When applying to graduate school, the process can be a bit overwhelming. There are a lot of factors to consider when selecting schools and moving parts to keep track of when you're getting organized for submitting the applications. Below, we've compiled a list of dos and don'ts that could help and hurt you during the application process.

​When deciding where to go to graduate school, students often ask questions about where to apply. Some students express interests in Ivy League universities, attracted to the prestige. Some students confine their applications to universities close to home. Other students have a wide pool of applications, focusing on research and faculty interests. 

​To help undergraduates that are considering to apply to graduate school, we asked current graduate students at The University of Texas at El Paso to weigh in on the factors that guided their decisions for where to apply to school. 

​This week, The Novice Professor is going to put out series of posts geared towards undergraduates, particularly undergrads interested in applying to graduate school. Below are some links and information that undergraduate psychology majors may find useful. Many of the links can also be found in our Resources Section, including helpful information about studying, careers, and graduate programs, for both psychology majors and non-psychology majors alike! 

Dear aspiring graduate students,
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Spring is in the air! The birds are chirping, and a grad school rejection letter is in your inbox. Okay, this may not be completely true, but some of you may feel this way during this time of year. Grad school is a tough road to hoe, and the application process is no exception. 

​When I applied to grad programs, everyone warned me to expect rejection letters. I was told to apply everywhere, with hopes of getting in somewhere. I took this advice to heart, and applied to at least 12 different programs (foreshadowing: I don’t even remember how many schools I applied to). Most of them were doctoral programs, but a couple were also “back-up” master’s programs. At the end of the day, I received over 9 rejection letters. It was heartbreaking.