1
SOME%THOUGHTS%ON%APPLYING%TO%
GRADUATE%SCHOOL%IN%PSYCHOLO G Y %
%
Resources:%%
!""#$%%&&&'()*'+,(%-./#0123%45"*!67286739:;,673<*!==>673?,@5*+'#,AB
B
!""#$%%.5"*!'&+C'()*'+,(%#:=A+885=);>D,+@+>=#.+)"%B
B
!""#$%%&&&';#;'=:E%+,(*;"5=)%E:;,%;##>F5)E';8#GB
B
!""#$%%E:;,D8*!==>8'(8)+&8':;)H5)E8;),:+@5+& 8'*=. %C+8"DE:;,(;"+D8*!==>8%"=#D!(. ;)5"5+8D
8*!==>8%#8F*!=>=EFD:;)H5)E8B
B
IJKLKI?J$B!""#$%%E:;,D8*!==>8'(8)+&8':;)H5)E8;) ,:+@5+& 8'*=. %C+ 8"DE:;,(;"+D
8*!==>8%"=#D!+;>"!D8*!==>8%*>5)5*;>D#8F*!=>=EFD:;)H5)E8 B
B
!""#$%%&&&';.;M=)'*=.%K)85,+:8D9:;,(;"+DN:=E:;.8DI=()8+>5)ED
N8F*!=>=EF%,#%0OP7Q0R0SS%:+AT8:U0U0V8TC==H 8W5+T XY ZRW [5,T 0O7 0Q 01R Q1W 8:T0D
0WH+F&=:,8T*>5)5*;>\E:;,B
B
What%Graduate%Programs%Evaluate%You%On:%
! 9:;,+8B\BX),+:E:;,(;"+B],(*;"5=)B
! 9^]B8*=:+8B_9+)+:;>`B<(C/+*"B"+8"aB;8B)++,+,B=:B:+[(5:+,bB
! ^+*=..+),;"5=)BJ+""+:8B_5,+;>>FBA:=.B"!:++BA;*(>"FB.+.C+:8B&!=BH)=&BF=(B&+>>B;),B;:+B
5)B:+>;"+, BA5+> ,8 `B;BA= ( :" ! B>+" "+ :B8= .+"5.+ 8B* ;) BC + B8( C .5""+,bB
! ^+8+;:*!B+G#+:5+)*+8B_,+";5>+,B5)BF=(:BIcaBN+: 8 = ) ; > B8 ";"+ . +) "aB;),BJ+ ""+:8bB
! Z5"B&5"!B#:=E:;.B;),B;,@58=:B_"!+Bd.;"*!ebB
! I(::5*(>(.Bc5";+B_IcbB
! 4;)FB+G":;)+=(8BA;*"=:8B"!;"BF=(B*;) f"BH)=&B;C=("B=:B*= )":= >gBB
%
What%You%Can%Do%Now%To%Improve%Your%Application:%
Grades'
! Y;H+BF=(:BE:;,+8B8+:5=(8>F$BY!+FB.;""+:gBL="B/(8"BN8F*!=>=EFaBF=(:B=@+:;>>B9N?B.;""+:8B
o KABF=(B!;@+B;BdC>+.58!eBE:;,+D&58+$B
! Y:FB"=BC;>;)*+B5"B=("B&5"!B="!+:B*=(:8+8%":;5)5)EB8=B"!;"B5"B,=+8)f"B>==HB>5H+B;B
8F8"+.;"5*B#:=C > +.B
! Y!5)HB;C=("B!=&B"=BA:;.+B5"B& 5"! 5) BF= ( :Bd);::;"5@+eB_#+:8= );>B8";"+. + )"bB =AB
!=&BF=(f@+BE:=&)B
! Y;H+B*=(:8+8B"!;"B&5>>B8":+)E"!+)BF=(:B;##>5*;"5=)B
o I!;>>+)E+BF=(:8+>AB&5"!B.=:+B;,@;)*+,B*>;88+8B
o I!;>>+)E+BF=(:8+>AB&5"!B.=:+B5)D,+#"!B*>;88+8B_+'E'aB8.;>>B8+.5);:8bB
! 9+"B"=BH)=&BF=(:B#:=A+88=:8B
B
GREs'
! Y;H+B"!+B9^]BveryB8+:5=(8>FB
o K"B.;""+:8B_;B>="B. =:+ B"!;) B5"B8!=( >,b B
o K"f8B)="B"!+BH5),B=AB"+8"BF= (f:+B( 8+, B"= B
! 4;H+B;)B;,@;)*+,B#>;)BA=:B&!+)BF=(B";H+B5"B
o I=)85,+:B;B":;5)5)EB*=(:8+B
2
o <*!+,(>+B8"(,F5)EB5)B;,@;)*+B
o N>;)B"=B";H+B5"B+;:>FB/(8"B5)B*;8+BF=(B)++,B;B"5.+Bh7B_8++B8(EE+8"+,B"5.+>5)+BC+>=& bB
B
Recommendation'Letters'
! 9+"B"=BH)=&B#:=A+88=:8B&+>>B
o <!=(>,B;>&;F8BC+B8=.+=)+B&!=BH)=&8BF=(B5)B;)B;*;,+.5*%:+8+;:*!B*=)"+G"B
o <!=(>,BC+B8=.+=)+B&!=BH)=&8BF=(B&+>>B_*=(>,B*=..+)"B=)BF=(:B ;*;,+. 5*B
;**=.#>58!.+)"8B;),B5)"+:#+:8=);>B8"F>+bB
o i+8"BC+"$B&=:HB&5"!B8=.+=)+B*>=8+>F%"!=:=(E!>FB5)B;B:+8+;:*!B8+ "" 5) E B
B
Research'Experience'
! j+#"!B58B.(*!BC+""+:B"!;)BC:+;,"!'
o J==HBA=:B=##=:"()5"5+8B"=BE+"Bin'depthB :+ 8+;:*! B+G#+:5+) *+8B"!;"B& 5>>BA5"B&5"!BF=(:B
(>"5.;"+B#>;)BA=:BE:;, (; "+B8*!= =>%
o K"B58BklB"=B*!;)E+ BF=( :B#; "!B= :BA=*( 8aBC("B":FB"= BC+B"! =( E! "A(>B;C =("B8+ > +*"5)EB>;C8B
"!;"B;:+B;BE==,BA5"%
! Y==B.;)FB>;C8%#=85"5=)8B>==H8B8*;""+:+,'
o i+""+:B"=B!;@+B>+88B+G#+:5+)*+8B&5"!B.=:+B,+#"!'
! i+8"B"=B!;@+B,+85E)+,BF=(:B=&)B#:=/+*"B=:B*=)":5C("+,B"=B;)B+G58"5)EB#:=/+*"B5)B;B.+;)5)EA(>B
&;F'
! Y!+B.=:+BF=(B!;@+B+G#+:5+)*+B,=5)EB+G;*">FB&!;"BF=(f>>B,=B5)BE:;,B8*!==>aB"!+BC+""+:g'
o ^+8+;:*!B.+"!=,8BF=(f:+B*=)85,+:5)EBA=:BN!j'
o m(+8"5=)8%"=#5*8BF=(f:+B*=)85,+:5)EBA=:BN!j'
! Z5),B&;F8B"=BE;5)Bd=&)+:8!5#eB=@+:B;B#:=/+*"'
o j=)f"B/(8"BC+B8=.+=)+Bd&=:H5)EB5)B"!+B>;CeB
o n=:HB5)B;B>;CB"!;"B&5>>B;>>=&BF=(B"=B>+;:)B;B8H5>>B_)="B/(8"B+)"+:B,;";aB"(:)B=)B;B
*=.#("+:aB=:B=:E;)5M+BA5>+8b'BB<=.+B8H5>>8B"=B"!5)HB;C=("B,+@+>=#5)EB5)*>(,+$B
"+*!)5*;>B_#:=E:; . . 5) EaB,;";B+) ":FbaB*>5)5*; >B_5)"+:@5+& 8aB;88+ 88. +) "8aB":+;". + )"baB
.+"!=,=>=E5*;>B_,;";B;);>F858aB"+*!)5[(+B;,.5)58":;"5=)Bo;)5.;>B"+8"5)EaB
#8F*!=#!F85=>=EFaB5.;E5)EaB)+(:=#8F*!=>=EFpb%
o n=:HB"=B(),+:8";),B"!+B*=)*+#"(;>B[(+8"5=)8B
o <++B5AB"!+:+B;:+B=##=:"()5"5+8BA=:B#:+8+)"5)EB"!58B&=:HB;"B;B*=)A+:+)*+%C+5)EB;B*=D
;("!=:B=)B;B#(C>5*;"5=)B
o <!=&B5)5"5;"5@+B;),B":+;"BF=(:8+>AB>5H+B;B*=>>+;E(+B
! Y!;"BC+5)EB8;5,aBF=(B;>8=B)++,B"=BC+B&5>>5)EB"=B,=B"!+BdE:()"B&=:He'BB
]@+:F=)+B!;,B"=B,=BdE:()"B&=:HeB;"B8=.+B#=5)"'Bj=B)="B*=.+B=AAB;8B"==B
+)"5">+,B"=B>+;:)B"!+B:=#+8B
o N(C>5*;"5=)8B;:+B*(::+)*FgBn=:HB"=BE+"B;"B>+;8"B0DSB#:5=:B"=B;##>F5)EBA=:BE:;,(;"+B
8*!==>B_,=+8B)="B!;@+B"=BC+BA5:8"B;("!=:aBC("B>+""+:8B&:5"+:8B8!=(>,B*=..+) "B=)BF=(:B
8#+*5A5*B:=>+B5)B"!+B#(C>5*;"5=)B#:=,(*"5=)b'BY!+8+B*;)BC+B=C";5)+,B&!5>+B5)B
(),+:E:;,B=:B,(:5)EB;B#=8"DC;**;>;(:+;"+B:+8+;:*!B=##=:"()5"F'BB
! X8+BF=(:B:+8+;:*!B+G#+:5+)*+8B&+>>B
o ^+;>>FBE+"B"=BH)=&BF=(:BNKB
o ^+;>>FB>+;:)B"!+B[(+8"5=)8B;),B.+"!=,8B
! ?@=5,B"!+BdKB&=:H+,B5)B"!58B>;CeB=:Bd.FB;,@58=:B"=>,B.+B"=B,=B5"B"!58B&;FeB
! <!=(>,B,++#>FB(),+:8";),B"!+B*=)*+#"(;>B588(+8B
! X8+B;>>B"!+B:+8=(:*+8B;"BF=(:B,58#=8;>B
o J+;:)BA:=.B"!+BE:;,B8"(,+)"8B
o J+;:)BA:=.B"!+B#+=#>+B;:=(),BF=(B
B
3
Fit'With'Program'
! Z5E(:+B=("B&!;"B[(+8"5=)8BF=(f:+B5)"+:+8"+,B5)B
o ^+.+.C+:B"!+B5.#=:";)*+B=AB8#+*5A5*5"FB
o Y:FB"=B8++B"=B&!5*!B[(+8"5=)8BF=(B);"(:;>>FBE:;@5";"+B
o n=:HB=)B);::=&5)EB,=&)BLknB
! ^+8+;:*!B#="+)"5;>B#:=E:;.8B>5H+B*:;MFgB
o n!=f8B,=5)EB"!+B*==>B&=:HB=)B"!58B[(+8"5=)VB
o n!;"B#:=E:;.8B;:+BE==,BA=:B.FB5)"+:+8"8VB
o n!=B;:+BE==,B;,@58=:8B5)B"!+BA5+>,VB
! J+;:)B.=:+B;C=("BF=(:BA5+>,B
o 9==E>+B8";>HB>;C8%#:=E:;.8B>5H+B*:;MFB
o ^+;,B#;#+:8B5)B"!+BA5+>,B_=:B+@+)B/(8"B;C8":;*"8bB
o l++#B)="+8B=)B>;C8BWB;,@58=:8B
! KAB#=885C>+aB.;H+ B*=) ";* "gB
o 9=B"=B;B*=)A+:+)*+B5)BF=(:BA5+>,B
o <+),B+.;5>8B"=B#="+)"5;>B;,@58=:8BC+A=:+B;##>F5)EB
B
Develop'Your'CV'
! q=(:BIcB&5>>BC+B+88+)"5;>BA=:B*=)"; *"5) E B#+ = #>+ B; ), BA= :BF= ( :B; ## >5* ;" 5=) B
o <+*"5=)8B_;8B;##>5*;C>+b$B],(*;"5=)B_&5"!B9N?baB?&;:,8B;),Br=)=:8aB^+8+;:*!B
]G#+:5+)*+B_&5"!B,+8*:5#"5=)8B=AB"!+B:+8+;:*!B;),BF=(:B:=>+aB#;:;E:;#!B=:BC(>>+"B
#=5)"8baBN(C>5*;"5= ) 8 B_;**+#"+,aB5)B#:+#baBN:+8+)";"5=)8B_;)FB*=)A+:+)*+aB#=8"+:B,;F aB
8+885=)8B=("85,+B=AB*>;88B;885E).+)"8baBc=> ( ) " + + : B_; ),Bn = :HBo)=) D:+8+;:*!B:+>;"+,pbB
]G#+:5+)*+aBI>5)5*;>B]G#+:5+)*+aBY+;*!5)E B] G #+:5+) *+ aBN:=A+8 85 = ) ; >B?AA5>5;"5= ) 8 B; ),B
<+:@5*+aB^+>+@;) " BI = (:8+& =:HB_=# "5=);>B>58"B=AB;BA+&B*=(:8+ 8B"! ; "B;: +B, 5:+ *" >FB
:+>+@;)"B"=BF=(:B;##>5*;"5=)baB< H 5> >8 BB_>58"B8#+*5A5*B*=.#("+:B#:=E :;. 8aB;88+88. + )"B
C;""+:5+8bBB
! <;.#>+B^+8+;:*!B]G#+:5+)*+B<+*"5=)8BB
Option%A$
B
Option%B$B
4
B
o X8+B&=:,8B"!;"Bd";>HD(#eBF=(:B:=>+%+G#+:5+)*+'BZ=:B+G;.#>+aB,=)f"B/(8"B&:5" +B
d+)"+:+,B,;";eaB&:5"+Bd:+8#=)85C>+BA=:B+)"+:5)EB;),B. ;); E5)EB,; ";C;8+'eBj=) f"B>5+B
;C=("BF=(:B8H5>>8aBC("B,=)f"BC+B.=,+8"B
o i+B8#+*5A5*'Bj=)f"B/(8"B&:5"+Bd;,.5)58"+:+,B;88+88.+)"8BA=:B;B8.=H5)EB8"(,FeaBC("B>58"B
=("BwhichB;88+88.+)"8B_;),B.;FC+B+@+)B!=&B.;)FbBF=(f@+B;,.5)58"+:+,BB
B
Develop'your'narrative'
! 9:;,(;"+B#:=E:;.8B;:+B>==H5)EBA=:B#+=#>+B&5"!B;B8(8";5)+,B5)"+:+8"B;),B;B8#+*5A5*B#;885=)'B
o n!5>+B+)E;E5)EB;B>="B=AB;*"5@5"5+8B.;FBC+BE==,BA=:BE+""5)EB5)"=B"=BX),+:E:;,(;"+B
8*!==>aB9:;,(;"+B#:=E:;. 8B&;)"B"=B8++B;B8#+*5A5*BA=*(8B;),B,+@+>=#+,B:+>+@;)"B8H5>>8B
o r=&B,5,BF=(BE+"B=)BF=(:B#;"!VBn!;"B&;8BF=(:Bd;!D!;eB.=.+)"VBn!;"B8H5>>8B!;@+B
F=(B,+@+>=#+,VB]@+)B5ABF=(B!;@+B+G#+:5+)*+8B"!;"B8++.B,58#;:;"+aB"!+:+B58B;>&;F8B;B
8"=:FB"!;"B*;)BA5"B"!+8+B"=E+"!+:B
! 9+""5)EB5)"=BE:;,(;"+B8*!==>B58B;C=("B"!+B.;"*!B_C+"&++)BF=(B;),BF=(:BA("(:+B.+)"=:bgBB
B
Important'A dv ice:'Be'Organized'And'Plan'Ahead!''
! Z=:B"!+B;##>5*;"5=)$BB
o k(">5)+B"!+B#:=E:;. 8 BF=(B&;)"B"=B;##>FBA=:B5)B?(E(8"B
o I=)";*"BF=(:B#="+)"5;>B>+""+:B&:5"+:8B5)B<+#"+.C+:B&5"!BF=(:B*(::+)"BIcaB>58"B=AB
#:=E:;.8aB;),B)="+8B;C=("BF=(:B5)"+:+8"8B;),B8":+)E"!8'BY!+B>+""+:8B;:+B5.#=:";)"'B
4;H+B8(:+B"=B;8HB#+=#>+B"=B&:5"+BF=(B>+""+:8B&!=BH)=&BF=(B&+>>B;),B*;)B8#+;HB"=B
F=(:B8#+*5A5*B8":+)E"!8B_+'E'aB*:5"5*;>B"!5)H5)EaB&:5"5)EaB:+8+;:*!aB*>5)5*;>B8H5>>8aB
5)"+:#+: 8= ) ; >B8"F >+ bB
! 4=8"B=A"+)BF=(B)++,BSB>+""+:8B=AB:+*=..+),;"5=)'B<=.+"5.+8B;BO
"!
B*;)BC+B
8(C.5""+,B
o I=)";*"B#="+)"5;>BE:;,(;"+B.+)"=:8B5)Bk*"=C+:aB;8HB5AB"!+FB; : + B; * * + # " 5) E B 8"( ,+)"8B
_.;H+B8(:+B"=B*!+* HB"!+5:B& +C8 5"+BA5:8"aB5AB"!+B&+C85"+B8";"+8B"!+FB;:+B;**+ #"5)E aB/(8"B
+.;5>B5)":=,(*5)EBF=(:8+>AB;),B+G#:+885)EBF=(:B5)"+:+8"baB,+8*:5C+BF=(:BC;*HE:=(),B
5)B;BA+&B8+ ) "+ ) *+ 8aB; ) ,B# : =@ 5, + BF= ( :BI c B
o n=:HB=)BF=(:B#+:8=);>B8";"+.+)"B<+#"+.C+:Dk*"=C+:B
! r;@+B="!+:8B:+;,B"!58B;),B#:=@5,+BA++,C;*HgBB
! Y!58B8";"+.+)"B8!=(>,BE+)+:;>>FB=(">5)+BF=(:B5)"+:+8"8aB"+>>BF=(:B8"=:FaB;),B
8#+*5AFB&!FBF=(B;:+B:+;,FBA=:B;BE:;,(;"+B#:= E:;. B;),B& !FBthatB#:=E:;.B58B;B
E==,BA5"gBK)B"!58B8";"+.+ )"BF= (B) ++ ,B"=BC+ B*>+;:B;C=("B"!+B. ;"* !B;) ,BF= (:B
+G#+:5+)*+8B
! Y!5)HB;C=("B"!58B8";"+.+)"B>5H+B;BQB#;:;E:;#!B_"!=(E!B,=+8B)="B!;@+B"=BC+B
+G;*"bB+88;FaBA5:8"BF=(B&5>>B8";"+BF=(:BE+)+:;>B5)"+:+8"B;),B"!+B.+)"=:8BF=(B
;:+B;##>F5)EB"=B&=:HB&5"!aB8+*=),DA=(:"!BF=( B& 5>>B, +8 *:5C + BF= ( :B;*;,+. 5*B
5
/=(:)+F B_A>+ 8! + , B=( " B@+ :8 5= )B= ABF =( : BIc b aB>;8 "BF =( B&5>>B8(. .;:5M+BF=(:B
#;885=)8%.;"*!%5)"+:+8"8B
! Never%reveal%personal%struggles,%family%struggles,%or%mental%health%
problems%in%these%statements%
! KABF=(B!;@+B;B& +; HB8# ="B5)BF= (: B;## >5*;"5=) aBF=( B*;) B;,, :+88B5"B5)B"!+B
#+:8=);>B8";"+.+)"'BL="+B"!+B588(+B;),B:+A:;.+B5)"=B;B8":+)E"!%
o I=.#>+"+BF=(:B9^]8B_8(..+:%A;>>BC+A=:+B;##>F5)Eb'B95@+BF=(:8+>AB+ ) = (E!B"5.+B"=B
";H+B"!+.B;E ;5)aB5AB)++, +,'B<*= :+8B;:+ B@;>5,BA=:BQBF +;:8'BKAB"!+:+B58B;B8( C/+*"B"+8 "B_+'E'aB
N8F*!=>=EFbB";H+B5"B5AB:+[(5:+,%F=(:BE+)+:;>B8*=:+8B;:+B)="B;8B!5E!B;8BF=(B&=(>,B
!=#+%
%
Remember:'Getting'In'To'Graduate'Sch oo l'Is'Com petitive!
! K"B58B.=:+B;),B. = :+B*= . . =) B"=B!; @+ B"=B";H +B0 DSBF+;:8B=AAB5)BC+"&++)B(),+:E:;,(;"+B;),B
E:;,(;"+B8*!==>'Bj(:5)EB"!58B"5.+B5)BC+"&++)BF=(B8!=(>,BC+B&=:H5)EB5)B;B>;CB=:B=)B;B#:=/+*"B
"!;"BA5"8B&5"!BF=(:B(>"5.;"+B;*;,+.5*B5)"+:+8"8%
o I=..=)B#=8"DC;**;>;(:+;"+B=##=:"()5"5+8$B>;C8B;"B()5@+:85"5+8B_5)BN8F*!=>=EFB_=:B
:+>;"+,bB,+#;:".+)"8`B5)B.+,5*;>B8*!==>8b`BLKrBN=8"C;*BK^Y?B#:=E:;.B
! <=.+B#+=#>+B!;@+B"=B;##>FB"=BE:;,(;"+B8*!==>B.(>"5#>+BF+;:8B5)B;B:=&'BY!;"f8Bkl`B,=)f"B"; H + B
5"B#+:8=) ; >>F 'B%
! 9=B"=B"!+BC+8"B#:=E:;.B#=885C>+B_C="!B5)B"+:.8B=ABA5"B;),B:;)H5)Eb%
%
%
%
%
B
B