Why Attend Graduate School

1
Why Attend Graduate School?

• Increased Pay
• Masters gt BA by 10,000
• To work in specialized area
• Therapist
• School Psych
• College Instructor
• To allow more options

2
Graduate Program Options Masters

• MA Master of Arts (1 yr.)
• MS Master of Science (2 yrs.)

3
Doctoral Program Options

• Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy (4-5 yrs.)
• Specialize in specific area of psychology
• Research-based degree
• PsyD Doctor of Psychology (4-5 yrs.)
• An applied doctoral degree
• Emphasizes practice over research
• Required for Psych Major
• EdD

4
What Do Grad Programs Consider?

• GRE Scores
• Verbal, Quantitative, Analytic
• Subject Test?
• GPA
• Letters of Recommendation

5
Other Factors

• Research Experience (Doctoral)
• Applied Experience
• Extracurricular Experience
• Specific Coursework, e.g. prerequisites
• Fit with institution
• Diversity

6
Can YOU Get In?

• So, You Wanna Go to Grad School? (Hansen, 2003)
• Direct admission to Doctoral
• Hi GPA, GREs, Good Letters, Research
• Masters Programs
• GPA, GREs (Occasionally), Good Letters, Evidence
  for Success in Program

7
What should You Do Now?

• Faculty need to know you
• GPA gt 3.0
• Prerequisite Courses
• Research Experience
• Enhancing Activities

8
Doctoral Timetable Jr. Year

• Junior Year
• Basic Courses
• Research Experience
• GRE Prep
• Faculty Contact
• Summer after Jr. Year
• Narrow list of alternatives
• Get apps from campuses

9
Doctoral Fall of Sr. Year

• Take GRE Exam
• Contact Faculty for Letters
• Prepare statement of Purpose
• Write Applications

10
Options

• Low GPA? (below 3.00, 2.75, or 2.5)
• Enroll as unclassified
• Petition for exception
• Masters before Doctoral?

11
Print Resources

• See Psychology Handbook
• APA Graduate Study in Psychology
• Insiders Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical
  Psychology
• Getting into Psychology Graduate Programs

12
Other Resources

• Psychology Faculty
• Ishida GRE CSUB MS Programs
• Abramson GRE CSUB MA Programs
• Other faculty in your area
• Internet Scout Home Page Information about
  programs
• Professionals in your area

13
MA in Psychology, CSUB

• General Emphasis
• Literature Review Thesis
• Doctoral Preparation Emphasis
• Empirical Thesis
• Community College Teaching Emphasis
• Comprehensive Exam

14
Admission to MA

• GPA of 3.0 or better, all Cs or better
• Stats Research Methods 301/302/303/304, 4 other
  upper division courses
• GRE Exam scores
• Letters of Recommendations (3)
• Personal Statement

15
MS in Counseling Psychology

• Prerequisites
• BA with 3.0 GPA, last 90 units
• Courses with C or better within last 5 years
• Stats, Abnormal, Child/Developmental
• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• Personal Statement

16
MSW

• Prerequisites
• BA or BS degree w/ 2.75 GPA or better
• Courses
• Biology, anatomy, or physiology
• Statistics
• Computer Literacy Course

17
Assignment

• No specific assignment. If you anticipate
  applying to a post-BA program, you should begin
  looking at your options and take the necessary
  steps to qualify for admission.
• Finally, let me say that Grad School is not for
  everyone. The more important thing is to be
  happy with your life and the choices you make.
  Good news for bachelor's grads (Murray, 2002)
• This powerpoint presentation was adopted from
  Dr. J. Deegans Psyc 290 Course