From: aldo.tartaglini@factory.com (Aldo Tartaglini) 
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.psycgrad
Subject: Re: Good Vitae for Grad S
Date: 29 Aug 92 11:40:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: Invention Factory's BBS - New York City, NY - 212-274-1243v.32bis
Reply-To: aldo.tartaglini@factory.com (Aldo Tartaglini) 

MS>On Mon, 24 Aug 1992 22:18:32 -0600 Mark C. Langston said:
MS>>
MS>>  What is everyone's opinion on what an average vitae should look like for
MS>>a student just entering an experimental psych grad program?
MS>>
MS>>(you know...basically, what are average accomplishments, what would make a
MS>> really outstanding vitae in terms of accomplishments)
MS>>

MS>Straight A's
MS>A B.A. or B.S. with special merits
MS>A double major (psychology and another)
MS>At least 2 publications (1 journal article and 1 book)
MS>An honors thesis
MS>Computer programming in Pascal and C++
MS>Fluency in more than one language
MS>Near perfect GRE scores
MS>Ability to type more than 100 words per minute
MS>And advanced special technical skills in specialty area

   Matthew:

   The above would be a good vita for a Psychology Department
   Chairperson. In America, at least, experimental psych. programs are
   not extraordinarily difficult to get into. Clinical psychology
   programs, on the other hand, are extrememely competetive. I'm
   completing a doctorate in clinical psychology at a school here in New
   York. In fact, I just finished up my internship and am close to
   completing my dissertation. When I applied to grad school, I had the
   following vita items:

   - B+ average
   - B.A. in psychology, with a minor in English Literature
   - No publications (although I did help an established researcher
     publish a book, which got my name on the Acknowledgements list;
     I did mention this on my vita as part of my research experience)
   - No thesis (I was too busy working as an aide in a psychiatric
     hospital, both to pay my tuition and get clinical experience)
   - Very limited computer skills (basically, I knew word-processing
     and SAS)
   - Very limited fluency in a language other than English (I
     don't remember if I even mentioned this on my vita)
   - Respectable GRE scores (averaging around 630 per section)
   - No mention of typing skills (I still can't type)
   - Special skills related to aggression management
   - Membership in Psi Chi (The Nat'l Honor Society for Psychology)
   - The fact that I'm a classically-trained musician and vocalist

   After I got into the program the Chairperson took me aside one day
   and told me words to the effect that my application had caught his
   eye because he too was a musician.

   Anyway, if your post was meant in jest, I apologize in advance for
   my inappropriate earnestness. If it was meant to be taken seriously,
   I hope you won't mind my suggesting that a good vita is one that
   reflects both good academic credentials as well as some practical
   experience relevant to the program to which one is seeking
   admission. Mention of an unusual attribute or skill, even if
   unrelated to the type of program one is seeking to enter, might
   also be helpful, as it was in my case.

   Finally, I "tailored" my vita (as well as my application forms)
   where possible to emphasizie certain aspects of my background that
   coincided with the requirements of each program I applied to (there
   were 13 in all, I believe). For example, if the program's brochure
   mentioned that they were strongly interested in students with a lot
   of research experience, I played up that part of my background in the
   vita I sent to that program.

   Hope someone finds this info useful.

   Best regards,

   Al
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