PhD Programs are FREE. Well, on paper they aren’t, but in fact most PhD programs in the sciences (including psychology) fully support the students whom they admit.  A program will typically cover the student’s tuition and fees, and provide money to live on.  To get this money you might be expected to serve as a teaching or research assistant, or in rare cases the school might just throw money your way.  This is one of the reasons that PhD programs are so competitive.

Letters of Recommendation Count a LOT.  Nearly everyone applying to a PhD program will have good grades (GPA of 3.5 or higher). Similarly, nearly everyone applying is likely to have very good GRE scores.  The graduate program is likely to put a lot of weight on letters of recommendation to decide who should be accepted.  There is a lot that you can do to ensure that your letters are strong; there is a lot that you can do to ensure that your letters suck.  Read these blog posts for my guidance on these matters (yes, the titles are similar, and to some extent so is the content, but they are worth reading).

• Thoughts on Grad School Acceptance
• Thoughts on Grad School Admission
• Success is in Your Hands.
• Integrity

Many people get into graduate programs, and do very well. It’s up to you to make it happen.  Nobody owes you a thing, but many people will give you opportunities.  Seize them!