![Page 1: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
GradSchools.com
Kissof
Death
Grad School Application
![Page 2: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Applying to graduate school?
![Page 3: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
These mistakes could give your application theApplying to graduate school?
Kissof
Death!A revealing survey of psychology
graduate admissions committee chairs!
![Page 4: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
![Page 5: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
![Page 6: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
![Page 7: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
![Page 8: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
• Bright
![Page 9: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
• Bright
• Motivated
![Page 10: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
• Bright
• Motivated
• Well-suited
![Page 11: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
• Bright
• Motivated
• Well-suited
• Eager
![Page 12: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Are you the perfect student?
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
• Bright
• Motivated
• Well-suited
• Eager
• Pleasant
![Page 13: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Faculty look for students who are:
• Gifted
• Creative
• Bright
• Motivated
• Well-suited
• Eager
• Pleasant
• Responsible
Are you the perfect student?
![Page 14: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
5Kissesof
Death:
![Page 15: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
5Kissesof
Death:1. Damaging personal
statements
![Page 16: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
5Kissesof
Death:1. Damaging personal
statements
2. Harmful letters of recommendation
![Page 17: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
5Kissesof
Death:1. Damaging personal
statements
2. Harmful letters of recommendation
3. Lack of program information
![Page 18: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
5Kissesof
Death:1. Damaging personal
statements
2. Harmful letters of recommendation
3. Lack of program information
4. Poor writing skills
![Page 19: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
5Kissesof
Death:1. Damaging personal
statements
2. Harmful letters of recommendation
3. Lack of program information
4. Poor writing skills
5. Misfired attempts to impress
![Page 20: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Damaging personal
statements
Don’t talk about:
![Page 21: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Damaging personal
statements
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
![Page 22: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Damaging personal
statements
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
![Page 23: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Damaging personal statements
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
![Page 24: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Damaging personal statements
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
Have a reference tell your story!
![Page 25: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
Damaging personal
statements
Have a reference tell your story!
“Everybody wants to help people. That’s assumed.
Don’t say the reason you want to go into clinical psychology is to help people.”
![Page 26: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
Damaging personal
statements
No being ‘cutesy!’
![Page 27: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Don’t talk about:
• Mental health problems
• Excessive religious references
• Overcoming odds
Damaging personal
statements No being ‘cutesy!’
![Page 28: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
You should seem like the perfect student!
Harmful recommendations
![Page 29: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
You should seem like the perfect student!
Harmful recommendations
Get letters from:
![Page 30: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
You should seem like the perfect student!
Harmful recommendations
Professors
Educators
Relatives
Employees
Get letters from:
![Page 31: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Lack of program info
![Page 32: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Lack of program info
Research the program’s focus
FIRST
![Page 33: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
Lack of program info
Research the program’s focus
Compare your research interestwith faculty’s activities
THEN
FIRST
![Page 34: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
Poor writing
skills
IMMEDIATE
Kissof
Death
![Page 35: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
Poor writing
skills
IMMEDIATE
Kissof
Death
Spelling & grammar
errors =
![Page 36: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/36.jpg)
Poor writing
skills
IMMEDIATE
Kissof
Death
Spelling & grammar
errors =
Weak & poorly written =
![Page 37: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/37.jpg)
Misfired attempts to impress
![Page 38: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/38.jpg)
• Don’t blame others
Misfired attempts to impress
![Page 39: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/39.jpg)
• Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
Misfired attempts to impress
![Page 40: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/40.jpg)
• Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
Misfired attempts to impress
• Be authentic
![Page 41: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/41.jpg)
• Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
• Name dropping doesn’t work!
Misfired attempts to impress
• Be authentic
![Page 42: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/42.jpg)
• Don’t blame others
• Research the program, mentors, and advisors
• Name dropping doesn’t work!
Misfired attempts to impress
• Be authentic
“Admissions committees care about you, NOT who you know.”
![Page 43: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/43.jpg)
So how can I avoid
the Kiss of
Death?!
![Page 44: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/44.jpg)
Get
help!
![Page 45: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/45.jpg)
Seek:
Get
help!
![Page 46: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/46.jpg)
Seek:
• Mentoring
Get
help!
![Page 47: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/47.jpg)
Seek:
• Mentoring
• Academic advising
Get
help!
![Page 48: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/48.jpg)
Seek:
• Mentoring
• Academic advising
• Graduate school prep classes
Get
help!
![Page 49: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/49.jpg)
Seek:
• Mentoring
• Academic advising
• Graduate school prep classes
Get
help!
Some universities offer for free!
![Page 50: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/50.jpg)
Find a mentor
![Page 51: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/51.jpg)
• Participate in faculty research
Find a mentor
![Page 52: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/52.jpg)
• Participate in faculty research
• Make connections
Find a mentor
![Page 53: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/53.jpg)
• Participate in faculty research
• Make connections
Find a mentor
“Effective mentoring can help attain the research and classroom experiences that facilitate strong letters of recommendation, compelling personal statements, and proficient writing skills”
![Page 54: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/54.jpg)
Get
advised
![Page 55: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/55.jpg)
Advisors can help:
Get
advised
![Page 56: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/56.jpg)
Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
Get
advised
![Page 57: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/57.jpg)
Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
Get
advised
![Page 58: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/58.jpg)
Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
• Prepare for exams
Get
advised
![Page 59: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/59.jpg)
Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
• Prepare for exams
• Select a recommender
Get
advised
![Page 60: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/60.jpg)
Advisors can help:
• Establish a realistic timeline
• Organize applications
• Prepare for exams
• Select a recommender
Get
advised
One-on-one advising may not be available
![Page 61: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/61.jpg)
Take a
Professional Seminar
![Page 62: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/62.jpg)
Academic advising class designed to teach:
Take a
Professional Seminar
![Page 63: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/63.jpg)
Academic advising class designed to teach:
‐ “The info needed to apply to graduate programs”
Take a
Professional Seminar
![Page 64: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/64.jpg)
Academic advising class designed to teach:
‐ “The info needed to apply to graduate programs”
‐ “How to apply to graduate school”
Take a
Professional Seminar
![Page 65: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/65.jpg)
Academic advising class designed to teach:
‐ “The info needed to apply to graduate programs”
‐ “How to apply to graduate school”
‐ “The value of letters of recommendation”
Take a
Professional Seminar
![Page 66: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/66.jpg)
Want more
info?
![Page 67: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/67.jpg)
Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
Want more
info?
![Page 68: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/68.jpg)
Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
Want more
info?
![Page 69: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/69.jpg)
Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
Want more
info?
![Page 70: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/70.jpg)
Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
• 7 Deadly Sins for Applicants
Want more
info?
![Page 71: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/71.jpg)
Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
• 7 Deadly Sins for Applicants
• 10 Tips to Ace the Application Process
Want more
info?
![Page 72: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/72.jpg)
Check out GradSchools.com’s resources!
• GRE Overview
• Rock Star Recommendation Letters
• 7 Deadly Sins for Applicants
• 10 Tips to Ace the Application Process
Want more
info?
And remember to see what your university offers!
![Page 73: Avoid the 5 Kisses of Death in Your Graduate School Application](https://reader034.vdocuments.net/reader034/viewer/2022051609/546bb5e2af795900458b566c/html5/thumbnails/73.jpg)
References
Appleby, D. & Appleby, K. (2006) Kisses of Death in the Graduate School Application Process. Retrieved from www.psychology.unl.edu
Slideshow by Sam Bressler of the GradSchools.com team