1. Getting into Graduate School and Life After
Presented By:
Dr. Carlee Beth Hawkins
Dr. Sheryl Reminger
Dr. Frances Shen
Robin Vansacik

2. Overview
What is the difference between Master’s, Psy.D., and Ph.D. programs?
What criteria is important for admission?
How to get good recommendation letters?
What are personal statements?
How to prep for the GREs?
How to research schools?

3. Questions to Consider
Do you have a clear idea of the career you want to pursue?
Is there another avenue for continued learning?  
Have you looked at graduate certification programs?
What is your motivation for continuing your education?
Is this the right time for graduate school or should you get more experience in the field?
Today, will focus on what to do to get in, but will have another workshop in the Spring on thinking about what to do with your psychology degree more broadly. 

4. Master’s Degree vs. Doctoral Degree
Master’s Degree (M.A., M.S., M.S.W.)
Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., M.D.)
Shorter time to complete (2-4 years)
Longer time to complete (4-8 years)
Less expensive
More expensive
Less stringent admission requirements
More stringent admission requirements
May be the best degree for certain careers (e.g., counselor, social worker)
May be the best degree for certain careers (e.g., psychologist, professor)
Potentially lower salaries
Potentially higher salaries
Potentially fewer career options
Potentially more career options
Ph.D. vs. Psy.D.
Ph.D.
Psy.D.
More research-oriented
More practice-oriented
Commonly acquired at universities
Commonly acquired at professional schools
Less expensive
More expensive
More financial assistance
Less financial assistance
More stringent admission requirements
Less stringent admission requirements
Longer time to complete (6-8 years)
Shorter time to complete (4-7 years)

5. Number of Applications and Acceptances 2013-2014 Academic Year
APA Education Directorate (2016), N = 520 departments. 1,688 programs

6. APA-Accredited Clinical Programs
Type of Program
Number of Programs
Number of Applications
% Accepted
% Students Awarded Assistantship
% Students Awarded Assistantship and Tuition
Free-standing Psy.D. 18
227 50 13 1
University Professional School Psy.D. 19
207 43 27 5
University Psychology Department Psy.D. 17
141 26
Practice-oriented Ph.D. 9
155 16 57 42
Practice- & research-oriented Ph.D. 67
160 14 20 54
Research-oriented Ph.D. 93
199 7 8 89
All Clinical Programs
223
183
Source: Norcross, Ellis, & Sayette (2010)

7. Questions?

8. Application Components
Curriculum vita – a resume for academics
Letters of recommendation – establish good relationships with 3 professors or relevant supervisors
Personal statement – obtain research, internship, volunteer, service and/or work experience to draw from
GRE scores – general and perhaps subject test
Transcripts – maintain good grades; take advanced classes
Fees – for applications, transcripts, GRE
Interview – may include travel (funded or not)
Deadlines – often fall/winter; depends on program

9. Which criteria is most important?
Rank
Dimension
Masters
Doctoral
Letters of recommendation
GPA
Personal statement
GRE scores
Research experience
Interview
Work experience
Clinically related service
Extracurricular/Psi Chi

10. Which criteria is most important?
Rank
Dimension
Masters
Doctoral
Letters of recommendation 2 1
GPA
Personal statement 3
GRE scores 4
Research experience 6 5
Interview
Work experience 8 7
Clinically related service
Extracurricular/Psi Chi 9
Norcross et al., 2005 & Landrum et al., 1994

11. Letters of Recommendation
How many do you need?
Who should you ask?
At least 2 faculty, typically in your major
People who can speak to:
Academic abilities and potential for graduate work
Clinical and/or Research skills
Any honors or awards you have received
Your career interests and qualifications for that career
Are of good quality
Have an established, positive relationship with the writer

12. Letters of Recommendation
How should you ask?
Preferably, in person
Give plenty of notice (2 weeks +)
Be clear about addresses, instructions, and deadlines
Provide personal statement, GRE scores, and CV
If asking professors in the Psychology Department, complete “Letter of Recommendation Form” at:

13. Personal Statement Purpose of Personal Statement?
Get to know you beyond your “stats”
Assessment of communication & writing skills
Assessment of fit between their program and you!
How to write a personal statement?
Get their attention!
Focus on specifics and examples, not generalizations
Discuss: career goals, why graduate school, why this program
Tailor each statement to the school/program
Follow any instructions
Get feedback and edit, edit, edit!

14. Questions?

15. GRE: The Graduate Record Exam
GRE website:
General Test and Subject Test (Psychology)
Information about the GRE computer-based General Test
3 hour, 45 minute exam
2 Verbal Reasoning, 2 Quantitative Reasoning, and 2 Analytical Writing sections (in addition to unscored “Research” components)
Where do I take it?
Testing centers in Decatur, Peoria, St. Louis, Chicago
How much does it cost to take?
$205 for the General Test, $150 for the Subject Test
How do I study for it?
ETS preparation materials, Career Development Center online course, GRE study guides and practice test books

16. How to research schools?
Which programs should I apply to?
Explore your career options
Look up information on the web
Be careful to use only “reputable” sources!
See “Resources for Lists of Graduate Schools” handout
Talk to professors or professionals in the community
Consider both master’s and doctoral programs
Consider a mix of desirable and back-up programs

17. Resources at UIS to Help
The UIS Career Development Center can help!
The Career Development Center can…
Help you create a grad school application timeline with all of the schools you are interested in
Help you research schools and programs
Help with resumes, applications, and personal statements
Offer mock interviews for job and school interviews
Help you find valuable experience opportunities that may help you get into grad school

18. Additional Resources
Graduate study in psychology (published by APA every year)
Insider's guide to graduate programs in clinical and counseling psychology (Norcross & Sayette, 2016)
The psychology major: Career options and strategies for success (Landrum & Davis, 2013)
Applying to graduate school in psychology (Kracen & Wallace, 2008)
Getting in: A step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology (APA, 2007)
The complete guide to graduate school admission: Psychology, counseling and related fields (Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman, 2000)
How are admissions decisions made for clinical psychology graduate programs? (Pashak, Handal, & Ubinger, 2012)

19. Questions?