Applying to a psychology graduate program can be exciting—it also can cause some anxiety. From the outside, the admissions process may look like a mystic swirl of smoke and mirrors that leaves the applicant wondering, “Am I good enough?”. Having worked as an admissions counselor in the past and now as the Assistant Director for Graduate Admissions and Education at APA, I have worked closely with students looking to pursue a graduate degree. Given that this next step in your educational journey will take dedication of your time and resources, I’d like to offer some insights I’ve gathered along the way to make your application process a little less worrisome and ambiguous.
Clarify Any Questions
Once you narrow your search, you may want to explore whether or not the program you are applying to offers any information sessions where you can learn more about the program and ask questions. You can also contact faculty, admissions officers, and current students directly to clarify any questions that remain, although it's important to attend to any program recommendations about communication (e.g., some programs or faculty members may ask that applicants not contact them directly before interview invitations are distributed). In my experience, having answers directly from the source typically helps application trepidation. Expressing your interest to faculty and graduate students may open the door to learn more about the program. Speaking with the admissions staff also helps you to establish some rapport with that office. Many applicants worry that asking questions will cause the admissions office to put a “red flag” on their application or throw it out completely. From my experience, it’s quite the opposite. Typically, students showing initiative is received positively by admissions staff. Finally, current students can often give the “inside scoop” on what the program is like from a student’s perspective in a way that faculty and staff typically cannot. Of course, you want to be judicious in contacting each group of people and only when you have pertinent questions.
The Application Process
After you’ve gathered information, you’ll want to start the application process. It's important to stay organized with all of the essential details, I suggest creating a checklist. On this checklist you can notate each program’s timeline, letters of recommendation, if transcripts have been sent, and any other admission materials that are required. You will also want to create a column in your tracking sheet for the application link whenever you want to quickly access your application.
Many schools and graduate programs have their own unique application process. However, APA also has a centralized service that students can use to access applications from multiple programs called the Centralized Application Service for Graduate Psychology (PSYCAS). Within PSYCAS, every application submission item will be uploaded and organized for the corresponding program’s portal which can help to streamline your application process. Other aspects of PSYCAS that make the application process more streamlined are paying for and uploading transcripts one time for all schools within the PSYCAS database. You would also only request letters of recommendation once through the PSYCAS platform. PSYCAS also offers fee waiversopens in new window that can help cover the cost of your applications. Search for schools listed in PSYCAS.
Let’s Get Ready to … Wait!
Once the application has been completed and submitted there will be a waiting period. Check the status for each of your applications to ensure everything has been submitted fully. Some programs send receipts as you progress within their application process. Additionally, organizing these receipts can help you track your progress with each program as it can take a while to hear back regarding final decisions. If you’re worried that there may be issues with your application, refer to the previous step and reach out to the admissions office. If they say your application was successfully received, you can always follow up with a question asking for an average turnaround time to help keep your expectations more realistic about when you’ll get a final answer. Depending upon the time of year, these responses can be later rather than sooner. If that’s the case, focus on the factors you can control. If you are still in school, put your energy into doing well in your final courses and projects. Remember, you want to finish the semester strong with final transcripts and a competitive GPA before enrolling. If you are contemplating taking the next step in your education, I wish you all the best in your endeavors!
About the author
Shawn Polk is the Assistant Director for Graduate Admissions and Education for APA. He has worked in higher education for over 10 years and 7 of those years were involved in recruitment and admissions. Shawn graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Clinical/Counseling Psychology and a Master of Counseling Education/Student Affairs. In his spare time, Shawn enjoys reading sci-fi novels, exercising, gaming, and outings with his family.
