So many questions!

[Miss D]

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Hi!
I'm currently an undergrad at a four year university. I'll be starting my junior year this fall and have so many questions/concerns that I don't even know where to start lol. If any of you guys could just take the time to answer my questions I would be forever grateful!

1. How did you figure out what area of psychology you wanted to pursue? I go back and forth between Adult clinical, child clinical and school psychology all the time!

2. When do you recommend taking the GRE's? I've done a lot of research and have gotten conflicting information.

3. When did you start doing research? Do you suggest taking some time off after undergrad to get involved in solid research?

4. Lastly, did you have a minor? Was it helpful or just a waste of time?

Thanks so much for your time! I'm so worried about getting into grad school. Although my GPA is a 3.7 and I'm starting a GRE class next spring, I feel really unprepared and behind.

 

[erg923]

Hi!
I'm currently an undergrad at a four year university. I'll be starting my junior year this fall and have so many questions/concerns that I don't even know where to start lol. If any of you guys could just take the time to answer my questions I would be forever grateful!

1. How did you figure out what area of psychology you wanted to pursue? I go back and forth between Adult clinical, child clinical and school psychology all the time!

2. When do you recommend taking the GRE's? I've done a lot of research and have gotten conflicting information.

3. When did you start doing research? Do you suggest taking some time off after undergrad to get involved in solid research?

4. Lastly, did you have a minor? Was it helpful or just a waste of time?

Thanks so much for your time! I'm so worried about getting into grad school. Although my GPA is a 3.7 and I'm starting a GRE class next spring, I feel really unprepared and behind.

1. Cant help you. Thats all you. However, be fully educated on the realities of the specific roles/functions/job duties and earning potential of each, before really making up you mind.

2. Summer. This way, if you goof, you still have a chance to take it again in the fall and still be ok for most of the dec and jan program app deadlines.

3. You should have been doing this all along. If not, start now. Its hugely important. The best letters of rec often come from professors you worked closely with for a couple years or so. Yes, sometimes people take time off after undergrad to work as an RA full-time. Sometimes its necessary if you didn't do much an undergrad. However, be weary that full time RA jobs (quality ones anyway) are getting increasingly competitive these days, and many want you to have considerable experience in research already

4. Yes, I had a minor, but its not important or even weighed in apps. Good grades, goods GRE, good research experience, good letters of rec...thats ewhat you need.

 

[PsychApps2009]

1. I looked at what I wanted to do as a career and then figured out what track in psychology would best prepare me to do that. Also, working full-time after graduation in a related field helped me figure out if what I thought I wanted to do was a good fit for me.

2. If you haven't taken it before, I would take it early enough to leave time to study and take it again if you don't do well. And I would not take it later than October of the year you apply (though you can go as late as Nov or early Dec. and some schools will still take it...but it can take weeks to get in their hands and I wouldn't risk it).

3. Sophomore year of college. Yes, I would suggest taking time off and get involved in full-time research that might result in posters/publications, *esp* if you are considering a clinical psychology phd (which tend to weigh research more heavily).

4. No.

 

[i am who i am]

Hi!
I'm currently an undergrad at a four year university. I'll be starting my junior year this fall and have so many questions/concerns that I don't even know where to start lol. If any of you guys could just take the time to answer my questions I would be forever grateful!

1. How did you figure out what area of psychology you wanted to pursue? I go back and forth between Adult clinical, child clinical and school psychology all the time!

2. When do you recommend taking the GRE's? I've done a lot of research and have gotten conflicting information.

3. When did you start doing research? Do you suggest taking some time off after undergrad to get involved in solid research?

4. Lastly, did you have a minor? Was it helpful or just a waste of time?

Thanks so much for your time! I'm so worried about getting into grad school. Although my GPA is a 3.7 and I'm starting a GRE class next spring, I feel really unprepared and behind.

1. Start thinking of some broad topics you might be interested in (e.g., schizo, depression, ADHD) and read some recent articles. Also, try to find a research lab that suits your interests (although you might not always get what you want).

2. GREs: As early as you can. Most recommend the summer before senior year (you can get more studying done with no school to worry about), like July or August. I would not recommend taking it in the fall (around the time you apply) because you already have to deal with other application stuff, the scores also might not get there on time, and you might not have time to retake them.

3. If you can start this fall (as a junior), that would be good, it gives you a year and a half experience as an RA. If you do an honors/senior thesis during your senior year (if your school has it), than DO IT. Many professors look favorably on taking a year or two off after graduation to get more research experience. All of the schools I got waitlisted/rejected from this year told me I was a great applicant, but they decided to take someone with more experience.

4. I had a minor, but it was a requirement. I enjoyed it (I had my minor in History) but I can't say it helped me in any way because it never came up during interviews. I would say do a minor or double major because you want to, not because you think it would help.

Good luck! You're on the right track, just get as much research experience as you can. Also, don't worry too much about getting into grad school. 🙂 Everyone's in the same boat, we were all scared that we were doing it wrong. 😀

 

[Wapote84]

Hi!
I'm currently an undergrad at a four year university. I'll be starting my junior year this fall and have so many questions/concerns that I don't even know where to start lol. If any of you guys could just take the time to answer my questions I would be forever grateful!

1. How did you figure out what area of psychology you wanted to pursue? I go back and forth between Adult clinical, child clinical and school psychology all the time!

2. When do you recommend taking the GRE's? I've done a lot of research and have gotten conflicting information.

3. When did you start doing research? Do you suggest taking some time off after undergrad to get involved in solid research?

4. Lastly, did you have a minor? Was it helpful or just a waste of time?

Thanks so much for your time! I'm so worried about getting into grad school. Although my GPA is a 3.7 and I'm starting a GRE class next spring, I feel really unprepared and behind.

1. Research Research Research the programs until your eyeballs hurt LoL. I couldn't decide between clinical and counseling psych Ph.D.s for the longest. I just read about different programs and the differences until it all finally just sank in. For me the repetition helped alot. In the end I applied to mostly clinical and a couple counseling. I would say when you do apply,it couldn't hurt to have a plan B and C if you don't get into clinical because the other programs tend to be much less competitive. Just check out the programs and READ THEIR STUDENT HANDBOOKS!

2. Take the GRE in the summer before your Senior Year... start studying before then. Practice tests and vocab cards are great, also think about studying prefixes and suffixes. They could help... but only if you have the time. The other two are more important.

3. I agree with everyone else. You should already be involved, and if not make sure you do it this year. I would say you should have multiple research experiences under your belt. Remember, it's competitive out there, so make sure you can be the best applicant you can be.

4. I was a double major in Spanish and Psychology. I think it did help me actually. I studied and taught abroad in Spain and I actually speak the language fluently after studying it for well over half my life. I think it helped separate me from other applicants, and in addition, there are research projects in the program I'm starting this fall that are focused on Spanish speaking populations and no one on the projects at my program actually speaks the language. I think that it was very beneficial. I would say it depends on what the minor is and how that can be intertwined into a program and/or your research interests.

 

[RejectClinical]

1. Get experience!!! I really thought I wanted to pursue children....I spent so much time with children (7 years). When I finally got experience working with geriatrics, I completely changed my mind. If I had to do it all over again, I would try to get experience with different groups (if you are clinically oriented) or research experience in different areas (if you are research oriented).

2. As soon as you're ready!!!! At the very latest, the beginning of the summer before you will apply (that way if it doesn't go as planned, you have time to take it again).

3. I started way too late. Start as soon as you can. If you want to get into a very competitive program, taking time off after undergrad will help a lot.

4. I had a minor. I thought it was a waste until I found out that some of the programs I applied to were looking at the effects of exercise (my minor was in the sport and exercise science dept at my university). I doubt it made a huge difference in the end, but at least it helped me bring something to the table that others didn't. A minor in neuroscience or stats would be helpful I think.

 

[nycegurl]

Hi!
I'm currently an undergrad at a four year university. I'll be starting my junior year this fall and have so many questions/concerns that I don't even know where to start lol. If any of you guys could just take the time to answer my questions I would be forever grateful!

1. How did you figure out what area of psychology you wanted to pursue? I go back and forth between Adult clinical, child clinical and school psychology all the time!

2. When do you recommend taking the GRE's? I've done a lot of research and have gotten conflicting information.

3. When did you start doing research? Do you suggest taking some time off after undergrad to get involved in solid research?

4. Lastly, did you have a minor? Was it helpful or just a waste of time?

Thanks so much for your time! I'm so worried about getting into grad school. Although my GPA is a 3.7 and I'm starting a GRE class next spring, I feel really unprepared and behind.

1. I figured it out through going to the psychology club on campus which had speakers in different fields of psych. I was able to talk to people in the fields and get first hand experiences (besides looking up info online/program websites).

2. I took the GREs in August which gave me the whole summer to study. I know some of my friends were taking it for the first time in Oct./Nov. (their apps were due in March for MA/MSW programs) and they felt overwhelmed with everything else that needed to get done for applications + senior year courses.

3. Like some other people have said...ASAP. I got into research freshman year but I know lots of people who started junior year. Just do the best you can with the time you have and if necessary take a year or two off to pursue research since that experience is VERY necessary (especially for clinical).

4. I double majored in Psych & Sociology and minored in Business Management. I don't think that really did anything since I was never asked about it and it doesn't really relate into what I'm going into (counseling psych).

Good luck!