Time Table For Graduate School Admissions
Freshman Year
- Begin Portfolio
- Become a student member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and request a free copy of APAs Career in Psychology booklet.
- Join Psychology Club-Get Involved!
- Determine your specific interests in psychology ( e.g. clinical or industrial) and type of employment you will eventually seek.
- Find out the research interest of the psychology faculty, contact those who research interests you, and volunteer to assist them with their research.
- Attend an undergraduate psychology research conference.
- Contact a graduate of the psychology department who has been to graduate school and ask him/her to give you advice about preparing for graduate school.
- Start researching Graduate Programs online, www.gradschools.com is a good sight.
- Examine what type of internship interests you.
- Write a resume.
- Talk to faculty members about graduate schools and programs that they recommend.
- Narrow your choices for graduate programs. Write to about 20-50 schools using the graduate-school information request letter.
- Prepare a folder for each school. Record specific deadlines and requirements (e.g., number of letters of recommendation) from the information that you receive.
- Become involved in a research project with a faculty member.
- Gather information about the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and register to take it during the summer before your senior year.
- Ask at least three faculty members if they are willing and able to write you strong letters of recommendation.
- Visit your top graduate school choices.
- Consider taking the GRE in June.
- Obtain summer employment experience or education related to psychology.
- Prepare a letter for each of the faculty member who will be writing your letters of recommendation. This letter should include a copy of a transcript, your cumulative GPA in psychology and all other courses.
- Give your letters to the faculty members who are going to be writing your letters of recommendation accompanied by stamp addressed envelopes (typed) to the schools that the letters will go.
- Consult the Financial Aid office about assistance in graduate school if necessary.
- Obtain your transcript from the Registrars Office and check it for errors.
- Prepare drafts of any personal statements requested by graduate schools and have faculty read them and make suggestions. Prepare the final copies.
- Retake the GRE if necessary.
- Request that your GRE scores (through ETS) and your college transcripts (through the Registrar) be send to your graduate schools.
- Mail application forms. Be sure that they are typed and proofread carefully.
- Make a copy of each application and file this information in the schools respective folder.
- Arrange interviews with your top choice graduate schools by phone. Go to the interviews, and record the strengths and weaknesses of each school.
- Write thank you cards to each faculty member and graduate students with whom you interviewed with.
- Replies from graduate schools should begin to arrive. Call schools to check the status of your application if you have not received a response by April 15th.
- After careful consideration, decide which school you will attend and inform all schools of your decision.