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References for Selecting a Graduate School
Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated Fields (APA,
published annually)
-Can be checked out from
psychology department office
-Lists every MA and PhD
psychology program in US
*For each, it lists:
-Areas offered (i.e. clinical,
school, industrial)
-Application information (i.e.
due dates)
Student characteristics:
% of applicants
accepted
Average GPA, GRE,
etc. of accepted applicants
-Admission requirements
-Tuition and other costs
-Financial aid information,
etc.
The
Internet is another great source for information concerning
Graduate Study/Associated Fields in Psychology
These
internet sites provide useful information concerning careers in
psychology
www.rider.edu/users/suler/grad
www.psychology.org
www.socialpsychology.org/career.htm
www.nasponline.org/
Acceptance and Enrollment
Percentages for Doctoral and Master’s Program by Specialty Area
in Psychology
Source: “Acceptance and
Enrollment Rates in the Fall of 1996 in U.S. Graduate
Departments of Psychology by Degree Level and Program Area”
American Psychological Association, 1998 [online], retrieved
November 28, 1998 at
http://research.apa.org./inserttable4.html. N/A
means not available.
|
Doctoral program |
% of Students Who Apply
and Are Accepted |
% of Students Who Are
Accepted and Enroll |
|
Clinical |
6% |
71% |
|
Counseling |
9% |
85% |
|
School |
27% |
75% |
|
Cognitive |
22% |
50% |
|
Developmental |
17% |
70% |
|
Educational |
50% |
75% |
|
Experimental |
12% |
76% |
|
General/social/personality |
11% |
50% |
|
Industrial/organizational |
14% |
61% |
|
Physiological,
neurosciences, biological or comparative |
18% |
60% |
|
Psychometrics/quantitative |
33% |
60% |
|
Other programs |
18% |
75% |
|
All Programs |
13% |
70% |
|
Master’s Program |
% of Students Who Apply
and Are Accepted |
% of Students Who Are
Accepted and Enroll |
|
Clinical |
41% |
61% |
|
Counseling |
59% |
77% |
|
School |
43% |
78% |
|
Cognitive |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Developmental |
50% |
56% |
|
Educational |
54% |
84% |
|
Experimental |
53% |
66% |
|
General/social/personality |
41% |
71% |
|
Industrial/organizational |
41% |
64% |
|
Physiological,
neurosciences, biological or comparative |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Psychometrics/quantitative |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Other programs |
51% |
68% |
|
All Programs |
45% |
68% |
Selecting a Graduate Program
in Psychology
Choosing Prospective Schools
-Use Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated
Fields, the internet, and advice from faculty to help
select prospective programs and schools
-Start with 15-20
prospective schools
-Narrow down to 10-12
serious possibilities
-Should apply to at
least 5-6 programs (more if applying to doctoral programs)
-These should
represent a range of selectivity & quality:
2-3 “Highly
desirable” programs
2-3
“Satisfactory” programs
2-3 “Sure bets”
- Students with
marginal qualifications and students applying to more selective
programs should apply to a greater number of programs
- If your preference
is to be admitted to a doctoral program, you should also apply
to some Masters programs to “play it safe.”
- Warning: The
entire application process may cost $200-$400 and take several
months (deadlines for many doctoral programs are in January or
February; those for masters or specialist programs are usually
from February 1st to April 15th)
-Many schools have
$25-50 application fees
The
Internet is an excellent source for information concerning
Graduate Study/Associated Fields in Psychology
- These
internet sites provide useful information concerning graduate
programs in psychology
http://www.gradschools.com/psychologysearch.html
http://www.schoolguides.com/
http://www.nasponline.com (school psychology only)
Possible Characteristics to
Be Described in Letters of Recommendation
Source: The Complete Guide
to Graduate
School Admission: Psychology, Counseling, and Related Fields
(2nd ed.)
by Keith-Spiegel & Wiederman
(2000). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum
|
Academic Achievement |
Flexibility, adaptive ness |
|
Research ability, experience, or potential |
Ability to work independently |
|
Teaching potential or experience |
Knowledge of the field |
|
Verbal
skills, public speaking ability |
General knowledge base |
|
Writing skills, level of writing proficiency |
Desire
to achieve, seriousness of purpose, initiative |
|
Industriousness, motivation, perseverance, energy level,
drive |
Professionalism, maturity |
|
Quantitative abilities |
Physical grooming, level of concern for others |
|
Creativity, originality, imagination |
Character, honesty, integrity, ethical and moral standards |
|
Leadership skills, level of respect accorded by others |
Ability to work with others, teamwork potential,
cooperativeness |
|
Sociability, social skills, ability to get along with peers |
Dependability, level of responsibility |
|
Emotional stability, level of emotional adjustment |
Potential as a teacher |
|
Judgment, ability to make sound decisions, ability to
reason |
Potential as a practioner
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Information provided by Dr. Joe Prus, Director of
Winthrop’s
School Psychology Graduate Program. Last updated
12/10/03
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