In the last blog, we focused on your reasons for going to graduate school – or, you can say you selected your destination in putting together your roadmap to graduate school. If need be, go back and reread that blog and review our road sign. If you’re not sure which route you want to travel, then the next steps will be difficult –
knowing what you want to do after graduate school is an important part of getting into graduate school.
Your next step will be selecting specific programs that you will apply to (keeping to our analogy, this is researching your route options). To do this, start evaluating programs individually, asking specific questions of each. You are going to divide your questions into three categories:
- What it takes to get into a program,
- What it takes to get through the program, and
- What happens once you get out of the program?
Getting In
You are probably most comfortable with the first set of questions below, as they were very similar to the questions you probably asked when you applied to go to undergrad. Look through the application requirements of each program and pay attention to the following things:
Pay close attention to the essays and personal statements: Programs use these to determine if you are a good match for the program, and what training they offer. For example, if you are asked to write about your research experience, and what research questions you would want to pursue as a graduate student, then chances are you’re applying to a research-heavy program. Is that the type of program you’re interested in?
Getting Through
It may sound overly simple, but remember that in order to graduate with a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology, you need to be able to complete all the coursework, dissertation or thesis work, and any required internships. Many departments list the basic outline of each program’s required courses, dissertation work, and required internships on their website, so take time to review those in detail. After reviewing those requirements, see if you can find answers to the following:
There may be other questions you have as you read through the program description – remember, each program is different. If you cannot find answers to your questions, then send a friendly email asking for clarification.
Getting Out
We started this series with WHY you wanted to go to graduate school, and it will be a common theme. As you look at individual programs, look for information about graduation rates, and what the graduates do afterward.
For those interested in APA accredited health service psychology programs (doctoral-level programs in clinical, counseling, or school), this information is required to be easily found on the program’s website. I recommend that everyone take a look at the types of questions and data that these programs list, as it serves as a basis of questions that all students should ask about a particular program, be it developmental, behavioral neuroscience, personality, or industrial/organizational. Examples of questions to ask include:
A Final Thought
What we have outlined here is how to whittle down the types of programs and training that are best for you.
The goal is to have a strategic, planned approach to applying to graduate school, and that means finding a manageable number of programs that meet your needs, you have a solid chance of getting into, and you understand what it takes to get through the program.
In a word, we are talking about fit – a concept we will talk more about in the next blog, when we discuss actually completing your application (writing personal statements, essays, and getting letters of recommendation).
Helpful Additional Resources:
Doctoral Degrees In Psychology: How Are They Different, Or Not So Different?: Clarifying key distinctions between the PhD and PsyD degrees.
APA’s Applying to Graduate School: This is your one-stop-shop for learning more about graduate study in psychology, researching your options, developing a plan for getting in, and actually applying!
American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS) roadmap infographic on getting into graduate school.
APA’s Frequently Asked Questions about Graduate School: This list of questions covers everything from what it means to study psychology at the graduate level, to defining and explaining APA accreditation, and much more!
Graduate Study in Psychology, 2020 is a guide with admissions information for more than 1,500 masters and doctoral programs at over 500 schools and departments of psychology in the United States and Canada. This resource allows you to review and compare each program’s applications and enrollments, financial assistance, and support provided, type of training offered and other relevant information to assist with your decision making. Preview the online resource here.
PSYCAS, APA’s centralized application service. PSYCAS is a service for graduate programs and applicants. Students create a single account to manage all their application materials, submit letters of reference, and keep track of all the deadlines and materials for each program. Check out the current list of participating programs!
Graduate Education Webinars and Events Calendar – learn about the upcoming webinars and events hosted by APA’s Office of Graduate and Postgraduate Education & Training.
