoffs are available

– – e.g., 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300

GRE TEST PREP COURSES

1. Princeton Review – 1-800-2REVIEW

– – Average increase of 220 points

– – Multiple options

• • Classroom

• • Online

• • Tutoring

• • Crash course

– – Satisfaction Guarantee

– – www.princetonreview.com

2. Kaplan – 1-800-KAPTEST

– – Average increase of 220 points

– – Multiple options

• • Classroom

• • Online

• • Tutoring

• • Crash course

– – Guaranteed increase in score

– – www.kaplan.com

Choosing your graduate school

• • Check out American Psychological Association (www.apa.org)

• – www.apa.org/ed/graduate/

• Check out Association for Psychological Science (www.psychologicalscience.org)

– www.psychologicalscience.org/apssc/undergrad/

• • Check out Graduate Study in Psychology

• • Talk to us

The application process

• • Write or call schools for info/applications in spring of junior year

• • Start preparing for GRE in spring or summer of junior year

• • Take test in fall of senior year

• • Apply for programs in fall and winter of senior year

The application

• • Personal statement

• • References (professors)

• • Transcripts

• • Interview?