Answers to 30+ Popular Questions
About Grad School

For four years, a column called “Three Heads Are Better Than One” was a special highlight of Eye on Psi Chi magazine. This column concisely answered more than 30 popular questions that students have about the graduate school application process. These articles were written by grad school experts, Drs. Mitchell M. Handelsman, Scott W. VanderStoep, and R. Eric Landrum. Today’s blog post features all of those questions, neatly organized for your convenience! Enjoy!



Should I Apply to Graduate School?

• What can you do with a master’s vs. a PhD degree?
• I have my bachelor’s of science in psychology. What entry level job positions are available for me to apply to?
• What kind of financial aid is offered to those in graduate school?
• Does it look bad to take time off after college before applying to grad school?
• Do you recommend taking a year off before applying to a doctoral program if I am planning to enter one with only an undergraduate degree?

Selecting a School

• How many schools should I apply to?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of attending a graduate school that is very far away from where I presently live with all my family and friends?
• Is it worth going to a school that doesn’t have a top-ranked graduate program?
• If I am interested in a specific area of research, how do I find faculty who are conducting research in that area?
• What is a good way to narrow down the search of professors to work with in graduate school?
• What are the types of graduate programs to become a therapist besides clinical psychology?
• Is there a way to get dual doctorates in both psychology and psychiatry at the same time?
• How common is it to go directly from an undergraduate degree to a PhD program?
• Would it be okay if I emailed the graduate students at a particular program to ask if they like the program, their research, their mentors, etc.?
• When looking at school options, what is the importance of internship matching rates?
• When looking at grad schools, who would you contact for more information?

Application Materials

• What is the difference between a résumé and a curriculum vitae (CV)? If there is no preference from the school, which would be better?
• Is it better to obtain letters of recommendation from academics?
• Some programs ask for three letters of recommendation, and some four. Can I send all four of mine to every program?
• What is the most effective way to begin a personal statement?
• What are programs looking for in a personal statement?
• Should you make a separate personal statement for each college you apply to?
• How long should a personal statement be? Can I include my personal experiences with mental health if that is what got me interested in psychology?
• Should I self-disclose my own mental illness in my essay?
• What is the biggest mistake students make when applying to graduate programs?

Interviews

• What are the do’s and don’ts of graduate school interviews?
• What do graduate schools look for when interviewing a candidate for their program?
• How important are the interviews to the total process? Do phone interviews lead to equitable success?
• If there is a social event during the interview, should I drink if others are drinking?

Grades and the GRE

• When is the best time to take the GREs?
• How can I compensate for poor GRE scores?
• I originally graduated with a BA and a low-ish GPA. Now my GPA is climbing as I finish two more BAs. How will this be viewed?

Other Questions

• Are summer classes available for graduate students, or do you typically take classes only in the fall and spring?
• After I get my graduate degree, could I sometimes be told that I am overqualified when applying for jobs? What is the appropriate response to this?
• What should I do if I do not get into grad school?

More About Grad School

Psi Chi is dedicated to supporting your journey to graduate school. You can learn more on our free Graduate School online resource. Other Psi Chi resources feature Careers in Psychology, Conducting Research, Presenting at Conventions, Diversity Matters, and Chapter Leadership.

Also, consider purchasing Psi Chi’s eBook, An Eye on Graduate School: Guidance Through a Successful Application, which brings together our very best advice about applying to graduate school—advice accumulated from 25+ experts in over 20+ years of Eye on Psi Chi magazine issues. The eBook is currently $4.99 for members (login required) or $19.99 for nonmembers.

Conduct a Lab Experiment

Have other questions about grad school? Let’s discuss in the comment section below (login required).