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Finishing the Finishing the Undergraduate MarathonUndergraduate Marathon
Preparation for Graduate Studies in Preparation for Graduate Studies in PsychologyPsychology
Presented by: RenPresented by: Renée El-Gabalawy ée El-Gabalawy
What it takes to win a What it takes to win a marathon marathon
Training Training
Devotion Devotion
Stamina Stamina
Commitment Commitment
Training and PreparationTraining and Preparation
GPAGPA Extracurricular activities (e.g., Extracurricular activities (e.g.,
research, teaching, and research, teaching, and volunteering)volunteering)
GREGRE Developing professional Developing professional
relationships relationships Funding and graduate school Funding and graduate school
applications applications
Ideal Timeline Ideal Timeline
Year 1Year 1::
University 1 University 1
Year 2Year 2:: Register in honours psychology Register in honours psychology
program (B.A. or B.Sc.) program (B.A. or B.Sc.) Volunteer as a research assistant (or Volunteer as a research assistant (or
other psychology related other psychology related endeavours)endeavours)
Ideal Timeline Ideal Timeline
Year 3:Year 3: Paid or volunteer research assistant Paid or volunteer research assistant January-February: Set up several January-February: Set up several
interviews with potential interviews with potential undergraduate advisors undergraduate advisors
January-August: Study and register January-August: Study and register for your GREfor your GRE
Summer: Write your GRESummer: Write your GRE Apply for TA positions Apply for TA positions CUPE Student: Human CUPE Student: Human
Resources Resources
Ideal TimelineIdeal Timeline
Year 4:Year 4: Write honours thesis Write honours thesis TA 1 or 2 classes or RA TA 1 or 2 classes or RA September: Prepare national funding September: Prepare national funding
applications (SSHRC, CIHR, applications (SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC)NSERC)
November: Prepare grad school November: Prepare grad school applicationsapplications
NoteNote: : Deadlines range from December Deadlines range from December 11stst to January 15 to January 15thth
Why volunteer as a research Why volunteer as a research assistant?assistant? Opportunity for paid work Opportunity for paid work Addition to curriculum vitaeAddition to curriculum vitae Possibility for publications Possibility for publications Building a relationship with a Building a relationship with a
professor (letters of reference, professor (letters of reference, honours and MA advisors) honours and MA advisors)
Some people see being an RA as Some people see being an RA as
essential for grad school applicationsessential for grad school applications
Other unique volunteering/work Other unique volunteering/work opportunities in the communityopportunities in the community
WISH ClinicWISH Clinic KlinicKlinic Women’s Health ClinicWomen’s Health Clinic St. Amant’s St. Amant’s Canadian Mental Health AssociationCanadian Mental Health Association Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Macdonald Youth Services Macdonald Youth Services Artbeat StudioArtbeat Studio……to name a few to name a few
Why set up interviews in Why set up interviews in January for honours advisors? January for honours advisors? First pick First pick Options for research Options for research Starting off on the right foot Starting off on the right foot Possibility of early research Possibility of early research
assistantshipsassistantships
Do your homework! Check out potential Do your homework! Check out potential advisors at:advisors at:
http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/psychology/people/departments/psychology/people/faculty_bios.htmlfaculty_bios.html
The GRE The GRE
Preparation for the Graduate Preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)Record Examination (GRE) Purpose:Purpose:
To make your life miserable To make your life miserable
True Purpose:True Purpose:
To use as an evaluative tool in To use as an evaluative tool in your application for graduate your application for graduate school school
Is it important? Yes, but it dependsIs it important? Yes, but it depends
It depends?It depends?
On prospective schools On prospective schools
The strength of other aspects ofThe strength of other aspects of
your application your application
Should you prepare? Should you prepare?
Absolutely!Absolutely!
GRE Prep Tools GRE Prep Tools
GRE Forerunners GRE Forerunners
GRE Prep: Advice from Grad GRE Prep: Advice from Grad StudentsStudents
““Princeton Review SUCKED for the Princeton Review SUCKED for the General. I would recommend General. I would recommend Kaplens instead “ Kaplens instead “
““I had a book from Princeton Review I had a book from Princeton Review that I found extremely helpful. It that I found extremely helpful. It came with a CD-Rom with practice came with a CD-Rom with practice tests formatted like the GRE and the tests formatted like the GRE and the book had old paper and pencil book had old paper and pencil versions to practice with as well” versions to practice with as well”
Components to the GRE Components to the GRE
1) Quantitative Reasoning (math)1) Quantitative Reasoning (math)Problem solving, arithmetic, Problem solving, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data algebra, geometry, and data analysisanalysis
2) Verbal Reasoning (english)2) Verbal Reasoning (english)Reading comprehension, verbal Reading comprehension, verbal and analogical reasoning, and analogical reasoning, evaluating written materialevaluating written material
Components to the GREComponents to the GRE
3) Analytic Writing (essays) 3) Analytic Writing (essays)
Critical thinking and analytic Critical thinking and analytic
writing skills writing skills
Logistics Logistics
Score range:Score range:Verbal and QuantVerbal and Quant: 200-800: 200-800(10 pt increments)(10 pt increments)AnalyticAnalytic: 0-6 (0.5 pt increments): 0-6 (0.5 pt increments)
Cost:Cost: $180 (US) $180 (US)
You can write the GRE 1 per month butYou can write the GRE 1 per month but no more than 5 times within a 12 no more than 5 times within a 12 month periodmonth period
SectionSection No. of No. of questionsquestions
Time (min)Time (min)
Analytic Analytic Writing Writing
1 “issue” 1 “issue” and and
“argument” “argument” taskstasks
Issue: 45Issue: 45
Arg.: 30 Arg.: 30
Verbal Verbal Reasoning Reasoning
3030 3030
Quantitative Quantitative ReasoningReasoning
2828 4545
Unscored Unscored Varies Varies Varies Varies
ResearchResearch VariesVaries Varies Varies
Sample Questions Sample Questions
AnalyticAnalytic
Issue:Issue: "The study of an academic "The study of an academic discipline alters the way we discipline alters the way we perceive the world. After perceive the world. After studying the discipline, we see studying the discipline, we see the same world as before, but the same world as before, but with different eyes." with different eyes."
Argument: The following appeared as a letter to the editor of a farming publication."With continuing publicity about the need for healthful diets, and with new research about the harmful effects of eating too much sugar, nationwide demand for sugar will no doubt decline. Therefore, farmers in our state should use the land on which they currently grow sugar cane to grow peanuts, a food that is rich in protein and low in sugar. Farmers in the neighboring country of Palin greatly increased their production of peanuts last year, and their total revenues from that crop were quite high."
VerbalVerbal
Analogies:Analogies:
COLOR: SPECTRUMCOLOR: SPECTRUM
A)A) Tone: ScaleTone: Scale
B)B) Sound: WavesSound: Waves
C)C) Verse: PoemVerse: Poem
D)D) Dimension: SpaceDimension: Space
E)E) Cell: Organism Cell: Organism
Quantitative Quantitative
Quantitative Comparisons:Quantitative Comparisons: Column A Column BColumn A Column B (-6) ^4 (-6)^5(-6) ^4 (-6)^5
A)A) if the quantity in Column A is if the quantity in Column A is greatergreater
B)B) if the quantity in Column B is if the quantity in Column B is greater greater
C)C) if the two quantities are equal if the two quantities are equal D)D) if the relationship cannot be if the relationship cannot be
determined from the information determined from the information givengiven
Adaptive Testing Adaptive Testing A form of computer-based test that adapts to the A form of computer-based test that adapts to the
examinee's ability level examinee's ability level
Test Day Test Day
•Arrive early
•Do not do anything out of the ordinary (e.g., decide to be a coffee drinker)
•Bring identification
•Bring snack and change
•Have an idea of what grad schools you will be applying to so you can directly send your scores (for free!)
GRE Prep: Things that work GRE Prep: Things that work for everyonefor everyone
Verbal:Verbal: Flashcards Flashcards Word rootsWord roots Memorizing words from ‘target lists’ Memorizing words from ‘target lists’
in workbook in workbook Be curious Be curious
Quantitative: Quantitative: Practice makes perfect Practice makes perfect
Analytic:Analytic: Use examples from GRE Use examples from GRE
website website Practice on simple word Practice on simple word
processor processor Look over high scoring and low Look over high scoring and low
scoring essaysscoring essays Familiarize yourself with Familiarize yourself with
components required to components required to succeedsucceed
General Practice:General Practice: Practice tests (get as many as Practice tests (get as many as
you can!) you can!) ETS practice*ETS practice* Practice timing Practice timing Work on your weaknesses Work on your weaknesses Conservation of scrap paper Conservation of scrap paper
Answering Questions: Answering Questions: Spend time on question 1 Spend time on question 1 Complete all questions. If your Complete all questions. If your
running out of time – guessrunning out of time – guess Don’t randomly guess, use Don’t randomly guess, use
LOGIC LOGIC
Things you SHOULDN’T do…. Things you SHOULDN’T do….
Not studyNot study CramCram Try to memorize the entire Try to memorize the entire
dictionary dictionary Write during a high stress time Write during a high stress time
(e.g., November)(e.g., November) Read random intro math and Read random intro math and
verbal reviews verbal reviews
Final Point Final Point
Always accept your score at the Always accept your score at the
end of the GRE and don’t beat end of the GRE and don’t beat
yourself up about it yourself up about it
Psychology GRE Psychology GRE
Required at some schools Required at some schools
Intro psych knowledgeIntro psych knowledge(experimental/natural science, (experimental/natural science, social/social science, general)social/social science, general)
Preparation: Specialty prep or Preparation: Specialty prep or intro psych booksintro psych books
Psychology GRE: Logistics Psychology GRE: Logistics
Paper and pencilPaper and pencil
205 multiple choice questions205 multiple choice questions
Fee: $150 (US) Fee: $150 (US)
Offered in October, November, Offered in October, November, and April and April
Graduate Funding Graduate Funding
Funding ApplicationsFunding Applications
When in doubt…apply! When in doubt…apply!
Deadlines (national funding):Deadlines (national funding):Internal: End of NovemberInternal: End of NovemberExternal: Mid December External: Mid December
Value and Duration: Value and Duration: $17,500 (12 months) $17,500 (12 months)
Tri-Council Funding Bodies Tri-Council Funding Bodies
1) 1) SSHRCSSHRC (Social Sciences and (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council)Humanities Research Council)www.sshrc.orgwww.sshrc.org
2) 2) CIHR CIHR (Canadian Institutes of (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)Health Research)www.cihr-irsc.gc.cawww.cihr-irsc.gc.ca
3) 3) NSERC NSERC (Natural Sciences and (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada)Engineering Research Council of Canada)www.nserc-crsng.gc.cawww.nserc-crsng.gc.ca
Other Funding OpportunitiesOther Funding Opportunities
UMGF/MGSUMGF/MGS ($12,000-$15,000/year) ($12,000-$15,000/year) Deadline: February (automatic)Deadline: February (automatic)
MHRCMHRC (Manitoba Health Research (Manitoba Health Research Council; $17,850)Council; $17,850)
Deadline: January Deadline: January
OtherOther (check out the award database) (check out the award database) http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/http://webapps.cc.umanitoba.ca/
gradawards/gradawards/
How to ApplyHow to Apply
Prepare application (online)Prepare application (online)
2-3 letters of reference 2-3 letters of reference
1-2 page research proposal 1-2 page research proposal
Common CVCommon CV
What schools and how many?What schools and how many?
Check out CPA accredited Check out CPA accredited schools at:schools at:
www.cpa.ca (under: accreditation) (under: accreditation)
How many?How many?
2: don’t have a shot 2: don’t have a shot
4: think you have a shot4: think you have a shot
2: know you’ll get in 2: know you’ll get in
Preparing Grad School Preparing Grad School ApplicationsApplications
Contact prospective advisors in Contact prospective advisors in September September
Give 1 month notice for referees Give 1 month notice for referees (i.e., letters of reference)(i.e., letters of reference)
Prepare personal statement Prepare personal statement Order transcripts and GRE Order transcripts and GRE
scores (costs money)scores (costs money) Prepare CV Prepare CV
Choosing an Advisor Choosing an Advisor Important questions:Important questions:
Does this advisor have a Does this advisor have a developed research program?developed research program?
Does this advisor have a website?Does this advisor have a website?
Has this advisor recently published?Has this advisor recently published?
Is this advisor currently funded?Is this advisor currently funded?
Does this advisor have other Does this advisor have other students?students?
Is this advisors research interests similar toIs this advisors research interests similar tomine?mine?
Contacting Prospective Contacting Prospective AdvisorsAdvisors
Notes:Notes:Clear and concise Clear and concise Non-exhaustive Non-exhaustive Knowledgeable Knowledgeable Non-binding Non-binding
Introduction Research Interests Goals
Inquiry of Acceptance
Making a Final Decision Making a Final Decision
Talk to advisor’s current Talk to advisor’s current studentsstudents
Be familiar with funding (don’t Be familiar with funding (don’t
be afraid to ask)be afraid to ask)
Be familiar with external costs Be familiar with external costs (e.g., cost of living)(e.g., cost of living)
Programs at the U of MPrograms at the U of M
PsychologyPsychology:: Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Brain and Cognitive ScienceBrain and Cognitive Science Clinical Clinical DevelopmentalDevelopmental Social and Personality Social and Personality Methodology Methodology SchoolSchool
Community Health SciencesCommunity Health Sciences
Acknowledgements Acknowledgements
Special thanks to:Special thanks to:
Dr. Corey Mackenzie
Adam Rossi
Kristin Reynolds
Lisa Dredger
& Clinical MA 1 and 2 Students
Questions Questions
Contact me: [email protected]