Enhancing the Application to Doctoral Professional Programs: Suggestions from a National Survey

Abstract

All professional programs approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1984 (N = 204) were surveyed by mail questionnaire to identify ways that students could enhance their graduate school applications. Overall response rate was 51%, with no responding bias for type, size, or geographical area. Preparations preferred by clinical, counseling, and school psychology programs in descending order were: research experience, visit to the department, computer knowledge and skills, paid human service experience, volunteer human service experience, social science double major, and Psi Chi membership. Counseling and school psychology programs rated a master's degree significantly higher and a double major (psychology and basic science) significantly lower than did the clinical psychology programs.