Applying to Grad School!

For a more detailed post about applying to graduate school in social sciences, you can check out the YCGS blog post here: https://youcangradschool.netlify.app/post/ycgs-applying-to-grad-school/

Applying to graduate school can be an incredibly stressful process! For a lot of students, it can be your first time dealing with a professional setback or rejections. I don't want to minimize the difficulty or the possibility for disappointment. HOWEVER, it is also an opportunity to think deeply about your professional and personal goals. To be incredibly cheesy and earnest, that was my experience and I am (in retrospect- not at the time!) grateful for the rejections and disappointments that in the long run helped me clarify my interests and what was important to me before entering graduate school.

But to the advice! Here are some FAQs about graduate school that I've heard from people I've spoken with about the application process. I hope it can be of help to you! But also, please reach out if you have any questions. It's also important to note that I am currently a PhD student, so my perspective is from someone who chose and applied to PhD programs.

Should I apply to graduate school?

Great question. I think this is something you should spend a lot of time considering while assessing the trade-offs of spending time in a program. Do you need another degree to do the work you want to be doing? Or do the extra letters after your name appeal to you or someone you care about? This is also a good time to examine your interests and strengths. If you love working with people but aren't interested in research, then a PhD is probably not the best fit for you. You could pursue an MSW and become a social worker! Interested in mental healthcare systems and data analysis? MPH programs are fantastic for that! Take a look at the people who sound like they have the coolest jobs ever, talk to them, and figure out what their training looked like. Talk to A LOT of people.

I want to get a degree in psychology specifically- which one?

Cool! When I was looking at graduate programs in college I found that it was hard to figure out the pros and cons of each type of program. From my experience and talking to others in the field, this is how I understand the different paths (grain of salt, ask others as well).

Master's degree: A great entry into research, if you don't have a background in it. Usually 1-2 years, ending with a thesis project. They are not typically funded, so the real drawback here is that you may have to pay for or take out loans to pursue this degree. Additionally, there are limited career opportunities in psychology with only a master's degree in psychology (different from an MSW). If you are just trying to use a master's degree as a stepping stone to a PhD, you might consider a postbac position instead. This will give you research experience and the chance to make connections in the field while getting paid (although you won't be getting the same focused learning experience that a master's program provides).

PsyD: A great option if you want to go into clinical work, but don't have a strong interest in research (or only have a small interest in research). As described by the APA, "the focus of PsyD programs is to train students to engage in careers that apply scientific knowledge of psychology and deliver empirically based service to individual, groups, and organizations." Similar to a master's, these are often underfunded (hopefully that will change). PsyD programs are usually 4-6 years and have a higher acceptance rate than PhD programs!

PhD: Although the emphasis on clinical work can vary (or be not at all if you apply to non-clinical psych programs), in general PhD programs are research intensive degrees. The majority of these programs are funded with the expectation that you will take on a TA-ship or RA-ship to earn your stipend. The funding can be highly variable though, so try and figure out whether you might have to take out loans to live comfortably (ideally not). PhD programs are about 5-8 years long, often followed by a 2-3 year postdoc.

When should I start the application process?

Have I got a figure for you!