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1 Applying t Graduate Schl I. General 1. Backgrund U f S Psychlgy students are bth able and well-trained. Over the years they have had measurable success mving n t graduate schl. They d well n the GREs, have a gd acceptance rate t the best graduate prgrams in Canada and, nce there, d very well. A Psychlgy degree frm the U f S is wrth a lt. If yu apply t graduate schl in yur furth year, secnd and third year marks cunt mst heavily in evaluating yur applicatin; furth year marks cunt with respect t schlarship (r fellwship) allcatin. If yu apply t graduate schl after receiving yur B.A. (Hnurs), then furth year marks will cunt. Yu shuld nte that graduate students are eligible fr external funding; having such funding greatly enhances yur applicatin. 2. Getting Ready t Apply The prcess shuld begin during the latter part f yur third year. D yur hmewrk. Talk t faculty and graduate students here in the department. Cllect infrmatin n the prgrams yu might want t apply t. Check ut the apprpriate web sites. Infrmatin abut many graduate prgrams is n the web; there yu're likely t find everything yu need t knw abut prgrams that might meet yur needs. Grad schl admissin is highly cmpetitive and, t sme extent, chancy. Dn't put all yur "eggs" in ne basket. Cnsider applying t multiple schls if yu are interested in them and can affrd the applicatin fees. Amng them shuld be the prgrams yu really want t get int, sme that yu think are kay but nt yur first chice, and ne r tw that yu'd cnsider if all else failed. Cnsider interdisciplinary and related prgrams (e.g., Educatinal Psychlgy, Scial Wrk, Kinesilgy) that might meet yur career interests. As indicated abve, U f S students can cmpete with anybdy, but many dn't seem t knw that. Cnsider ther prvinces and, if circumstances permit, ther cuntries - especially the US. 3. The Prcess f Applying Graduate Recrd Examinatin (GRE): Check the GRE website (link t fr registratin and test writing dates and lcatins. Register nline, by phne, r by mail.

2 Registratin fr subject tests (paper and pencil nly) may be by mail r n-line accmpanied by payment f $150 in US funds (cst as f the fall f 2002): Graduate Recrd Examinatins Educatinal Testing Service PO Bx 6004 Princetn NJ The GRE Bulletin (available frm the Sylvan Learning Centre, phne ) can be cnsulted fr additinal testing dates in Regina. Sme peple even write in places like Mntana. The general GRE test can be written (cmputer based) n any Tuesday, Friday r Saturday by registering with the Sylvan Learning Centre. Register early as seating fr individual exam dates is limited. The Sylvan Learning Centre accepts registratin by phne (with a credit card number), by fax, r in persn. The cst is $140 US (as f the fall f 2002). Letters f Reference: It's quite kay t ask faculty members fr multiple reference letters, but make it easy t prvide them by giving the letter writers stamped, addressed envelpes. If yur letter f reference must be submitted n a particular frm (as is typical), remember t fill ut yur wn name and infrmatin n the frm that yu prvide fr yur referee. Dn't ask fr letters tw days befre the deadline - prfessrs are busy and need advance ntice. Yu dn't want a letter written in a hurry by a slightly annyed prfessr. Yu want as gd a letter as yu can get frm the highest status peple wh will write ne fr yu. It's kay t ask fr a supprtive letter. Ask, "d yu think I wuld make a gd grad student?" The best peple t write yur letters f reference generally include thesis supervisrs, third year lab instructrs, and/r peple in the department fr whm yu have wrked. It may be helpful t prvide yur referees with a cpy f yur curriculum vitae (resume) s that they have rganized and efficient access t infrmatin that might therwise nt be included in their letter abut yu. Fees It is cmmn fr nn-refundable applicatin fees t be levied. These can run frm $50 upwards. In additin t the cstly GRE, there are ther expenses like getting transcripts, etc. S it may cst several hundred dllars t apply t several graduate prgrams. Equity:

3 Many graduate prgrams are actively seeking diversity and equity amng students. Yu may want t cnsider prviding infrmatin abut yur backgrund when applying (i.e., First Natins, member f a visible minrity, physical disability). 4. If yu make the "shrt list" Sme prgrams (especially clinical) ften interview their shrt list applicants, either by phne r in persn. Other prgrams tend nt t d that. If yu reach the interview stage at anther university let smene here knw; we can ffer advice, arrange practice interviews, etc. Sme tips: it makes a better impressin if the candidate cmes in persn (when pssible) be infrmed; shw that yu knw a lt abut the prgram yu are applying t dn't ask verly simple questins be prepared t talk abut yur interests and gals in a flexible way use hnurs thesis wrk as an example, but shw willingness t branch ut inquire abut graduate student funding, grants, awards etc. and hw much f a wrk cmmitment they carry 5. Hitting the jackpt: Multiple acceptances Every graduate prgram has a waiting list, s there are ther applicants wh wuld be nly t happy t take a spt yu might nt be all that interested in. Acceptances are annunced by April 1st and yu have until the 15th t make yur decisin. As sn as yu have been accepted by tw prgrams, chse between them and reject ne. If anther acceptance cmes in, repeat the prcess. Make yur final decisin as sn as yu are cmfrtable with it. It is nt ethical t hld nt multiple ffers knwing that yu will turn dwn sme. II. The U f S Psychlgy Graduate Prgrams We ffer fur distinct graduate prgrams. Fr mre infrmatin check the department's website and/r cntact the crdinatr f the prgram(s) yu are interested in. A. Graduate Prgram in Clinical Psychlgy (Accredited by the Canadian Psychlgical Assciatin and the American Psychlgical Assciatin) has 7 cre faculty and 25 assciated faculty in cmmunity agencies (adjunct prfessrs are active researchers wh supervise theses and may als supervise clinical wrk; prfessinal affiliates are clinicians wh prvide clinical supervisin)

4 prgram nminally takes 5 years pst B.A. (Hnurs), and several students have cmpleted the prgram in that time, but the average fr ur graduates is 8 years t cmplete dctrate prgram cmprises (a) cursewrk in fundatins f psychlgy, ethics, assessment, interventin (psychtherapy), statistics and research design, persnality and psychpathlgy; (b) clinical practicum placements and a full-year internship; (c) research leading t a PhD dissertatin students nrmally cmplete 1 year in MA prgram and then transfer t PhD prgram (link t 1 d iii 1 d vi plicy fr transfer frm MA t PhD prgram) curriculum revisins and imprvements in financial supprt have recently been apprved in an effrt t reduce the average duratin f the prgram all students are ffered funding thrugh Graduate Teaching Fellwships if they d nt hld external awards - currently at least $16,000 per year fr 4 years (1 year at MA level, 3 years at PhD level, fllwed by funded internship in year 5) ur graduates scre well (75th percentile) n the Examinatin fr Prfessinal Practice in Psychlgy, required fr prfessinal registratin r licensure fllwing the Ph.D. apprximately 60 applicatins per year; accept nly 4-6 students per year because f limited funding and a need t maintain a reasnable student:faculty rati fr high quality f supervisin admissin decisins are made by the faculty cllectively; the criteria used (nt listed in rder f imprtance): undergraduate marks (applicants are unlikely t be cnsidered with an average less than 80%) letters f reference GRE scres (n GRE cutff in ur prgram) - GRE scres are just ne factr amng the set fr the verall decisin it is advantageus t have presented/submitted yur hnurs thesis r ther undergraduate research either fr publicatin r presentatin at a prfessinal cnference related experience and vlunteer wrk match f research interests with faculty members it is extremely helpful t have a faculty member wh wants t wrk with yu, s ptential students shuld try getting a relatinship started with a faculty member in hpes f that persn wanting t take yu n as a graduate student. (Having a faculty member n-side may be especially advantageus fr applicants with undergraduate marks in 82-86% range). 6-9 admissin ffers made per year t btain 5 acceptances (see sectin n multiple acceptances) B. Applied Scial the prgram, almst 25 years ld, was the first such in Canada and is still ne f nly fur

5 5 cre faculty it is an applied prgram utilizing a scientist-practitiner mdel. Emphasizing thery, research and practice directed tward understanding scial prblems, and addressing scial prblems thrugh prgram and plicy develpment wide range f jbs fr graduates, which fcus n scial psychlgical research in "real wrld" settings, fr example: training agents f change at a grup r rganizatinal level wrking in private and public sectrs (e.g., Stats Canada, Crrectins, Health Services) prgram develpment and needs assessment prgram evaluatin cnsulting with rganizatins regarding labur issues M.A. prgram (2-3 years) fcus n survey research, needs assessment, field research, prgram evaluatin basic and applied scial thery rganizatinal psychlgy and cmmunity psychlgy practicum experience - in depth thesis Ph.D. prgram (additinal 3-4 years) higher level cnsultatin mre prgram planning rganizatinal develpment internship and dissertatin getting int prgram applicatins each year M.A. admit 3 students, Ph.D. admit 2 students each year decisins made cllectively by all applied scial faculty lk carefully at statement f interest (hw well d yu cnvey interest, hw well thught ut, hw well matched with faculty interests, statement shuldn't be t vague r t general; if yu d nt lk sincerely interested in applied scial, applicatin is rejected) yu'll want t demnstrate a brad range f interests but dn't be t vague dn't be t specific because yur research interests may nt fit with anyne in the prgram prvide a reasn why yu want t pursue applied scial (be genuine) grades are imprtant; generally accept averages lw t mid 80's (83 t 87 gd chance) applicants with marks in mid t lw 70's may want t cnsider delaying and trying t raise yur marks and/r cnsider ther prgrams we als lk at GREs, especially if they are incnsistent with grades; lk especially at quantitative scre and if it is lw it gets flagged; we'd then lk at hw well applicant did in statistics and research methds have yu had any relevant wrk experience? If s, include this in yur applicatin.

6 cmmunity rganizatins wrk with varius agencies r rganizatins (invlved in research r evaluatin) nice t have cntact with student ahead f time - discuss interests - figure ut whether there are cmpatible interests C. Basic Behaviural Sciences Here at the U f S several areas are gruped tgether under the umbrella f Basic Behaviural Sciences (BBS). At ther universities yu might generally expect t see several separate prgrams. Many f ur faculty have external funding. We are always lking fr graduate students. Successful applicants are able t demnstrate that they have sme research experience and that they are highly mtivated t pursue research. We train researchers primarily fr academic jbs, but there are als jbs in industry and gvernment (e.g., NASA Research Centre, Bell Nrthern Telecm, Defense and Civil Institute fr Envirnmental Medicine, Statistics Canada, Drug Cmpanies) there are three main streams neurscience culture and develpment cgnitive science human infrmatin prcessing language, reasning, perceptin, mathematical cgnitin prgram invlves a lwer curse lad; the expectatin is that yu will spend mre time in the lab ding hands-n research the prgram runs n a mentrship mdel - develp skills fr gd research receive apprximately applicatins per year in BBS - typically accept 1 r 2 criteria - fit between yur interests and thse f a faculty member gd idea t make prir cntact with a ptential supervisr d yur hmewrk and find peple wh share similar interests with yu /phne - "are yu taking n students?" ask what yu shuld be reading - what are the ptential supervisr's interests? start exchange f ideas letters f reference are very imprtant if persn writing yur letter is knwn t the persn yu are applying t - the letter can carry mre weight

7 ask yur undergraduate supervisr fr suggestins abut wh yu might apply t wrk with - find ut wh yur supervisr is cnnected t in the field yu need t establish gd relatinships with peple wh will write yu gd letters wrd f muth is imprtant and faculty will ften fight fr peple wh cme highly recmmended by a clleague grades are imprtant fr securing internal funding external funding is bth imprtant and prestigius in the last year f yur undergraduate degree yu can and shuld apply fr NSERC funding (t be used at the M.A. level) - if yu are successful in btaining NSERC funding this will make yu a very attractive candidate fr graduate schl in BBS it wuld be unwise t include a statement f interests that suggests yur research interests are inflexible III. Advice frm Graduate Students The Applicatin prcess yu've wrked hard as an undergraduate - give the same strng effrt t yur applicatin t graduate schl - spend time getting it tgether - it will be wrth it in the end knw what yu are getting int - find ut abut the prgrams yu are applying t it is indeed imprtant that yu nt put all yur eggs in ne basket, hwever, yu must als avid sending haphazard applicatins everywhere have a clear reasn fr applying t specific prgrams everything takes lnger than yu think it will (e.g., letter f interest: write it early and really think abut it - take the time t d a gd jb because it shws if yu thrw it tgether at the last minute) get faculty (e.g., yur thesis supervisr) t review yur applicatin, especially the interest statement in applying, sit dwn with yur hnurs thesis supervisr and ask fr his/her assessment f varius prgrams find ut abut ptential supervisrs make sure t find ut whether the research interests f the persn yu wish t wrk with have changed drastically - yu may wish t make sure f this by cntacting the persn find ut if the persn yu wish t wrk with hld an external grant ($) - this may facilitate yur wn training yu want a supervisr wh will spend time and talk t yu (e.g., smene wh respnds t yur s when yu try t make cntact)

8 when yu think abut where t apply - strike a balance between here's a persn I want t wrk with and here's the nly persn I am willing t wrk with (dn't insist yu will wrk with smene) in cnsidering each prgram, is there wrk available in the area nce yu graduate? if it's an applied prgram, is there gd practical experience? make visits t prgrams yu have applied t when yu can befre yu shw up make sure peple are available and graciusly accept whatever time they are willing t ffer yu try t create a relatinship with a ptential supervisr talk t graduate students and get their advice if necessary, make cmments in the applicatin materials t address any transcript anmalies keep in mind that the applicatin experience is nt verly pleasant - it is typically tugh, stressful, and expensive rejectin is difficult but dn't give up in yur applicatin, make yurself lk like a shining star cnsider whether yu are willing t g utside the prvince? hw d yu feel abut being far away frm hme? make sure t PROOFREAD yur applicatin materials Asking fr reference letters make it easy fr peple t write reference letter fr yu prvide all required infrmatin in a package that yu give t yur referee prvide addressed envelpes make sure that the letter writer knws what prgram yu are applying t in case make sure t fill ut thse sectins f the frm that are yur respnsibility get it rganized give the writer plenty f time and be respectful f their schedule Being Interviewed prepare fr interview - bring yurself up t speed and get a sense f the persn wh will be phning yu (r meeting with yu), even thugh yu may nt be wrking with that persn have yur applicatin materials fr each schl clse by the phne - yu may nt be given any warning that smene will be calling yur fr an interview s be prepared Writing the GREs # review a high level encyclpedic intrductry text (like Gleitman); check with 110 instructrs practice ding sample tests - get used t the frmat - get used t ding the questins - knw the instructins s that yu dn't have t waste time

9 try t relax; dn't becme verly anxius get a gd night's sleep avid writing bth the general and the subject-specific tests in ne day What t d if yu are accepted in deciding whether t accept an ffer f admissin it is imprtant t cnsider mre than the particular prgram ne is applying t cnsider the university - ften funding is administered at that level - the department might be great but might have n cntrl ver dllars the reputatin f the university is imprtant cnsider the cmmunity if yu get ffers frm mre than ne place - dn't lk at dllars (amunt f mney being ffered t yu) in an abslute sense cnsider cst f living in that city (see fr a salary calculatr) find ut what tuitin is find ut what yur expenses are ging t be what abut husing, schls, cultural prgrams Financial Issues even if yu get a Graduate Fellwship (Internal Funding), mney will be tight; try and save sme mney befre graduate schl tuitin and bks infrmatin, please check the Curse Calendar (link t What t d if yu are nt accepted if yu get rejected the first time, stick with it try t publish yur hnurs thesis r perhaps present yur thesis wrk at a cnference (check with yur hnurs supervisr abut these pssibilities) try t find ut what yu can d t upgrade yur applicatin IV. Questins frm 3rd and 4th year students Q. Hw lng shuld the statement f research interests be? A.. 1 page is skimpy - 5 pages is t much - 2 pages single spaces is prbably abut right put yur best frward withut blwing yur wn trumpet dn't be t grandise Q. What Shuld I include in my statement f interest? A. Cnsider including sme f the fllwing pints:

10 any past research where yu'd like t be heading in yur career why yu are interested in the field and the particular prgram if infrmatin is available (e.g. marks) n yur transcript dn't repeat this infrmatin unless there is a gd reasn t d s: yur entire file is reviewed as a matter f curse Q. Shuld I nly be trying t get int applied/prfessinal prgrams that are nt APA r CPA accredited? A. In clinical psychlgy yu must be frm an accredited prgram r the equivalent in rder t get int an accredited internship, and yu must have an accredited internship r equivalent t get the better jbs accredited prgrams are better generally because they meet guidelines and criteria fr training that are well established accreditatin has little implicatin fr licensing - registratin is nt affected in Canada s, accreditatin is highly desirable, but nt abslutely crucial yu shuld als be aware that issues f accreditatin may affect ther applied/prfessinal prgrams in the areas f neurpsychlgy, industrial/rganizatinal psychlgy, schl psychlgy, cunseling psychlgy Q. Can clinical graduate students get utside emplyment? A. Mst clinical students wrk utside the prgram after 3rd and 4th year, especially after the internship there are part-time emplyment pprtunities maternity leave (unpaid) is als available during graduate schl Q. Will it affect my career if I d all f my graduate studies at the same university as I d my undergraduate wrk? A. There is sme desirability t mving arund but it is nt a big prblem t g straight thrugh with all f yur studies at the same institutin Q. If there is a high demand fr clinical graduates, why is the acceptance s lw? A. Funding is simply nt available

11 sme prgrams accept students withut funding, banking n student lans etc., but we want all ur students t be funded in additin, we believe it is essential t maintain a reasnable student:faculty rati t prtect the quality f supervisin that is available Q. Is 4-5 acceptances per year t a clinical prgram typical f ther universities? A. 4-7 spts are very typical 110 Ph.D. graduates frm clinical psychlgy prgrams per year acrss Canada Q. Wh shuld I ask t write my letters f reference? A. Fr Applied Scial students, current r previus emplyers are smetimes relevant in general, the higher the status f the letter writer, the better ff yu are letters frm prfs in ther disciplines are nt very helpful yu want yur letters written by smene wh knws yur wrk Q. D yu make a pint f taking in at least sme U f S students each year? A. We have n specific plicy; the mix f students varies frm year t year. The acceptance decisins are based entirely n merit. Q. What marks cunt? Is it primarily psychlgy curse r d all curse cunt? A. Psychlgy marks are definitely imprtant; a lwer verall average can be cmpensated fr by very high psychlgy marks Q. If yu carry a full lad and get 80%, is that better than 3 curses per year with an average f 80% A. If yu are cncerned abut grades, take anther year a full-time versus part-time lad desn't typically make a difference when yur applicatin is being reviewed ne r tw curse withdrawals wn't matter, many might send a message that yu have difficulty persevering

12 Q. What if yu have taken science classes and received slightly lwer marks? A. We expect smewhat lver averages in the sciences we lk separately at the verall average and the psychlgy average science classes are a gd backgrund it is gd t have breadth even if yur marks aren't up in the 80's Q. What abut having ne bad grade? A. In yur applicatin, yu can briefly explain anything that desn't lk s gd Q. Is it helpful fr me t d vlunteer wrk? A. If yu vlunteer t wrk with a faculty member cnducting research, this will help yu t get t get t knw smene. They will als get t knw yur wrk. There may be an pprtunity t participate in a publicatin. Vlunteering at a scial agency may als be useful fr yur future pursuits (e.g., Crisis Lines, Sexual Assault phne lines/centers, child care prgrams) Vlunteering may als help yu t test yu yur interest in a helping prfessin. Q. Des it matter if I spread my degree ut ver multiple years (mre than 4)? A. This des nt appear t be a prblem in applicatins t the U f S. Q. If I dn't get in t graduate schl n my first attempt, what shuld I d? A. Check the U f S Psychlgy web page fr suggestins get invlved in cnducting research with a faculty member vlunteer wrk n submitting yur hnurs thesis fr publicatin Q. D yu d a lt f research in a clinical career r is it mre practical wrk? A. Here at the U f S ur mdel is ne f scientist/practitiner cnsumers and prducers f research plus prviders f service ur graduates are equipped t use research in practice 10-20% f ur clinical graduates publish research after they finish their degree

13 Q. Will I lse ut if I d my Clinical Psychlgy graduate wrk at in a prgram that is nt accredited? A. In rder t get an accredited internship yu shuld be in an accredited prgram accredited prgrams are better (as are accredited internships Q. Shuld all my letters f reference be frm academics? (faculty members) A. It depends n the prgram yu are applying t experimental prgrams (all three shuld be frm academic references) applied scial and clinical prgrams - ne applied letter might be apprpriate