Graduate Programs
	Where?  |  How?  | When?  |  How many?  | Competitive? Terminal degree?  |  Strategies?  |  Cautions? Suggestions  |  Interest Statements  |  Tests & Preparation     Scores  |   Home KOD

More and more graduates of the FSC Psychology Department are considering graduate school.  Many desired positions require master’s degrees or higher. One important fact to keep in mind is that social work  and counseling are not the only fields to consider!

How do I know where to apply?

The first question to ask yourself is what you want to do 40+ hours a week for the next 5-40 years. What will keep you happy at work and provide you with a satisfying lifestyle? There is no one answer.

What if I don't know what I want to do?

Then it's probably not the time to go graduate school. The best advice is probably to work for a year or two. See what's out there. Try a couple of different jobs. Read about different careers and visit people in such positions. Most people are happy to spend a few minutes talking about the pros and cons of their career choices.

Aren't most people around age 22-23 when they get into graduate schools?

Maybe in the past, but less so today. Many graduate committees look for work-related experience. Graduate faculty prefer working with students who have some direction in their lives. Students who lack direction are often a waste of time - they're likely to do poorly or quit the program. Age is less of a factor in acceptance than are the goals you're working toward.

How do I select the graduate programs that best fit my goals?

There's not just one method. However, some strategies are better than others. The best strategies require work and time.

	Graduate School Guides may be used in the Career Services office (CC507).
	Career Services also has information on taking the GRE's and other standardized tests, financial aid for graduate school, and more.

To how many schools should I apply?

If you have an outstanding transcript and vita, 2-3 may suffice. If you are more average, 8-12 may be more realistic. Master’s-level programs vary in the number of new students enrolled - some places enroll very few graduate students, whereas others may enroll hundreds. In contrast, doctoral programs accept very few new students each year. Some programs admit 1 or 2. Few admit more than 12 in a year. Unlike other degree programs, each doctoral candidate must have a faculty member willing to work with him or her extensively for a 4- to 6-year period. This is very time-consuming and most faculty members cannot adequately serve more than 2-3 students.

So, applying to graduate school is very competitive, right?

Yes. Students should expect to receive more rejections than acceptances. It's not as much a matter of lack of qualifications, as it is a matter of "space." Ethically, graduate schools will not accept students they cannot serve well. The best advice to someone determined to get into a program is to apply every year. Following a rejection, call and ask to speak to someone on the selection committee. Ask if they can give you any specifics on why your application was rejected and how you might improve your chances of acceptance in the future. Perhaps more work experience is needed, a high score in a statistics course, an added course in some specialty area, etc. Consider working to remove such deficits during the year and then reapply.

This is an important question. Many students conceive of school as classes, papers, and tests. Graduate school includes this, but there is the added expectation that students will be self-motivated and self-disciplined. Reading requirements generally triple, as do writing expectations and orals. Excuses for late papers or poor work are inappropriate. The demands are even greater for doctoral candidates. It is likely that the student is spending many hours conducting research, teaching undergraduate classes, reading and studying in hid/her specialty area, as well as attending courses and completing those assignments and readings. It's not unusual for graduate students to study and work 7 days a week, 12-16 hours a day. Faculty members mentoring graduate students must be able to provide research experiences, teaching opportunities, and supervision regularly. Thus, "space" is a major issue.

I've noticed that some degree descriptions say, "no terminal Master’s." What does that mean?

It means that all students applying must be planning to complete their doctorates, assuming they pass all the requirements. Those desiring a master's only should apply elsewhere.

What has been described so far sounds very hit-or-miss. Is there a better strategy for students who have a pretty good idea of what they would like to be doing?

Yes, but this approach takes lots of work and time. It's not a guarantee of success. Given the effort required, it is a strategy primarily for those seeking doctoral degrees and willing/able to relocate to nearly anywhere.

Step 1: Do very well in college and do everything you can to distinguish yourself as a hard working, serious student. Get to know your faculty well. Volunteer on campus. Have a minor that further defines your interests. Learn a statistical package well. Consider taking extra computer, writing, and statistics courses. Get experience as a TA. Submit your research papers to conferences and undergraduate journals. Graduate with at least a GPA of 3.0.

Step 2: Prepare for the GRE's. Review math, vocabulary, and psychology basics. Apply for testing early to leave time for retesting. Plan not to take the tests twice. Do well the first time. On the Verbal and Quantitative portions, you will need a total score of 1200 or higher (600 each area).

Step 3: Be very specific in your field of choice - children v. adult, applied v. research, etc. This will be important in directing you to the appropriate sources for conducting your graduate school search.

Step 4: Read research journals appropriate to your chosen field, preferably those that have peer-review processes. As you read, be aware of the various topics of research. When one strikes you as most interesting, read all you can. Ask yourself - could I do this type of research for 4-6 years of my life and maybe longer? If your answer is yes, begin keeping note of the authors' names and the universities that employ them.

	Look up those schools in the graduate school guides - what are the basic requirements, costs, etc.
	Do you meet the minimum requirements?

Step 5: When you find a match between your interests and the university’s minimum requirements, write for a catalog. Also, write to the graduate program specifically and ask for a current listing of faculty and their publications. When the list arrives, read the articles published by the authors you've found most interesting. Write to the authors and ask for reprints if the articles are not available in the library. Know the articles well. Ask faculty to help you with statistics you might not understand.

Step 6: Write a letter to the authors you like. Indicate that you have been reading their papers and find their research interesting. Pose intelligent questions or make intelligent comments. You might ask a faculty member to review your letters before mailing. Most researchers are flattered by such letters. It's an excellent way to begin a correspondence - do provide an e-mail address.

Step 7: Once you feel certain that this is someone whose work you would enjoy and a personality you could tolerate, write a letter of intent. Specifically, ask if new graduate students will be taken on in the near future. If so, would it be possible for you to forward a copy of your resume and transcript for consideration. At this point, if feelings are mutual, the likely answer will be yes. Send your materials immediately. If the answer is no, move on to your next favorite author. Honesty can hurt, but better now than once you enroll and hate the situation. Sometimes, neither a yes or no will be received. You may be directed to apply. Do so. Often, faculty members are not permitted to accept students without committee approval. However, if a faculty member wants you, you will be accepted into the program. It is also likely that you will receive funding.

Optional: Should circumstances permit, visit the graduate school and make it a point to introduce yourself to the person(s) with whom you have been corresponding. If a conference is scheduled and the author(s) will be presenting, try to attend and hear the talks. Again, go up to the person(s) afterwards and comment on some aspect of the presentation. Basically, you are appropriately showing enthusiasm.

Any cautions with this approach?

One of the most important reasons for requesting departmental information about recent publications, as well as titles, is to reduce the chance of wasting time. Corresponding with a graduate student or temporary faculty member is fine, but it will probably not provide the foot-in-the-door for which you're looking. With respect to tenure-track faculty, two terrible things can happen to a graduate student that are beyond the student's control. First, your major professor may stop publishing. Some senior level professors no longer conduct research. If they have a recent publication or two, their names may simply be attached to papers produced by their graduate or former graduate students. They might also be reanalyzing data collected long ago, with no intent to start up new projects. As a new graduate student in need of completing a Master’s thesis and dissertation, this is bad news. A less senior faculty member or a senior faculty member with a strong recent publication history are far better targets! Second, your major professor may leave. Early in academicians' careers, position changes every 2-3 years are not uncommon. Sometimes you have the option of transferring along with your professor. However, this can be difficult. Loss of your major professor can mean an end to your research or a shift, either of which might delay completion of your degree.

Any other suggestions on how I might increase the odds of being accepted into a graduate program?

	Apply to 6-10 programs you feel meet your goals and with which you could be comfortable for 4-6 years as a doctoral student or 2-3 at the master’s-level.
	Be clear in your goals - master’s or doctoral. If your ultimate goal is to enter a doctoral program, you do not need default master’s applications. It is wiser to use the next year well - find out what deficits your application has and work to remove these and apply again. Master’s degrees do not "transfer." As a doctoral student, you will complete course requirements and a master’s thesis within the department first, then take preliminary exams, and only then be a doctoral candidate. There are no short-cuts.
	Apply to programs not in New England or other densely populated areas of the country.

	New England is relatively snobbish when it comes to state schools. There are so many high quality private institutions that state schools are slighted, especially schools like FSC. The high quality of your education at FSC is generally overlooked. In other areas of the country, FSC is just one of many public institutions and is evaluated as such - thus, your credentials are evaluated on a fairer playing field. Additionally, New England has a reputation for high quality schools, including FSC.
	Some of the best public institutions are in the Midwest and South. The cost-of-living in these regions is also lower than in New England. If concerned about housing, most campuses offer graduate housing. Apply for such housing until comfortable with the new surroundings.
	Go to an area where your distractions are few. As a doctoral student, there is little time for weekend or summer vacations, frequent nights out, or partying. Family- and friend-related expectations may be difficult to manage as well. Moving to a location that temporarily reduces personal responsibilities/demands and limits temptations may help speed the completion of a degree.

	Apply to a range of programs in terms of competitiveness. If some of your top choices are highly competitive, apply with an understanding that you will likely be rejected. Definitely include some moderately competitive schools or some competitive schools in locations that are not of high desirability (e.g., Nebraska). Do not apply to programs you have no intention of attending!
	Hope for acceptances, but don't give up if rejected. Apply again.
	Apply early and be sure all application materials are thoroughly completed.
	When requesting official transcripts, be sure to use the appropriate forms. Telephone requests will not be honored. Before graduating, stop by the registrar's office and pick up a few transcript request forms and file them.

	If references are slow to come, send polite reminder notes. It's easy for busy faculty and employers to forget and misplace forms. (Keeping a duplicate reference form from each school applied to is not a bad idea.)
	When asking others for information (e.g., references), be sure all applicant information is completed and an addressed, stamped envelope is provided.

	Your writing ability.
	The maturity of your expectations or reasons for wanting to be a graduate student.
	Your fit with the program overall.
	Your fit with a specific faculty member who is likely to become your major professor.

What if I have trouble writing interest statements? Can I get help anywhere?

Ask a faculty member you feel comfortable with if he/she has the time and willingness to read and edit your application statements. You may be revealing very personal information, so you need to ask someone you trust. You might also take your statements to a writing tutor at CASA for a grammatical check. Ask for a staff member or professional tutor for assistance. Simply sign up for an appointment at the front table area of CASA.

Read about research on the "Kisses of Death" in writing personal statements!

What should I include in such statements?

That can vary a lot. Often it is desirable to include a concise description of some experience that helped you formulate your career interests. This could be a family or work experience, an article read, or course taken. Indicating that you have completed some self-study in the topic area can also be valuable. Be sure to cite appropriately any references. Addressing strengths and weaknesses, as well as your flexibility in working with professors and fellow students, is also often expected. Lastly, be sure what you say fits with what the program offers. It is wise to read the graduate catalog and any specifics about the program to which you are applying - if there is a mission statement for the department, read it!

Do not babble on about your experiences or become overly dramatic. Keep your writing at a professional level and tone. Also, do not pigeon-hole yourself so narrowly into an interest area that you will be perceived as impossible to fit with a faculty member and inflexible in your goals.

What standardized tests should I plan to take in case I want to go to graduate school? 

There are several tests accepted by all or some graduate programs in psychology and related fields of study. Information on test dates, specifics, and application materials are available at Career Services (CC507).

Can I prepare for the tests?

Yes. Well in advance of testing, study. Six to 12 months of study is recommended. Review math formulas or consider taking algebra and geometry courses, especially if high school was your last coverage of the topics! Study vocabulary by creating flash cards from review lists. Lastly, aside from content, learning to take the test is important. Different sections carry more weight than others. Sometime skipping items results in less penalty than wrong answers. Learning to pace yourself through timed sections is also useful.  You might to consider a visit to Career Services to see what resources they may have to offer.

How do I get such practice?

Depending on available time and money, there are several options:

	Least expensive is to plan your electives around specific content courses (e.g., algebra & geometry, specific psychology courses). Keep your textbooks and review them weeks before your test dates. You might also see what Career Services has to offer in the way of programs and other practice materials.
	Purchase test specific study guides. These books often review basic formulas and issues. Additionally, sample test are included, with answer keys. These sample tests allow you to estimate how well you are likely to do, learn when to skip items, etc. However, you are responsible for timing and grading yourself and "cheating" is easy. It is also difficult to self-diagnose exactly where your strategies have failed.
	Purchase computerized versions of the tests. Computer versions allow for practice and they will help diagnose your particular problem areas in terms of strategies and content. The Career Services (CC507) office has computerized versions of the GREs available. Call to reserve your times!
	Enroll in test-specific courses. Via practice and lectures you will become well informed on issues in standardized testing and your strengths and weaknesses. Courses range in length and cost. Generally, this is the most expensive means of preparation. There are many test preparation sites in the area. Information about the various companies that provide such services may be obtained at the Career Services.  Fees vary widely. See the appendices of this handbook for a list of companies.

Any other advise on how to boost my scores?

The night before the test, do not study. Relax, eat a good meal, and get to bed early. You should get 8 hours of sleep and wake early to a light, healthy meal. Avoid alcohol and drugs of any kind (unless prescribed by a physician). Pack a nutritious snack (and lunch if staying for the afternoon subject test). Bring pencils and your registration form only. No other materials will be permitted in the test room. Arrive at the test site well before the start of the test. Rushing will only increases anxiety. Listen to instructions carefully. Failure to start and stop when announced by the test proctors may result in dismissal. Your money will not be refunded. Do not even consider cheating! Keep your eyes on your desk or on the ceiling!

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