Amy Stamates, B.S.
Research Assistant/Lab Technician
Department of Psychological Science
Northern Kentucky University
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Can you afford it?
Research?
Time commitment?
School
# of Applicants
Admission Offers
Accepted
University of Michigan
214
7
7
University of Kentucky
222
6
4
Arizona State University
267
9
3
UT at Austin
296
8
5
Bowling Green State University
211
10
9
University of Cincinnati
261
12
8
Oklahoma State University
155
9
6
Ohio State University
200
22
12
University of Louisville
154
12
10
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Apply to work with 1
mentor
Tuition waived
 Stipend paid by
TA/RA assistantship
(20 hrs/week)
 Fellowships
▪ Health care coverage
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Schools won’t take
you in they don’t
have funding
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Apply to 10-12 or more
programs
Don’t restrict yourself
geographically
Program rankings
Narrow your research
interests
Start applications early
 Deadlines are in Dec/Jan
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Have a back-up plan
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New trend
You may not hear a response
Example:
 “Dear Dr. ____
My name is Amy Stamates, and I am Cecile
Marczinski's Research Assistant at Northern
Kentucky University. I'm interested in
applying to ____ and joining your lab. I was
hoping you might have some time to discuss
your research and any opportunities that
might be available for incoming graduate
students to work in your lab for 2013. I can
call at your convenience, or we can
correspond via e-mail if that works best.
Thank you for your time.”
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Official Transcripts ($7)
 GPA: 3.5 or higher
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Official Revised GRE ($185)
 Above 300 total raw score
▪ 50th percentile
 Writing section: 4.0 or above
 Option to mail 4 for free ($25)
 Barron’s GRE Prep
 Subject test is required sometimes
▪ Offered only in April, October, and
November
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3 Letters of
Recommendation
 Choose professors/mentors
that know you well and will
write a great letter
▪ Most will not let you read it
before submitting
▪ Follow NKU guidelines
▪ Give them enough notice
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Rule #1: Follow program instructions
 For example: word count restrictions, clinical
training
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Rule #2: Don’t get too personal
Rule #3: Revise, revise, revise
Roughly 750 words (2-3 pages)
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Describe academic background
Research experience
Research interests
Desired mentor and your “fit” with the program
Future goals
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Appleby, D.C & Appleby, K.M. (2006). Kisses
of Death in the Graduate School Application
Process. Teaching of Psychology.
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Department vs. Graduate School Application
 Type everything!
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Sometimes Sample of Work
 Ideally, publication
 If not, Honor’s thesis or research paper
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Curriculum Vitae
Application Fee ($30-$70)
If mailing via postal service, write cover letter
Month
Task
Summer or earlier
Research schools and practice GRE
Summer
Make initial school list
Summer to October
Take GRE
September
E-mail recommenders
October
Contact Professors
October
Make final list
October-November
Send out official transcripts/GRE scores
August to November
Work on SOP; revise, revise, revise
December and January
Deadlines
January to March
Interviews
February to April
Offers
April 15th
Acceptance Deadline
Use a Excel for organizing requirements
 Make spreadsheet for Recommenders
 Username/password spreadsheet
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Professors may ask for a phone
interview as a pre-screening to
the actual Interview Day
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This is a good time to get a sense
of the professor’s personality,
research interests, and any
general questions you have
about the program and its
requirements
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They may give you contact
information for current graduate
students
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Take notes!
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Interview Days/Weekends are January-March
Stay with graduate student host
 Take advantage, especially if the student is in the
lab you are applying to
 Sleeping arrangements vary
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Typically, there is a gathering the night before interviews
Meet everyone, including applicants you are against.
No more than 2 drinks
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Starts at 8 AM
Ends at 4 or 5 PM
30 minute interviews with
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Future mentor
Current Lab Students
Campus Tour
Lab Tour
Other Faculty and Graduate Students
Breakfast and lunch provided
Stay excited!
 Drink coffee!
 The interviewers are tired too!
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Graduate students throw
a post-interview party
Once again, DO NOT get
drunk
Fellow applicants could
potentially be your
cohort, so make friends!
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Interview Day
 Wear a suit
▪ Recommend no
skirts or heels
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Pre-Interview/PostInterview Parties
 Jeans are OK
 No t-shirts or gym shoes
What research experience do you have?
 What are your research interests?
 Why did you apply to this program?
 What career do you eventually want?
 What do you do for fun?
 What other programs did you apply to?
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What is your favorite movie
and why?
 How do you relieve stress?
 What has been the most
difficult/rewarding part of
your psychology career?
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Clinical
 Describe the clinical training process.
 External placements?
 What is your match rate?
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Research
 Describe current research
 How many students to you advise?
 Grant writing/publication/conference opportunities?
 Teaching opportunities?
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Current Graduate Students
 Like/Dislike about the program?
 Cost of living?
 Mentoring style?
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Acceptance deadline is April 15th
Accepted, Wait-listed, or Rejected
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Cry...
Remember your back-up
plan
Figure out WHY you didn’t
in
 hengesa1@nku.edu
 MEP 142 in the AmED
Research Lab
 Academic website:
Astamates.jimdo.com