Graduate School. Undergraduate students assist faculty members in a program of research What would I do as a research assistant?

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3 Undergraduate students assist faculty members in a program of research What would I do as a research assistant? Administer research sessions with student participants Score /code the collected data and enter it into a spreadsheet or statistical analysis program Conduct literature reviews using Psych INFO or other library databases Assist the development of new research ideas Attend lab meetings with other research assistants Collaborate with faculty member to submit the manuscript for publication

4 Acquire skills and knowledge not gained in the classroom Opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty member Opportunity to contribute to the advancement of the field of psychology Experience in general research techniques for helping graduate school Opportunity to attend professional conferences and preparing and submitting manuscripts Cultivating a mentor and relationship with a faculty member for letters of recommendation

5 Research assistantships are very important to the faculty member conducting the experiment Research assistance can earn course credit and look good on a transcript Gives you something to discuss in a graduate school interview

6 A teaching assistant helps a faculty member for one semester in the administration of a specific course such as Introduction to Psychology or similar course, depending on your interest. Responsibilities: Attend class Hold office hours Conduct tutoring sessions/supplemental instruction Help Proctor exams, help grade exams or term papers Hold general review sessions prior to tests

7 Provides the opportunity to get to know faculty better Stronger letters of recommendation A great strategy to prepare for the GRE test in psychology

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9 Provides in-depth, specialized training Requires original research and/or scholarship Impacts society in relevant ways Develops intellectual relationships Requires intense commitment, passion, drive

10 What is expected of you academically in graduate school? You are expected to earn grades that are no lower than a B. In many grad programs, a C is failing You are expected to know how to write You are expected to be a professional You re expected to be committed

11 What is expected of you academically in graduate school? You are expected to be independent You are expected to try to solve problems on your own first You are expected to take the initiative required to move your work forward. You are expected to develop time management skills

12 PhD Direct Ph.D. Master s first Professional Degrees DVM/VMD JD MD Master s Thesis Non-thesis Professional/Terminal Master s M.F.A M.P.H

13 Average Earnings in 2006: Bachelor s Degree: $56,788 Master s Degree: $70,358 Doctoral Degree: $103,944 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, The 2009 Statistical Abstract, The National Data Book, Education: Educational Attainment, Mean Earnings by Highest Degree Earned: 2006,

14 Attain your personal goals You have a passion for learning and/or research You want to specialize in an area or become an expert and generate new knowledge Employers prefer or require an advanced degree in your profession Professional growth and advancement

15 Ask yourself: What are my short and long term goals? Will an advanced degree help me obtain these goals? Am I choosing graduate school because I feel there are no other options at this time? Am I willing to invest the time, effort, and expense required for graduate study?

16 Immediately following your undergraduate degree Your professional goal requires an advanced degree to even begin You re unsure that once you leave school, you ll want to or will be able to return After you ve worked full-time or taken time off Employers may pay for you to go to school Your program of interest requires/prefers experience that you don t currently possess You re burned out

17 No later than the beginning of the summer before you plan to apply Searching for graduate schools is a time consuming task Visit each school on the internet to ensure they are what you are looking for in a school.

18 To Find Out Important Information: Required Classes Some schools require specific classes as a prerequisite (e.g., Abnormal Psychology, Tests and Measurement, etc.). You will want to make sure you have these classes, so you will not have to take undergraduate classes as a graduate student. Required Credits in Specific Areas Some schools require a specific number of units in another area of study (e.g., Forensic Psychology, I/O Psychology or Health Psychology may require specific coursework).

19 GRE Cut-off Scores for Admittance Most schools have an arbitrary cut-off score to narrow down the number of applicants they will invite for interviews Other Tests Required i.e., GRE Subject Test or the Miller Analogies Test Application Deadlines Most schools have deadlines in January and February; however, there are some schools that may have deadlines much earlier

20 Selection Criteria Schools may list what their selection criteria is and what they will be looking for in an applicant. If you start early and do not have what they want you may have enough time to change it.

21 Talk to: professors professionals in your field of interest current graduate students Use a variety of sources: professional organizations and conferences research publications/professional journals career centers graduate school guides major publications university Web sites

22 Find out: Who are the best professors and emerging leaders in your field? What projects are they working on? What universities do they work at? Where did they get their degree from? Which professors and schools do others suggest you consider? At what universities do current professionals find their best employees? What graduate programs have the best reputation in your field?

23 Consider: What are the admission and degree requirements? Are there a variety of specializations available? Are you interested in attending a certain type of school? Are you looking for a standardized curriculum or one that s customizable? What type of financial assistance is available? What do graduates go on to do professionally and what s their placement rate?

24 Admissions committees are made up of professors Typically base their decisions on the following factors: Statement of purpose Letters of recommendation Standardized Test Scores (GRE) Grade Point Average (GPA) Transcripts Previous work experience Research experience Curricular activities Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV) Graduate School

25 Standardized Tests Tests include: GRE ~ GMAT ~ LSAT ~ MCAT ~ TOEFL or IELTS Register early Schedule the exam months before you intend to start graduate school Helpful Web sites:

26 The General Test measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study. Verbal Quantitative Analytical writing Do I have to take the GRE?

27 Section Number of Questions Time Analytical Writing 1 Issue task* 45 min. 1 Argument task* 30 min. Verbal min. Quantitative min. Pretest ** Varies Varies Research *** Varies Varies * For the Issue task, two essay topics will be presented and you will choose one. The Argument task does not present a choice of topics; instead one topic will be presented. ** An unidentified verbal or quantitative pretest section may be included and may appear in any order after the analytical writing section. It is not counted as part of your score. *** An identified research section that is not scored may be included and it will always be at the end of the test.

28 The Issue task gives you considerable latitude in the way you respond to the claim made about a given issue. To prepare for this task, try asking yourself the following questions as you review the published list of Issue topics. Practice writing responses on several of the topics, keeping to the 45-minute limit. What does the statement mean? What does it imply? What, precisely, is the central issue? Do I agree with all or with any part of the statement? Why or why not? Is the statement valid only in certain circumstances. Do I need to explain how I interpret certain terms or concepts used in the statement? If I take a certain position on the issue, what reasons support my position? What examples either hypothetical or drawn from my readings or direct experiences could I use to illustrate those reasons and advance my point of view? Which examples are most compelling? What reasons might someone use to refute or undermine my position? How should I acknowledge or defend against those views?

29 "History teaches us only one thing: knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today." "Competition for high grades seriously limits the quality of learning at all levels of education." "Governments should focus more on solving the immediate problems of today rather than trying to solve the anticipated problems of the future." "The depth of knowledge to be gained from books is much richer and broader than what can be learned from direct experience." "The increasingly rapid pace of life today causes more problems than it solves." "Too much emphasis is placed on role models. Instead of copying others, people should learn to think and act independently and thus make the choices that are best for them."

30 Because the Argument task is constrained by the line of reasoning in the argument presented to you, be sure to read and analyze the argument carefully. Try asking yourself the following questions as you review the list of published Argument topics, and practice writing responses to several of the topics within the 30-minute time limit. What claims, conclusions, and underlying assumptions does the argument make? What alternative explanations and counterexamples can I think of? What additional evidence might weaken or strengthen the claims? What changes in the argument would make the reasoning more sound?

31 Until recently, people in Hiparia did most of their shopping by driving to shopping malls. They are beginning, however, to do more of their shopping by ordering merchandise from mail-order catalogs and the Internet. These purchases are delivered to them by mail or by a delivery service. For many purchases, Hiparians no longer need to drive to and from shopping malls; there will therefore be a resulting reduction in the consumption of vehicle fuel in Hiparia.

32 About half of doctoral-level programs and one-third of master s-level programs require applicants to submit scores from the GRE Psychology Test. GRE Psychology test is paper-and-pencil, multiple choice test with five possible answers per item. It includes approximately 215 items, and student have 2 hours 50 minutes to complete it. It is given three times a year at test locations.

33 Three scores are reported: a verbal score reported on a score scale, in 10- point increments, a quantitative score reported on a score scale, in 10-point increments, and an analytical writing score reported on 0-6 score scale, in half-point increments.

34 General Essays or Research Essays Examples: Write a one or two page statement: What are your specific goals for graduate study? Why do you want to pursue this discipline? How have you been prepared academically? What experience has helped you prepare? What are your goals beyond graduate study? Answer specific questions required by each school

35 Demonstrate your points by providing concrete examples, including specific outcomes Be positive Be specific Demonstrate mutual benefits Have your statement reviewed by professors

36 Recommendation Letters Make requests courteously and obtain approval Provide the person writing the letter with a copy of your statement of purpose and resume/cv Allow ample time for them to complete letters Let them know when you get accepted!

37 Deadlines specify the date you need them returned to you or mailed to the school not the school s deadline for applications Recommendation Letters Provide a packet to each professor containing: Envelopes typed with addresses for each school Each schools required forms and fill out all information possible (i.e., names addresses etc.) Instructions on what they need to do for each school (i.e., seal and sign flap, return to me/mail to school, specific questions the school would like answered about you etc.)

38 Order transcripts from your current school early, so that they will be received near the same time as your application Check to see if transcripts can be mailed immediately after fall term grades are recorded Order test scores to be sent to each school (If you did not do so at the time of the exam.)

39 Application Fees Application fees vary. They are about $25.00 and up. Some departments will also have application fees. Interviews Attending interviews is very expensive! Depending on how you travel the cost can become overwhelming. Transcripts from each school attended GRE scores The General Test is US $115 Fee Waiver

40 Complete a draft of each application first Type all paper applications You may be required to include a resume/cv Proofread, proofread, proofread! Mail all materials well in advance of deadlines Make copies of everything and print copies of electronic applications

41 Arrange campus visits: Make appointments to meet with faculty and/or the admissions office Talk to current students Some schools may be able to pay your travel expenses Gather information about the community and housing options Arrive on time and be prepared

42 Make a list of potential schools and compare: Quality of programs Research and scholarly opportunities Reputation of the school, its programs, and professors Potential fit with professors whose interests match yours Program job placement rates and information Financial assistance Student services Location s cost of living

43 Graduate Fellowship Graduate Assistantship (GA) Teaching Assistantship (TA) Employer Assistance Loans Graduate School

44 Graduate Fellowship Graduate Assistantship (GA) Teaching Assistantship (TA) Employer Assistance Loans Graduate School

45 Grants are free money you don't have to work or repay the funds fellowships are the most common type of grant Graduate assistantships are the most common funding you receive a stipend and your tuition is waived other benefits may apply assistantships include research, teaching, or administrative/professional positions Loans are also available federal government and other financial institutions complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

46 Funding sources: A college, department, or program The Graduate School/Office of Graduate Studies Other organizations, such as government agencies, foundations, and professional organizations Eligibility requirements and application processes vary The majority of funding is available in the fall semester

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