School Psychology

[ubpsychmajor]

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Hi everyone,

I am currently a psychology major about to enter my last year as an undergraduate. In
the future I am interested in obtaining a specialist degree in school psychology. Can
anyone recommend any experiences that I can get now as an undergraduate to help
prepare me for this career?

I am currently volunteering at an after school program for children ages 5-11. This
summer I will be taking part in applied research as a classroom aide implementing
behavior modification techniques in a summer camp for adolescents with ADHD. Next
semester I will be doing an internship in an elementary school as a teacher’s aide
helping children with their language and literacy skills. I will also be a peer mentor to
freshmen, helping to ease their transition into college.

Can anyone recommend any other types of experiences that I should gain before
applying to graduate school in a couple of years? Also, to those who are currently in a
specialist level program or have graduated from one, how important is research
experience to the admissions process?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!🙂

 

[WannaBeDrMe]

Hi everyone,

I am currently a psychology major about to enter my last year as an undergraduate. In
the future I am interested in obtaining a specialist degree in school psychology. Can
anyone recommend any experiences that I can get now as an undergraduate to help
prepare me for this career?

I am currently volunteering at an after school program for children ages 5-11. This
summer I will be taking part in applied research as a classroom aide implementing
behavior modification techniques in a summer camp for adolescents with ADHD. Next
semester I will be doing an internship in an elementary school as a teacher’s aide
helping children with their language and literacy skills. I will also be a peer mentor to
freshmen, helping to ease their transition into college.

Can anyone recommend any other types of experiences that I should gain before
applying to graduate school in a couple of years? Also, to those who are currently in a
specialist level program or have graduated from one, how important is research
experience to the admissions process?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!🙂

If this is your last year... why will it be a "couple of years" before you apply to grad school?

Each school will look for different requirements/pre-reqs... your job is to start looking @ those program websites now and see what you can gather about the type of student they seek to admit over the next few years.

Reading bios of students already enrolled within the program is exceptionally helpful to most people.

Sorry I can't be more helpful... good luck.

 

[ubpsychmajor]

If this is your last year... why will it be a "couple of years" before you apply to grad school?

I plan on waiting a couple of years before I apply to graduate school. I want to save some money and gain some more work experience. I'm also not in a position to move right now because my fiance owns his own construction business and has a couple of years of work lined up. After he has completed it he said he will move with me wherever I want to go as long as he can find work.

Each school will look for different requirements/pre-reqs... your job is to start looking @ those program websites now and see what you can gather about the type of student they seek to admit over the next few years.

I have looked on program's websites but most of them weren't very helpful. I contacted the school I am most interested in attending with these questions and they sent me a link to their website and said "this is the most up to date information we have" and didn't address my questions. I guess I'll have to try looking around some more..Thank you very much for your help!🙂

 

[schoolpsych1]

I have had the same thing happen, I only ask a question when I can't find the answer, don't send links to the financial aid page for instance, when my question isn't answered there!
I get the gist that although research experience is never bad, EdS programs aren't as geared to that, but PhD, of course are. Some students I talked too didn't have a lot, even for PhD programs, but everyone is different and what they want one year might vary from another.
I don't think any college wants to say, "This is the bottom line" because students might get admitted with less experince, lower GPA/GRE scores, and they don't want to discourage you from applying. (they probably don't mind the application fee either)
I think doing things like you are doing now would be great, being involved with children and helping others.
Good luck and don't give up, even with the emailing, every college is different and some times are busier than others and you might get a better answer when things are not as hectic.

 

[ubpsychmajor]

I have had the same thing happen, I only ask a question when I can't find the answer, don't send links to the financial aid page for instance, when my question isn't answered there!

exactly! that's so frustrating!

I get the gist that although research experience is never bad, EdS programs aren't as geared to that, but PhD, of course are. Some students I talked too didn't have a lot, even for PhD programs, but everyone is different and what they want one year might vary from another. I don't think any college wants to say, "This is the bottom line" because students might get admitted with less experince, lower GPA/GRE scores, and they don't want to discourage you from applying. (they probably don't mind the application fee either) I think doing things like you are doing now would be great, being involved with children and helping others. Good luck and don't give up, even with the emailing, every college is different and some times are busier than others and you might get a better answer when things are not as hectic.

thank you so much for your help!🙂