I-O Home Program Faculty Students Admissions FAQ Links Graduates
How do I apply to your program?
You can
I meet the
minimum standards for your program.
What are the chances that I
will be accepted?
Although we get many qualified applicants
each year, we have relatively
few positions to fill. Simply meeting the minimum
standards will not
guarantee admission. We typically get about 70 applicants
and have
only 15 openings each year.
What if I don't score well on
the GRE? Will my GPA and related
experience make up for it?
Although we take all of an applicant's
credentials into account when
making admissions decisions, the GRE is very
influential. If you do not
score well on standardized tests, we recommend preparing
for the GRE as early as possible. There are several GRE
prep courses
available, and many books that may help improve you
score. For more
information, visit
www.gre.org
Do you take junior/senior GPA
into account?
Yes, we have found that junior/senior GPA
is a better indicator of
graduate performance than overall GPA.
Do you require the GRE subject
test for admission?
No.
Do you recommend any classes
that might help my chances of being
accepted?
It is generally helpful to have background
in psychology (you must have at
least 18 credit hours of undergraduate psychology courses),
at least one
statistics and research course, as well as an introductory
Industrial/Organizational Psychology course.
How can I find out about the
status of my application?
To see if your materials are complete,
contact
Sharon Gunter in the
graduate office. After April, a student should contact
Mike Aamodt to
find out about their status.
How long does it generally take
for students to be notified of the admissions
decision?
Students should be notified at the
beginning of April if they have been
accepted or have been put on our waiting list.
Can I work towards my degree
on a part-time status?
No. A full time course load is 9 credit
hours (3 classes) per semester
and all students are required to attend the program on a
full time basis.
Can I take night classes?
Most of the classes required for the
program are held between the hours
of 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
How long will it take me to
complete the program?
It should not take longer than 2 years to
complete the program.
Is your program more applied or
research oriented?
We believe we can best serve our students
and the community (i.e.,
local industry) by taking an applied orientation, however,
students also
learn the rationale behind the techniques in scientific
psychology. Thus,
students are prepared to enter industry or pursue advanced
graduate
study.
Are students encouraged to
participate in research?
Yes. Students in our program have
explored various topics in I/O
Psychology through both independent research, as well as
in
collaboration with faculty members. Radford students
have presented
more papers at the national I/O student conference (IOOB)
than any
other program in the nation!
Will I be required to hold an
internship prior to graduation?
Yes. Those are usually done in the summer
between the first and second
year, and most are paid.
Can you tell me about the
relative atmosphere of the program?
We believe that one of the strengths of our
program is the general
atmosphere surrounding it. Students and faculty of the
I/O program are
all on a first name basis with each other, which provides
those in the
program a feeling of colleagues working together rather
than professors
teaching pupils. It is not uncommon for students and
faculty to get
together outside of the classroom for social gatherings or
recreational
activities. In addition, students are welcome to contact
faculty members
at home and during non-office hours. Students also enjoy
a
non-competitive atmosphere among their fellow classmates.
Study
groups are common, as well as group projects. Overall,
our I/O
program can be described as friendly and laid-back.
What kinds of student funding
are available?
Student funding can be found in the form of
grants, scholarships, loans,
and assistantships. To apply, one must complete the
Do most students receive
funding?
Though an assistantship is not guaranteed,
in previous years, every
eligible student received an assistantship.
Is there on-campus housing
available for graduate students?
Yes. Graduate students can live in the
residence halls.
I prefer to live off campus.
Is there off-campus housing close to the
university? Is housing affordable?
There are numerous off-campus housing
opportunities ranging from
apartment complexes to private apartment rentals. Most
students live
within a few miles from campus, and many need only walk a
short
distance to get to their classes. For apartment
listings, you can refer
to
What is there to do in Radford?
Radford is located "in the heart of the
New River Valley" and at the
foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. When in Radford,
one has the
luxury of relaxing in the comfort of a small town
setting, enjoying a
peaceful hike in nearby mountains, experiencing
breathtaking views of
cascading water, and embodying a rush of exhilaration
while paddling
though the white rapids of the New River. If you prefer
the nightlife,
options abound in either local establishments or clubs
and bars in
neighboring towns such as Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and
Roanoke.
Click
here
for more information about Radford.