If you decide to do the alternate assignment, you must:

a) attach a copy of your acceptance letter(s) from one or more graduate or professional programs

b) be willing to have your work included in a book of psychology majors’ graduate school success stories (you may opt to have your name and other identifying data deleted from the materials before they are included in the book).

c) write complete answers for each question.  Try to be as helpful to others as you can.  The more detail you provide, the more others can benefit from your experience.  If you omit sections by claiming that you did not need that step, you will lose the points assigned to that section.

d) have been involved in research about graduate school and have applied to a competitive program (one where not all students are accepted).

STEPS INVOLVED IN THE ALTERNATE GRADUATE SCHOOL PROJECT:

1.  What was your field of interest? (10 pts.)

• Describe it in detail.
• How did that interest develop?
• What do you expect to do in the field.

• How did you find them, i.e. what sources did you use? Give details including names of faculty who advised you, names and dates of directories you used, URLs of websites, etc.

• List at least five factors
• Explain why each was important.
• Then rank the schools in the order of your preference based on the factors of importance to you.
• Explain your rankings.
• If you did not apply to more than one school, explain why you applied to just one.

• What courses did you take to prepare for/make yourself competitive for graduate study?
• Why did you choose those courses?
• What else do you wish you had taken?
• Did you participate in PSA, Psi Chi, COR, or the McNair Scholars Programs?  If so, how were those  programs helpful?

• Indicate your overall and psychology GPAs and  GRE scores (if taken)
• Describe your research and applied experience.* Give details of the latter.
• What else did you do to make yourself competitive?
• What did you learn from the research and applied experience?

7.  Indicate whether you were accepted, listed as an alternate (put on waiting list), or rejected to each of the schools to which you applied.*(15 pts.)

8.  Letters of Recommendation (20 pts.)

• Whom did you ask for letters of recommendation?
• Briefly describe the individuals who wrote letters for you including the context in which you knew them.
• How did you decide whom to ask?
• How far in advance did you ask?
• What materials did you provide for those writing the letters?
• Did you waive your right of access?  Why?
• Attach a sample of the materials you  gave letter writers if  you still have it. If not, explain what you included and how it was organized.

• Attach a copy of the statement of purpose you submitted to the school you plan to attend.
• If you applied to more than one school, explain how you varied the statement of purpose for each school, if you did.
• What resources did you use in deciding how to write your statement?
• How long did it take you to write your statement?
• How many revsions did you have?
• Did you have others critique it?  Whom?

• Did you have a mentor?
• If you whom?
• What help did you receive from your mentor?       
• Did you have a graduate school interview?
• If so, how did you prepare?
• Describe the  interview briefly, including a few of  the questions which were asked.
• What would you suggest to others preparing for a similar interview?
• Did you apply for financial aid?
• If so, what was involved?
• How do you expect to finance your graduate school studies?
• Will you be working?
• What tips could you give others applying to a similar program?  Is there anything you wish you had known earlier or anything you wish you would have done differently?

11.  Indicate whether you wish to have your name deleted from the materials, and note any other materials which you feel would reduce your anonymity and would like to have deleted.

* While this information may seem intrusive, it would be helpful to others considering applying to similar programs.  If you prefer, you could describe your GPAs as a range, (i.e. 3.8 or higher, 3.5 to 3.79, 3.25 to 3.45, etc.), and your GRE  scores in terms of percentiles.  Falsifying scores, however, would mislead other students.