Graduate School in Psychology: A Crash Course
How do I know what degree is for me?
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There are several different things to consider when figuring out what types of graduate programs to
apply to:
o Career goals: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?
 Do you want to work face-to-face with others? Do you want to do research?
 Would you want to teach? If so, what level of education?
o Population: What types of people do you want to work with?
 Do you want to work with children? The elderly? Adolescents, adults? Couples?
Families? Veterans?
o Practical Concerns: Does this career path seem feasible with other things going on for me?
 How long do I want to be in school for?
 Can I afford to pay for school or take out loans?
 Do I want a career that is high in flexibility?
There are many different programs that exist and depending on your answers to the previous questions,
certain types of programs may be better or worse for you. So, in order to figure that out—DO YOUR
RESEARCH!
What type of timeline should I be going by?
Many people wait until too late to begin the process of looking into graduate schools. If possible, knowing what
types of programs you want to apply to early on will allow you to ensure that you are working towards meeting
all the requirements you need (see below). Also see “Detailed Graduate Timeline” on the website.
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Freshman and Sophomore Years: Research is key! Learn more about types of programs and figure out
what you are interested in. If possible, get involved in clinical and research experience in order to better
figure out what you like and what you do not! These classes you can get course credit for that will count
towards your major and are called Independent Study Classes. Go on the “Faculty and Staff” page on the
Psychology website at UAlbany. All the faculty members will be listed, as well as their research
interests. When you find one or more that you think have research in your field of interest, email them
and ask if they are accepting undergraduate RA applications.
Junior Year: Continue with research; begin to think about your timeline for taking the GREs. They
should be taken the summer going into your senior year. Also, begin to think about professors that may
know you well and be able to write you letters of recommendation.
Senior Year: If you haven’t already: take the GREs, ask for letters of recommendation, and solidify the
list of schools you are applying to—deadlines are most likely late in the Fall semester or early in the
Spring semester!
Gap Year: Some people find that they do not feel ready to apply for school directly out of
undergraduate or want to take a break before pursuing their graduate degree. This is common,
particularly for people that believe they need more experience before they will be competitive in the
application process. Gap years can be extremely helpful when they serve the purpose of boosting a
resume; however, the decision is not for everyone.
What are programs looking for?
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The “requirements” for admission into graduate programs will vary widely by the type of program that
you are interested in. The best way to gauge what those requirements are is to visit the website for the
specific programs you may want to apply to.
No one part of the application will ensure an acceptance or a denial to a graduate program. Generally
speaking, graduate admissions officers will be looking at several things:
o GPA: This one is a biggie. For Ph.D. programs, you will need to have a GPA around 3.5. For
Masters Programs, the requirement may be a bit lower but never lower than a 3.0. In order to
ensure that you are in the best shape possible, retake any courses that are bringing your GPA
downward.
o Letters of Recommendation: This is the section of the application where you are able to have
others speak about how wonderful you are. Programs typically require anywhere from 1-3
letters. You are best served by asking professors (Ph.D’s) that know you personally to write
your letters, rather than a teacher of a big lecture that may just know your face or your ID #!
o Research/Clinical Experience: Your experiences will be one of the best indicators to the
committees of the type of person you are—did you wait until your senior year to get involved
when you realized you had to, or did you take initiative and get involved in various projects
related to Psychology early on? Ways to get involved are detailed below.
o Personal Statement: This is where you explain to the admissions committee your goals for your
career, and the path that led you to discover them. It is a great way to show the programs your
personality; however, it is best to not go overboard and remain professional.
o GRE Scores: (sign up at http://www.ets.org/): For doctoral students: 650 (570-710) verbal, 625
(550-700) quantitative, and 4 or 5 analytical writing. You should shoot for a combine score of
1300. Can study with practice tests and manuals or take preparation course. DO NOT assume
that because you did satisfactorily on the SATs, you will be able to walk into the GREs and
receive a good score. Budget time to study for the exams, and look into preparation materials in
order to give yourself the best shot at the score you need.
How can I get involved?
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It is very hard to gain any type of clinical/hands-on experience in Psychology as an undergraduate;
therefore, programs will generally not expect you to have extensive amounts of clinical experience.
o The Psychology department does not offer internships. If you want hands on experience that still
relates to Psychology, go the route of volunteering through the Community Service resources of
UAlbany with a population that you may be interested in working with (e.g. children).
More important than clinical experience, most graduate programs encourage research experience—you
can get this experience by working in one of the laboratories on campus for CLASS CREDIT! (APSY
297, 397)In doing so, you will gain several things: a) valuable experience in seeing how research works
and if the life of a researcher is for you, b) a better knowledge of a topic that you are interested in, c)
mentors in the form of graduate students and faculty members that can help with the application process
and any questions you may have.
Selecting a Program of Interest -Once you have decided the area of psychology that you would like to study
during your graduate career, it’s time to determine the programs to which you will apply
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Master of Arts (MA)/Science
-Typically 5-7 years to completion.
-Emphasis on preparation for
(MS)
-Emphasis on research training
professional practice as
-Typically 2-3 years to completion.
integrated with applied or practice
practitioner-scholars.
-Entails coursework and exams.
training.
-Places importance on clinical
-Some require master’s thesis;
-Expected to complete a Master's
training rather than research
some require internship or other
degree research project AND
training.
applied experience.
doctoral dissertation.
-Typically begins clinical
-Often do not offer as much
-Better choice for those
experience earlier in the academic
financial aid (especially if school
considering teaching or doing
degree program.
has a doctoral program).
research at some point in their
-Often takes less time to complete
-Value of master’s varies by field
career. (Academics)
than PhD.
(e.g., a master’s in social work or
-Typically offer more funding
-Note: In the academic world, the PhD programs
school psychology may be all you
opportunities than PsyD or
MA/MS.
are preferable to PsyD programs; however, in
the world of clinical practice, both degrees have
need for the job you wish to
about the same status and functionality.
pursue)
Issues to Consider
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Degree Completion - Each degree program will differ in the time it takes and what needs to be completed to finish.
When researching schools, carefully examine what “milestones” graduate students need to achieve. Students should
also review the coursework, research, and applied experience that is required to determine that they will receive the
training and preparation they seek for the job market.
Financial Aid and Loans – Options include, but are not limited to, departmental or university assistantships (which
typically cover tuition and provide a small stipend), scholarships, fellowships, grants, and Stafford and private
loans. Students need to consider how their student status (i.e., full or part time) will affect repayment and eligibility.
Also, aid packages may require students to become state residents within a particular time frame.
Fit between you and the program – It’s important to research the faculty at the university to which you are applying
to make sure you will be doing work that you are interested in doing. In addition, look at the departmental mission
statement and the typical job placement of graduates to determine if the school is right for you.
Time Constraints – Because graduate degrees take substantial time (i.e., from 2-8+ years), students need to consider
whether or not graduate school fits with their overall life plans. In addition, course work, research, and applied
practice responsibilities often take a greater amount of one’s time than a typical 9-5 job.
Geographical Location – Each individual should really think through the places to which he or she will apply,
asking questions such as whether or not there is access to public transportation (if needed), how much distance
away you are willing to move from family and friends, and if there exists the opportunity to engage in relevant
interests within the community (if desired).
Post-graduation job prospects – Ask schools to put you in touch with students who are further along in the program
to get their thoughts on the job market; if there is a graduate school at your current university, seek out graduate
students with whom you might speak. You can also research jobs to determine whether or not post-doctoral work or
internships are required to secure position.