Seminar Lecture 7 3.3

Do you need to go to Grad School
- Yes:
  - Licensed Psychologist
  - Licensed pro counselor
  - Licensed School Psych
  - Academia as professor and/or researcher
- No:
  - You're unsure abt career direction
  - You're not sure if clinical is your thing
  - You're concerned about incurring debt
  - You don't like school
  - Because teachers, parents, and friends say you should
- Why:
  - Why do you want or need it?
  - How will you use it?
  - What kind of psych do you see yourself doing?
  - Consider your lvls of motivation, interest, & initiative
Grad School is very competitive, doctoral programs more so than master's
Financial Considerations
- application process
- tuition is higher for grad school. What funding is available?
Related Grad Degrees:
- Masters
  - Usually 2 yrs (60 hrs)
  - MA, M., Ed, MBA, MSW, MMFT
- Specialist
  - Expanded Masters
  - 3+ yrs
  - Often in School Psych
- Professional School
  - Med, PA, OT, Law
- Doctoral
  - Usually either research or applied or both
  - Typically leads to psychologist
    - PhD
    - EdD
    - PsyD
Prep for Grad school
- process of building a history of experiences & accomplishments
  - Beginning early on
    - Career exploration exercises (CDC, faculty)
    - Explore options, settle on minors
    - Take Stats & Research Methods
    - Begin doing volunteer wok & job shadowing
    - Begin getting involved in departmental events
    - Begin connecting w/faculty & other students
    - Hold leadership roles
    - Strong academic performance
    - Get to know your faculty
      - Begin forming collaborative relationships. Research is a good way to do this
      - Take more than one class from your favorites
      - Visit during office hours for outside-the-classrooms discussions
      - Contribute constructively to classroom discussions
      - Be visible
      - Stand out from your peers in a good way
    - Why get involved in research?
      - Doc programs are research programs
      - Demonstrates interest in and knowledge of the process
      - Helps understand the research you read
      - Acquire knowledge and skills outside the classroom
      - Opportunity to get to know faculty by working with them
      - Develop skills in project management, teamwork, critical thinking, and written and oral communication skills
      - Could lead to potential publications and/or presentations
      - Prepares you for research at the grad lvl & enhances grad school app.
    - Psy 3990: Research in Psychology
      - Common tasks:
        
        Searching research literature and reading journal articles
        
        Collecting data (surveys)
        
        Coding, entering, and analyzing data
        
        Preparing a poster/paper presentation on research project
  - Applied & pro experiences
    - Internships
    - Volunteering
    - Job Shadowing
    - Relevant Job Experiences
    - Campus Organizations
    - Professional Organizations
    - Conferences
    - Leadership Roles
  - Strong academic performance
    - The minimum GPA for app isn't usually the most competitive
    - Demonstrates ability to do the work
    - Indicator of your potential for success
    - Some schools weigh other factors more heavily or look at the last 60 hours
    - You can sometimes offset low GPA in other areas
    - Begin writing CV (comprehensive pic o/ed background & academic experiences)
      - Clear: Well-organized & logical, easy to read
      - Concise: relevant and necessary
      - Complete: Includes everything you need
      - Consistent: don't mix styles/fonts
      - Correct: proper grammar
      - Current: up-to-date
    - Standardized tests:
      - GRE is most common for psych programs (general test)
      - Math, verbal reasoning, analytical writing
      - Begin studying early--4 to 6 months before you plan to take it
  - Research grad programs:
    - Determine what type of program to apply to
    - Talk to faculty advisor
    - Use online resources to research available programs
    - Things to look for:
      - Program fit
      - Program prerequisites
      - Financial assistance
      - Accreditation
      - Average GPA & GRE scores
      - Average no. o/app received
      - No. o/spots available
      - App cycle timeline
  - Letters o/recommendation
    - Ask faculty you know well professionally & academically
    - Typically, you need 3 letters (ideally from faculty)
    - Start building relationships now!
    - Letters must be strong, not lukewarm. Faculty should be able to speak to your potential as a graduate student
  - Writing your personal statement:
    - Show a clear career direction and why you want to go to grad school
    - Specifically discuss why you want to get THAT degree at THAT program
    - Identify specific faculty in their program w/interests similar to yours