New Data on Graduate New Data on Graduate Admissions for Psychology Admissions for Psychology

MajorsMajorsR. Eric LandrumR. Eric Landrum

Department of PsychologyDepartment of Psychology

Boise State UniversityBoise State University

Rocky Mountain Psychological AssociationRocky Mountain Psychological Association

April 16, 2004April 16, 2004

Reno, NVReno, NV

It’s a Popular Choice…It’s a Popular Choice…

Each year, about 74,000 Each year, about 74,000 undergraduates in the United States undergraduates in the United States receive their bachelor’s degree in receive their bachelor’s degree in psychology.psychology.

Between 20-25% have an interest in Between 20-25% have an interest in graduate school, and will apply at graduate school, and will apply at some point.some point.

What will undergraduates do to stand What will undergraduates do to stand out from the crowd?out from the crowd?

PopularityPopularity

In graduate school, some In graduate school, some specializations are more popular specializations are more popular than others.than others.

There are also popularity differences There are also popularity differences in the type of degree sought.in the type of degree sought.

Popularity can be evidenced by the Popularity can be evidenced by the number of applications per specialty number of applications per specialty field in a given year.field in a given year.

CompetitivenessCompetitiveness

The ratio of number of applications The ratio of number of applications accepted to the number of accepted to the number of applications is the acceptance rate.applications is the acceptance rate.

This acceptance rate is one indicator This acceptance rate is one indicator of the competitiveness of entering a of the competitiveness of entering a particular specialty area.particular specialty area.

Note also there are significant Note also there are significant differences amongst degree types.differences amongst degree types.

The DataThe Data

The data in the following table was The data in the following table was compiled by the APA Research Office compiled by the APA Research Office based on admissions in 2001-2002.based on admissions in 2001-2002.

This data was gleaned by APA from This data was gleaned by APA from the the Graduate Study in Psychology Graduate Study in Psychology 2003 volume.2003 volume.

General CommentsGeneral Comments

Note that these data reflect the Note that these data reflect the number of applications, not the number of applications, not the number of applicants.number of applicants.

Obviously, many students apply to Obviously, many students apply to more than one program.more than one program.

Master’s programs can be seen as a Master’s programs can be seen as a stepping stone for students who are stepping stone for students who are ultimately interested in obtaining the ultimately interested in obtaining the Ph.D. or the Psy.D.Ph.D. or the Psy.D.

Graduate Admissions Graduate Admissions CriteriaCriteria

The classic top 3 predictors of The classic top 3 predictors of graduate school admission are:graduate school admission are: GREGRE GPAGPA Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation

More recently, these have been More recently, these have been added to the list:added to the list: Research experienceResearch experience Autobiographical statementAutobiographical statement

Graduate Admissions Graduate Admissions CriteriaCriteria

Examined every graduate program Examined every graduate program entry in entry in Graduate Study in Psychology Graduate Study in Psychology (2003).(2003).

Graduate programs self-report the Graduate programs self-report the importance of: GRE, research importance of: GRE, research experience, work experience, experience, work experience, extracurricular activity, clinically-related extracurricular activity, clinically-related public service, GPA, letters of public service, GPA, letters of recommendation, interview, and recommendation, interview, and statement of goals and objectives.statement of goals and objectives.

Graduate Admissions Graduate Admissions CriteriaCriteria

Graduate programs rate each of the Graduate programs rate each of the criteria using 1 = low importance, 2 criteria using 1 = low importance, 2 = medium importance, 3 = high = medium importance, 3 = high importance.importance.

In addition to overall means, In addition to overall means, importance scores by type of importance scores by type of department are also reported department are also reported (doctoral-only, master’s only, or (doctoral-only, master’s only, or combination programs).combination programs).

General CommentsGeneral Comments

Overall, there is a reshuffling at the Overall, there is a reshuffling at the top:top: Letters of recommendationLetters of recommendation Statement of goals and objectivesStatement of goals and objectives GPAGPA

The second tier of factors include:The second tier of factors include: InterviewsInterviews GRE scoresGRE scores Research experienceResearch experience

General CommentsGeneral Comments

It is important not to oversimplify this It is important not to oversimplify this data.data.

It is vital that students research their It is vital that students research their particular schools and specialties of particular schools and specialties of interest to create the best match/fit.interest to create the best match/fit.

There are important differences in There are important differences in relative importance depending on relative importance depending on the type of graduate department.the type of graduate department.

ConclusionsConclusions The demand for graduate education The demand for graduate education

greatly outstrips supply.greatly outstrips supply. Students who want to successfully enter Students who want to successfully enter

graduate programs need to understand graduate programs need to understand popularity, competitiveness, and what is popularity, competitiveness, and what is valued by graduate admissions valued by graduate admissions committees.committees.

Advisors need to provide accurate Advisors need to provide accurate information to students to help them gain information to students to help them gain a competitive edge in the graduate a competitive edge in the graduate admissions process. admissions process.