[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-278774-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-278774-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","on-applying-to-graduate-school-in-psychology-letter-of-intent-for-graduate-admissions-free-pdf","ON APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PSYCHOLOGY - Letter of Intent for Graduate Admissions - Free PDF","","A graduate admissions guide explains how to build a competitive psychology application by focusing on measurable inputs rather than vague assurances. It covers graduate testing expectations, including GRE and possible additional admission exams, and stresses timely scheduling so complete scores arrive before deadlines. The guide also explains why strong grades matter but are insufficient alone, then details how to craft a statement of interest with clear psychology-specific goals and credible academic or occupational experiences.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/on-applying-to-graduate-school-in-psychology-letter-of-intent-for-graduate-admissions-free-pdf/278774/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/on-applying-to-graduate-school-in-psychology-letter-of-intent-for-graduate-admissions-free-pdf/278774.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Patrick","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What information most strongly determines success for admission to graduate school in psychology?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Admission success depends primarily on the quality of the applicant’s background and abilities, evaluated through limited but specific information rather than on vague impressions.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Why should applicants take the GREs earlier rather than later?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Taking the test early allows re-testing if needed and ensures scores are available by the admission deadline; incomplete or late items can hurt consideration.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should a statement of interest for psychology programs include?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"It should explain the applicant’s interests in psychology and how those interests developed, describe goals in the field, and show how the program can help achieve those goals.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},278774,1790633011,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,99,104,109,114,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":96,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":98},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":100,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":101,"show_sort_weight":102,"slug":103},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":105,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":106,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":110,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":115,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":115,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":121,"language":136,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":140,"read_time":26},549758146520,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/80002397d8c0411e94?_k=1775819394049821470","ON APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PSYCHOLOGY *  \nAdmission to a graduate program in psychology can be quite competitive. High quality programs are, of course, more competitive than lower quality programs. Doctoral programs are more difficult to get into than master's programs. So, too, applied programs are generally more difficult to get into than basic programs.  \nThe primary determinants of success for acceptance into graduate school are the quality of your background and your abilities. But these qualities are not assessed magically. They are evaluated on the basis of limited amounts and kinds of information. The purpose of this article is to review those kinds of information for the purpose of understanding the process.  \nASSEMBLING A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION  \nGraduate Record Exams and Other Admission Tests  \nMost graduate admissions committees require the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) . A few may also require the Miller Analogies Test. The scores will often be interpreted as a measure of the student's general intellectual ability and likelihood of success in graduate school. Thus, it is wise to obtain the best scores you possibly can.  \nSome believe that studying for these exams produces no positive benefit, but that is not true. For example, if you haven't taken a mathematics course in some time, review of this material can be quite helpful. If you are unsure how to take tests ofthis type, examination of one of the many books or CDs on the market about the GREs can help. Students have been known to pull up their scores substantially through careful preparation.  \nThe GREs can be taken more than once, so it is wise to take the test earlier rather than later. That way, if you do not do well due to illness or lack of preparation, you can try again. However, bear in mind that all scores will be reported to the schools to which you are applying.  \nThere is another reason to take the test early: to be sure that your scores are available by the admission deadline. Incomplete applications may not be considered, and when they are, the fact that they are incomplete can reflect poorly on the candidate. Take the GREs by October. If you take the December test you could be cutting it close. If you have to take the December test, follow up with the graduate schools right before their deadline and make sure they have received your scores.  \nThis rule on timeliness applies to all parts of the application. If the candidate couldn't manage to get the admission materials together on time, will he or she be late with class assignments as well? Is s/he generally disorganized? Is s/he careless?  \n* Modified from Linda J. Hayes & Steven C. Hayes, \"How to apply to graduate school,\" APS Observer, September, 1989.  \nGrades  \nYour grades reflect your standing among your peers. Obviously, grades are very important, and no good student needs to be reminded of that. As it applies to admission into graduate school, what students sometimes do need to be told is that it is wrong to assume that good grades are enough. There are more students with good grades out there applying for graduate study than there are openings. You will need other qualifications to distinguish yourself.  \nLetter of Intent/Statement of Interest/Autobiographical Statement  \nMost applications ask for a statement of interest. This is sometimes called an\"autobiographical statement.\" Students often misunderstand the request for an autobiographical statement. Students who take the request literally harm their application by appearing to be unsophisticated and naive. It is, sadly, not uncommon to see such statements begin with \"I was born in a small town in the midwest....\" (Please note that the problem here is not that of having been born in the Midwest.)  \nWhat is generally being requested is: (1) a statement of your interests in psychology, and how you came to have those interests; (2) what your goals and ambitions in the field of psychology are; and (3) how the program to which you are ","cbCaifinO6vDmpXQ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifinO6vDmpXQ","pdf",84775,"English","# Assembling a Competitive Application\n## Graduate Record Exams and Other Admission Tests\n## Grades\n## Letter of Intent/Statement of Interest/Autobiographical Statement","[{\"question\":\"What information most strongly determines success for admission to graduate school in psychology?\",\"answer\":\"Admission success depends primarily on the quality of the applicant’s background and abilities, evaluated through limited but specific information rather than on vague impressions.\"},{\"question\":\"Why should applicants take the GREs earlier rather than later?\",\"answer\":\"Taking the test early allows re-testing if needed and ensures scores are available by the admission deadline; incomplete or late items can hurt consideration.\"},{\"question\":\"What should a statement of interest for psychology programs include?\",\"answer\":\"It should explain the applicant’s interests in psychology and how those interests developed, describe goals in the field, and show how the program can help achieve those goals.\"}]","ON APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL IN PSYCHOLOGY - Letter of Intent for Graduate Admissions - Free PDF | PDF",1789512351]