What do I Need to Know?

Below we break down personal statements, resume/curriculum vitae, transcripts, entrance exams, financial aid, and letters of recommendation.

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Entrance exams Graduate school entrance tests are field-specific.

You may need to take an entrance exam. The specific exam will depend on the application requirements.  Not all programs require an exam. Invest in your time and study.  These exams are typically expensive and some may not be available year round. 

Prepare:

  1. Take a full-length practice exam during your sophomore or junior year.
  2. Explore graduate degrees that fit your interests and research if there is a required exam.  Is there an average score for students accepted to those programs? Score information is sometimes available on the program website or you can look it up in graduate school guidebooks.
  3. Review your practice score and the consider the score you want. Decide what strategies may be helpful to try to improve your score. Study actively and more than 1 practice exam to see if you've made the improvement you desire.

 

Examples of Professional Degree exams: The LSAT for law school, MCAT for medical school, etc.

For Professional degrees check out resources for test prep from HPPLC, including  Med (MCAT) Workshop Links to an external site. and Law (LSAT) Workshops Links to an external site..  Check the HPPLC Guidebook Links to an external site. for other professional areas such as Dental, Optometry, Veterinarian, etc.  

 

The GRE

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is the most common entrance exam for most fields. Begin researching graduate programs early so you can prepare for the correct exam.

The GRE Psychology Test is not typically required for many programs.

 

When to take the GRE:

If you want to start graduate school the fall after graduation plan to take the GRE General Test during the summer between junior and senior year and up through early fall of senior year. If you take the GRE early in summer and want to retake the exam you would still have the time. 

 

GRE General Test Prep:

  • Learning Express Library Links to an external site. has practice tests and tutorials free to all IU students. [Locate the "College Center" and look for "Prepare for Graduate School Admissions Exams". Create a Learning Express Library account so you can track your progress. (For security reasons, create a username and password that are unique for Learning Express, don't use your IU username and password.)]
  • IU Lifelong Learning Links to an external site. offers a GRE prep course twice per semester and once during the summer. The cost is significantly less than other prep courses.

There are three sections on the GRE: 

Verbal Reasoning — Measures the ability to analyze and draw conclusions from discourse and reason from incomplete data, understand multiple levels of meaning, such as literal, figurative and author’s intent, and summarize text and distinguish major from minor points, understand the meanings of words, sentences and entire texts, and understand relationships among words and among concepts. There is an emphasis on complex verbal reasoning skills.

Quantitative Reasoning — Measures the ability to understand, interpret and analyze quantitative information, solve problems using mathematical models, and apply the basic concepts of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis. There is an emphasis on quantitative reasoning skills.

Analytical Writing — Measures critical thinking and analytical writing skills, including the ability to articulate and support complex ideas with relevant reasons and examples, and examine claims and accompanying evidence. There is an emphasis on analytical writing skills.

The GRE offers a very useful guide on test content and structure Links to an external site..

You should prepare intensively by reviewing material in GRE prep books.  GRE practice exams are also available in book and CD form to help you prepare.  Khan Academy Links to an external site. also offers free topical videos that can assist in GRE preparation.​

 

GRE Subject Test - Psychology:

 

Letters of Recommendation (letter of rec)

When should I ask for a letter of rec?

As a general rule request letters at least 1 month before they are due. Give your recommenders specific dates for when the letters are due. Also check in with them to be sure they have everything they need.

 

What else should I give the faculty to help write a recommendation?

  • A copy of your college transcript (unofficial) on which you indicate the class(es) you took with them.
  • A copy of your resume. Include volunteer positions, student & professional groups, part-time jobs or internships. Showcase experiences relevant to your career of interest. List any scholarships, honors, study abroad, etc.
  • A curriculum vitae if you have participated in a research lab. Be sure to provide information about if you authored a poster, contributed to a publication or given a presentation at a conference. Provide details about the faculty person, the lab, the specific research project you contributed, and what you accomplished.
  • A copy of the personal statement for your graduate school application.
  • A brief cover page to remind them of any notable papers or projects you completed and what positive impact the experience had for you.

 

Help faculty understand what is due and give them information about the programs:

  • List of all the schools you plan to apply. List for each program how the letter is to be submitted (online, email, mail) and the deadline(s).
  • If you email your materials to the professor organize and highlight the deadlines. If you print materials for them check that the date are clearly noted.  You may want to provide everything in an envelope.
  • Be sure to give your recommenders time to complete their letters.  You may also want to check that the letters have been submitted or received before the due dates. 
  • If the letters are to be mailed directly to the school or returned to you, provide fully addressed and stamped envelopes. Include any forms to be completed by the recommender. Typically, there is one form that will include both a waiver statement (about if you can see the recommendation after it is submitted) and rating table that the professor must complete and submit with your letter.

 

 

Personal statement

Your personal statement is a brief essay designed to introduce you to the admissions committee.  You want to polish this piece of work. Ask your letter of recommendation writers and other professionals to make suggestions about improvements. Take it to Writing Tutorial Services Links to an external site. to get help with organization, expressing your ideas clearly, and for a grammar/word usage/spelling check. Read Organizing Your Personal Statement Links to an external site. and How to Avoid the Kisses of Death Links to an external site. from Eye on Psi Chi for additional suggestions.

Schedule an appointment with your career coach to discuss your personal statement in detail.

 

Typical types of personal statements:

Specific question prompts OR open response/no directions. If not specified keep your personal statement brief (around 1.5 to 2 pages in length).

 

Before you start:

Take time to reflect on your past experiences, reasons for applying to graduate school, and what makes you stand out from the other applicants.

Include:

  • Introduce your past experiences and qualifications for the graduate program. Include coursework, research, internships, volunteer activities, and any other valuable experiences that tell a story about what you bring to the program.
  • What skills have you developed that will allow you to succeed? What skills have you already developed that would aid you in the graduate program?
  • Why this specific program? Do your research about the program, classes, and faculty members in the department. Explain why you and the program are a good fit by providing examples and tying together your experiences.
  • Highlight how receiving this graduate degree factors into your long-term goals. What skills you will learn from the program that will make you prepared for your career interest.
  • What about this specific program relates to your long-terms goals?Mention parts of the curriculum that are in line with your areas of interest and specific faculty you want to work with.
  • What is your narrative? Is there anything you want the committee to know about you? Are there any gaps in your academic record that you should explain? Have you overcome any hardships or obstacles to get to this point?
  • Use concrete details. Provide specific information. If you worked in a lab mention the specific project and your work. If you volunteered that did you do? Try to pinpoint your examples and use them to explain who you are.

 

Avoid:

  • If possible, avoid talking about experiences only from high school or controversial topics (religious/political issues), unless they are relevant to the program to which you are applying.
  • Avoid generic statements whenever possible. 
  • Avoid using common phrases or stereotypical reasons for wanting to pursue graduate programs. Try to develop your own way of explaining why this is important to you.

 

 

Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Your resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is also an important document to be included in your graduate school application.  It gives the selection committee additional information that might not be included in the application materials.  This document provides a chance to enhance your application.

 

Comparing a Resume & Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Resume

A marketing tool, a summary of your experiences.

  • Highlight of professional accomplishments
  • One page
  • Short sentences/accomplishment statements
  • Less class and academic focused
  • Can be customized to fit each position during the job search

 

Reflect on what you've done as a student. Include volunteer positions, student and professional groups, part-time jobs or internship experiences relevant to your career of interest. List scholarships, honors, and study abroad programs. Include any research labs, provide the faculty member’s name, brief description about the research project and what you accomplished.

Walter Center resources Links to an external site.

Career Development Center resources Links to an external site.

 

 

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A detailed overview of academic accomplishments.

  • Academically focused
  • More than one page
  • Highlights courses, research, teaching experience, publications, presentations, and conferences
  • Showcases skills
  • Typically used for research, academic, and medical positions

 

A CV is a resume of your academic successes and research experience. If your goal is to attend to a research-oriented graduate program and if you began participating in a research lab early enough that you've authored or co-authored posters or papers or presented research results at a conference, then you may have sufficient material for a CV.

The Curriculum Vita: A Student's Guide Links to an external site. 

Tips on Creating an Academic Vita Links to an external site. 

and a sample vita Links to an external site..

Transcripts

Send official transcripts from all of the colleges (transfer credits must also be sent directly from the transfer college to the graduate program) you've attended to each graduate school. Be sure to request them early. Order your official IU transcript from Student Central on Union Links to an external site..

 

Interviews

Some schools require interviews and others request them. Most schools that request interviews rate them as being very important in determining whether students will be accepted. To learn more about the interview process check out the Eye on Psi Chi article Applying to Graduate School: The Interview Process Links to an external site..

 

Application Fee Waiver Programs

If you currently receive need based financial aid, you may qualify for the application fee waiver program at many institutions. Contact the admissions office and ask about programs they offer for fee reduction or waivers.

 

Financial support for your graduate education

Financial support for graduate school may come in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, teaching or research assistantships. As you explore graduate schools, look for information about financial support and contact those programs to ask questions.

 

Graduate Scholarships

Do your research.  Look into programs, professional organizations or associations, they may offer scholarships.  Some employers may also offer opportunities.   Examples of scholarships and loan forgiveness programs from professional societies and employers:

 

Other Possible Funding Opportunities

Fellowships are temporary post-graduate opportunities to conduct research, work in a field, or fund graduate school. Most opportunities can be found through universities, non-profit, and government organizations.

Good resources for finding fellowship opportunities include:

 

Loan Repayment and Loan Forgiveness Programs