What will be expected of you as a research assistant? If you develop a relationship with a faculty member, you might be able to help him or her conduct a project that may otherwise remain shelved for lack of time. Many faculty members have ideas for studies that they don't have time to conduct -- motivated students can pick up projects and help to further faculty research programs. As an undergraduate researcher, you can get hands-on experience in the area of your interest, learn skills and material that complements your course work, and get a feel for how science and research takes place in the real world. Professors and graduate students at most universities conduct studies, and there are likely research opportunities for undergraduate students on your campus. Applicants to graduate school encounter fierce competition for admission and funding in today's competitive market. She specializes in professional development for undergraduate and graduate students. Your performance here can give faculty members lots of good things to write in letters of recommendation. Then find a prof who does that research at the school that interests you. My wife got admitted after getting some research experience (and it … What general tasks can you expect? Engaging in research is a worthwhile experience, regardless of whether you choose to attend graduate school, because it provides you with the opportunity to think, organize information, and demonstrate your commitment… Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered. If it is really clinical psychology that you’re interested in, there is no way to get around the standard requirement of previous research experience. Another good option is to find an internship or research assistant position in another university after you graduate. As long as you will be gaining skills you can apply later, it is worth it! The professors you did your independent project and research with are probably getting these emails too, or know which listservs to join to get them directly. First and foremost, you should perform well in class, and be motivated and visible in your department. Gala Prep continues! You may have to take a position somewhat removed from your central interests. Your experience will vary by the faculty member, project, and discipline. If you don't take the commitment seriously, are unreliable, or make repeated mistakes, your relationship with the faculty member will suffer (as will your recommendation). (5) Be sure to let your advisor and other profs know your plan to find an RA position after graduation. However, even such opportunities usually come with the expectation that you have some research experience to begin with. Could you look into recruiting people for clinical trials or perhaps being a study manager? Having had some money saved up, I said that I would work for free. Im in the UK and the NHS employs people to recruit patients into trials and studies. Remember, it's perfectly okay not to know what you're going to do after college. They might be able to help. If you want to get paid, I'll second the suggestion of looking at job boards. There are also some post-baccalaureate bridge programs for 1-2 years. How do I get research experience post-graduation? Get outstanding letters of recommendation. If you are cut out for it then the prof will help you get accepted to grad school and then keep getting the experience. As you can see, student-professor research relationships offer benefits to all involved; however, the commitment to become a research assistant is a big one. Speaking as a professor in psychology here (in Australia, but originally from the US so I know the system in both places)... there's a big difference if you want to get paid for it, or if you just want to contribute time in exchange for learning about how a lab works, whether research is for you, etc. Tara Kuther, Ph.D., is a professor at Western Connecticut State University. The faculty member will count on you to get it done right. Faculty often depend on students to further their research programs. If you complete tasks competently, you might be asked to take on more responsibility and you will earn excellent letters of recommendation. They get a hardworking student to do some labor-intensive parts of research. Let the faculty member know that you're willing to work hard (be honest!). I work full time as a research assistant in my university's psychiatry department. How can you increase your odds of acceptance, and better yet, funding? Approach faculty during office hours and ask for leads on who might be looking for research assistants. ANY research experience is good research experience. You want to look on the job board of the biggest university closest to you, and maybe also private medical/research foundations associated with the school. And, if you decide to pursue research, you'll gain connections in the scientific and academic community, and have a nice boost to your resume. So, you're convinced of the value of research experience to your graduate school application. Research is job experience for an I/O applicant. Top 11 Best Aerospace Engineering Schools for Undergraduates, 12 Best Economics Schools for Undergraduates, Great Summer Engineering Programs for High School Students, How to Email Professors at Prospective Grad Schools, Thanking a Professor for Writing a Recommendation Letter, How to Get a Recommendation Letter for Graduate School, Applying to Graduate Programs in Clinical or Counseling Psychology, How to Ace the Graduate School Admissions Interview, How to Get Recommendation Letters for Grad School, Don'ts for Getting Letters of Recommendation for Grad School, Types of Financial Aid for Graduate Students, How to Write a Successful Personal Statement for Graduate School, Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, Fordham University, M.A., Developmental Psychology, Fordham University, Gaining skills and knowledge that aren't easily learned in the classroom, Exposure to methods and techniques that will help you complete your research and, Get writing and public speaking practice by submitting papers to professional conferences and journals, Collect data by administering surveys, interviews, or running research protocols, Score, code, and enter data into a spreadsheet or statistical analysis program, Conduct general library research including literature searches, making copies of articles, and ordering unavailable articles and books through interlibrary loan, Use computer skills such as word processing, spreadsheet, scheduling, and statistical analysis programs, Assist in preparing submissions for local or regional conferences and, if accepted, work on a poster or oral presentations for professional conferences, Assist faculty in preparing a manuscript to submit the results of your collaborative research to a scientific journal. 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