Graduate School Preparation

Consider exploring your interests, interview professionals, and career-relevant experience early. 

This is part of your preparation for graduate school and your future career.

 

Is an advanced degree right for me?

Key Traits for Success in Graduate School

Here are some key traits identified by the American Psychological Association Links to an external site. that can help you achieve success in your goal of earning an advanced degree:

  • curiosity
  • creativity
  • conscientiousness
  • self-discipline
  • future planning
  • willingness to work hard
  • resilience
  • confidence
  • emotional intelligence
  • ability to accept constructive criticism
  • ability to ask for help and support when needed
  • focus
  • passion

 

Questions to Consider

Consider -- on your own, with a mentor who knows you well, and/or with an advisor -- the following questions:

  • Do I have a clear idea about what I want to study? Your application will be strongest if your interests are well-defined. 
  • Am I motivated to spend another 2-7 years in school? If you feel like you need a breather, take one or more gap years to gain work experience and clarify your interests. This will help you "self-diagnose" your fit with an advanced degree program and make you more competitive at the same time!
  • What are my job opportunities after completing a program? Go after the program that will allow you to do what you want in a job. Make sure you understand the field and your job prospects clearly, to avoid wasting precious time and resources.
  • Am I financially prepared? Some degree programs commonly offer stipends, so you will not need to take out a loan and will have enough to live on. Others will not, and you may need to take out loans to cover the costs of the program and living expenses.
  • How much time do I need to apply? Programs can take between a few months to over a year to prepare applications. If you don't have enough time to develop a strong application in your senior year, it may be best to wait to apply. For some programs, taking gap years to work and build experience to increase competitiveness is pretty common.

 

What's the difference between grad school vs. professional school?

Graduate School

Graduate school offers advanced and specialized programs of study beyond an undergraduate curriculum. Typically, if you are interested in graduate school, you should identify your specific interests and apply to programs that have a similar focus in both faculty and coursework.

Professional School

Professional school helps prepare you to work in specific professions such as education, law, and health professions, to name a few. Oftentimes, the degree is a credential that you must obtain before working in the field.

 

Comparing the Various Degrees

This chart offers some examples to help you distinguish differences between graduate and professional school. This is by no means a comprehensive list of differences. You are always encouraged to talk with your faculty mentors or advisor about the next steps that are best suited to you and your career goals.

Characteristics Graduate School Professional School
Types of Degrees Master's, PhD MD, JD, DDS, DPT, OTD, MSW

Time Investment

Master's: 2-3 years; PhD 5-7 years

2-4 years of coursework + 1 or more years of professional experience, such as clinicals or residencies

Licensure

Not typically applicable

Medical license, Law license, Dental license, Physical Therapy license, Occupational Therapy license, Social Work license

Exams During Programs of Study

Master's: none; PhD: qualifying examinations at end of coursework

Medical licensing examination, Bar Exam, Dental examinations by state, National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE), National Occupational Therapy Certification Examination (NOTCE), Social Work examinations by state

Type of coursework

Study of scholarship in a field with the goal of creating one's own original research project or body of creative work

Study of ethics, standards, practices, and cases of historical and/or contextual significance in order to build a base of knowledge from which one can draw in a professional setting

Research

Expectation to plan and execute original research or creative work (less so with a Master's)

Expectations may vary according to the program from no expectation to a requirement to master research skills

 

Application Procedures Vary by Degree

The path to and through graduate school looks very different from that of professional school. You may need to prepare differently as an undergraduate, such as taking certain prerequisite courses for admission and/or take entrance exams (e.g, GRE Links to an external site., MCAT Links to an external site., LSAT Links to an external site., DAT Links to an external site., GMAT Links to an external site., PCAT Links to an external site., OAT Links to an external site.). Be sure to research your path thoroughly before starting any application processes. You will want to explore the following for programs that interest you:

    • Admission requirements
    • What the curriculum is like (e.g., coursework, practica/internships, qualifying exams along the way)
    • How long it may take you to earn the degree and how much it will cost
    • How long it may take you to meet any additional requirements (e.g., licensing exams, residencies, internships) to work in your desired profession

 

Working in Mental Health Care

The differences between graduate vs. professional schools start to blur a bit when it comes to working in mental health care. Many degree paths will lead to a career in mental health care. However, different training programs will make you well-suited to different roles in the mental health care system.

Luckily, we've created an entire Canvas resource to help you explore this exciting but confusing landscape: the PBS Careers in Mental Health Care Canvas resource. Click this "self-enroll" link to get access to the resource, and list it in your Canvas courses so you can return to it over time. It will not enroll you in an actual credit-bearing IU course.

The content within contains bite-sized videos (under 5 minutes), helpful frameworks for understanding the mental health care field (e.g., Employability: why evidence-based practices should matter to you), and a rich compendium of links to resources from both within (e.g., courses on empirically-supported treatments in PBS) and outside of IU (e.g., Psi Chi, APA, PCSAS).

This is designed to be your one-stop shop for questions like, "How do I choose between a PhD vs. a Master's program if I want to become a therapist, forensic psychologist, etc.?" and "How do I find good grad programs in clinical psychology?" Be aware that career exploration is a non-linear process that takes time, and that it's a good idea to come back to this resource over multiple semesters.

 

How to Find Programs That Fit Your Career Goals?

How do you find a reputable program that will meet your training needs? The following resources will help:

  • Talk to professors, graduate TAs, career coaches, and advisors. Visit the office hours of a professor whose course you enjoy and ask them about advanced degrees in their field.
  • Look up professional institutions of scholars whose work you admire to see what advanced degree programs they offer. If you find a topic compelling, look for scholarly work (e.g., research articles Links to an external site. through the IU libraries database Links to an external site. such as Google Scholar Links to an external site. or PsychInfo Links to an external site.) in that topic. The authors of the work will list their professional affiliations.
  • Explore program websites thoroughly. Advanced degree programs will list faculty interests. If something there matches your own, you may be a good fit for the program. 
  • Look for some type of approved list of programs in the field of your interest. "Degree mills" exist, which are predatory for-profit programs that provide poor quality training at a high cost. In some fields, programs can obtain accreditation from professional associations (e.g., Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, American/Canadian Psychological Association) to indicate their reputability. (And, although rankings are not everything, the U.S. News and World Report Graduate School rankings can provide a general guide for which programs are and are not reputable.)
  • Look for evidence of the programs' student outcomes. You want to ensure good job prospects. In some fields, accredited programs are required to publish their outcomes (e.g., how many students graduate, are matched to an internship/residency). Where this transparency is expected, you should be suspicious of any programs that hide their outcomes or make them difficult to access.
  • Organize your notes on your preferred programs. Once you're ready to compile a list of programs, use this spreadsheet - Graduate/Professional School Admission Information Sheet Download Graduate/Professional School Admission Information Sheet -- to keep them organized.

 

When Should I Apply to Graduate School?

As stated above, programs will vary in how long it will take for you to prepare and submit a solid application. Below is a general timeline for applying to most Master's and PhD programs, especially those related to psychology. 

Junior Year (year before applying) - Fall & Spring Semesters

  • Take upper-level psychology courses
  • Get relevant research/professional experience

Junior Year (year before applying)- Spring Semester/Summer

  • Start investigating programs (~30) you are interested in and determine which professors you’d like to work with 
  • If GRE is required, study for the GRE. Take GRE at the end of summer.

Senior Year (year applying)- Fall Semester

  • August
    • Narrow down program list to ~20
    • Ensure official transcript is correct
    • Write rough draft of CV and personal statement 
    • Ask faculty/supervisors to be letter writers for a letter of recommendation
  • September
    • Contact professors at your programs-of-interest to see if they are taking students 
    • Finalize list of programs to 10-15
    • Finalize general CV and personal statement
  • September/October
    • Order official transcripts
    • If GRE is required, make sure GRE scores are sent to programs you’re applying to
  • October/November
    • Start personalizing personal statements for each program applying to
    • Check-in on letter writers 
    • Submit applications! (Note that Masters programs have later due dates)

Senior Year (year already applied) - Spring Semester

  • Wait, and wait some more…
  • Interviews!
  • Typically, offers by April 1st and decisions by April 15th (COVID might have thrown this off)
  • Email letter writers after you make your decision; thank them! 

 

Additional Resources

Check out these pages next, for more info:

 

Start looking into programs early

You want to be aware of admissions requirements. We would recommend for most programs starting this process no later than the spring of your junior year if you are planning to attend programs immediately after graduation.  Look into their accreditation, placements after completion, funding, faculty, and any upcoming deadlines.

Most graduate programs will require letters of recommendation (often 3), experience relating to your interest in specific graduate program(s), a personal statement, and in some cases required examinations like the GRE or MCAT.

 

How can I gain experience?

Self-exploration and career building experiences are all valuable experiences that help clarify interests. You can consider volunteering, research, work, service-learning courses, shadowing, student groups, and leadership roles as first steps toward your journey. Not sure where to start?  See the Enhance your experience page (link) for more information.

 

How can I explain my interest?

Graduate schools want to know that you have investigated their programs and careers associated with their programs. You will complete a personal statement with your application and discuss either an assigned writing prompt or a more freeform prompt relating to their program. Often they are looking for how your interest in the field, experiences, and how you see yourself contributing to the field come together. Take time to prepare this document and polish your work.  Ask faculty or professionals to read, comment and make suggestions.

 

How much do GPA and entrance exam scores matter? How much research experience do I need? What kind of internship experiences will be valuable?

It honestly depends on several factors. The sooner you can clarify your career and degree goals, the sooner you can find those answers. You may need to meet with professionals, career coaches, academic advisors and faculty to ask these questions.

 

Letters of Recommendation

What are letters of recommendation (rec).

Letters of recommendation are like job references. In most cases you will need around 3-4. They are statements of support coming from instructors/faculty about your experience, fit, or preparedness for graduate programs. Your letters of rec will reflect your academic and pre-professional accomplishments during your college career.

 

Who should I ask for a letter of rec?

You want to develop working relationships with faculty members who are familiar with your academic work, research, etc. Your letter writers will answer questions about your academics, quality of communication, creativity, maturity, motivation, leadership, integrity, character, reaction to setbacks, interpersonal skills for example. Attending office hours is one way to get to know your professors, see Decoding College (link).  Take the opportunity to discuss your interests and develop a sense of what you want to study or work toward. Engage in class.  Ask questions.  Try to show your skills and participate.

Consider:

  • A mentor you have worked with (research, teaching, internships)
  • Any professors you have developed rapport with and who can speak to your success in their course(s).  If the course is related to the area you may have interest that would be ideal
  • An employer in a job related to your professional goals

 

Is there anything else I can do to help improve my letters of rec?

  • Communicate your enthusiasm and knowledge about the field to faculty. Visit office hours to ask questions and discuss your learning in your classes and on your own.
  • Gain experience!
    • That could be as a research assistant. Demonstrate interest in the research process and contribute during lab meetings. This may be a multiple semester investment. 
    • Work as Undergrad Teaching Assistant (UTA). Ask questions about teaching methods. Practice teaching by tutoring students, leading review sessions, or deliver a lecture in your UTA class.
    • Complete an internship experience or a service-learning or field experience course.
    • Discuss your co-curricular experiences with faculty. You want to showcase your ability to set and achieve goals as a volunteer or leader of a student group or during a semester studying abroad.

 

Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Start and develop your resume and/or CV early.  This is one way to track your work, accomplishments, and help you reflect on your skills and experience. 

 

Again, start looking into the requirements early. 

Also see How to Apply  for more specific information that could be helpful when preparing to apply to graduate programs.

 

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