Like any other endeavor, graduate school requires some good reverse engineering. Where do you want to be at the end of four years? And what do you want to take away with you?

As you plan, keep in mind that grad school isn't really "school" at all - it's actually a research apprenticeship. Yes, it's quite a big leap from undergrad to PhD (potentially professor!), but it happens over four years, not instantly. Over the course of graduate school, you will be building a body of knowledge, skills, relationships, accomplishments, and resources. This is what you will take with you:

BUILDING A BODY OF…

KNOWLEDGE

• Niche Become an expert in topic of your personal research program
• Subspecialty (e.g., Cognitive Development)
• Broad field (e.g., Psychology)
• Intersections with other fields

SKILLS

• Literature review How to read/evaluate articles, compile in a meaningful way
• Experimental design Know the available options, preferably practice w/ a variety
• Statistics Knowing what to use & when, practice at different techniques & with different software – but get to know one program very well
• Writing Inc. understanding the publication cycle, and how to be published
• Presentation Posters, talks, learn effective visual graphics
• Teaching Learn to prepare syllabus, course materials; teach as TA/ lead workshops
• Running a lab IRB, setup & budget, managing RAs, advising graduate students - philosophy & plan as well as practicalities
• Fundraising How to write grants; seek student funding
• Time management Self-organization & initiative broadly, create plan w/timing of job search/ dissertation steps, system to keep on top of journals & to keep organized files

RELATIONSHIPS

• Collaborators Folks you’ve actually worked with: profs will write recs (keep in touch w/them!), students as future colleagues
• Colleagues Inc. other areas, depts, schools, countries; get feedback on your work.
• Service Organize speaker series, serve on GRC, search committee if possible, be a reviewer

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Publications 1-4, some first authored, consider practitioner journals, also
• Presentations Local, regional & national: start w/posters, but try to get a paper
• Research program Multipronged, multi-year plan. Write 2p summary, give 2-min spiel
• Teaching experience Also write tchng statement, possibly portfolio; prepare sample materials for a seminar, choose textbooks & maybe make syllabi for general courses likely to teach
• Letters of recommendation Need 3-5 from professors for whom you’ve worked/taught: “initiative, creativity & hard work; will hit ground running” – Denny Proffitt
• Awards Seek fellowships, student awards locally & nationally

MATERIAL RESOURCES

• Books/articles Inc. textbooks
• Handouts from talks Samples of research, plus how-to talks/workshops
• Instruments/stimuli/procedures Examples you’ve seen, purchased copies