Dos and Don'ts of the Application Process

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.

Do

• Apply to 10 programs (if you are financially available); 3 “reach” or “dream” schools; 3 “safety” schools (schools you are pretty sure you can get into based on criteria, eg. masters programs if you are looking at PhD programs primarily); 4 mid-level programs, schools that you “qualify” for, but are more competitive; many programs or schools offer a waiver of application fees for qualifying students. Scale down the number of applications as needed; for example, 2 “safety schools” 2 “mid-level” schools, and 1 “reach” school.  
• (Research focused programs) Contact the people you are interested in working with; its super awkward, but also super important…ask them if they are taking students, introduce yourself, make some connection between the kinds of research you are interested in doing and their current research (if you know it…you may need to ask them in your initial contact what they are doing now as faculty websites aren’t always up to date). The faculty will remember your name if you contact them and will seek out your application from the pile.
• (Research focused programs) Make sure that there are at least two faculty members you could work within the department; one person may not accept students after your contact, may end up leaving the institution, or may not be a good fit for you in terms of mentoring or research.
• (Counseling or other applied programs) Find out as much as you can about practicum sites and job placement. Will you be able to get experience in the kinds of places you want to work? Do students get jobs after finishing? Where do students get jobs?
• Talk to current students. Find out what they think about the program; their favorite thing and their least favorite thing. Some schools provide information about all of their students on their website, try emailing a “random” student rather than talking to the “official” student representative so you can get a realistic perspective. If possible, talk to multiple students in the program to get a variety of opinions.
• Look at the flexibility in the program, do they offer flexible class times or online options, will you have the ability to work or are the programs “full time"? Is the curriculum proscribed or are their options to tailor your coursework based on your interests? How much of the degree coursework vs. research/practicum?
• Look into what the program offers in terms of financial support. Do they offer a monthly stipend? If so, what’s the workload associated with it? Do they offer a tuition waiver or scholarship of some sort?

• Ask for letters of recommendation from faculty mentors who know you well enough to write a strong, positive letter. You’ll want to give them at least 30 days notice before your earliest deadline. When you ask them to write letters for you, be prepared with a list of your schools, deadlines, and how they will need to submit their letters (electronic vs. snail mail). Also, they may ask you what types of programs you’re interested in, what your career goals are, and for a current CV.

 
Don’t
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• Place your bets on only one school. Apply to at least two or three schools. This gives you a greater chance of getting into a program. If you only apply to one school and don’t get in, you may not have the chance to apply out to other schools before their deadlines pass.
• Forget to factor in your career goals when deciding on the type of programs you want to apply to. Do you want to work in academia? Typically you’ll need a PhD. Do you want to work in industry as an I/O psychologist? Typically you only need a Master’s.
• Wait too late to take the GRE! Most programs require the general test (some require the Psychology subject test). It takes about two weeks to get your official scores. Make sure you take the test early enough before your earliest deadline to ensure your scores will be reported to the institutions on time! You may want to take it over the summer so you have time to take it again before the application deadline. For more information on the GRE (pricing, test dates and locations, etc) check out ETS’s website. 
• Write only a single draft of your personal statement or CV before your submission deadlines. Making your personal statement or CV ready for submission usually takes several drafts and lots of feedback from a trusted faculty mentor.
• Ignore what the program application requirements are. If a program lists a minimum GPA or GRE score, they usually won’t accept an applicant who doesn’t meet those criteria, especially if it’s a larger school that receives a large number of applications.
• Underestimate the financial and time commitment that the application process is. During the semester that you’re applying think of this process like an additional class. You’ll need to spend time on it every week getting yourself organized, readying your application materials, and actually submitting your applications. Financially, the application process can be expensive. Each school has an application fee. The price on this can vary, and sometimes the fee can be waived. Also, there is a fee for taking the GRE. According to ETS, it now costs $205 in the US. You’ll need to send your GRE scores to each school, which costs $27 per recipient.
• Be unorganized about this process. There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of especially if you’re applying to 10 schools. Don’t let it overwhelm you! Keep organized with track sheets with information about each program, when the deadlines are, and what is required for each application.

Feel free to check out our Graduate School resources page for students! There may be some helpful links there to get you started on this process.

Stay tuned tomorrow for our last post in this series!

​Did we miss any of the advice you give to undergrads? Comment below!