Frequently Asked Questions

If you are thinking about grad school and wondering about what grades you need to get in or you want more information on what this site has to offer you, check out these Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ: What kinds of grades are needed to get into graduate school?

There is widespread rumour and misconception about the “necessary GPA” for acceptance into a good graduate program. Most overstate the significance of a high GPA. The people accepted into graduate school usually do have very good or excellent grades, but there tends to be a large range, and some people are clearly getting in with GPAs that are below average for the group. Just because many of those who are accepted have high GPAs, that does not mean that a high GPA was a significant factor in the decision to accept any of them. Moreover, the average GPA of a group of accepted applicants overlooks the fact that many students with GPAs that are far above that average are rejected. All sorts of other things typically play a role, and some of them tend to be more influential than the super-high GPA. We hope the MyGraduateschool.com website helps you learn more about these other important factors.

FAQ: What can students with average undergraduate grades can do to improve their chances of getting into graduate school?

The list is much too long to answer here. That is the one of the purposes of this website, and Dr. Mumby’s eBook. The most important thing to understand is that there are many things you can do to compensate for your average grades and still get into a graduate program. Simply doing all the things that the majority of other grad school applicants do will get you nowhere, but this is also true for most students with excellent grades.

FAQ: What if I have excellent grades? What else do I need?

Again, a detailed list is too long to go through, here. But, the main thing you need to understand is that your excellent grades are not enough. Use this website (and others) to get all the answers, or look for them in one place – Dr. Mumby’s eBook. You will need letters of recommendation, but not just any letters. They must be from the right people and they must discuss relevant things about your character and aptitudes. You need a convincing personal statement; it must convince the selection committee that you are better suited to the program than the other applicants, and more likely to succeed in graduate school and in a related career, afterward. You will probably need good scores on a standardized entrance exam (such as the GRE, MCAT, etc.). You may need more than just the things listed here, because many of the other applicants to the same graduate programs will also have same things going for them. Some of the feature articles and feature interviews of the month as well as articles in the Archive section on this website should give you ideas of what may be needed beyond your excellent grades, effective letters of recommendation, convincing personal statement, and good entrance-exam scores. That is also one of the main purposes of Dr. Mumby’s eBook.

FAQ: Where are the best schools and graduate programs?

Contrary to popular opinion, there aren’t really any best schools or programs. It depends entirely on the details of what the student is looking for. In other words, it comes down to what is best for you, given your long-term career objectives. Hopefully, the resources available on this website will help you figure out which programs are best for you. One widely held misconceptions is that high-profile schools offer superior graduate training to that available at lesser-known schools. Another myth is that one’s career opportunities are generally better with a Ph.D. from a high-profile university. Not at all true, in the vast majority of cases.

FAQ: There are other books aimed at helping students prepare for and successfully apply to graduate programs in Psychology. What does the eBook have for Psychology students?

The author is a Psychology professor, and although the title of the eBook does not refer specifically to Psychology, that is the context for the insight and perspective it provides. His original book was originally published in 1997, and the newer books aimed at Psychology students have repeated much of the same advice. (By the way, Dr. Mumby is also a contributor to material on this website, as the author of several feature articles). The eBook also covers several new topics that are relevant to students preparing for graduate studies in most disciplines, including Psychology.

FAQ: What is the most important tip this site can give to students regarding their graduate school applications?

It is important for students to realize that their ultimate goal is to stand out above the rest of the competition and in order to do so, they must approach the process differently than other applicants do. Most applicants approach the process by making too many assumptions about what’s important when applying to graduates school without really knowing what matters to selection committees and graduate supervisors.

FAQ: How will the website help students who have tried and failed to get into graduate school?

For those students who are familiar with the process and are considering reapplying in the future, there are many issues that they must consider before venturing into the process once again. There are many facets to the application process, some of which are within the applicant’s control, such as, writing an effective personal statement, meeting the appropriate deadlines as well as making a good impression at pre-selection interviews or in other situations where your social skills are being evaluated. Advice for dealing with all of these issues is discussed throughout the book and eBook. Unsuccessful candidates must also consider those aspects of the application process of which they have absolutely no control, but which despite their best attempts may still lead to a rejection letter. Understanding how the selection process works will give you a unique advantage over other candidates who may make critical mistakes without even realizing that they are doing so. The eBook, particularly eChapter 3, discusses in great length how the selection process works as well as what you need to know before you apply.

FAQ: Since lots of students dread the idea of graduate school, how can this website help them to want to continue their education?

Deciding to go to graduate school requires you to make a real commitment for an extended period of time. It is a serious and important decision not to be made hastily. However, obtaining an advanced degree can also provide much reward, including a wide range of career options, a sense of accomplishment and increased earning power. eChapter 2 (Why more students should consider graduate school) is aimed directly at those students that are feeling a little or very reluctant about grad school. It includes pertinent questions that students need to ask themselves before they apply. Students don’t realize that for the most part, graduate school is much more rewarding than undergraduate school. Graduate school trains you to be an independent researcher, scholar or specialist, whereas most undergraduate programs are designed to provide the student with a broad understanding of a discipline and few are aimed at training you for a great career. Few undergraduates truly understand what really happens in graduate school because no one ever explains it to them!

FAQ: How long did the website take to construct and how long did the book take to write and get published?

To get the web site to the state that it is now, took about 12 weeks; however, the web site is a work in progress, one in which we will be frequently modifying and updating information as is needed.

Combining the research involved, the actual writing of the material, as well as waiting to hear back from peer reviewers, I estimate that it took about a year to complete the book. However, the process was not one that was continual throughout the year, but rather one that was worked on when I had time.

FAQ: Who was involved in the process of creating the website and writing the book?

Dr. Dave Mumby is the sole author of the book and eBook. The information and advice from the book and eBook came from two main sources; the first was my own experiences as a faculty member and graduate supervisor, a member of graduate selection committees, and PhD program director. I am quite familiar with the selection process. But also and perhaps more importantly is that I was also once an undergraduate attempting to apply to grad school; and I got in despite mediocre grades. The same is true of many fellow colleagues and graduate students of mine. The second source of information for the book came from several interviews with graduate program directors from a variety of department and universities. These are the experts in the field.

FAQ: Why write a book about getting into graduate school?

All students should be able to access the information that they need about graduate school and the application process and be able to make an informed decision about their chances of getting in. This is what I hope to achieve when students visit the web site or purchase the book or eBook.

Many students fail to consider the option of graduate school, mostly because they are ill informed about what graduate school involves and the benefits that an advanced degree could provide them in the future. It’s really a shame.

FAQ: What kind of process went into creating the website and how was the idea derived?

A: Sarah Brown Tesolin – Director of Sales and Promotions for the publishing company - Proto Press Publications

Besides the obvious technical aspect of building a web site, much thought was put into deciding how to best organize the site so that it is easy to find the information that interests our visitors. For the wise and experienced applicant, downloading and reading the entire book may not be necessary. The electronic chapters (eChapters) allow the experienced student to pick only those topics that are most relevant to their particular situation and stage of the application process. For those less familiar with the application process, however; it may be better to read all of the chapters to gain a thorough understanding of all that is involved in applying and succeeding in getting into graduate school.