Is Grad School Right for You?

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

On average, the minimum grade point average (GPA) required to gain consideration for admission to a doctoral program in psychology is:

3.11

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

Data published in 2005 by the APA Research Office revealed which of the following to be TRUE facts about graduate school tuition? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

The average annual tuition for in-state residents in master's programs is $9150. 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 about attending graduate classes? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

The typical class size is 6 - 20 students High expectations are placed on your class participation

If you absolutely hate to write or are unwilling to acquire writing skills, you should seriously question whether to pursue a career in psychology.(T/F)

True

Most master's candidates in psychology are required to have foundation courses in research methods, design, and statistics, and to apply that knowledge in actual research (T/F)

True

According to psychology professors, their most successful students are those who have which of the following characteristics? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

hardworking self-motivated flexible mature passionate about psychology highly organized full of stamina

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? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

neuroscience biological psychology

Which of the following are criteria evaluated during graduate school admissions? (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

overall GPA psychology GPA GRE scores (verbal and quantitative) GRE score (psychology subject test) research experience letters of recommendation personal statement psychology-related work experience

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

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

This Getting In chapter suggests that, to be successful in graduate school, the most crucial skills of all might be:

time management