Detailed Timetable for Planning for Graduate School in Psychology
Adapted from P. Keith-Spiegel (1991). The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology and Related Fields. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Freshman & Sophomore Years
1. Concentrate on taking General Education courses.
2. Take the required psychology courses (i.e. APSY101, Intro; APSY210, Statistics; APSY211,
Experimental).
3. Keep your notes and textbooks from core psychology courses! Also, it is a good idea to keep all
syllabi and course descriptions.
4. Get good grades from the beginning of your career! Establish a high G.P.A. during your freshman
year and keep it high. (You are going to need about a 3.0 or higher to get into most grad schools)
5. Read the Undergraduate Bulletin - become familiar with the required courses and all requirements
for the major in psychology. Also, become aware of all University requirements for graduation.
6. Learn to use the library resources, especially computerized information retrieval systems
(PsychLit, ERIC, etc.).
7. Become computer literate! Learn how to use the Internet for research purposes.
8. Attend events, sponsored by the Psychology Department, such as invited speakers or colloquium
series. Make this a regular habit for the next four years.
9. Find out about Psi Chi and related student clubs.
10. Get to know the faculty in the psychology department. Find out what their interests are and
what courses they teach.
11. Start a file of articles written by researchers and professionals that you find interesting.
12. If you aspire to a career in human services or mental health, consider a volunteer placement for a
few hours each week in a community agency.
13. For summer employment, try to find a job that relates in some way to your career interests or puts
you in contact with a population with which you plan to work (e.g. children).
Junior Year
1. Continue with core and/or required upper level courses. Highly suggested core courses are
APSY214/314 (Biopsychology & Neuroscience), APSY380 (Learning), APSY382 (Sensation and
Perception), and APSY381 (Memory and Cognition).
2. Make sure graduation requirements for your minor and general education will be met. If you are a
psychology major, meet regularly with the Psychology Advisement Center staff.
3. Get to know one or more psychology professors. Think in terms of those who might be good
sources of recommendation letters.
4. First semester, if you haven't already done so, look for opportunities for research experience
for second semester. We strongly encourage all majors planning on going to graduate school
to have research experience by the end of their junior year.
5. Take "impressive" electives in other areas (e.g. courses in the natural sciences, mathematics,
computer science, philosophy of science). Do not select courses because they are easy.
6. Become familiar with the resources that the Advisement Center has that describe graduate
programs and their requirements.
7. Begin to focus your interests in a particular program area (e.g. experimental, clinical, social,
industrial/organizational).
8. Take courses from professors who are most aligned with your interest areas.
9. Join Psi Chi and volunteer to get involved in activities.
10. If you are eligible, consider joining the Psychology Department's honors program.
11. If the opportunity arises, visit universities with graduate programs that interest you.
Summer Before Senior Year
1. Study consistently and diligently for the GREs. Get your hands on study guides (e.g. Barron's,
Princeton Review, etc.) and set aside specific hours each week to study. For the psychology GRE,
re-read your APSY101 text and texts from other core courses.
2. Research graduate programs in depth. Write for information on the programs that interest you.
3. Start drafting your resume and personal statement or essay for your applications.
4. Line up the financial resources required to apply to graduate school.
5. Find out the GRE testing locations.
Fall Semester Senior Year
1. Continue with core and required courses in psychology (if any remain); take electives that relate to
your area of interest.
2. Check new issue (or addenda) of Graduate Study in Psychology (published annually by the
American Psychological Association) for updated news on the programs of interest to you. It can
be found at the library and in the Psychology Advisement Center.
3. Continue studying for and take the GREs. Ideally, take the general test by October or earlier, take
the advanced test between October and December.
4. Arrange to have three professors write you letters of recommendation.
5. Organize application materials that you received and make final decisions on where you will
actually apply.
6. Order transcripts at least six weeks before each application deadline. It is suggested that you also
make copies of all your college transcripts to include, as an unofficial exhibit, in your application
packet.
7. Order test score reports at least six weeks before each application deadline.
8. Compose your personal statement or essay; show it to professors or adviser and ask for feedback.
9. Complete and send applications due in December and January. Mail hardcopy applications 2-3 (if
required by school) weeks before the deadline, if possible.
10. Review your Undergraduate Bulletin and graduation requirements with your adviser; make sure
you will graduate in the spring.
Spring Semester Senior Year
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Complete any remaining applications with February or later due dates.
Take elective courses of interest to you; finish all major, minor, and University requirements.
Check to make sure your professors sent letters of recommendation before application deadlines.
Follow up and make sure that each application arrived and is complete.
If you applied to clinical or counseling programs, you may be required to travel to the universities
for interviews. Set up these interviews well in advance.
6. Admissions decisions for doctoral programs are typically made in late March through April
(Master's programs are typically a little later than this). You will begin hearing news about your
applications around this time. The American Psychological Association asks all Ph.D. granting
programs in psychology to make admission and assistantship offers by April 1; students are
typically given until April 15 to make their decisions.
7. You may have to apply for loans at this point, depending on your financial situation and the
outcome of your applications.
8. Plan to send transcripts for spring term classes to the program you will be attending.