Competitive enough?

[jmbrown88]

I'm about to graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and I have 3.5 gpa. In addition I've done undergraduate research on time perception and state anxiety, along with completing an internship as a mental health counselor. I have yet to take the GRE, but I'm about to. Is it possible that I may be able to get into a school like UGA for a PhD...or a PhD program at all?

[runonsentence]

There's only one way to know for sure.

[wtncffts]

I don't know anything about UGA (University of Georgia?) nor psychology programs but I'm sure that a 3.5 GPA will at least keep you in the conversation. What's really vital is the quality of your statement of purpose, writing sample, if required, and letters of recommendation. You, and your letter writers, need to show that you know what grad school entails, that you have the intellect and temperament for academia, and that you have a good idea of what you want to do in terms of research. These are all much more important than your GPA and GRE. At least, that's my perception, from my experiences and, especially, the folks on these forums.

[PhDMKTG]

I'm about to graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and I have 3.5 gpa. In addition I've done undergraduate research on time perception and state anxiety, along with completing an internship as a mental health counselor. I have yet to take the GRE, but I'm about to. Is it possible that I may be able to get into a school like UGA for a PhD...or a PhD program at all?

I would say UGA is getting more and more competitive with time; I was an undergrad there in the early 2000s and I have watched it go from back-up plan for private school kids to a top 3 choice school. All the best with your apps!

[juilletmercredi]

How much research experience do you have? 6 months, one year, two years?

What subfield are you trying to get into? Clinical and social are more competitive than experimental and cognitive.

What's your major GPA?

Really...this isn't anywhere near enough information to gauge. If you want clinical, it really depends on how much research experience you have - if you have less than 2 years, I'd say that you won't be as competitive as others. It also depends largely on your research interests and fit.

And yeah, PhDMKTG, I was a GA resident in high school. I went to a public magnet and UGA used to be everyone's back-up plan...and then they started rejecting people. Everybody was like wtf? Their undergrad competitiveness doesn't have much to do with the PhD program, though.