<p>When applying for graduate school, I want to get a Ph.D in Behavioral Neuroscience or something of the like. However, my overall application is less than stellar as my GPA (overall) is pretty low, my Psychology GPA is competitive, my last two years GPA is probably going to be competitive, and I have yet to take my GRE's. I haven't done any research as of yet, but next Fall I have a professor I'm doing research with (in Beh Neuroscience) and I plan on doing a research project with either a program at UCDavis or UCRiverside next summer.</p>
<p>When I go to apply for grad school, this will only give me two experiences of research with one possibly resulting in a poster/conference/etc. I may or may not do a thesis with my professor.</p>
<p>Anyway, I digress. The question is: would it be better to go into a psych research masters program and go on to get my doctorate at another university to put more on my application, or do Ph.D program universities want the more fresh applicants coming with just a bachelor's degree? I don't graduate until Spring 2010, but I want to get working on this now.</p>
<p>Just do both. Don't stress over your GPA- it's the experience and your abiility to focus are what matters to the adcoms. I've been getting feedback on my PhD applications and NONE of the professors criticized my low GPA (3.1). Instead they pointed out that my SOP was too vague, should've sent in a thesis for a writing sample, and needed deeper background in my field. But nothing about my GRE or GPA. </p>
<p>If anything, apply to your dream schools for PhD b/c if you get rejected, you can perhaps ask to be considered for MA- they'll be impressed by your persistance to go to graduate school.</p>
<p>I would say apply for Ph.D. I'm also a psych major. You didn't list your stats, but I think I'm pretty much on the same boat with you. You can spend your summer (if you're not going to be working too much or taking classes etc) gathering up information about different Graduate schools with that area of interest. Email the grad director of the school, ask about making visits to know more about the school (limited professors are on campus over the summer though). (I would say do this during your junior year). You can even request to Open House information to make more connections with professors and current students. </p>
<p>This is what I'm doing and told to do. But I plan to Masters in General Psychology first.</p>
<p>Keeping in mind that you'll likely have to pay for all or at least part of a master's, I'd focus on getting the best grades you can in the time you have left, getting a bunch of research experience (both in summers and during the academic year) and consider getting a research job for a year or two after graduation. I got into a top neuro PhD program with a 3.3 (and a BA in sociology!!) so I think what really matters is your research experience.</p>
<p>yeah, i am a psych student and i also graduate in spring 2010. the main focus should be on your GRE and your research! If you have lots of research, great GRE and great recs you can get into a PhD program. I got a book that that APA puts out about the grad schools that tell you how many applied and how many were accepted. it's a great book to see what your chances are! Study up for the GRE, and you still have lots of time to get your GpA up!</p>