I am interested in being a school psychologist for a variety of reasons. First, I believe that my background in working with children and families, and my B.A. in psychology are essential combinations that will be helpful in my pursuit of the degree. Second, I would like to work with children in a variety of educational situations, such as those in need of special education classes and those in talented and gifted programs. Third, I believe it is essential to work directly with the entire family system, not just the child. The child's progress depends on the home environment and the academic environment equally. This academic environment includes all professions (i.e., teachers, school counselors and psychologists, school administrators, and school nurses). Each professional must utilize his/her skills and training to determine the best course of action for the child and how it will interact with each and every other discipline. Unfortunately, many times, there seems to be poor communication between these individuals. I would like to be involved in helping to facilitate this necessary interaction between disciplines. Finally, my areas of interest are in brain injury rehabilitation; psychosocial development of children, especially self-esteem; and learning disabilities. I believe that becoming a school psychologist would be the best way to continue my work with children and their families while having an impact on the educational system.

The school psychology program at XXX would allow me to utilize both my knowledge in psychology and my affinity toward children simultaneously. I have always had a strong interest in working with children. I began babysitting in late elementary school and continued through college. These children were of a variety of ages and from different family compositions (e.g., single-parent households, two-parent households, and stepfamilies). The summer before my junior year in college and for the next three years, I was a part-time nanny for a 10-year-old girl who was diagnosed with ADHD. I did this on a full-time basis during the summers. This job gave me an understanding of the effects of medication (Ritalin) on behavior. These experiences gave me a strong background in working with a diverse group of children.

I also have an extensive training in working with local agencies. The spring semester of my sophomore year, I began volunteering at the Cedar Valley Hospice for approximately 20 hours a month. I was trained in the following areas: Patient/Family, Grief, and Cedar AIDS Support System (CASS) services. Through my work at the CASS, I was responsible for making contacts with a variety of other agencies on the behalf of my clients, such as the Black Hawk County Health Department, Operation Threshold, and the Cedar Valley NAMES Project. In this capacity, I did office work, I was a buddy to an HIV positive individual, and I did face-to-face education panels in local school and community settings. I was also extensively involved in training future buddies. It was during this time period that I completed the American Red Cross course work for certification as an HIV/AIDS educator. In this capacity, I have been a guest speaker in several elementary school and college courses about HIV/AIDS. The following year, I completed an internship for my Practicum in Psychology course at the Cedar Valley Hospice. The course work required only 4 hours a week; however, Hospice required 20 hours a week. Because I really wanted to continue my valuable education in this area, I was willing to dedicate more time than was required by the course to fulfill this responsibility. During this internship, I worked with the Grief Support Services, primarily working on the cases which dealt with HIV/AIDS and dysfunctional families. During this time period, I also assisted in the Youth Support Services when needed. I was also involved in the transition of the structure of the Youth Support Services from Amanda the Panda to Katie and Quincy Koala. Currently, I am still a volunteer at Hospice. As per federal requirements, all volunteers must undergo an annual review. At my recent review, my supervisor only had positive things to say about my abilities.

I am presently employed full-time at Exceptional Persons, Inc. as part of their Support Living Staff. This job has given me valuable experience in working with a diverse population of adults and children and their families. I work primarily with traumatically brain injured adults. However, I do occasionally work at the Porter Group Home for children. I have also worked with individuals who are mentally retarded, mentally ill, or dual diagnosed. One of the many facets of my job is advocating for the consumers and their rights. Most of my work focuses on assisting these individuals in daily living skills to become more independent. I believe that my background has given me a solid foundation on which to build a successful career as a school psychologist. My objectives as a school psychologist would be: (a) to work with a variety of children and their families in an education setting; (b) to work as part of an interdisciplinary team in helping to determine the best course of action for children in need; and (c) to help children build their self-esteem. This is particularly important for children in need of special assistance.

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I experienced ten years in the work force before I began my pursuit of higher education. Consequently, I know the frustration of squandered effort, perceived inequities in reward systems, and lack of job satisfaction. I also know the triumph of excellent performance, intrinsic job satisfaction, and the piece of mind that accompanies work well designed. The ultimate goal of Industrial/Organizational Psychology is to reduce the margin that exists between how people could feel about their work, and how people do feel about their work; while integrating the organization's and the individual's needs.

Because of my varied work experience, I am able to offer strength and diversity to your program. Before attending the University of Northern Iowa, I was employed in the music industry, construction, restaurant management, and sales. I view these years as invaluable, as they have shaped my motives, compelled me to appreciate the need for goal orientation, and allowed me to experience the triumphs and frustrations of the "real" world. Consequently, I entered my college career with a strong sense of purpose.

This sense of purpose is reflected in my activities relevant to Industrial/Organizational Psychology, which have been under the continuous and invaluable guidance of Dr. Dave Whitsett, Professor of I/O Psychology, University of Northern Iowa. In January of 1993, I approached the Human Resource Department of John Deere Tractor Assembly Division, Waterloo, Iowa, with the intention of gaining hands-on experience in a manufacturing setting. I have, under the supervision of Marshal C. Chesmore, Senior Human Resource Representative, researched Self-Directed Work Groups and served on the "Changing Role of the Supervisor" committee. I am continuing my involvement by serving on a subcommittee responsible for developing a training needs analysis for the Central Training Division of John Deere Waterloo Works.

Feeling a need to diversify my experience, I approached GMAC Mortgage of Waterloo, Iowa, about the possibility of a credited internship. I am currently reviewing their personnel processes via interviews with appropriate personnel and examination of existing documentation. This project will culminate in a modal description of these processes, and recommendation for process/organizational modification.

I have prepared myself academically for advanced graduate study in I/O Psychology through relevant college course work, such as Organizational Psychology, Personnel Psychology, Principles of Psychological Testing, Statistics for Psychology, and Research Methods in Psychology. I have conducted research, under Dr. Augustine Osman, Clinical Psychologist, University of Northern Iowa, on the psychometric properties of the "Inventory of College Students in Recent Life Experience." This research, which has been accepted for publication in Journal of Clinical Psychology, provided experience using "Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences" for factor analysis, reliability and validity issues, and the verification of data. I have qualified for the dean's list the last two semesters, currently carry a 3.70 junior/senior GPA and a 3.75 GPA in my major, and fully anticipate graduating with honors in May of 1994.

In addition to my academic and related activities, I manage and perform in a successful regional band, write and produce local/regional radio and television commercials, and volunteer my time to various community projects and charitable causes. I feel that in balancing academic, community work, and family activities, I have further developed into a person who is confident, competent, assertive, reliable, resilient, and compassionate.

Some of the Colorado State I/O Psychology Department's recent research and consulting activities, such as designing a performance appraisal plan for state and local agencies, or evaluating strategies for organizational change, are areas in which I would like to research and write my dissertation. Your geographic location provides access to internship with industry in both the Fort Collins and the Denver area. The integration of scientific and practitioner models in your program would further my career goals of teaching at the college level and consulting in industry. These considerations, along with a favorable social/geographic environment for my wife and four children, are of prime concern.

My major goal is to understand better the processes through which Industrial/Organizational Psychology can make significant societal contributions. Abraham Maslow, while researching his book Eupsychian Management, came to believe that industry was the one institution through which we could best shape our society. I share this position. Since Americans spend roughly eight hours per day, five days per week, fifty weeks per year for forty years in their careers, what better place to focus our research energies and apply sound psychological theory than the institution that governs the very pattern of our days and lives?

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I believe I have many characteristics and interests that would make me a good candidate for graduate school. I am a very introspective person; I put a lot of thought into what I do and why I do it. I constantly evaluate myself and my progress in making and reaching goals. One goal I have had for many years is to go on to graduate school. I know I have enough will and interest to make my goal a reality.

I have always enjoyed school and learning. My love of learning has been a key to my academic success and involvement. I am a Social an Behavioral Sciences Scholar, a National Merit Scholar, and a member of two honor societies, Phi Eta Sigma and Psi Chi. I also find I learn a lot by interacting with others. I participate in several clubs on campus. I was a member of the Student Environment Action Coalition (SEAC), and I helped to organize a benefit concert to raise money to save rain forests. I am currently involved in Anthropology Club, and Psychology Club. For Psychology Club, I am Vice President of Special Events; I help come up with topics for meetings, and I was in charge of publicity for our annual Volunteer Open House.

I enjoy being challenged, so I take heavy course loads and variety of classes. I will graduate with two Bachelor's degrees, in psychology and anthropology, after only three years and one summer of undergraduate study. I have been on the Dean's List every semester and have maintained a 4.0 GPA in psychology. I feel the courses I have taken have helped focus my interests and have prepared me for graduate work. Anthropology has given me a broader perspective on human attitudes, feelings, and behaviors than psychology alone. However, psychology as remained my favorite subject. I was a teaching assistant for Research Methods in psychology. This allowed me to work with others on all aspects of research from developing ideas to revising papers. I also had the opportunity to be a research assistant. I helped with data collection and putting it into a computer program. Next semester, I will be taking an honors course called Youth an Children: Issues and Controversies. As part of this class I will be volunteering with the Young Parents Together program and the Family and Children Council.

In addition to my classes and organizations, I also work at the Writing Center. I help university students with their writing skills. I have found that I have improved on my own writing in the process of helping others. I also tutored Meskwaki Indian students at a nearby middle school. I enjoyed watching their self-esteem improve at the same time a their grades.

I hope to continue my interests in research and teaching by eventually applying my skills to profit and non-profit organizations. I also would like to do work in evaluation research. I am interested in all types of issues and research, but I am especially interested in gender differences, distribution of power, and how people become empowered. I think I would really enjoy working with Dr. Abalakina because I share an interest in cross-cultural psychology. Dr. Madson would also be interesting to work with on the psychology of gender. New Mexico State's emphasis on computer training is especially exciting to me because I see that computers are becoming a necessity for any field, and I would like to improve my own computer skills and be able to apply them.
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Having enjoyed psychology-related activities in both the academic and community settings, it is with enthusiasm that I pursue a career in clinical psychology. An important part of this pursuit is attending graduate school. In order to obtain the necessary knowledge and to define my areas of interest, I wish to enroll in a doctoral program in clinical psychology.

Throughout my undergraduate work I have engaged in a variety of activities to help prepare my for graduate study. One such activity is my involvement in research. This past summer I participated in a research project with a UNI professor, Dr. Augustine Osman. Our research involved the examination of the psychometric properties of the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS) in a community sample. I performed basic data entry and ran SPSS-X programs for manova, correlation, and reliability. For two to three hours a day, over an eight week period, my research experience involved discussions on issues of psychometrics as well as learning how to transcribe and run several programs used in factor analysis. Through this experience I have also become familiar with the process of research revision and publication. In fact, I will be listed as a co-author upon publication of this work.

Currently, I am involved in an independent research project investigating sex-role stereotyping in college classrooms. My advisor, Dr. Jane Wong, has been supervising by progress. After completing background reading on this issue, I have decided to investigate the relationship between students' sex-typed characteristics. I have developed six scenarios in which I manipulated the sex-typed characteristics of the instructor. Students will be asked to complete the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Traditional Egalitarian Sex Role Scale (TESR) prior to reading a scenario. After reading the scenarios they will be asked to rate the instructor using a rating form developed by Leventhal, Perry, and Abrami (1977). I hope to present my findings at a regional psychology conference and, if possible, submit the work for consideration for publication.

Aside from conducting research, I also have had the opportunity to experience the teaching aspects of psychology while serving as a teaching assistant for a Research Methods course and an Introduction to Psychology course. As a TA for Research Methods my responsibilities included supervising five students' research work. Specifically, I assisted the students in the library while they worked on a bibliography, summary and synthesis, and proposal project. I also reviewed their projects and provided constructive feedback on their work, as well as graded each students' project. I was also responsible for leading course review sessions, developing course test questions, and grading semester tests during both of my semesters as a teaching assistant.

In addition, I have engage in several community service activities closely related to my academic studies. As a Compeer volunteer through a local community mental health center, I befriend an individual who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I am also an advocate for victims of sexual and physical assault at a Crisis Center. I assist victims immediately after they have experienced a crisis situation, consistently validating the feelings they experience and offering support if necessary. As a shelter assistant in a battered women shelter I act as a moderator between the women as well as work with them in exploring their options available both at the shelter and after their stay.

I have also interacted with a variety of clients while working for Section 8 rental assistance program and as an intern for a pre-trial officer at a correctional facility. Many of the clients I have come into contact with exhibit such psychological disorders as schizophrenia, depression, alcoholism, and mental retardation. These experiences have given me the opportunity to interact with a variety of people and to improve my communication skills. I have also become a more assertive and objective individual while working directly with these clients.

Throughout my graduate education and beyond receipt of my doctorate I hope to participate extensively in research. Fostered by previous work as a volunteer and research background, my current interests include intercultural relationships, child abuse, particularly the long-term effects of physical and sexual abuse on victims, as well as aspects contributing to domestic abuse. I am also interested in continuing my work with the psychometric analyses of psychological assessment measures. I realize that these are areas that have developed from the work I have done thus far and that as I continue my education my interests will evolve. I feel that a graduate education will enable me to develop more specific research interests.

I believe that through my experiences I have become a well-rounded person while building a strong foundation for future graduate study. Not only do I feel confident about my preparation in psychology, I have also earned a minor in Spanish acquiring fluency in reading, writing, and speaking the language. In addition, I have become proficient with computer programs such as Windows, Word Perfect, data bases, Minitab for statistical analysis, and e-mail. Despite the numerous activities I am involved in, I have remained focused enough to graduate in three and a half years while maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

Having been involved in psychology through these various experiences has greatly enhanced my interest in becoming a clinical psychologist. I am particularly intrigued with psychological research and college instruction. Therefore, upon receiving my doctorate it is my goal to obtain a position that will allow me to serve my interests in both research and education. I believe that I will be most successful in obtaining such a position after completing a doctoral program that emphasizes research involvement and fosters the development of quality teaching and clinical communication skills.
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I believe I have many characteristics and interests that would make me a good candidate for graduate school. I am a very introspective person; I put a lot of though into what I do and why I do it. I constantly evaluate myself and my progress in making and reaching goals. One goal I have had for many years is to go on to graduate school. I know I have enough will and interest to make my goal a reality.

I have always enjoyed school and learning. My love of learning bas been a key to my academic success and involvement. I am a Social and Behavioral Sciences Scholar, a National Merit Scholar, and a member of two honor societies, Phi Eta Sigma and Psi Chi. I also find I learn a lot by interacting with others. I participate in several clubs on campus. I was a member of the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), and I helped to organize a benefit concert to raise money to save rain forests. I am currently involved in Anthropology Club and Psychology Club. For Psychology Club, I am Vice President of Special Events; I help come up with topics for meetings, and I was in charge of publicity for our annual Volunteer Open House.

I enjoy being challenged, so I take heavy course loads and a variety of classes. I will graduate with two Bachelor's degrees, in psychology and anthropology, after only three years and one summer of undergraduate study. I have been on the Dean's List every semester and have maintained a 4.0 GPA in psychology. I feel the courses I have taken have helped focus my interests and have prepared me for graduate work. Anthropology has given me a broader perspective in human attitudes, feelings, and behaviors than psychology alone. However, psychology has remained my favorite subject. I was a teaching assistant for Research Methods in psychology. This allowed me to work with others on all aspects of research from developing ideas to revising papers. I also had the opportunity to be a research assistant. I helped with data collection and putting it into a computer program. Next semester, I will be taking an honors course called Youth and Children: Issue and Controversies. As part of this class I will be volunteering with the Young Parents Together program and the Family and Children Council.

In addition to my classes and organizations, I also work at the Writing Center. I help university students with their writing skills. I have found that I have improved my own writing in the process of helping others. I also tutored Meskwaki Indian students at a nearby middle school. I enjoyed watching their self-esteem improve at the same time as their grades.

I hope to continue my interests in research and teaching by eventually earning a Ph.D. and becoming a college professor. I am interested in all types of issues and research, but I am especially interested in gender differences, distribution of power, and how people become empowered.

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My dedication to the field of psychology is evident in the various activities in which I am involved. I am a student affiliate of the American Psychological Association, as well as a student member of the Iowa Psychological Association. I have been actively involved in the community as a volunteer working with patients, families, and staff in the emergency room of a local hospital. I have been a devoted member of the psychology club for two years and am currently serving my first year as an officer (Vice-president of Special Events). Finally, I have been a teaching assistant under the supervision of Dr. Frank Barrios, clinical psychologist, and Dr. jack Yates, cognitive psychologist, both of the University of Northern Iowa, where I have had such responsibilities as preparing and grading exams and essays, holding office hours, working with individual students, assisting students with assignments and presentations, and answering any questions students may have about the material. Not only do I feel confident about my preparation in psychology, I am also working toward a minor in sociology, acquiring knowledge of the human relations that exist between the individual and the community.

In addition to these activities, I have been involved in research under the supervision of Dr. Augustine Osman, clinical psychologist, University of Northern Iowa. Currently, I am working on three separate measures that will soon be submitted for publication. One is an attempt to validate a measure concerning pain and is entitled, "The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS): Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties." The second is an effort to differentiate between anxiety and depression in a college sample. And the third is an attempt to differentiate between anxiety and depression in a clinical sample. Given Dr. Osman's excellent record of previous publications, I fully expect for these articles to be accepted for publication and for myself to be listed as co-author on all of them. Through my experience with research, I have been involved in data entry and collection, interpretation of data using SPSS, as well as scoring of the MMPI-2.

To gain applied experience in the field of clinical psychology, I decided to obtain an internship. To accomplish this, I approached the program facilitator of the mental health unit at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa. I spent the summer of 1996 carrying out this voluntary internship under the supervision of Dennis Feltz, LMHC, while gaining hands-on experience working with both the adolescent and the adult populations. I participated in all functions of the unit and was given sole responsibility for certain activities. Some of the things I participated in included group therapy, educational classes, psychological testing, parent interviews, and social history interviews.

The honors I have received during my undergraduate years began at North Iowa Area Community College, where I spent two years. I was a member of the Dean's list every semester and belongs to Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society of the two-year college. I received my AA degree and graduated with honors. Since then, at the university of Northern Iowa, I have been named to the Dean's List and been inducted in the Psi Chi honor society. I have been able to maintain a psychology GPA of 3.97 and fully anticipate receiving my BA and graduating with high honors in May 1997.

I intend to continue my education by pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. I am most interested in working with the adolescent population and would like to research the effects that personality characteristics such as extraversion/introversion have on the speed and completeness of recovery from mental disorders. I have already designed a proposal for this research project and hope to carry it out during my graduate education. After graduate school, I plan to continue with my research while working with adolescents in an applied setting. It is my intention to contribute empirically-based findings to the clinical psychology field through my research. I feel that Purdue University could offer me a solid education and help me to meet my goals by providing a quality atmosphere in which to learn. Also, I am interested in the research done by several of the faculty members at Purdue. Among these are Anthony Conger and his research on assessment and treatment for social skills deficits, Gerald Gruen and how adolescents cope with loneliness, and Rebecca Merritt and her research on personality. I feel that I can bring enthusiasm and individuality to your program as a result of my past experiences and my desire to excel in the clinical psychology field.

I believe that my qualifications, experience, and dedication to the filed of psychology indicate that I will be successful as a graduate student and as a clinical psychologist. I consider the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that are associated with the earning of the Ph.D. valuable and I am prepared to invest my time and my energy toward earning this degree. I hope to be given the opportunity to accomplish this at Purdue University.

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The University of Tulsa prepares Industrial/Organizational psychologists to deal with individual problems in the workplace. This philosophy matches my research area of interest on the effects of individual differences in the work environment. I believe that individual differences influence nearly every aspect of human behavior and interaction, including those in the workplace. By necessity, a successful manager is one who understands the potential influences of individual differences in the work environment. As an example, the management style utilized (as I have learned first hand) must match the personalities of the employees being managed. By conducting research in this area, theory relevant to motivating individually diverse employees may be developed and then applied. Of particular interest is the motivation of aging employees. The elimination of a mandatory retirement age has greatly increased the need for further research in this area.

My interest in the University of Tulsa is strengthened by the required practicum and field experience, as well as, excellent faculty and facilities. I intend to pursue a career in applied research and organizational consulting, therefore, these qualities are imperative to myself and my career.

My career goals are to: (a) initially gain practical experience in the field through employment with a consulting firm, and (b) eventually acquire a teaching position with a college or university, while continuing research and consulting endeavors. It is my intention to contribute empirically based findings to the Industrial/Organizational psychology field through my research and practice. I also hope to be a strong influence and encouragement in students' lives through my contact with them during their academic careers.

I have assisted Dr. Whitsett of the University of Northern Iowa psychology department in the writing of his book on merging companies with different organizational cultures. For Dr. Whitsett, I selected and condensed pertinent information from audio-taped organizational interviews. Dr. Whitsett's book has not yet been submitted for publication. My research experience will be expanded during the spring, when I will be assisting Dr. Whitsett with a research endeavor on Vroom's Expectancy Theory. I will also be a teaching assistant for Dr. Whitsett's psychology research methods class.

I believe I possess particular strengths that will contribute to my success in a graduate program. I am intrinsically motivated, possess a strong desire to remain "on task", and I persevere when confronted with obstacles and difficulties. Also, being a disciplined person, I have developed very useful time management skills to handle my busy work and class schedule during my undergraduate education. Often times, I have worked as many as 30 hours per week while enrolled in 12 units or more. This dedication and self control will greatly benefit me during graduate work.

I expect that graduate work at the University of Tulsa will be demanding, challenging, and exciting and I look forward to attending a program of this sort. In graduate school I expect to receive the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to evolve as an individual and a psychologist. I consider the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that are associated with the earning of the Ph.D. valuable and I am prepared to invest myself, my time, and my energies toward the earning of that degree. I hope that I will be allowed to do so at the University of Tulsa.

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I intend to receive a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational psychology and I am interested in Central Michigan University because it offers applied practice through field experience and organizational internships. I have been told by many professionals that Central Michigan has excellent faculty and research facilities, as well as, provides a very thorough and effective foundation for work in the field. I intend to pursue a career in applied research and organizational consulting, therefore, these qualities are imperative to myself and my career.

Initially I plan to gain practical experience in the field through employment with a consulting firm. My long range objective is to acquire a teaching position with a college or university, while continuing research and consulting endeavors. It is my intention to contribute empirically based findings to the Industrial/Organizational psychology field through my research and practice. I also hope to be a strong influence and encouragement in students' lives through my contact with them during their academic careers.

I have acquired many skills through relevant work experience. Currently, I coordinate the National Annual Fund Telephone Campaign for the University of Northern Iowa, with a goal of raising $355,000 for the university. This job provides me with very useful experience in human resource and managerial processes, such as interviewing, hiring, training, performance appraisals, and motivation. Managing 40 telemarketers who get paid a base salary and no commission makes the use of proper motivational techniques vital.

Human resource internships have provided me with experience in completing physical job analyses and the development of Affirmative Action Plans. Knowledge was also gained in the following areas: (a) human resource audits and benchmarking, (b) work/family issues and training programs, and (c) auditing human resource practices for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

I have developed effective leadership skills through active participation in student organizations. During my three year membership in the Psychology Club, I have held several leadership positions including treasurer, vice-president, and conference co-chair. I have also been highly involved with he student Society for Human Resource Management and was elected as the public relations representative. I was the international service chair and the individual community service chair for Rotaract, a student affiliate group of Rotary. I also initiated and organized the club's Adopt-a-Highway program.

I received many honors during my undergraduate years at the University of Northern Iowa. I graduated with highest honors and as a member of the following honor societies: Omicron Delta Kappa, Psi Chi, Phi Eta Sigma, and Tomahawk. I was also the recipient of the following scholarships: Merrill J. Oster, J.S. Latta, Jr., Robert and Ruth Hill Memorial, and Irene Thompson. I was a Social and Behavioral Sciences scholar for four years and a member of the Dean's List for nine semesters.

I believe my qualifications, determination, and dedication indicate I will be successful as a graduate student and as an Industrial/Organizational psychologist. I consider the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that are associated with the earning of the Ph.D. valuable and I am prepared to invest myself, my time, and my energies toward the earning of the degree.

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When I began my studies at the University of Northern Iowa, I had an interest in the field of psychology, but I was not yet sure that I wanted to pursue a career in that area. The classes that I consequently took and the professors that taught them solidified my desire to receive a degree in psychology.

Interacting with my professors as a teacher's assistant and research assistant gave me a chance to discover at a more personal level what psychology is all about. Although I am seeking a M.A. in General Psychology at this time, I do have specific goals for my future. I hope to continue my education past the M.A. and receive a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, counseling individuals and eventually acquiring a teaching position with a college or university.

I am currently doing research in the area of Cognitive Psychology with Dr. Jack Yates, Professor of Cognitive Psychology, University of Northern Iowa. This research is related to how people conceptualize concrete and abstract terms, but my research interests vary widely. Other research interests include gender differences in the workplace and how socialization affects stereotypic gender roles among the sexes.

I have qualified for the dean's list three of the last four semesters, currently carry a 3.59 junior/senior GPA and a 3.75 GPA in my major. I also have been accepted into Psi Chi and belong to the Psychology Club on campus.

I expect that graduate work at the University of Somewhere will be demanding, challenging, and exciting, and I look forward to attending a program of this sort. During my time in graduate school I expect to receive the opportunity to learn, grow, and evolve as a person and a psychologist. I consider the M.A. in General Psychology from Your University an important stepping stone in achieving my goal of attaining a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. I am prepared and look forward to investing myself, my time, and my energy toward earning that degree. I hope I will be allowed to do so at Your University.
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Several experiences have stimulated my commitment to psychology. The first is the fact that my mother is diagnosed schizophrenic. As a child I did not understand why her behavior was so different from other adults. Her behavior prompted my curiosity involving the development, duration, and treatment of schizophrenics. At an early age I gained insight about how society is not always accepting of those persons who are "unusual" or "abnormal". She is a high functioning person who is in an institution. I felt there had to be alternative ways to deal with her behaviors than to put her away from a close supportive family.

A second experience involves my academic background. The knowledge I have gained from class material and applied experience has inspired a desire to come to a more in depth understanding of psychological phenomena. This phenomena includes the mental illness and the adaptation difficulties associated with mental abnormalities. I have financed approximately ninety percent of my education in my quest for said psychological knowledge.

In the last semester I gained experience in the research and teaching aspects of psychology. My research experience was supervised by Dr. Osman. I was involved in the data collection within the research areas of pain, anxiety, and suicide. Also I was a teaching assistant for Dr. Whitsett in a research methods course. I was responsible for implementing understanding of the material and the processes involved in five students from a class of twenty. I guided their writing of a bibliography and a proposal. I gained more experience for myself in understanding the research process for later use in graduate school and beyond.

My practicum at the Battered Women's Shelter enlightened my understanding of interpersonal interaction and how different individuals deal with crisis situations in their own unique ways. I observed a minimal part of male-female relations within the realm of violence. This including how the development of the male versus the female gendered personalities can affect overt as well as covert behavior in adult interpersonal interaction.

The third experience was a difficult one. It involved a friend who was a substance abuser. While using these psychoactive substances he displayed cognitive and behavioral problems. The time duration of his abuse and termination of use of these drugs was an educational period for me. I observed in him the behavior, affect, and cognitive aspects I had learned in my academic courses. I have an interest in how drug abuse is psychologically and sociologically oriented and how preventative measures can be implemented.

At this time my special interests include schizophrenia, substance abuse, and social psychological factors in interpersonal interaction, especially that of male-female relations involving the attitudes held by both men and women and society's perpetuation of status quo relationship structures. I am determined to explore these research areas and hope to expand upon the knowledge base of the precipitating factors and the treatment strategies after diagnosis.

Long-range objectives in pursuing advanced study of psychology include the various areas of research application. These include teaching as a professor in a university setting, research, consultation, and private practice. I intend to use my knowledge and expertise obtained at the University of Iowa to further the research areas of schizophrenia, substance abuse, and interpersonal interactions involving social psychological aspects with research and practice. The University of Iowa has a strong emphasis in research and this would be beneficial to my research interests in that I would be given ample opportunity to explore and expand upon by areas of study within the clinical program.

I aspire to be one of the multitude of researchers who participate in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, schizophrenia, and adaptation difficulties involving daily relations between individuals.

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As a psychology major at the University of Northern Iowa I enjoyed studying human interaction and individual processes. I continued to take a variety of psychology courses and found I was especially interested in psychological issues within business settings. To obtain a better understanding of the business environment I then decided to double major and receive a B.A. in management, with an emphasis in human resources.

As I continued to pursue my two degrees problems occurring in the work environment became very interesting and exciting to me. My psychology major biased my business interest negatively toward finance and production operations, and stimulated interest in human behavior and interaction in organizational settings. I became engaged in aspects of motivation, job enrichment, and job satisfaction and concluded innumerable improvements could be made in am individual's work life and environment. I feel these improvements are psychologically and physically advantageous to workers, as well as, profitable for businesses and society. It is my intention to contribute empirically based findings to the Industrial/Organizational psychology field through my research and practice. I expect to provide and inspire some of the necessary solutions to problems in the business environment.

I am applying to Colorado State University because of the very thorough and effective foundation provided for work in the Industrial/Organizational field. I have been told by many professionals that Colorado State has excellent faculty and research facilities, as well as, job opportunities in the area. I intend to pursue a career in applied research and organizational consulting, therefore, these qualities are imperative to myself and my career. Initially I plan to gain practical experience in the field through employment with a consulting firm. My long range objective is to acquire a teaching position with a college or university, while continuing research and consulting endeavors.

I expect that graduate work at Colorado State University will be demanding, challenging, and exciting and I look forward to attending a program of this sort. In graduate school I expect to receive the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to evolve as an individual and a psychologist. I consider the knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that are associated with the earning of the Ph.D. valuable and I am prepared to invest myself, my time, and my energies toward the earning of that degree. I hope that I will be allowed to do so at Colorado State University.

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Several experiences have stimulated my commitment to psychology. The first is the fact that my mother is diagnosed schizophrenic. As a child I did not understand why her behavior was so different from other adults. Her behavior prompted my curiosity involving the development, duration, and treatment of schizophrenia. At an early age I gained insight about how society is not always accepting of those persons who are "unusual" or "abnormal". She is a high functioning person who is in an institution. I felt there had to be alternative ways to deal with her behaviors than to put her away from a close supportive family.

A second experience involves my academic background. The knowledge I have gained from class material and applied experience has inspired a desire to come to a more in depth understanding of psychological phenomena. This phenomena including the manifestation of mental illness and the adaptation difficulties associated with mental abnormalities. I have financed approximately ninety percent of my education in my quest for said psychological knowledge.

In the upcoming semester I will be gaining more experience in the research and teaching aspects of psychology. My research experience will be supervised under Dr. Osman. I will be involved in the conceptualization, data collection, data analysis, and report writing within the research areas of pain, anxiety, and suicide. Also I will be a teaching assistant for Dr. Whitsett in a research methods course. I will be responsible for implementing understanding of the material and the processes involved in five students form a class of twenty. I will be guiding their writing of a bibliography and a proposal. I expect to gain more experience for myself in understanding the research process for later use in graduate school and beyond.

My practicum at the Battered Women's Shelter enlightened my understanding of interpersonal interaction and how different individuals deal with crisis situations in their own unique ways. I observed a minimal part of male-female relations within the realm of violence. This including how the development of the male versus the female gendered personalities can affect overt as well as covert behavior in adult interpersonal interaction.

The third experience was a difficult one. It involved a friend who was a substance abuser. While using these psychoactive substances he displayed cognitive and behavioral problems. The time duration of his abuse and termination of use of these drugs was an educational period for me. I observed in him the behavior, affect, and cognitive aspects I had learned in my academic courses. I have an interest in how drug abuse is psychologically and sociologically oriented and how preventative measures can be implemented.

At this time my special interests include schizophrenia, substance abuse, and social psychological factors in interpersonal interaction, especially that of male-female relations involving the attitudes held by both men and women and society's perpetuation of status quo relationship structures. I am determined to explore these research areas and hope to expand upon the knowledge base of the precipitating factors and the treatment strategies after diagnosis.

Long-range objectives in pursuing advanced study of psychology include the various areas of research application. These include teaching as a professor in a university setting, research, consultation, and private practice. I intend to use my knowledge and expertise obtained at the University of Iowa to further the research areas of schizophrenia, substance abuse, and interpersonal interactions involving social psychological aspects with research and practice. The University o Iowa has a strong emphasis in research and this would be beneficial to my research interests in that I would be given ample opportunity to explore and expand upon my areas of study within the clinical program.

I aspire to be one of the multitude of researchers who participate in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, schizophrenia, and adaptation difficulties involving daily relations between individuals.

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Having enjoyed psychology-related activities in both the academic and community settings, it is with enthusiasm that I pursue a career in clinical psychology. An important part of this pursuit is attending graduate school. In order to obtain the necessary knowledge and to define my areas of interest, I wish to enroll in a doctoral program in clinical psychology.

Throughout my undergraduate work I have engaged in a variety of activities to help prepare me for graduate study. One such activity is my involvement in research. This past summer I participated in a research project with a UNI professor, Dr. Augustine Osman. Our research involved the examination of the psychometric properties of the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (PASS) in a community sample. I performed basic data entry and ran SPSS-X programs for manova, correlations, and reliability. For two to three hours a day, over an eight week period, my research experience involved discussions on issues of psychometrics as well as learning how to transcribe and run several programs used in factor analysis. Through this experience I have also become familiar with the process of research revision and publication. In fact, I will be listed as a co-author upon publication of this work.

Currently, I am involved in an independent research project investigating sex-role stereotyping in college classrooms. My advisor, Dr. Jane Wong, has been supervising my progress. After completing background reading on this issue, I have decided to investigate the relationship between students' sex typed attitudes and their ratings of instructors with various sex-typed characteristics. I have developed six scenarios in which I manipulated the sex-typed characteristics of the instructor. Students will be asked to complete the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Traditional Egalitarian Sex Role Scale (TESR) prior to reading a scenario. After reading the scenarios they will be asked to rate the instructor using a rating form developed by Leventhal, Perry, and Abrami (1977). I hope to present my findings at a regional psychology conference and, if possible, submit the work for consideration for publication.

Aside from conducting research, I also have had the opportunity to experience the teaching aspects of psychology while serving as a teaching assistant for a Research Methods course and an Introduction to Psychology course. As a TA for Research Methods my responsibilities included supervising five students' research work. Specifically, I assisted the students in the library while they worked on a bibliography, summary and synthesis, and proposal project. I also reviewed their projects and provided constructive feedback on their work, as well as graded each students' project. I was also responsible for leading course review sessions, developing course test questions, and grading semester tests during both of my semesters as a teaching assistant.

In addition, I have also engaged in several community service activities closely related to my academic studies. As a Compeer volunteer through a local community mental health center, I befriend am individual who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I am also an advocate for victims of sexual and physical assault at a Crisis Center. I assist victims immediately after they have experienced a crisis situation, consistently validating the feelings they experience and offering support if necessary. As a shelter assistant in a battered women shelter I act as a moderator between the women as well as work with them in exploring their options available both at the shelter and after their stay. I also act as a child advocate when the mothers are absent from the shelter.

I have also interacted with a variety of clients while working for a Section 8 rent assistance program and as an intern for a pre-trial officer at a correctional facility. Many of the clients exhibit such psychological disorders as schizophrenia, depression, alcoholism, and mental retardation. These experiences have given me the opportunity to interact with a variety of people and improve my communication skills. I have also become a more assertive and objective individual while working directly with these clients.

Throughout my graduate education and beyond receipt of my doctorate I hope to participate extensively in research. Fostered by previous work as a volunteer and my research background, my current interests include intercultural relationships, child abuse, particularly the long-term effects of physical and sexual abuse on victims, as well as aspects contributing to domestic abuse. I am also interested in continuing my work with the psychometric analyses of psychological assessment measures. I realize that these are areas that have developed from the work I have done thus far and that as I continue my education my interest will evolve. I feel that a graduate education will enable me to develop more specific research interests.

I believe that through my experiences I have become a well-rounded person while building a strong foundation for future graduate study. Not only do I feel confident about my preparation in psychology, I have also earned a minor in Spanish acquiring fluency in reading, writing, and speaking this language. In addition, I have become proficient with computer programs such as Windows, Word Perfect, data bases, Minitab for statistical analysis, and e-mail. Despite the numerous activities I am involved in, I have remained focused enough to graduate in three and a half years while maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

Having been involved in psychology through these various experiences has greatly enhanced my interest in becoming a clinical psychologist. I am particularly intrigued with psychological research and college instruction. Therefore, upon receiving my doctorate it is my goal to obtain a position that will allow me to serve my interests in both research and education. I believe that I will be most successful in obtaining such a position after completing a doctoral program that emphasizes research involvement and fosters the development of quality teaching and clinical communication skills.