I'm going to assume that you're doing a (quantitative) social science program, not clinical.
- Have you been an RA yet? If not, get on it ASAP. For the people in my social science program that came straight through from undergrad, being an RA was essential. It'll let you see what you're in for, but also build up some profs/grad students who can write you letters of rec. I'd say that this is your top priority.
- Beef up on your stats. If you didn't get at least a 3.5 in whatever intro stats class you had, take another undergrad stats class and do really well in it. I'd recommend not going to the stats department, but taking something in you own department, education, communication, or maybe sociology. If there is nothing else, take something in the stats department, but not probability... focus on ANOVA, for example. Beefing up your stats will look really good.
- Do an honors thesis. You may even be able to publish it.
- Going straight through to the PhD isn't that big of a deal, lots of people do it, but they're going to be expecting that you're serious about it. READ READ READ READ READ - do all of the recommended readings you can. Ask some profs and grad students for reading lists (this ties into RAing). This will also help when you're applying for schools to be more familiar with the field. If you like an article/study, write down the name of the author and what school s/he is at. Try to read more of his/her stuff.
- GREs are important, specifically for funding. You need to break 1000 (at most schools) to get funding. If you are doing social science (quantitative), your math score is very important. Go take a practice test for free at Kaplan to see how you are doing and how much work you may need to put in.
Are you going to be a junior, or did you just finish your junior year and are going to be a senior? IF it is the former, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend the Advanced Statistical Training in Psychology program sponsored by the APA in the summer. They take students in the summer before their senior year, and it is a nine-day intensive statistics program that goes through everything from basic hypothesis testing, Type I/Type II errors and stuff to more complex things like path analysis and ANCOVA and stuff.
I kid you not, I took Stats II when I came back from the program and I already knew the majority of the curriculum. I was doing stats tests that took everyone else 6-8 hours in three. And when I went to my current Ph.D school, they were impressed with the stats I knew (and told me that the intro stats classes I was going to take were going to be review fr me). The ASTP teacheres are AWESOME.
Best of all, it's FREE (they even paid for my airfare!)
- Have you been an RA yet? If not, get on it ASAP. For the people in my social science program that came straight through from undergrad, being an RA was essential. It'll let you see what you're in for, but also build up some profs/grad students who can write you letters of rec. I'd say that this is your top priority.
- Beef up on your stats. If you didn't get at least a 3.5 in whatever intro stats class you had, take another undergrad stats class and do really well in it. I'd recommend not going to the stats department, but taking something in you own department, education, communication, or maybe sociology. If there is nothing else, take something in the stats department, but not probability... focus on ANOVA, for example. Beefing up your stats will look really good.
- Do an honors thesis. You may even be able to publish it.
- Going straight through to the PhD isn't that big of a deal, lots of people do it, but they're going to be expecting that you're serious about it. READ READ READ READ READ - do all of the recommended readings you can. Ask some profs and grad students for reading lists (this ties into RAing). This will also help when you're applying for schools to be more familiar with the field. If you like an article/study, write down the name of the author and what school s/he is at. Try to read more of his/her stuff.
- GREs are important, specifically for funding. You need to break 1000 (at most schools) to get funding. If you are doing social science (quantitative), your math score is very important. Go take a practice test for free at Kaplan to see how you are doing and how much work you may need to put in.
GOOD LUCK!
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I received an A in stats (for psychology) and stats lab and I'm TAing for stats this semester. I'm totally good on the stats part.
Doing a honors thesis, which is why I'm stretching things out until graduating in 2010 instead of cramming 11 classes in by Summer 09.
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Are you going to be a junior, or did you just finish your junior year and are going to be a senior? IF it is the former, I highly highly HIGHLY recommend the Advanced Statistical Training in Psychology program sponsored by the APA in the summer. They take students in the summer before their senior year, and it is a nine-day intensive statistics program that goes through everything from basic hypothesis testing, Type I/Type II errors and stuff to more complex things like path analysis and ANCOVA and stuff.
I kid you not, I took Stats II when I came back from the program and I already knew the majority of the curriculum. I was doing stats tests that took everyone else 6-8 hours in three. And when I went to my current Ph.D school, they were impressed with the stats I knew (and told me that the intro stats classes I was going to take were going to be review fr me). The ASTP teacheres are AWESOME.
Best of all, it's FREE (they even paid for my airfare!)
Reply
*adds this to her memories, tapes it to the fridge, tattoos it across her face, etc*
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