Final Part 3
On average, most clinical PhD programs (Boulder Model) accept approximately ___ percent of their applicants.
10
Time to complete doctoral programs varies with an average of ____ years for research-oriented programs and ____ years for practice-oriented programs.
4-5; 5-6
Which of the following are true regarding turning in your major project?
Due November 12, 2015 Due in Black Box by 3:00PM - all sections including appendices Due to BeachBoard Dropbox by 11:30PM all sections (except appendices) NO late projects are accepted
There are primarily three different training models for the health service provider subfields of psychology (i.e., clinical, counseling, and school). Which of the following are TRUE of the Vail model?
THe PsyD degree developed form this model This model is often referred to as the practitioner-scholar model Students trained in the Vail model are consumers of research more than producers of research
Perhaps the best advice regarding graduate school interviews is to:
go, if you're invited
One of the early steps to selecting a graduate program that is right for you is to do a comprehensive search of available programs. Your reading recommends all of the following as excellent resources EXCEPT:
gradschools.com
According to psychology professors, their most successful students are those who have which of the following characteristics?
hardworking self-motivated flexible mature passionate about psychology highly organized full of stamina
Sometimes, graduate admissions interviews take place by telephone. For telephone interviews, you should:
have your application materials laid out in front of you prepare a "Telephone card" for each program dress as you would for an in-person interview be aware that some programs call without warning you
It is the reality of our world that, although following all the advice we are giving you about applying to graduate school will increase the likelihood of your being accepted to programs, there are no guarantees for success. However, beyond the possibility of simply having "bad luck," you should review your applications to see if you made any of these common mistakes that often cost students an offer of admission:
having no research experience not applying widely enough (geographically or otherwise) applying only to high-ranked programs having a low GPA/GRE relative to the means of those recently admitted to the programs
Although this should not be the deciding factor on selecting graduate programs, a better chance at admission to graduate school can be found with a school that:
is in a less desirable location
All of the following are TRUE of a bachelor's degree in psychology EXCEPT:
it is difficult to be competitive for employment without graduate training in psychology
Practice-oriented (e.g., clinical) PhD programs have a ____ number of applications and ____ acceptance rates
large; lower
Which of the following are criteria evaluated during graduate school admissions?
overall GPA psychology GPA GRE scores (verbal and quantitative) GRE score (psychology subject test) research experience letters of recommendation personal statement psychology-lated work experience
To prepare for a job interview, you should do all of the following EXCEPT:
practice interviewing with friend who will provide you with positive feedback
Appleby (2000) developed an additional survey geared specifically for employers who interview many psychology majors. According to these employers who interview many psychology BA graduates, the top five job skills they value most include all of the following EXCEPT:
self-management skills
For those of you interested in clinical, counseling, or school psychology, you need to get licensed after completing a doctorate. The data show that students from PsyD programs with higher acceptance rates have _______ scores on the tests necessary for licensure compared with PhD graduates.
significantly lower
Which of the following are TRUE of how you can get involved in research?
start early in your undergraduate career- research project and developing relationship with faculty take serious time ask a professor directly if you can help with research offer to gather background literature for a professor's study offer to collect and enter data for one of your professors demonstrate your commitment to simple research tasks to increase the likelihood that you will be including in more research tasks later
For internships, field practica, and psychology related work experiences to carry weight in graduate school admissions, your experiences must be:
structured and supervised
To wisely consider a job offer, it is important to consider information like:
the cost of living where you will be living and working what benefits are included what is the work environment like are there opportunities for advancement
Having withdrawals on your transcript does NOT look good to graduate admissions committees, because:
they signal and draw attention to potential negative attributes a withdrawal suggests you may take on more responsibility than you can handle failing to complete an undergraduate course questions your ability to be successful in graduate study where the workload is much more difficult
As a graduate student, you might face times when you have to study intensely just to make a B, while other students seem comfortable in areas you haven't begun to grasp. What you need to know when this happens is that:
this is a natural part of being in a competitive program, and you should approach it as a challenge
Finding actual job openings can be difficult, in part because ____ percent of current job openings are posted in the traditional manner (e.g., newspaper ads).
10-15
According to 2005 data, the minimum required combined Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning GRE scores averaged ____ for doctoral programs and ____ for master's programs.
1066; 952
The major project, to be done thoroughly, takes at least ____ hours.
15
Although most psychology clubs do not have requirements for membership, honor societies do. The minimum GPA needed for induction into Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, is:
3.0
On average, the minimum grade point average (GPA) required to gain consideration for admission to a doctoral program in psychology is:
3.11
It is important for graduate school applicants to understand that, even though programs often publish minimum requirements for qualifications, like GPA, the students who are actually admitted into the program usually far exceed the minimums in admissions criteria. For example, a 2003-2004 study found that, although the average minimums required for overall GPA was 3.11 for doctoral programs and 2.92 for masters' programs, the actual overall GPAs for student accepted were:
3.54 for doctoral and 3.37 for master's programs
Which of the following are TRUE of the Psychology Subject Test of the GRE?
The Experimental content area of the exam covers approximately 40% of the questions The exam consists of approximately 210 questions with five answer options
Which of the following is true of the new GRE test format?
There are real-life and data interpretation questions.
To evaluate your own work ethic, your reading suggests you can consider your own personal traits regarding your approach to your academic work. Your reading suggests that a person with a strong work ethic exhibits all of the following EXCEPT:
leadership (e.g., seeks officer roles in department clubs and organizations)
Which of the following is NOT recommended as a means of finding out what kinds of research are being conducted at a graduate program?
look in the APA's Graduate study in Psychology
In a doctoral program, you are primarily associated with one specific professor. This is the professor who accepted you into the doctoral program, with whom you will establish a mentoring relationship and for whom you will contribute actively to their research program, and who will supervise your dissertation (your doctoral research). Your text refers to this professor as your:
major professor
Psychology graduate admissions committees look favorably upon a variety of courses like those in ______, because these kinds of courses signal your willingness and ability to engage in scientific pursuits.
math
In reality, many graduate programs prefer that undergraduates complete coursework that is:
more generalist in nature than specialized in specific areas
Currently (as of 2008), the Psychology Subject Test of the GRE is offered:
three times per year (Apr, Oct, Nov)
Students can be blinded by their desire to attend graduate school - at any cost. It is normal to have educational debt when you leave graduate school, but be aware of the potential amount and carefully consider if you want to afford it. For instance, 2005 data report that graduates in the practice-oriented subfields had a median debt of:
$67,500
According to 2005 data, the combined GRE General Test scores averaged ____ for doctoral programs and ____ for master's programs of students actually admitted into the programs.
1183; 1055
Experience does count! A survey by collegegrad.com (2008) found that, when evaluating job candidates, ____ percent of employers rated internships/experience as the "most important" criteria in evaluating new college graduates.
16
It typically takes a full-time student ________ years to earn a master's degree in psychology.
2-4
On average, the minimum grade point average (GPA) required to gain consideration for admission to a master's program in psychology is:
2.92
In terms of organizing your letters of recommendation, you will want to allow your recommenders at least ________ to write the letters.
4-6 weeks
For clinical psychology PhD programs, the overall average GPA for those applicants actually admitted to the program is close to:
4.0
Your text recommends that, when considering graduate programs, you should review as many as ______ and plan on applying to ______ programs.
40-50; 10-15
Freestanding PsyD programs (i.e., those not affiliated with a university, although they - misleadingly - use university in their name) accept approximately ___ percent of their applicants, while university-based PsyD programs accept approximately ___ percent of their applicants.
50;41
GRE Psychology Subject Test scores for incoming students actually admitted to graduate programs averaged ____ for doctoral programs and ____ for master's programs.
633; 577
The majority of students obtaining a bachelor's degree in psychology do NOT go on to graduate school. The application process is no easy task, and neither is graduate school itself. Data from 2008 show that ten years after starting graduate school, _____ percent of students have actually completed their graduate degrees.
65
The General Test of the GRE (which includes Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing) is required by ___ percent of doctoral programs and ___ percent of master's programs for admission.
74; 57
One benefit to completing graduate school training is employment status and prospects. A survey of recent doctorate recipients (Wicherski & Kohout, 2007) found that _____ percent of respondents indicated that the employment position they currently held was their first choice and reported an overall positive level of satisfaction with their jobs.
77
___ percent of clinical and counseling psychology graduate programs require some type of interview prior to an offer of admission.
93
Some students remain in a state of limbo for years regarding graduate school. This state, often referred to as ABD, is the abbreviation for:
All But Dissertation
Which of the following are good ways to prepare for the GRE test?
Allow many hours over several weeks or months to study Consider obtaining at least one of the study guides available for the GREs Review the test taking tips on the ETs (Educational Testing service) website
Vitae (academic resumes) are unique and different from typical work resumes in many ways. Unlike resumes, vitae:
Almost never use the "Career Objective" heading can be 20, 30, or more pages in length present all of your presentation and publications in correct APA format
Your text provides a detailed four-year timeframe of suggested activities for preparing for graduate school. Which of the following correctly reflects a suggestion contained on the detailed timeframe?
Completing the research foundation coursework should occur in your second year.
Which of the following are TRUE characteristics of internships or on-the-job experiences that you might have while in graduate school?
Future employers will use this experience to decide whether to hire you/ These opportunities take place toward the end of your graduate education Even as an intern, you will asked to solve difficult problems and make stressful decisions that significantly impact the lives of others.
Although specific admission requirements vary across programs, in general, doctoral programs look for applicants who show strength in:
GRE scores letters of recommendation research experience Personal statement GPA interview
One study investigated how graduate programs view different kinds of undergraduate research experiences (Kaiser, Kaiser, Richardson, & Fox, 2007). This study found that graduate programs do not value all research experiences equally. Which of the following is TRUE about the relative importance of the top four kinds of undergraduate research experiences?
Having research experience that resulted in a refereed/peer-reviewed publication is the most important undergraduate research experience.
An important component to a graduate school application is the statement of purpose. Which of the following is true of your statement of purpose?
Its theme if your reasons for choosing that particular program Its theme is your areas of interest in psychology It reveals your values and priorities it requires drafting and rewriting after you get feedback from others
Your reading points out the inevitable personal sacrifice you will endure as you face the amount of time and commitment required to pursue your graduate studies. You are offered all of the following pieces of advice to be successful during this challenging time EXCEPT:
Learn to live on less sleep, so you can maximize your time and productivity
Although specific admission requirements vary across programs, in general, master's programs look for applicants who show strength in:
Letters of recommendation personal statement GPA
Consistently over time, research experience enjoys a place at the top in terms of its importance of determining which students are admitted to graduate programs. If you intend to obtain research experience as an undergraduate, beware of doing so too late. Research takes time and most (doctoral) applications are due in _____ for admission the following Fall semester.
November and December
The doctoral degrees in psychology include:
PhD, PsyD, and EdD
Which of the following are all TRUE pieces of advice provided by your text regarding how you should handle the GRE?
Regarding evaluating the scores published by graduate programs, ignore the required minimums; instead, focus on the actual scores of those admitted. Taking the GRE can be costly; currently $140 for the General Test, $130 for the Psychology subject test, $20 for each report you sent to graduate programs
Which of the following are TRUE regarding master's degrees?
Terminal master's programs have lower entrance requirements than nonterminal/doctoral programs Doing well in a terminal master's program can improve your chances of getting accepted into a doctoral program.
Data published in 2005 by the APA Research Office revealed which of the following to be TRUE facts about graduate school tuition?
The average annual tuition for in-state residents in master's programs is $4812. The average annual tuition for in-state residents in doctoral programs is 10,200.
Which of the following are TRUE of specialist degrees?
The degree includes coursework, practica, and an internship The most common specialist degree (Eds) is almost exclusively for school psychology Degree requirements generally include a "project"- a thesis research study
Which of the following are TRUE about attending graduate classes?
The typical class size is 6-20 students High expectations are placed on your class participation
Do NOT postpone taking the "harder" psychology courses, because:
These course are likely to include material that you need for the GRE Psychology subject Test which you should take by fall of your senior year Graduate admissions faculty will want to see excellent grades in these upper-level courses on your transcript
Which of the following e-mail addresses is most appropriate for inclusion on a resume?
Which of the following are TRUE regarding graduate certificates?
You gain additional knowledge in a specified area Certificate programs are generally a year in length In terms of hiring, you will be more attractive than someone without the certificate
Which of the following should be your primary goal regarding the information contained in your letters of recommendation for graduate school applications?
You should ensure that all information requested by the program from recommenders is covered across the combination of your letters
Your should provide a packet for those writing your letters of recommendation that includes which of the following materials?
a checklist of all programs with information on due dates unofficial copies of your transcript(s) and GRE scores a preaddressed, stamped envelope for each letter that must be mailed a copy of your personal statement and your vita any required recommendation forms (FYI: with the top section filled out by you!) web addresses (and passwords) for any recommendations submitted online
Letters of recommendation are one of the MOST important criteria used by graduate school admissions committees to evaluate candidates. Part of your success with letters of recommendation is your responsibility to ask the right people for letters. Of the following, the best choice for letters of recommendation is:
a psychology professor with whom you have taken multiple upper-division courses and done well, and who knows your academic work
Why go to graduate school? One reason is that you will learn a great deal more in graduate school than just the specialized information in your discipline. Salazar and Frincke (2005) note 15 skills that are improved in graduate school, regardless of the field of study. Five of the following are some of those skills. Which one is NOT?
ability to remove ambiguity from complex ideas
In addition to the research foundation courses, graduate programs in clinical and counseling programs prefer applicants have taken undergraduate courses in:
abnormal psychology Developmental psychology learning personality psychology principles of psychology testing
Regarding letters of recommendation for graduate applications, it is preferred to have:
all three from psychology professors, at least two with whom you've done research
Extracurricular activities are most important as _____________ that will enable you to enhance your attractiveness as a graduate school applicant.
an avenue for acquiring information and contacts
Which of the following provides you with the best overview for preparing for the Psychology GRE exam?
an introductory psychology textbook
Most graduate programs in psychology want you to have already demonstrated your promise as a scientist before you apply for admission. The most common way to do this as an undergraduate is to:
assist a psychology professor with his or her own research
Which of the following are good pieces of advice for selecting a potential faculty mentor?
choose from among the professors you've had for classes choose professors who regularly have students presenting at conference Choose professor who generally work with students
According to the National Science Foundation's 2006 National Survey of Recent College Graduates, recent recipients of bachelor's degrees in psychology were overwhelmingly:
employed in business/private industry
Regarding the graduate programs to which you actually decide to apply, your text recommends that half of your applications should be to programs where you ____ the statistics of their recent admissions.
exceed
Regardless of the specialty you are applying for (e.g., clinical, school, I/O, health, etc.), all graduate programs prefer applicants have which THREE of the following undergraduate courses?
experimental psychology research methods statistics
If you have mediocre grades, having excellent qualifications in other areas may compensate to make you competitive for admission to graduate programs. The best compensations are to have all of which of the following?
having solid letters of recommendation taking rigorous courses obtaining high GRE scores carefully writing and revising your personal statement
Regarding clinical, counseling, and school graduate programs, you will only be able to get licensed in many states if you graduate from an APA-accredited program. Information on how long a program has been accredited can be found:
in every December issue of APA's publication, American Psychologist
The commitment to successfully complete graduate school is intensive and should not be taken lightly. Graduate school requires certain personal attributes, such as being self-motivated and organized, just to name a few. Your text suggests you make an honest assessment of your personal qualities and behaviors that are consistent with graduate training. The need for these qualities and behaviors reveals important characteristics about graduate school, including:
most graduate courses require extensive writing assignments successful graduate students are able to focus on their academic work, even though other forces may lead distraction (e.g., background noise) graduate students are expected to work with little supervision/no hand-holding the expectation for most graduate programs is "A" work in all courses successful graduate students must accept and make good use of vast amounts of critical feedback graduate school requires delayed gratification, such as giving up leisure activities with friends/ family
Which of the following areas of psychology view postdoctoral fellowships as a necessary step, given that the majority of their graduates are employed in these positions?
neuroscience biological psychology
Where do employers find the most success in recruiting new employees for entry-level positions?
on-campus visits student internships career or job fairs employee referrals
Experts warn students developing graduate application materials to not misinterpret the "personal" nature of required statements of purpose. They recommend that personnel should not in any way be construed as ____, rather it should instead be defined as your ____ statement of purpose.
private; professional
Which of the following are all "kisses of death" for your personal statement and can likely cause you to be rejected from graduate programs?
providing excessively self-revealing information having grammatical or spelling errors in your statement including religious issues that are unrelated to the program to which you are applying expressing a strong need to help others including references to your own mental health using a canned, non specific, generic statement for all applications.
Doctoral students complete dissertations - extensive independent research projects that take the last few years of graduate school to write and revise. The dissertation process begins with a formal proposal and culminates in a formal defense, both of which occur in front of an expert faculty committee. Thus, to do these two parts of the process, you should feel comfortable with:
public speaking
Throughout your career as a psychologist, whether you are research- or practice-oriented, you will be expected to contribute your knowledge to the field by:
publishing your findings
The project instructions are very detailed, ultimately for YOUR benefit! The best ways to understand the project instructions are to:
read through the detailed instructions section by section attend an Extra Credit (EC) workshop on a Project
Students completing clinical, counseling and school doctoral programs will need to pass the national exam (the EPPP) to be licensed. To evaluate graduate programs based on their students' success for licensure, it is best to:
see where students tend to pass the EPPP on the first try
Why are standardized admissions tests (e.g., the GRE) important considerations in evaluating graduate applications?
students with the same GPA at the same school may not be "equally good" candidates for graduate study because of different choices in courses standardized test help to compare students across a wide variety of educational experiences A 3.8 GPA may not mean the same thing across different schools
Professional preparation of your graduate application packet is important. It is wise to:
submit all your materials in a neutral folder with your name/contact info typed on it send all application material all at once include a cover letter itemizing the contents of your application
Many documents are provided for each of the two major projects to help you complete them successfully. The ___________ serves as the framework for formatting your answers to your project. It should be saved on your hard drive and answers should be directly typed into it.
template
This Getting In chapter suggests that, to be successful in graduate school, the most crucial skills of all might be:
time management
Financial assistance takes many forms in graduate programs. The typical forms of financial assistance include all of the following EXCEPT:
tuition reduction based on income
For students interested in clinical and counseling graduate programs, you might want to seek out opportunities for gaining part-time paid experience in human services fields while you are still an undergraduate. Begin your search for meaningful experience by deciding on what kinds of ______ and _______ interest you.
work settings populations
There are many benefits to internships, field practica, and discipline-relevant work experiences. One benefit is setting yourself above the pack of other applicants or interviewees for graduate programs, because:
you first-hand experience lets you provide a sophisticated answer to how you know you're interested in that area of graduate study
