Gaining Admission to Graduate School

GPA

• Ph.D.
• 3.9 Clinical/counseling
• 3.5 Other areas
• M.A. 3.0 Most areas

GRE

• Preparation Programs
• Parts
• Math/verbal/analytical
• Psychology

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www.ets.org/gre

GRE

Cost

• General test $205
• Subject test $150

GRE

Revised General Test

• Verbal Reasoning
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Analytical Writing

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GRE

Psychology Subject Test

• 205 multiple choice questions with 5 options
• Experimental or natural science oriented: 40%
• Social or social science oriented: 43%
• General: 17%
• All based on DSM-5
• Detailed outline on website

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GRE

http://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about/content/psychology

Practica, Internships, Volunteering

What degree should I choose?

• MA
• Th.M.
• Ph.D.
• Psy.D.
• MSW

Choosing a Graduate School

Idea from http://eye.psichi.org/index.php/vol-16-2/136-herge

Choosing a Graduate Program

Idea from http://eye.psichi.org/index.php/vol-16-2/136-herge

What School �Should I Choose?

• Financial Aid
• APA / CACREP Approval
• Location

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“Can you recommend me for . . . ?“

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Recommendation Forms

Sample Letter

• http://facultyweb.anderson.edu/~glg/grad_school/good_recommendation%20letter.htm

Recommender Preferences

• 5 Positives
• 5 Negatives
• How interacted
• Great work you’ve done
• Logistics

• 5 Positives

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Interview

Steps to Admission

• Self-evaluation
• Research schools
• Schedule GRE
• Begin GRE prep
• Apply to 5 schools
• Become involved here
• Interview
• Retake GRE

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Top 10 Tips from Graduates

1. Take the GRE, and take it early (summer before your senior year), but don’t put too much emphasis on it
2. Begin studying for the GRE early, and study both content and test-taking tips
3. Make senior year useful (Don’t skip out on Capstone!)
4. Be involved with the psych department and take on leadership roles
5. Get to know your professors well

Thanks to Faith Kellermeyer, Josey Dies, Em Thalls, & Sean Kershaw for their tips!

Top 10 Tips from Graduates

6. Research the schools you are interested in early; know what they are researching and are interested in
7. Be in contact with schools, schedule visits, and apply early
8. Look for professional development opportunities, such as assistantships
9. Use the career center here for things like resume and interview workshops
10. Know yourself and your values well in order to talk honestly and genuinely about yourself in an interview (Counseling services may be helpful)

Thanks to Faith Kellermeyer, Josey Dies, Em Thalls, & Sean Kershaw for their tips!

Schools to which our graduates have been admitted:

• Ball State
• Purdue
• I.U.P.U.I.
• Nebraska
• Xavier
• University of Florida
• Rutgers

• Texas Tech.
• Rosemead (Biola)
• Texas
• University of Illinois
• Houston
• Princeton
• PSI (Georgia State)

Verbal Reasoning

• Analyze and evaluate written material and synthesize information obtained from it
• Analyze relationships among component parts of sentences
• Recognize relationships between words and concepts

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GRE

Verbal Reasoning

https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/content/verbal_reasoning

Quantitative Reasoning

• Understand basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis
• Reason quantitatively
• Solve problems in a quantitative setting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missyho/140387211/sizes/m/

GRE

Quantitative Reasoning

https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/content/quantitative_reasoning

Analytical Writing

• Articulate complex ideas clearly and effectively
• Examine claims and accompanying evidence
• Support ideas with relevant reasons and examples
• Sustain a well-focused,� coherent discussion
• Control the elements �of standard written �English

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GRE

Analytical Writing

https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/analytical_writing/issue/pool

Testing Locations

GRE - Revised

• No antonyms, no analogies
• Interpret data
• Enter your own numerical answers
• 3 hours 45 minutes
• Scores from 130 to 170

http://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/know

Renee’s Top Ten Thoughts on the GRE

Thanks to Renee Bader

Number 10

• Learn about the test!
• Know the Different Sections
• Verbal
• Quantative
• Analytical
• Question Types

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Number 9

• Make a Study Schedule.
• Register (actually do it in advance)
• Plan out goals for each week or day
• Stick to it!

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Number 8

• Prepare for test day!
• Check out parking.
• Have your ID, any receipt/ info, confortable clothing
• Know where you want your scores sent.
• Reduce stress for all the parts that aren’t the test.

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Number 7

• Pay attention to time
• It is a timed test, so this matters
• Know what questions to skip

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Number 6

• Review your math!
• Can most boost math score
• Do the exercises, it has likely been years since your last algebra class

Number 5

• Read the tips and tricks
• (This means get a book!)
• This info from the test takers and other people who know is valuable!
• Logic test, performance test.

Number 4

• Take practice tests.
• Don’t get freaked out about scores.
• This helps practice timing, and recognizing question types.
• It will make you more comfortable on test day.

Number 3

• Relax!
• Practice deep breathing and muscle relaxation.
• Really, practice it! Dr. G. has a mp3 on his website, practice!

�Number 2

• Keep perspective.
• The GRE is not the only thing that grad schools look at. It will not make or break your future plans.

Number 1

• Remember, your value is not determined by your GRE score.
• We have been redeemed by Christ’s sacrifice. No test, score, grade, or anything else we do can make us any better or any worse.

Women Ph.D’s in �Psychology Areas

Modified from: Cynkar, A. (2007). The changing gender composition of psychology. Monitor on Psychology, 38(6), 47.

https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf11306/data_table.cfm

What to do when you don’t get in.

• Other schools
• Lesser degree
• Another exam
• Another kind of graduate degree first

Other Issues

• Now vs. later
• Bias of grad schools
• What can you do without grad school?

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We are here to HELP.�

YOU must do the preparation.

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Your decision about graduate school will change the entire course of�Your Life.

• I hope this year is off to a great start for all of you!  I am already over a month into my first year of graduate school and I am really enjoying it for the most part.  If you don't remember I am attending Arogsy University.  I am in their masters clinical program. I like the school and the classes but I am having trouble adjusting to big city life. My biggest problem is that the school is a lot more therapy based than I expected and toward the end of my senior year at Anderson I was starting to lean more towards a research based school so I'm not really sure that I am in the right place.  The school that was my first choice had been Bowling Green University and some how there was a mix up and they never received my references and so I was not considered for application.  I don't know how that happened when I sent all my information in together and they received every thing else but there was nothing I could do at the time.  At this point I am looking into transfering there if possible so I was wondering if any of you would be willing to write me a recommendation since the professors here barely know my name.  I know you are all busy so I feel bad for asking you but if you are able please let me know and I will email you a list of my activities, the address for you to send it to, and any other information that you need.
•  
• Thanks so much, I really appreciate everything that all of you have done for me.
•  

Experimental or Natural Science

• (About 40 percent of the questions),
• Including:
• Learning, language,
• memory, thinking,
• sensation and perception, and 
• physiological psychology/behavioral neuroscience.
• They contribute to the experimental psychology subscore and the total score.

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Social or Social Science

• (About 43 percent of the questions).
• Distributed among the fields of:
• clinical and
• abnormal
• lifespan development,
• personality, and
• social psychology.
• They contribute to the social psychology subscore and the total score.

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General

• (About 17 percent of the questions)
• Including:
• the history of psychology,
• applied psychology, 
• psychometrics,
• research design, and statistics.
• They contribute to the total score only.

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General Information

• www.ets.org/gre

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• You can register for the GRE General Test or the GRE Subject Test

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• The General Test fee is $140.00

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• Two versions are available: the computer-based test or the paper-based test
• Computer-based tests are available year-round
• Paper-based tests are available less frequently (ex.: 2007-2008 test dates are 10/27/2007 and 2/2/2008)

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• Computer-based test centers in Indiana: Bloomington, Carmel, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Merrillville, Mishawaka, Muncie, and Terre Haute

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Indianapolis - 1800�

Prometric Testing Center�2727 East 86th Street�Suite 120-Woodfield Center�Indianapolis, Indiana 46240�United States�(317)257-7546�

Indianapolis - 1802�

Prometric Testing Center�77 S. Girls School Rd.�Suite 210�Indianapolis, Indiana 46231�United States�(317)486-4541�

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Paper-based

Testing Date: 02/12/2011

Registration Date: 01/07/2011

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