The 4 Biggest Mistakes Made When Applying to Graduate School in Psychology

The 4 Biggest Mistakes Made When Applying to Graduate School in Psychology

By Pamela Whitehead

Undoubtedly, psychology graduate admissions committees come across quite a few application faux pas when reading through their stacks of applications. When applying to graduate school in psychology every single element of the graduate school application package matters! No matter if you're applying to masters or doctorate programs, you're dealing with lots of competition come time for the admissions committee to convene and review applications. Here are some of the biggest mistakes you can make when applying to graduate school that actually keep you from getting into graduate school.

1. Applying to a graduate program that doesn't exist

Let's say that you're interested in earning a masters or doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. You apply to the local university in your city because you would like to stay close to your friends and family. Only there's one problem... The university you're interested in doesn't have a Clinical Psychology program in the first place.

2. Applying to graduate programs because of location

Ever wonder why UCLA or University of Miami get tons of applications to their psychology graduate programs? But of course! Everyone wants to move to this location to lay on the beach in between classes. Have you ever considered that a better fit for your research interests or professional aspirations might be at an university across the country? Similarly, have you ever considered that doggedly applying to these programs might keep you out of graduate school? Masters and Ph.D. programs in psychology typically admit students because of fit - not because you like the weather or are too afraid to pick up and move across the country. Now, understandably, some prospective students cannot move because of job, family, or other obligations. Unless you're willing to go for an online masters or doctorate program, be aware that you may be constraining your opportunities to further your education.

3. Not completing your application

Although many universities publish the number of applications received vs. the number of admitted students, you likely will not hear about the number of applications that get tossed out with the garbage for being incomplete. Don't end up being part of the statistics of students who get turned away from graduate school.

4. Not giving your personal statement essay adequate attention

Most applicants stress themselves out over whether their GPA or GRE scores are high enough to get into graduate school. However, please be aware that you can be rejected even if you have a perfect 4.0 and GRE scores beyond reproach. Many students leave the personal statement essay as an afterthought, whereas it can be one of the greatest assets to graduate school application. Rather than an objective measure of potential, the personal statement is where you can advocate for yourself, highlight your well-thought out research interests, showcase your critical thinking skills, and present a compelling argument that you are an ideal candidate for graduate school. You don't want to do an "OK" job on this piece of your application package. Get it proofread several times. And if you're not a great writer, seek out professional help with your personal statement.

Did you know that less than 10% of applicants get into the graduate school of their choice? Personal statement writing is your chance to stand out from other applicants! Visit Doctorate Degree Psychology for more tips and strategies on how to get into grad school!

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