How to Get Into a Graduate Psychology Program in a Great School?

Question by vanessa: how to get into a graduate psychology program in a great school?

Best answer:

Answer by MavistheMaven
Musts:
— excellent grades, especially in psychology and statistics
— top scores on the GRE or whatever exam you have to take
— great letters of recommendation from a few well-chosen professors, especially those who teach or do research in the special area of psychology you intend to pursue in grad school
— make sure you meet all entrance requirements listed in the admissions section of the grad school’s website, both the general requirements and the ones for the psych program

It helps to have the bachelor’s degree be from a great undergraduate school

Beyond that, doing work under a professor as a research assistant in your area of psychology will give you some experience and give some substance to the professor’s letter of recommendation. Choose class projects with an eye to your graduate studies. You can even do a special research project as a for-credit independent study. Do it with the idea that you could possible include the resulting paper in your application to show that you’re capable of professional-quality work.

If you want to do clinical work, then try finding a job, internship or volunteer position as an aide or assistant in a clinical setting. Or take an outreach course through your school, where you go into the community, perhaps to a psychiatric hospital, day treatment program drug rehab program, or whatever relates to your area of interest.

Just as your undergrad college did, the grad school will like seeing evidence that you’re well rounded, so continue with other interests, such as sports, the arts, church involvement, community service, whatever interests you pursue.