What's your field? Do you want a masters or a doctorate? It's a little hard to answer your question without knowing a bit more about what you want to do.
I'm going to apply to PhD programs in clinical psychology this fall. By the time I enter grad school (if I'm accepted), I'll have taken 3 years off to work at a research center. In my case, I think that the time I've spent doing research after college more than makes up for the fact that I didn't do a psychology thesis.
I'm a psychology major, and I want to pursue Developmental Psychology in grad school, either Masters or straight-to-PhD program. I have research experience: I've worked in the research centre of hospitals, and am currently working in the labs of 3 professors.
It sounds like you're doing a lot of research right now, definitely more than I did as an undergrad. Again, it might be helpful to work for a few years before applying to schools. It would be great if you can get experience working on a poster or a paper. Your writing skills can also come through in your personal statement. Remember that there are other factors like grades and GRE scores, personal fit with the program, etc. which come into play. I think the bottom line is that if you can do a thesis, that's great, but it won't make or break an acceptance.
Conducting research is one thing, writing about it is another. I can't be positive since I'm not a psych major, but I'm sure they want to review your writing skills, how logical and analytical you are, etc. That's the point of a writing sample. However, you don't specifically need a thesis, per se, just a large paper with an impressive bibliography and an impressive take on the topic. If you took english classes, in which I hope you wrote a topic based on your major!!!, and wrote a 15 page argumentative paper, that may be possible to submit.
I think it's a good experience to have -- theses and other independent experiences show that you can do research independently, not just work in a lab under a mentor. But considering that no one even asked me about my thesis until after I was accepted (most psychology programs don't require writing samples, in my experience), I'd say that it won't make or break you. Only four majors (out of 110) at my school did theses but 30% of our students go on to graduate school.
It generally doesn't matter if you do an undergraduate thesis.
I didn't do one, but I had research and work experience related to my graduate school program. Most people in my grad school had the same thing: related work experience.
An undergrad thesis does have it's place. Some programs will allow someone with a PUBLISHED undergraduate thesis to be considered for admission into a Ph.D. program straight from a bachelor's rather than a master's. But other than that, it's not necessary.
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I'm going to apply to PhD programs in clinical psychology this fall. By the time I enter grad school (if I'm accepted), I'll have taken 3 years off to work at a research center. In my case, I think that the time I've spent doing research after college more than makes up for the fact that I didn't do a psychology thesis.
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I'm a psychology major, and I want to pursue Developmental Psychology in grad school, either Masters or straight-to-PhD program.
I have research experience: I've worked in the research centre of hospitals, and am currently working in the labs of 3 professors.
But, I'm afraid that this isn't good enough!
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Good luck!
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I didn't do one, but I had research and work experience related to my graduate school program. Most people in my grad school had the same thing: related work experience.
An undergrad thesis does have it's place. Some programs will allow someone with a PUBLISHED undergraduate thesis to be considered for admission into a Ph.D. program straight from a bachelor's rather than a master's. But other than that, it's not necessary.
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