do i qualify for grad school?

[wuckan]

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Hi everyone,

Currently, I'm finishing up my 3rd year of undergrad and will graduate after next fall. I am interested in clinical psychology ph.d programs (mostly schools in CA and some east coast ones as well). I took the GREs and barely got above 1000 but I plan on retaking this summer. My cumulative gpa isn't spectacular (3.7) but I have about 2 years worth of research experience with two great professors.

The problem is that, I don't have a lot else on my resume (e.g. senior thesis, publications etc). I'm involved with honor / psych societies along with an internship at mental health agency but that's about it. Will the lack of "extra curricular activities" hurt me in the admissions process?

 

[schoolpsych1]

I've always read that EC's were the last thing in importance on your application. Some college even say it's very low. It looks good and that you're interested to be involved in Psych clubs, Psi Chi, etc. but research and projects, classes taken, GRE, is more important.
Your GPA is good, (is your major GPA the same or higher?) and 2 years of research is solid. If your raise your GRE, I think you would have a good chance, but know of course how hard it is for everyone to get in a PhD program. Would you consider a Masters if you didn't or would you take a year off?

 

[cara susanna]

There are programs that have low or no GRE cutoffs. PM me if you would like some specifics 😀

 

[KillerDiller]

A lack of extra curriculars like being captain of the volleyball team or president of the animal rights club is not going to matter in the slightest. However, psych publications and honors theses aren't really considered in the same breath as those other activities. They are an important part of your education and experience. That being said, not having publications or theses as an undergrad won't hurt. It simply would have helped if you had had them.

Right now, the best thing you can do to boost your application is to focus on what you want your research to look like in graduate school. Research match is one of the top factors in admission to PhD programs. Start researching schools to see which ones match your interests. Please do not limit yourself only to the coasts. Not only does this decrease your chances of finding enough programs with a good match, these are also some of the most competitive programs due to the desirability of their locations.

 

[wuckan]

I am considering some master's programs as a backup options because I can't imagine I'd be motivated to return to school if I take a leave. I do have an extensive list of about 20 programs I am interested in categorized by location, tuition cost and research match (weird, I know =X). Should I get in contact with professors to let them know I'm applying?

 

[schoolpsych1]

Is there an average number of applications a grad candidate sends in? I see a lot of 15 or 20 but then I see 5 or 6 also. Some students say they wont leave a certain area so I guess that will contain it.
My sisters are applying to college and they noticed an increase in apps from when I went 4 years ago among their peers. I think that is partially because of aid and trying to maximize it, something that changes quite a bit with the next step, there really isn't any "courting" of students for grad school. (at least Psych)

 

[AryaStark]

I applied to 11 schools. However, like you said happens, I limited myself geographically to the northeast. I feel between 10-15 schools is a normal number because it is really just so difficult to get in, people want to increase their chances as much as possible. I am not too familiar with what's going on with college admissions, but this is a VERY different application process than high school to undergrad. This one you must pin point faculty whose work closely relates to yours and sell yourself to show how you could enhance that particular lab. You have to stand out from 100s of applicants to be worthy of one spot in say a class of 5 students instead of a class of sometimes thousands. Your personal statement isn't personal like in college, this is more of an incorporation of what you have done and how it has shaped your career and graduate school goals. Applying to college really wasn't much work for me, but applying to graduate school made me want to rip my hair out on a daily basis. With that said, I would probably apply to more schools than you applied to for college. I applied to about 6 for colleges and wasn't surprised that I got into most. However with graduate school you are overcome with complete joy if you even get one INTERVIEW out of 16 applications.

Is there an average number of applications a grad candidate sends in? I see a lot of 15 or 20 but then I see 5 or 6 also. Some students say they wont leave a certain area so I guess that will contain it.
My sisters are applying to college and they noticed an increase in apps from when I went 4 years ago among their peers. I think that is partially because of aid and trying to maximize it, something that changes quite a bit with the next step, there really isn't any "courting" of students for grad school. (at least Psych)

 

[KillerDiller]

I am considering some master's programs as a backup options because I can't imagine I'd be motivated to return to school if I take a leave. I do have an extensive list of about 20 programs I am interested in categorized by location, tuition cost and research match (weird, I know =X). Should I get in contact with professors to let them know I'm applying?

It's a good idea to get into contact with professors whose labs you are applying to work in. If you are applying to programs that aren't research-focused or don't have you working in a lab, then contacting professors is less important. Of course, if you have questions about the program, you should feel free to contact whomever you think would have the answers.

 

[schoolpsych1]

I have at least 10 I'm interested in and looking at more. Some are for Masters/EdS and some for PhD. I wish I could apply to both at some but that does look unfocused. Some students say they were offered the masters program when rejected from the PhD, but I don't know how common that is. One student said she never mentioned being interested in a masters, but because of funding, kept it as an option if everyone else said No.
Only one college, a state univ in my state of CT had a requirement for special ed that I wont have. That said, they told me I could take it at a community college to save money the summer before if I decide to go there and get in.
It was something I hadn't checked out before so know I make sure to look into any requirements I might be missing.