Frequently Asked Questions – Graduate School
We have anticipated a list of questions that you may have about applying to graduate school in psychology and answered them on this page. If you have any further questions, reach out to a faculty member from the Department of Psychological Science or PSYC Advising.
How much does graduate school cost and how do I pay for graduate school?
Graduate education is typically more expensive than undergraduate education. However, programs sometimes offer graduate assistantships which provide a tuition waiver or a stipend for your work; these offers can vary depending on the specific program and assistantship and are more common in PhD programs than in Master’s or PsyD programs. There are also often opportunities to work at the university for steeply discounted tuition. Sometimes, employers will also pay for your degrees if you are working a full time position and going to school as well. Lastly, you can file a FAFSA and get student loans, but you cannot get a Pell Grant for graduate education.
Who should I ask for a letter of recommendation?
You want to ask for letters of recommendation from individuals who know you professionally (e.g., professors, supervisors). Graduate schools typically do not accept letters from personal references (e.g., friends and family). Some schools may specify a certain number of these letters need to come from faculty members. You should only ask someone to write you a letter if you are confident that they will write you a strong letter of recommendation (if you are unsure, you can ask them: Would you be willing to write me a strong letter of recommendation?). The best way to earn strong letters of recommendation is to form one-on-one relationships with your letter writers. You might do this by being a Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, or Intern. Typically, taking a class from a faculty member would not be sufficient for them to write you a strong letter of recommendation.
How do I ask recommenders for letters of recommendation and how do they send the letters in?
You should ask your recommenders for letters of recommendation at least a month before they are due. You can ask via email or in person, however asking in person looks more personable. You should have your curriculum vitae (CV) and personal statement ready to give your letter writers. They may also ask for a transcript or list of classes you took from them.
You will be able to provide your recommenders’ information when filling out your application and they will be sent an email asking for them to complete the recommendation. It is crucial that you do not wait until the last minute to send them these requests. Most schools offer the option to send them these requests before completing your application as well, so it can be helpful to send these ahead of time. Letters are almost always sent in via a web portal; you will provide the email addresses to your letter writers, and your school(s) will send an invitation to submit a letter of recommendation to your references.
What is licensure and accreditation?
If you are seeking a Master’s, PhD, or PsyD in counseling or clinical psychology, you should find out whether your graduate program is accredited. You can typically find this information on the graduate school’s website. There are two main accrediting bodies, APA and CACREP. There are many other accrediting bodies out there – be careful applying to a school that is not APA or CACREP accredited as many employers, licensed counselors, or clinicians want one of those two accreditations.
Licensure requirements vary for each state. You should check with the relevant Board of Licensure in the state you want to practice in to find out the requirements you need to satisfy to qualify for licensure. It is best to do this at the time you are applying to graduate schools to make sure that your school’s requirements will satisfy the licensure requirements in the state in which you want to obtain a license.
Should I take a gap year?
You should never rush into a program if you are not fully confident in your decision – graduate school is a big time and financial commitment. Gap years can be beneficial in taking time to truly understand what you want to do if you are feeling unsure. They can also be beneficial if you need more time to obtain the types of experiences (e.g., field experience, research experience, teaching experience) to get into your desired program.
When you take a gap year, a key aspect is to stay connected to psychology in some way. You will likely be asked about this in a graduate school interview – “so I see you took a gap year – how did you stay connected to psychology during that time?” You can stay connected in many ways; you can volunteer once a month in your community at an agency that does work connected to psychological science. You can arrange to access certain psychological journals of interest and keep up in your field of interest by reading on a regular basis. Perhaps you have a job related to psychology, so you have frequent chances to connect to psychology. Be sure to find some way to stay connected.
Do I have to take the GRE? What is it?
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test that is used in graduate school admissions. It is an extensive test that will require much preparation before taking. However, not all programs require the GRE. You should check with each specific program of interest and see if it is something that you will need to take.
I have additional questions. Who do I contact?
If you have additional questions about graduate school, complete this Google Form. Once received, a member of the PSYC Advising team will follow up about your inquiry via email. You may also reach out to a faculty member from the Department of Psychological Science or contact PSYC Advising directly.