Find a job, join a research laboratory, study for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), take the GRE, fill out a FAFSA, and prepare for final exams. These are the things that I must complete within the next few weeks. College can be very hectic at times and I find myself getting overwhelmed easily.
My name is Lisa. I am in my third year at the University of Central Florida majoring in psychology. I live with my father about an hour away from school and even though I am preparing for summer to begin, things are not winding down, but rather are gearing up. Most of the items on my to-do list I didn’t realize had to be done until just a few months ago. There are so many things that we as college students must do before graduation, and many of us do not even have the slightest idea that they must be done. I have an internship at my school as a Peer Advisor in the Psychology Department. We have many students come in everyday, asking how they can best go about getting into graduate school.
Many transfer students come to us and explain how their old school was not very helpful or informative about which opportunities are available and which resources they can use. I find it unbelievable that students wait until the last minute to start getting ready for graduate school. Hopefully, the information that I will be able to give you today will help you on the road to applying to graduate schools and give you the best shot at getting into your dream school. Please note that these tips are specific to Psychology programs.
You are obviously, first and foremost, going to need a strong GPA. Usually, a GPA of at least 3.0 is required to even be considered in a program. Personally, I wasn’t as serious about college in my first year and didn’t do as well as I do now. If this is the case for yourself as well, find out if you are eligible for “grade forgiveness” or something of the sort at your school. This will replace your old grade and allow you to retake the class. Next, you will need around three letters of recommendation when you apply to graduate school. These are not easy to come by, and professors reserve the right to refuse to write you one. You will want to get close to a few professors and ask if you can keep a line of communication open. You will then periodically want to tell them what you are up to, and the things that you are doing to prepare yourself for graduate school.
Another way to work more closely with a professor and add experiences to your resume is to be a teaching assistant. I am sure that each school’s application process is different, but you should be able to start by going directly to the professor you want to work with and simply asking them. Be sure that you let them know which class you would like to assist them with, and make sure that you have taken that class already with them and obtained an A in it. Also, be prepared and find out which times the classes are held and make sure that you will be able to attend them before you even ask if you can be the assistant.
To round out today’s tips, make sure that you have research experience. You can achieve this by joining a research laboratory on or around your campus, or even by doing independent research. Independent research will most likely need to be supported by at least two professors so be prepared to ask some.
I hope this was informative to you all, and I definitely have more information and tips to share in my next blog! Until then…
Graduate School versus Job by Lisa Gauvreau
