Most of you know that if you are planning on going to graduate school you likely need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).  For those of you who are not familiar with the GRE, its similar to the ACT in that many (but not all) graduate schools require it as part of their admissions process (i.e., the GRE is to graduate school as the ACT is to college). The content of the GRE, however, is quite different, and we strongly encourage anyone planning to take it to study for it!

This time of year, a lot of questions come up for students regarding the GRE. They want to know when the best time is to take it, what the best way is to study for it, and so on. To find out the answers to these questions, we encourage you to attend one of the GRE Information Sessions held by HUD/PSYCH faculty members in April. At these sessions, we will describe the test for you, give you information about signing up for it, discuss some study tips, and introduce you to some other students who are also planning to take the GRE soon (you may be able to use this time to set up some informal study groups). The Information Sessions will be on Tuesday, April 20^th from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and Monday, April 26^th from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Both meetings will be the same, so you only need to attend one, and both will be held in MAC 210.

For those of you who didn’t know, you typically apply to graduate school almost a full year before you intend to begin. In other words, if you hope to begin graduate school in the Fall of 2011, you may have to submit your first applications in November of 2010 – just a few short months away. For those of you who will be seniors next year, here are a few things to be doing or thinking about in the coming weeks and months.

1. Identifying Programs and Schools: The first thing you need to do is decide what type of graduate program you hope to attend (e.g., counseling, developmental, social work, law school). Then, you have to identify the specific schools to which to apply. This second step is particularly important, as different schools will have different levels of competitiveness for admission, different application requirements (e.g., GRE, MAT), different application deadlines (anywhere from November to March), and different courses and experiences they hope to see in applicants.   
2. The GRE: We usually encourage students to take the GRE General Test (if it is required by their schools) in late summer before their senior year. We plan to hold a GRE information session this semester (probably in late April), so watch for that. It’s never too early to find prep materials and begin studying!
3. Maximize your Record & Think about Timing: Graduate schools are not only looking for students who have good grades. In addition to an excellent GPA, schools typically want to see (depending on the type of program) significant research, applied, and leadership experience. Because you do apply to graduate school well in advance of graduation, it is important to carefully consider the timing of these different experiences in your undergraduate career. For example, it is typically not wise to put off internships, research assistantships, or honors projects until your very last semester. Why? Well, because if you have an application due in November, and you won’t even begin your internship or RA experience until the spring semester (January), all you can do is talk about what you plan to do, rather than what you’ve done. You also lose the opportunity to have research or internship supervisors write strong letters of recommendation about the work you did under their direction. Now, if it’s a choice between doing something like this during the last semester of your senior year or not doing it at all – certainly, go ahead and enroll in the experience. If, however, you can arrange to complete at least some of this type of work prior to that final semester, do it!

The Psychology and Human Development Club is again hosting the Graduate School series, which includes three events on the first three Mondays of November (the 2nd, 9th, and 16th) from 5:00 to 6:00 – all in MAC 210.  We encourage you to attend any or all of these meetings to learn more about the graduate school process, get answers to important questions and start thinking about what you can do to make yourself competitive for graduate school. 

General Information Session: On November 2nd, the presentation will feature Drs. Burns and Martin and focus on providing general information about graduate school and the application process. This will be helpful for all students, from first-year to super-senior, thinking about graduate school.

Writing Your Personal Statement: Drs. Bartell and Vespia will be featured at the November 9th meeting and will be presenting on writing a great personal statement that will help you get noticed (in a good way) by the graduate school admissions committee.  Again, this is open to all but will be most valuable to those who are in the midst of putting together their applications and writing that pesky personal statement. 

Resume/Vita Writing: Finally, the November 16th presentation will be on resume/vita writing and will feature a speaker from Career Services.  Whether planning on going to graduate school or entering the workforce, this should help you learn how best to showcase your experiences and get noticed.

From Robin Howard at the Council of Undergraduate Research: “The Council on Undergraduate Research hosts a Registry of Undergraduate Researchers which helps matchmaking between undergraduates who have research experience with graduate schools seeking high quality students who are well-prepared for research.  Any undergraduate may go to www.cur.org/ugreg/ to fill out a simple curriculum vitae form.  There is no charge to the student and records will be made available to Graduate Schools that contract with CUR for this service. Graduate School representatives may contact students to invite applications or visits to the campus and laboratory, or to share information about their research programs and financial support opportunities. CUR believes that this service will be a great benefit for both students and graduate schools by narrowing the search for the right match. So if you are interested in graduate school, please take a moment to register now.  Be sure to include a statement of your research interests, as this will be important for making the match.”

Fall is not only the time for colorful leaves and cooler weather; it’s also the time to get cracking on those grad school applications!  Here’s a timeline to help you get organized for the fall. We realize some of these dates will vary depending on the due dates of your specific schools; this schedule assumes December and January application due dates.  

September of your Senior Year:

• Sign up to take the GREs if you haven’t done so already.  Determine if you will need to take a subject test.  The subject test is only offered three times a year.
• Decide who you will ask to write letters of recommendation (usually need 3) and start prepping your information packet for them.  Letter writers will likely ask for a resume, undergraduate transcript, and draft of your personal statement.

October:

• Finalize the schools to which you will be applying. One rule of thumb might be to apply to 4-7 masters programs or 7-12 doctoral programs, but those numbers could vary depending on the specific schools to which you are applying, their competitiveness, and the number of spots available in the programs. Those interested in doctoral programs might also consider applying to a masters program or two. If you have added any schools at the last minute, double check whether you will need to request additional GRE score reports. 
• Ask faculty for letters of recommendation (see http://www.uwgb.edu/humdev/careers/recommendation.asp).
• Begin filling out application and financial aid forms. Note that many schools will require more than one application (general graduate school plus departmental application).
• Write first drafts of personal statement and have several people read these over.
• Think about what you could use as a writing sample (if necessary for the application).

November:

• Send transcripts to the schools to which you are applying. These will often need to be official transcripts sent from the University itself, and you may need to send official transcripts from every institution you have attended (e.g., if you are a transfer student). Note that there are typically fees associated with obtaining transcripts.
• Finalize applications, financial aid forms, writing sample (if necessary), and personal statements. Make sure you answer the specific questions for each school in your personal statements.
• Give your letter of recommendation writers an organized list of schools, deadlines, and forms (online or paper). You should provide at least two week’s notice and more (e.g., a month), if possible. Keep in mind that faculty members are writing letters for many students at the same time.

December:

• Submit your applications! If you are submitting a paper copy, xerox a copy of your application for your records.

With the passing of February 1^st, many of you now have nothing to do but wait when it comes to your graduate school future. The applications are in, and you watch your mail and email boxes hoping to hear some word about your fate. Here are our answers to some frequently asked questions during this time.

My application has been in for a month, and I haven’t heard anything. What does that mean?

Honestly, we don’t know. Often, though, applications must go through the graduate school before they can be forwarded to the department for consideration, so this process can take time. In addition, if you had a December 1^st deadline, those applications might not have even been looked at until well after the end of the fall semester. Not hearing anything could mean that a decision has not yet been made. It could mean that you are on an alternate list, and they are waiting to hear from candidates ahead of you on the accepted list, and it could mean that your application is no longer under consideration. Ultimately, you should be informed by the school no matter what their final decision.

I’ve been accepted to one school, and I have to make a decision about going there before I will hear whether I have been accepted at my first-choice school. What should I do?

Consult with your advisor. This is a difficult situation, but it is also one that happens fairly frequently. Schools make decisions at different points, and they will want a commitment from you as soon as possible after extending an admission offer. If you don’t want that offer, they want to give it to the next most qualified student before they lose that person to another school. Individual consultations with your advisor and other professionals are probably your best route with this one. 

I’ve been accepted to more than one school. How do I decide?

People obviously vary in their preferred method for making big decisions like this one. Often, though, it can be very helpful to talk with current graduate students in that program after you have been accepted. The person in charge of admissions should be able to give you the email address of at least one student, and sometimes student contacts are even listed on the department website. Another thing that can be very beneficial is visiting the programs to which you have been accepted. A happy and successful graduate school experience involves finding a good “fit” between you and a program. There are many things you simply cannot assess based simply on a website and admission materials. A school you were not very excited about on paper can turn out to be wonderful when you visit (and vice versa), so if you have the time and resources, an in-person visit is usually advisable.

I didn’t get into graduate school. What should I do?

First of all, don’t panic. We realize that’s easier said than done, but this is an extremely competitive process. Many very qualified students are not admitted each year, and it is nothing to feel embarrassed about. The best thing you can do it talk with your advisor and other professionals on campus (e.g., Career Services) so they can help you as you formulate alternative plans. Remember that many students who are not accepted one year end up with multiple acceptances in a subsequent year. Others find wonderful work or alternative educational plans. All of us, even your professors, have dealt with educational or professional disappointment at some time, and we really do want to help.

“Can you write me a strong letter of recommendation?” This question is being heard frequently in the halls of MAC right now as students begin to request letters of support for their graduate school applications. What may surprise students, however, is that the answer to that question is largely dependent on them. What steps can you take to increase your chances of a earning a great letter from your professor? Read on!

Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors:

• Maximize your effort and performance in your classes. Grades matter, and so do specific skills. Faculty members will be asked to rate your critical thinking skills, writing skills, oral communication skills, and so on.

• Don’t count on grades alone. If you earn “As” across a faculty member’s classes, but he/she has never had an extended conversation with you or heard you express an opinion in class, the resulting letter may be relatively short and generic.

• Participate in individualized instruction experiences. Professors will have more specific and detailed comments to make about your performance and potential if they have worked with you in a research or teaching assistantship, independent study, internship, or honors project.

• Be aware of your classroom demeanor and what you communicate in your interactions with students and professors. Letter writers are often asked to fill out forms that rate such things as students’ maturity, initiative, interpersonal skills, ability to deal with stress, responsibility, time management, and emotional stability. Asking questions, being a leader in group work, submitting work on time, and attending department events communicate one set of messages. Texting during class, chronic lateness, repeated requests for extensions, and having difficulty negotiating relationships with group members communicate another.

Students Currently Applying to Graduate School:

• Think about how you make the letter of recommendation request. Ask in person, and genuinely ask. Do not simply assume a professor will write a letter for you.

• Give your potential recommender plenty of notice. Writing letters takes a great deal of time and effort, and you are not the only student asking for a letter. You should have all materials ready for the faculty member one month in advance, and you should think about the timing of your request. If you have an application due date of January 1^st, December 1^st may not be enough notice. Think about all of the things going on in December (end of classes, finals, commencement) – and how far in advance the letter would likely need to be mailed to arrive by January 1^st (giving the professor far less than a month).

• Be organized. Think about what you communicate if you do not provide the requested supporting materials to your professor, or if you have to make several return trips to the person’s office with bits and pieces of information. Then think about what you communicate by delivering a well-organized packet of information with neatly completed documents, addressed envelopes, and so on. This interaction is likely the last one you have with the faculty member before he/she writes the letter – make that most recent impression a favorable one!

• Be careful when completing on-line applications that ask for a list of recommenders. More and more schools are using web-based letter of recommendation sites where faculty directly upload their letters, and once students enter the recommender’s name, an automated email request is sent to that individual. You do not want your faculty member receiving an email request for a letter before you have even asked if he/she would be willing to write for you.

• Thank your letter writers, and let them know what happens. Professors want to know what happens in your graduate school search, so let them know where you are accepted and what school you decide to attend.

To learn more about letters of recommendation and the process of requesting one, refer to the Human Development website (http://www.uwgb.edu/humdev/careers/recommendation.asp).

Those of you considering graduate school as a possible path should use the start of the new academic year to further your preparations for meeting your academic and career goals. Becoming a competitive candidate for graduate school is a process that can begin in your freshman year of college. For freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, consider the following:

• Build relevant research experience by taking Statistics and Experimental Psychology or Foundations of Social Research as early as possible. Follow those with a Research Assistantship or even an Independent Study and/or Honors Project.

• Build relevant applied experience through Internships, volunteer work, service learning, or a related paid employment position. Think about the potential impact of sustained and self-initiated experiences (e.g., a couple of 4-week service learning experiences as a part of your classes will probably not be as helpful as a year of volunteer work for a local non-profit organization).

• Build a base of future letters of recommendation by getting to know faculty, engaging in individualized learning experiences (e.g., RA, TA), and attending department events.

• Build a strong academic record. Maximize your grade point average to be competitive for graduate school. Graduate admissions work very differently from undergraduate, and there are often many more applicants than there are available spots in a program. Even if minimum GPAs are listed for a program, the average GPA of admitted students will often be significantly higher.

• Build a comprehensive academic record with thoughtfully chosen areas of strength. Select classes carefully. Think about minors that might enhance your record. For example, if you are interested in I/O Psychology, consider a minor or double-major in Business. If you are interested in Human Development or Social Psychology and think you might want to pursue culturally-focused research, consider a minor in Anthropology. As a final example, think about how a minor or double-major in a foreign language or how a semester abroad might enhance your credentials.

• Build leadership experience by becoming involved in student organizations and taking on leadership positions in those organizations. Join PHD Club and become an officer. Apply to become a TA for a class. Run for a student government office.

• Build your written and oral communication skills. These are highly prized by graduate schools and employers. Take additional writing emphasis courses; enroll in a course that requires you to engage in public speaking.

• Build your knowledge about graduate school by visiting Career Services’ “Thinking about Graduate School?” booth next to the Garden Café on October 9^th from 11:30-12:30. You can also attend their sponsored workshop on “The Graduate School Application Process” on October 21^st at St. Norbert College (see: http://www.uwgb.edu/careers/). In addition, you can find great information on the web (begin with the Human Development and Psychology webpages). Start looking early because different types (e.g., Counseling vs. Social) and levels (e.g., Master’s vs. Ph.D.) of programs will value different kinds of courses, experiences, and so on in their applicants.

• Build time into your schedule and strategically plan your experiences. Timing is very important when it comes to graduate school admissions. You will typically be applying the fall or early spring of your senior year. That means you want to have a strong GPA and record of experiences going into your senior year. Don’t wait until your last semester to take that Internship or to be an RA. Graduate schools may be making decisions based on what you have done through your junior year (or possibly the first semester of your senior year). They often won’t see that final semester record until it’s “too late.” Speaking of time, also make sure you build time into your schedule for the application process. Think of it as another 3 credit class for the semester in which you will be doing the bulk of your application work.

For more seasoned readers who are saying to themselves, but it’s too late for that now – I’m applying to graduate school this year! Still make the most of this semester, and maximize your grade point average and experiences. Start working on those applications, personal statements, and letter of recommendation requests now – it is never too early to begin!

One of the first steps to take if you are interested in graduate school is to decide what type of program (e.g. Social Psychology, Counseling) you hope to pursue and then investigate specific schools (e.g., UW-Madison, Northwestern) that offer training in that area. You should attempt to identify the type of program you want to pursue as early as you can because, for example, you will want to take different classes and experiences (e.g., volunteer, internship, research) to be competitive for a Social Psychology program versus one in Counseling Psychology. Students who plan to apply for graduate study should be identifying specific schools to apply to in the Spring of their junior year (that’s now for many of you!). You will need time to investigate the schools and to decide on which ones are the best “fit” for you. There will be more in a future issue of the PF about how to identify the “right” program for you. Meanwhile, check out the great lists below that include information about specific fields of graduate study and even links to lists of accredited programs.

General Information about Graduate Fields of Study:
Clinical Psychology-
http://www.apa.org/divisions/div12/aboutcp.html
Counseling-
http://www.counseling.org/
Counseling Psychology-
http://www.div17.org/students_defining.html
Developmental Psychology-
http://classweb.gmu.edu/awinsler/div7/dotdep.shtml
Industrial/Organizational Psychology-
http://www.siop.org/GTP/
Marriage & Family Therapy-
http://www.aamft.org/index_nm.asp
Relationship Studies-
http://www.iarr.org/resources/gradprograms.html
School Counseling-
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/
School Psychology-
http://www.nasponline.org/certification/becoming.aspx
Social/Personality Psychology-
http://www.spsp.org/what.htm
Social Work-
http://www.naswdc.org/profession/overview.asp
Graduate Programs Across Fields-
http://www.gradschools.com/

Lists of Accredited Programs:
Applied programs (e.g., those that involve providing counseling or therapy services) are often accredited by a national organization, such as the American Psychological Association. More information about accreditation and links to lists of accredited programs in Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, School Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Social Work can be found on Dr. Vespia’s website.

Graduate Study Books in MAC C311:
Graduate and Undergraduate Study in Marriage and Family.
APA’s Graduate Study in Psychology
Insider’s Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology