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

• Tells you everything you need to know

  
  By A21DF35B7GOJLG on 2000-09-27
  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.
  
  

• Got me into Grad school

  
  By A2DVJA5O3W18CW on 2002-06-24
  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.
  
  

• Excellent book for psychology applicants

  
  By on 1999-03-30
  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.
  
  

• The Stress Reliever

  
  By on 2002-07-04
  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".
  
  

• Very informative. A must.

  
  By A31KL3P9AH2MTJ on 2005-10-31
  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.
  
  
  
• Lifesaver
  By on 2001-06-13
  This book truly saved my life. The timelines, the explanations, and the advice really helped me pull together my applications--as it addresses all aspects of the application to graduate school in psychology. Without this book, I honestly would not have known how to approach professors/research supervisors re: recommendations, or how to begin my personal statement. If you would like to greatly improve your chances of getting accepted to graduate school, buying this book (and reading it thoroughly!) are one of the first steps you must take....
  
  
• Decent guide, but not the best...not even for Psych students
  By A39MQ2S2QYWFUE on 2004-08-20
  This is one of the better books on getting into grad school, but its not the best. For the most part, it talks about things that most students will have figured out themselves by their senior year. There are a few extra tidbits, though, so I'd recommend buying it along with the book by Mumby. There are some similarities between the two books, but Mumby's book will tell you about some things that would never occur to you. In my case, the extra insights are what made the difference when I was applying to grad school (I got into a Psychology MA program). I don't advise wasting your money on most of the other books.
  
  
• It worked for me...
  By AQZ4V2OP0M1P8 on 2006-01-21
  A wonderful step-by-step guide for any potential, doctoral candidate. What I found most helpful was the review of "interview questions that you will most likely be asked"/"questions you should ask." In my doctoral interviews, I WAS asked approximately 3/4 of the questions that were indicated in this section. And as the book states, going into an interview without questions of your own is the kiss of death! More important are the details/process that most of us give little attention to (e.g. how to reject an offer of acceptance graciously, timelines, etc.).
  
  
• Really helpful and covers everything!
  By A13MAOJ2YBPJS on 2006-01-01
  This book is a really great addition to any students collection of resources for getting into graduate school (even if it is the only one you buy). True, much of the information can be obtained from other sources (such as websites), but it is ALL there, well organized in one little book! I would recommend using multiple sources in your search for the best way to get into whatever program you are applying for, but this book should probably be included. Has great explanations of all types of issues you might confront when looking at applying to graduate school. Great advice and timelines for the undergraduate years, whether you are a freshman or a senior starting to think about graduate school (but start early if you can).
  
  Good luck getting in!!!
  
  
• A good resource
  By A1KA4C3V8T52U8 on 2005-11-29
  This book is indisputably a great resource. However, I felt that too much basic, basic information was included. A good deal of the book is information that an undergrad student in PSYC should already know...especially if he/she is truly to be prepared for grad-level work. Weeding out those things, there were some great insights and data.
  
  
• Good book to use for a guide
  By on 2000-08-03
  This book has helped me immensely with my search for a grad school. While I had a general idea of what I needed to do, this book gives a detailed explanation of every step you need to take starting with your junior year. It gives a whole lot of information, without being overwhelming. The book gives you realistic options, and even prepares you for what to do when things go wrong. I am very glad that I bought this book.
  
  
• Great Grad School Book
  By A3KL8E1ZXNKHQC on 2005-08-17
  I bought this book based on the excellent reviews by former readers, and they held true. I am a sophomore psychology major, and this book is absolutely awesome. It's preparing me ahead of time for what I need to know for getting into graduate school in the future. What I liked best about the book is 1) the APA is sensitive to issues of special groups of students, such as students with disabilities, ethnic and racial minorities, and women. Since I happen to be both of the latter, I found this information grealy appreciated and helpful. 2) the APA doesn't assume that all readers are going into doctoral programs and includes advice for students going into master's programs, highlighting both the positives and negatives of going to both kinds of programs. It also provides a detailed timeline for applying to both kinds of prgrams. Awesome book; I'd recommend it to any psychology student (or one in a related field) interested in going into graduate school in any field of psychology.
  
  
• Very helpful.
  By A1288QZRBJZMS1 on 2007-04-16
  While I'll agree with all the positive statements made in previous reviews, I must say that this didn't seem too different from the first edition, which I checked out from the library last year. I was expecting there to be a bigger difference. But nonetheless, a great book.
  
  
• Great guide for soon to be psychologists!
  By ARS8WVIZNMAXZ on 2007-09-21
  This book is a comprehensive, step-by-step walk through the application process from thinking about going to grad school to accepting and declining offers (and what to do if you don't get in). It has checklists for choosing schools, one for each application you send in, and one to help in getting strong letters of recommendation. I would recommend this text to anyone applying to a graduate program in psych but would also encourage you to pick up supplemental books about writing a personal statement or whatever you'll need more than a chapter to help you.
  
  
• very specific
  By AQMNJYEDV3NJO on 2008-06-22
  I think this book is really good for someone who has toyed with the idea of graduate school long after they've finished their undergraduate degree or while in high school. However, if you are currently in college, this book is superfluous to knowledge you should gain in senior level courses.
  
  

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