Getting In: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology

Well, I pretty much have all I need to know. I'm a college junior right now and I have been wondering about going to grad school but really didn't know much about how to get in or what I needed to get in. All I knew before this book was, I wanted to go, and these are the schools I want to go to. Believe me, it's way more complicated than that. The very best thing about this book for Psychology majors, like myself, is that the book is provided by the American Psychological Association. To me, there is no better source than hearing what you need to do straight from the APA. The book doesn't just talk about what you need to do to get into grad school it also tells you, in detail, how you should do it, which very important. But wait a minute, maybe your not 100% sure about even going to grad school, don't worry, this book breaks it down for you. It goes over what will be expected from you, from most school depending on the program, and helps you to understand what type of work to expect, how much work to expect and how much free time to dedicate to your studies. Basically providing you with enough information to make the decision for yourself, "Is grad school right for me". There is no doubt in my mind that if you are a Psychology major who is planning to go to grad school this book will help and inform you. It definitely set me in the right direction to make sure I get into grad school.

I called it that because this book had the answers to the questions I had when no one else did. It goes through what you should consider when applying to a program, and helps you to decide what it is you'd like to study (or at least reviews your possibilities for you; the different areas, etc.). Next, the book reviews the application process itself, from how to make contact with your potential advisor, to how to write your personal statement, and ask for letters of recommendation from your professors. This book was extremely helpful in covering the little details that you should consider and those things which you may have never had to do before (such as ask for letters of recommendation, or even how to decide the best prof to ask). The book next goes over the acceptance/decline/decision part of the process, which I found very helpful. When you're stressed over making a decision or how to decline an offer, this book tells you what to expect and calms you down because you're aware of this information. I highly recommend this book because it reviews the application process from start to finish, and because most of us haven't applied to grad school before, it allows you to feel a little more confident in knowing what you need to do, etc., rather than applying "blind".

This book was one of the best investments i ever made (especially considering the fact that it is so cheap, a big bonus for poor undergrad students). I bought this book, read it, followed all of its advice faithfully - don't be lazy about it! (like typing in the info on the paper application rather than hand-writing it). It helped me complete the applications, prepare for the interviews and know how to turn down the programs i chose not to go to. Yes, this book was so helpful that i got into more than one APA accredited doctoral level clinical psychology program. Even when it seemed hopeless, this short, no-nonsense concrete guide kept me going. My experience proves that it's possible and that your chances go up A LOT if you get a book to tell you how to go about it. Don't ruin your chances with a careless approach, put in the 10 bucks and the few hours to read this, and you will NOT be sorry. Edited in Dec '06 to add: I got my doctorate and just passed the licensing exam! I still think this book was a huge help in getting me accepted.

The APA considers a doctorate to be the entry-level degree for a career as a psychologist. The best programs are accredited by the APA, and the competition to gain acceptance is quite fierce. This book is an exceptional guide to understanding the entire process.Written primarily for an undergraduate audience, it begins by leading the undergraduate through a careful self-assessment to determine if the skills, interests and resources are realistically available to support completion of a graduate program. The next chapter is an overview of career options and licensure issues, and covers this material in a more useful manner that Sternberg's "Career Paths in Psychology."The earlier in your college work that you read this book, the more useful chapter four will be. It explains what graduate programs are looking for in GPA, GRE, letter of recommendation, experience, essay, etc., and how you can position yourself to compete effectively for acceptance. I do not believe that planning for graduate admission can begin too early. Chapter five takes one through the process of selecting a graduate school, and chapter six focuses on completion and coordination of the application process. One graduate program that I have talked to eliminates over half of its applicants because the application process in not completed as required! Less than 10% of applicants are accepted into APA programs. The concluding chapter provides therapeutic advice regarding non-acceptance, as well as generally accepted protocols for dealing with multiple acceptances. Checklists and timelines are provided throughout this book to assist you. Every resource you could possibly need is listed in an appendix, as are a list of APA divisions, an early planning checklist for juniors, and a list of state licensing authorities.Read this book before you ask your professors for advice. That alone may tend to prove that you are graduate material.

This book gives step by step instructions, from start to finish, to help you get the inside track on applying. I followed it religiously (it was recommended by an undergraduate advisor) and one year later I'm enrolled in an accredited clinical program.