I.                    General Psychology Information

 

What is Psychology, anyway?

            Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.  Psychology is studied from both biological and social perspectives.  With a background in psychology, you will gain skills necessary to cope with, and to understand stress, communication, change, interpersonal skills, biological processes associated with the mind, and much more.  If understanding the "hows" and "whys" of behavior in humans and animals is important to you, then Psychology is a great place to start.

 

What can I gain from a degree in Psychology?

            There is a lot to be gained from a Psychology degree.  Interpersonal skills training can be a wonderful addition to anyone's lifestyle, as it can increase your understanding of, and quite possibly your reaction to, how others behave around you every day.  Reading body language, making educated guesses about someone's tone of voice, and learning tactics on how to deal with complicated situations or issues are all skills that can be obtained from studying Psychology.

            From a scientific standpoint, learning about how messages are sent between the brain and the body can help you to understand why people are the way they are.  There are so many psychological disorders that can be explained and understood by studying Psychology, and therefore a greater tolerance and acceptance can be gained for those who suffer from such disorders.

            However, even if a career in Psychology is not what you want, it serves as an excellent gateway to several other careers such as criminal justice, marketing, business, education, health and fitness, sales, child care, and more.

 

Ways to get information about Psychology as a major or minor at Westfield State College

 

There are several places a student at Westfield State College can go to find out more about Psychology:

1.      Find a time to meet with Dr. Szpiler, the department chairman.  Prepare some questions you may have about your options as a Psychology major.

2.      Meet with professors.  Ask them questions about what the department and the field has to offer.  Talk to them about what possibilities lie ahead of you as you pursue your education in the field of Psychology.

3.      Try to meet with other students, preferably those who are ahead of you in the program.  Try to get some information from their perspective.  Most likely they can offer you some valuable and practical advice!

4.      Attend the weekly Psychology Club meetings.  The Psychology Club works to help students become familiar with career and educational opportunities in Psychology.  By attending a meeting you can meet others involved in Psychology, as well as learn something about the field.

5.      Ask to be put in contact with an alumnus.  More often than not, they will be honored to speak with you about your options as an undergraduate student.  And since they came from our program, they have the prior experience to give you a hand in making crucial educational decisions.

6.      Ask to be put in contact with some Graduate students.  They may still be in school, but they certainly know a lot more about Psychology than you probably do! Ask them questions about what aspects of the program they most enjoy or dislike.  Talk to them about their undergraduate degree, or even their career aspirations.  They're probably more than willing to talk with you!

 

II.         I am a Psychology major… what kind of jobs should I look for after graduation?

 

            The field of Psychology offers diverse career choices, more so than virtually any other major.  Psychology is commonly linked to careers in counseling, but many other opportunities exist.  Positions in criminal justice, research, human resources, workplace administration, health and fitness, advertising, rehabilitation, education, and communications all have a strong basis in Psychology.  Quite frequently, Psychology majors don't end up in the field at all. 

 

What types of jobs are available to Psychology majors?

-         Link Psychology Careers (section below)

-         Finding Careers with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (link)

www.loyola.edu/psychology/Careers_with_a_B_A_in_Psych.htm

-         Office of Teaching Resources in Psychology (www.lemoyne.edu/otrp/index.htm)

This site has some useful information on salaries offered to professionals in the field!

 

Start looking early!

            One key way to figure out what kind of job would suit you the best after graduation is to get a paid-experience job while going to school.  Begin working in psychological/public settings to increase your knowledge of different areas and careers available to you. 

            Volunteering and obtaining internship positions are other great ways to gain experience and insight into what you might want to do with your degree.  Also, co-op positions, available through Career Services, can provide you with experience, education, and oftentimes, a paycheck!  Find clinics and centers in the area, or look for after-school programs for kids.  All of these places tend to be low-budget, so volunteers are usually welcome.  You can learn, gain experience, enhance your resume, and have fun all at the same time.

            Another great resource for researching life after college, is to visit WSC's Career Services center, located in the Lammers' Annex.  Director Maureen McCarthy and the staff at the center are trained to answer any questions you might have about starting a new career, and how to go about finding an employer.  Ask the career center for help in taking a job placement test, or use the resources they have in their offices to help you narrow down your choices in probable places of employment.

 

Try Networking

            What is networking you may ask?   Well in a lot of cases, it's not what you have learned or what you know, but who you know and where they are!  Basically, it's the act of using personal acquaintances and relationships, either directly from you, or through a friend or relative, to gain insight into a certain available job field.  Some avenues to look at are co-workers of friends and family, employers of friends and family, colleagues of faculty members at your school, or even contacts of your boss. 

            Here's an example.  You are interested in working in a high school, maybe interning to eventually become an adjustment counselor for troubled teens.  You may have a neighbor who is a teacher in the district you're interested in.  A good idea is to start conversations with this neighbor, and to express your interest in a position.  Don't be afraid to ask your neighbor to put a good word in for you with his or her principal or superintendent.  Offer them a copy of your resume to pass on to their superiors.  Be sure to follow-through with your inquiries, as persistence can pay off greatly.  By doing so, if and when you finally put in an application, or set up an interview for the internship, the faculty will have already heard of you, and you will probably have a better chance of getting the internship over someone who just casually walks in for the position.

 

What do employers look for, anyway?

            Although a quantitative measurement can't be assigned to every aspect of what employers look for, there are a few attributes that usually carry more weight.  Your personality and presentation are some of these big qualifiers, as an employer would be more interested in a friendly, intelligent, and well-groomed person, rather than someone lacking in manners and nice clothes.  It's usually not a good thing to think that your appearance should be a big deal, but in this case it is.  Walking into an interview not showered, sloppily dressed, and chewing your gum loudly would be a huge turn-off for an employer.  It's important to clean yourself up for a personal encounter, and to also act appropriately and respectfully.

            A second huge qualifier from an employer's point of view is your transcript.  Employers like to see that you're more than just a good-talker, and your grades and coursework will be what they look at.  They want to make sure you actually know what you're talking about, and that you have the capacity to apply it.  First impressions are great, but if you don't have the grades to back up your other achievements, then it will be less likely you will receive a return phone call.  This is not to say that all employers will ONLY hire those students who have a 4.0, but having a GPA that's less than par could hurt you in the long run. 

            Something else that's highly regarded by employers is your previous experience in the field.  Say you were great at fixing cars as a hobby and you were going for a job interview at a garage, if all your previous jobs were babysitting, then you have a very slim chance of proving yourself a great mechanic.  Same thing goes for Psychology.  I don't mean that you need to have worked in a clinic or hospital before, but having some type of experience can greatly help you out.  As mentioned earlier, volunteering and internship positions are a wonderful resource, as are paid jobs at a clinic, community center, after-school program, or hospital.  Even successful jobs in areas such as retail can help you out, as they show that you have the knowledge of great personal skills needed to be a friendly and helpful sales associate.

            Finally, having helpful contacts can be a great asset to your job search.  Networking gives you a better chance, especially if the person(s) you went through to obtain the interview put in a great word for you.  Make sure you add to your professional contacts list early, to better serve you in the long run.

 

A.                 Interview Skills

1.                  What to wear, what not to wear, to an interview

This is an important part of your job search.  It is essential to present yourself in a professional and polite manner when going for an interview.  If you show up not showered, you're only showing the interviewer that you're not interested in your appearance, and since this will transfer over to the appearance of his or her organization, a good impression will not be made!

 

Men should at the very least try to wear khaki pants with a button-down collared dress shirt and a tie.  Suits would be preferable, but sometimes can be a little too dressy.   Definitely do NOT wear jeans, tee-shirts, sneakers, or shorts.  It's better to be clean-shaven than to show up with a 5 o'clock shadow.  Make sure your hair is combed.

Women should concentrate on wearing pantsuits, professional dresses with a blazer, or long skirts.  Try to stay away from short skirts, tight fitting tops, and sandals.  Always wear pantyhose.  Like the men, do NOT wear jeans, tee-shirts, sneakers, or shorts.  Stay away from a lot of make-up and avoid wearing a lot of jewelry.  Limit yourself to one necklace, one ring on each hand, a watch, and one bracelet.  Earrings shouldn't be too big, and other body piercings such as the tongue or eyebrow should be removed.

                                                Make sure you're not chewing gum, and turn any cell

phones, pagers, and beepers off.  Sometimes a nice suitcase or

handbag would be a nice addition, as backpacks and loose-leaf

papers can be messy and unprofessional looking. 

 

2.                  What to bring to an interview

Always bring extra copies of your resume and cover letter.

Make sure they are unstapled, but clipped.  You should also be prepared to give the interviewer a list of references.  Make sure the list is neatly typed and the contact numbers given are the best way to reach the person.

3.                  Sample questions and answers

Sometimes the interviewer will start off the interview by putting you on the spot.  You must be prepared for this.  It's smart to walk into your interview knowing a little something about the organization or company.  When was it founded? What is its clientele? What sort of professionals work there? Knowing the answers to these and other questions will give you some material to ask questions about.

            Try to keep answers to questions about your strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes work-related.  Work on being informative without bragging or venting your troubles.  It's important to remain consistent, so it would be better to speak the truth at all times, rather than get yourself caught in an exaggeration or lie.  Remember to keep eye-contact, and prepare some questions for the interviewer to answer.

 

Here are some routine questions normally asked by interviewers.  Look them over and try to practice developing clear and informative responses.

 

Why do you think you would want to work with our company?

What jobs have you held? How were they obtained?

What are your future career plans?

How do you spend your spare time?

What courses did you like the best and least? Why?

What percentage of your college expenses did you earn?

How did you spend your vacations away from school?

Do you feel you were well trained by your school?

What qualifications do you have that make you believe you're better suited for this job than someone else?

What do you think determines good progress of an employee at a job site?

What personality traits do you think you possess that make you more appealing to this career?

Are you willing to relocate or travel for business?

What jobs have you enjoyed the most? Why?

What do you believe are the challenges of your chosen job field?

 

4.                  Follow-up

After an interview, the follow-up can sometimes be an extra weight in the decision-making of an interviewer.  A written letter should be sent, thanking the interviewers for their time, and also reiterating your desire to be a part of their organization.  You might want to take a sentence or two and devote it to listing some of your strengths once again.  If you do not hear back from the interviewer regardless within a reasonable period of time, it would be a good idea to call or write to ask if a decision has been made.

            When you finally do receive an answer, it’s a good idea to write a thank you letter whether the news was good or bad.  If they offer you a job, it's important to formally accept or decline the offer via a letter.

 

Take a self-inventory

            In order to take a self-inventory, you must look at three areas:

1.                  What sort of environment would you like to work in?

2.                  What are your interests (in and out of psychology)?

3.                  What are your career goals?

 

1.      What sort of environment would you like to work in?

It may be important to match career aspirations with some personality traits, i.e., if you like to work on your own time, out of your home, and you aren't great with computers, then you perhaps shouldn't pursue a tight and rigorous office-based job.  Figuring out whether you want to be restrained by time, supervisors, space, and schedules, will help you decide what you like. 

2.      What are your interests (in and out of psychology)?

This is highly related to #1. If you are an athletic, outdoorsy, free-spirited person, then working 9-5 in a confined office cubicle will lead to a potentially very unsuccessful career choice.  On the other hand, if you like to plan ahead, comply with strict rules, and interact very little with others on the job, then that sort of thing would be great for you.

 

Also, you must figure out what areas of Psychology you’re most interested in.  Most professionals say that by your Junior year, you should compile a list of about 5 sub-fields of psychology (link to divisions of psychology), and by your first semester senior year, narrow that list down to 3.  That way, you can devote your time to researching only a few choices, and working towards achieving them, rather than still trying to make up your mind 5 months before you graduate.  By second semester senior year you should be able to have 2 major areas of psychology as your most intriguing, and should begin to search for jobs in these areas.  It would be prudent to research things such as salary, location, work environments, work responsibility, and clientele, to further help you in your decision making.

3.      What are your career goals?

Thinking about career goals can help you to understand which field of psychology would be the best for you to pursue.  Some things to consider include how long you expect to work at a certain position, if you would be willing to move to comply to a position, if going back to school is an option for you, and much more.  Certain jobs require a Bachelor's degree, but in order to obtain a promotion or pay raise, further degrees are required.

 

Set up an appointment with Career Services to get more information on interview skills as well as resume writing.

 

A.                 Asking for letters of recommendation: During the process of applying for a job, you're eventually going to have to ask some of your professors for letters of recommendation.  Follow these tips on completing this task:

-         Always ask in person.  It is considered rude to leave a voicemail or note on their office door or in their mailbox.  Asking in person shows your desire to follow a professional rule of conduct.

-         Bring a copy or list of your grades.  It might be helpful to highlight the courses you have had with the professor you're asking.

-         Some professors will ask you to provide a personal statement and resume.  If you do not have either prepared, see someone in Career Services for some help.

-         Be sure to start asking early.  You want to make sure to give professors ample time to write your letter and meet the deadlines.

-         Finally, think carefully about which professors you ask for a recommendation.  If you received a low grade, had poor attendance or did not complete assignments in this professor's class, you might want to reconsider your choice of professor.

 

One more piece of advice… if you already have a job, or apply for one that isn't in the field of Psychology, it's important to continue with it, since the job market isn't so great these days.  You can always help yourself out by volunteering, to assist you in getting experience.   It's more than ok to not go to school right away.

 

II.                 I am a Psychology major, but I want to go on to Grad School…

 

As an undergraduate Psychology major who wants to go on to graduate school, one of the biggest decisions you must make early on is to decide what type of degree you wish to pursue.  To be a psychologist, a minimum of a Master's degree is required, a Doctoral degree is recommended.  In some states, the term "psychologist" is reserved exclusively for professionals with a Ph.D. or other comparable degree.  In Massachusetts, a Master's Degree is sufficient to be licensed, but your title would be a Licensed Mental Health Counselor or staff psychologist.

 

A Master's Degree in either the arts (M.A.), the sciences (M.S.), or social work (MSW) can get you a career in:

-         Counseling: dealing with normal populations and several different situations. 

-         School psychology: working in a counseling/testing position in school settings

-         And much more: Human resources, family studies and dynamics

-         Counseling agencies

-         Department of Social Services

-         School Systems

 

**It's important to note that many students don't believe a Master's in Social Work is even a possibility for them, just because they're Psychology majors.  In fact, many Psychology majors go on to get their Master's in Social Work.  In the past few years, Psychology majors from WSC have gone to graduate school for social work at schools such as Smith College and Springfield College.

 

You're probably wondering what the biggest difference is between the types of Master's degrees mentioned above.  Well, the biggest difference found most commonly across the U.S. is the work each professional does.  A Master's-level clinician will most often perform assessment and therapy for those dealing with psychological problems.  These professionals can be found in hospitals, private practices, mental health centers, school systems, non-profit organizations, and residential facilities, and will most commonly work under the supervision of a doctoral-level professional.  Social workers often work with those dealing with issues such as financial management, criminal behavior and rehabilitation, substance abuse, unemployment, family and marital problems, illnesses, and more, depending on their specialty. (M.J. Himelein). These professionals can work in almost the same types of environments as psychologists and counselors, doing almost the same types of things.  Their training and background are the same as psychologists when it comes to these areas.  The biggest difference is the path to licensure and certification.

 

A Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.), Education (Ed.D.), and Psychology (Psy.D.) can get you a career in:

-         Counseling

-         Teaching

-         Research

 

Again, you're probably wondering what the differences are between the Ph.D., the Ed.D., and the Psy.D., if you are interested in becoming a clinician.  Hopefully, this will help you out:

 

-           All can lead to jobs in counseling and clinical areas, as well as teaching.  The Ph.D. follows coursework emphasizing philosophical perspectives in psychology, research, and field training; the Psy.D. traditionally focuses on the development of competencies of practice (meaning that it provides more training for the clinical world of psychology, whereas the Ph.D. centers more around the philosophical clinical experience and research).

 

The Ed.D. is a doctorate in Education.  Many counseling psychology programs are housed in education departments.

What are the different divisions or concentrations in Psychology?

            Graduate schools specialize in the different concentrations in Psychology.  One of the first steps in looking for graduate schools is determining what specialty area you want to learn about:

 

            Clinical**

                        Clinical Psychologists' primarily focus on meeting, assessing, and treating those with psychological problems or disorders.  These psychologists can usually be found in hospitals, community clinics, private practice, or at community health centers.  Some might deal with those people who might experience common and "normal" psychological issues (i.e. divorce, death, relational problems, etc), while others might focus on helping those with real psychological disorders (i.e. schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, etc).  Also, clinical psychologists can work with clients across the board with race, gender, and age, while some like to focus on one group.

 

            Counseling**

                        Counseling Psychologists are similar to the clinical psychologists, but they tend to work with people who have adjustment problems, rather than with individuals who have psychological disorders.  Counseling psychologists can be found in the same places as clinical psychologists.  They can always be found on college campuses, and even at major corporations.

 

            Developmental

                        Developmental Psychologists study an individual's emotional, moral, social, and intellectual development during a lifetime.  They can either focus on different developmental stages like infancy or adulthood, or they can study certain subjects across a period of life.  It's very common for these professionals to be found working as consultants to day-care centers, schools, or community service agencies, although they primarily like to be involved in research and academics.

 

            Educational

                        Educational Psychologists' primary focus is on how we learn.  Understanding basic aspects of learning and developing materials and methods of teaching that will enhance learning is a major job of an educational psychologist.

 

            Environmental

                        Environmental Psychologists are concerned with the relationship between psychological growth and physical environments.  These professionals will work on home, regional, and office planning.  Attitudes about personal space and the environment may be popular topics of research for these types of psychologists.

 

            Industrial/Organizational

                        Industrial/Organizational, or "I/O" psychologists, are related to environmental psychologists, however, they are more restricted to the relationship between people and their surrounding work environments.  For example, you can find them in office buildings, academic campuses, government affiliates, or as independent consultants.  Working in human resources, employee health, and corporate relations offices, they are concerned with effects on productivity and how it can affect a business.  Research shows that these are the highest paid psychologists.

 

            Neuro-psychological and Psycho-biological

                        The relationship between visible behavior and psychological symptomatology are among what these psychologists focus on.  These professionals deal with things ranging from basic brain functioning, to how drug use/abuse can affect the behavior of a person, as well as genetics and cellular functioning. 

 

            Rehabilitative

                        These psychologists mainly work with people who have lost a part of basic functioning either from birth, or due to trauma (i.e. stroke, head injury, etc.).  They can be found at Rehab-centers, hospitals, governmental agencies, and medical schools.  Helping their clients regain basic social and psychological functioning is what their job entails.

 

            School

                        School Psychologists, well quite obviously, work in schools!  They are concerned with the development and adjustment of school-aged children in their education settings.  Quite often, they act as mediators between the administration of a school and a child's parents, making recommendations to both parties for the welfare of the child. 

 

            Social

                        Social Psychologists study the interaction of people in social situations.  Studying such topics as body language, non-verbal behavior, feelings, thoughts, and behavior, they can come up with conclusions on how social situations and our behavior are connected and related.  Most social psychologists are employed by colleges and universities, federal companies, hospitals, and corporations in order to perform research and evaluate behavior.

 

            **  Social Work is related to the field of Psychology, although social workers have often graduated with a background in sociology and social work, rather than just Psychology.

(http://web.inside.edu/psych/ch4.html).

 

What are some emerging sub-fields in psychology?

-         Health Psychology - The study of the relationship between behavior and physical health

-         Psychology of Women - The study of women and their growth in society focusing on gender differences, feministic ideas, and empowerment of women in underdeveloped societies.

-         Forensic Psychology - The combination of law and psychology, it deals with how legal issues and psychological issues are related.

-         Marriage and Family Psychology - The study of couples and the family unit, basic responsibilities and roles played by each family member and how the quintessential family is changing.

 

How to go about applying to Graduate School

I.                    Grad Schools

B.                 Getting the facts:

There are several important factors to think about when looking for Grad Schools.

1.      Location: Where is the school geographically located? Do you want to travel far from where you are now?  Is it located close enough that you can commute? Is it in a rural or urban setting?

2.      Cost:  What will the overall cost of your education be? What sort of loan and financial aid programs are available to you? Are there payment plans for those not eligible for aid? Is the cost reasonable for the quality of the other items on this list? You must also take into consideration travel expenses, living expenses if applicable, books and other school supplies.

3.      Scholarships:  As mentioned above, what sort of scholarships are available? When should you apply for these?

4.       Curriculum: How is the program set up? Are there trimesters or semesters? What sort of classes must you have as prerequisites for classes held there?  Do the classes seem to fit your needs? What days and times are the classes held? What is the faculty/student ratio within your prospective program?

* Also, it's important to decide whether or not you would be interested in a combined Master's/Doctorate program.  These programs exist to accelerate learning and completion of your degree.  Most of these programs run between 5-8 years, but can save you a lot of time and money while trying to go through the process of researching/applying, etc., twice!

5.      Faculty:  Once again, look at the faculty/student ratio.  What are the areas of faculty specialty? How many faculty members will you be involved with? What are their educational backgrounds?  How available are the faculty?

6.      Entrance Requirements: Although this will be similar across the board for most schools (grades, letters of recommendation, sometimes a resume or vita), sometimes there are different required tests for entrance into schools.  Most schools accept the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and/or the Miller Analogy Test, and sometimes no test is required by the school.

*For more information about these tests, see Career Services, or WSC's Department of Continuing and Graduate Education (DCGE) located at 333.

**The MAT can be taken here on campus, so talk to someone in Career Services or the Department of Continuing and Graduate Education (DCGE) if you are interested in learning more about this option!

7.      Visiting the Campus: This is something that is extremely important to your success at any school.  Why?  Well, think of this scenario; you attend a small undergraduate school in New England, but have dreams of attending graduate school out West in a large school.  You apply, get in, and move out there, not knowing anyone.  What happens when you find out you can't find anywhere to live near the school? Or what happens when you find that there is nothing to do, no one to visit within miles of the school? Or, you find that you don't like the climate, recreational activities, the faculty, or any of your classmates?  It's really important for you to pay a visit to see if you like the layout of the campus, to see what services are available on and off campus, to find places in the area to live, and also to meet other students, staff, and faculty.

As you can see, it's very important to put a lot of time, effort, and thought into what kind of school you want to attend.  It's smart to get a sample of different types of school, as far as size, location, and cost are concerned, and then to choose the ones that interest you the most.   An initial list of 10 should then be broken down to maybe 5 or 6, and then to your top 3.  The reason for this is because applications can be pretty expensive.

C.                 Requesting Applications: Basically, this is the easy part.  Most schools

now offer this feature right on their website.  By filling out a short form,

you can have their information booklet and application sent to you.  Also,

you can call the admissions office or department directly to have the

requisite application materials forwarded to you.  This can be bypassed if

the school has an application online.  This simplifies the process even

more! Make sure you have enough time and a secure internet connection -

you wouldn't want to take the 45 minutes or so that it takes to fill one out

just to be disconnected and have to start all over again!

D.                 Applying to Schools: As mentioned earlier, it is smart to only apply to a handful of schools, unless you can afford the hefty fees associated with the application process.  Be sure to check over all of the required attachments; letters of recommendation (which usually have to be sent in directly and kept confidential), writing samples, resume, etc.  Make sure to meet the school's deadlines and also try to apply for early-acceptance if possible. 

E.                  Asking for letters of recommendation: During the process of graduate school applications, you're eventually going to have to ask some of your professors for letters of recommendation.  Follow these tips on completing this task:

-         Always ask in person.  It is considered rude to leave a voicemail or note on their office door or in their mailbox.  Asking in person shows your desire to follow a professional rule of conduct.

-         Bring a copy or list of your grades.  It might be helpful to highlight the courses you have had with the professor you're asking.

-         Some professors will ask you to provide a personal statement and resume.  If you do not have either prepared, see someone in Career Services for some help.

-         Be sure to start asking early.  You want to give professors an ample amount of time to write your letter and meet deadlines.

-         Finally, think carefully about which professors you ask for a recommendation.  If you received a low grade, had poor attendance or did not complete assignments in this professors class, you should consider asking someone else.

F.                  Graduate Entrance Exams:

1.                  GRE: The most commonly known exam for entrance into grad school is the GRE, or Graduate Record Examination.  This test is most commonly compared to the SAT which is needed before completion of high school.  The GRE consists of the general test and the subject test.  The general test has three sub-areas; the verbal section (which tests your ability to understand, evaluate, analyze, and investigate written material and the relationships formed within written material), the quantitative section (which examines your basic mathematical strengths and your comprehension of mathematical concepts), and the analytical writing section (which has you present your perspective on a given issue and analyze an argument).  This test usually takes 2 and a half hours, costs about $165, and can be taken online.  The second part of the GRE is the subject test.  This test is one taken in your area of study, in this case, Psychology.  It has roughly 215 questions coming from three areas of study: natural science, social science, and general psychology questions.  You will be given two hours and 50 minutes to take the test, and the cost is about $130.

2.                  Helpful Hints for the Test-taker:

Although the test may sound extremely scary, there are steps you can take to ensure you get the best possible score.  The following are just a few of the hints taken from the GRE registration booklet, which can be found at www.gre.org:

-         All questions are of equal value; do not waste time pondering individual questions you find extremely difficult or unfamiliar.

-         You may want to work through the test quite rapidly, first answering only the questions about which you feel confident, then going back and answering questions that require more thought, and concluding with the most difficult questions if there is time.

-         If you decide to change an answer, make sure you completely erase it and fill in the oval corresponding to your desired answer.

-         Try not to schedule both your general and subject tests on the same day! The tests can be very training, and testing for more than 6 hours in one day will do a number on your body.  It's best to schedule these tests on different days to maximize success on them!

-         Try to avoid canceling your tests, as there is a charge for doing so. Also, be sure to clear your calendar, because even rescheduling of tests can drain your wallet!

3.                  MAT: The MAT, or Miller Analogy Test, is administered at

controlled testing centers.  The test fee varies according to the center you will be taking it at.  The fee will cover scores for yourself and three other schools.  Anything more than these four scores will require additional fees.  Keep in mind that there are also more fees for re-testing, transcripts, and hand-scoring.

            This test is often described as very ambiguous, as several of the analogies seem to have more than one answer.  Some examples, taken from the MAT Candidate Information Booklet, are:

SALT : HYPERTENSION :: SUGAR (a. cholesterol, b. carbohydrates, c. hyperthyroidism, d. diabetes)

 The solution to this analogy would be d. diabetes because as salt is a contributor to hypertension, so is sugar to diabetes.

 

SEEK : FIND :: (a. locate, b. book, c. retrieve, d. listen) : HEAR 

The solution would be d. listen since one must seek in order to find something, as one must listen in order to hear something.

 

Most of the helpful hints for the GRE can be applied here as well, such as answering the questions you know first, putting off ambiguous questions until the end, etc.  However, some of the biggest hints in an analogy test include re-ordering the words (as sometimes the order might change the meaning), figuring out the context of the word (making sure tense and content don't change the meaning), and also taking educated guesses, rather than leaving empty answers.

 

Finally, just some more general notes for both tests:

1.                  Some people are skeptical about preparation for these tests, as they think that studying is useless.  This is, however, not true.  Booklets and study notebooks are available for practice testing, as well as teaching you more things to keep in mind during the test.

2.                  These tests can be taken more than once, so if you take them early on in the application process, and you're not happy with your scores, you will have enough time to re-take the tests.

3.                  It's also important to take the tests early so t