A 2006 study by Drew C. Appleby (Indiana University) and Karen Appleby (Idaho State University) reveals 5 Common Graduate School Application Mistakes that will dramatically reduce your chances of being accepted into a graduate program.
19. Kisses
of
Death:
1. Damaging personal statements
2. Harmful letters of recommendation
3. Lack of program information
4. Poor writing skills
5. Misfired attempts to impress
23. Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
24. Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
Have a reference tell your story!
25. Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
Have a reference tell your story!
“Everybody wants to help people.
That’s assumed.
Don’t say the reason you want to
go into clinical psychology is to
help people.”
26. Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
No being ‘cutesy!’
27. Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
No being ‘cutesy!’
39. • Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
40. • Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
• Be authentic
41. • Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
• Name dropping doesn’t work!
• Be authentic
42. • Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
• Name dropping doesn’t work!
• Be authentic
“Admissions committees care
about you, NOT who you know.”
53. • Participate in faculty research
• Make connections
“Effective mentoring can help attain
the research and classroom
experiences that facilitate strong
letters of recommendation,
compelling personal statements,
and proficient writing skills”
58. Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
• Prepare for exams
59. Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
• Prepare for exams
• Select a recommender
60. Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
• Prepare for exams
• Select a recommender
One-on-one advising may not be available
63. Academic advising class designed to teach:
‐ “The info needed to apply to graduate programs”
64. Academic advising class designed to teach:
‐ “The info needed to apply to graduate programs”
‐ “How to apply to graduate school”
65. Academic advising class designed to teach:
‐ “The info needed to apply to graduate programs”
‐ “How to apply to graduate school”
‐ “The value of letters of ”
70. Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
• 7 Deadly Sins for Applicants
71. Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
• 7 Deadly Sins for Applicants
• 10 Tips to Ace the Application Process
72. Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
• 7 Deadly Sins for Applicants
• 10 Tips to Ace the Application Process
73. Appleby, D. & Appleby, K. (2006) Kisses of
Death in the Graduate School
Application Process. Retrieved from
www.psychology.unl.edu
Slideshow by Sam Bressler of the GradSchools.com team