PPREP FAQs
Q1. What is PPREP?
PPREP stands for Prospective Ph.D. & R.A. Event in Psychology. The aim of the program is to provide opportunities for direct mentorship to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who may be considering advanced education or careers in psychology. The program will include a weekend of free, online panel discussions and application workshops with students, post-docs, and faculty. Participants will also be paired with a current member of our psychology department (i.e., faculty, post-doc, and/or graduate student) who will provide structured feedback on the materials you intend to use to apply to research positions and advanced degree opportunities in psychology.
Q2. How can I apply to PPREP?
You can apply here!
Q3. Do I need to have any materials, such as a personal statement or a research statement, to apply to PPREP?
You don’t need to have any specific material in order to apply to PPREP! The application form is straight-forward and includes questions about your background, as well as a few short-answer questions about who you are and what you’re interested in. The application is meant to be very informal.
Q4. How much does it cost to apply to PPREP 2025?
Nothing! PPREP is a free, online event. It will cost nothing to apply or to take part in the event.
Q5. I’m not entirely sure what I want to do my PhD in psychology. Can I still apply to PPREP?
Any prospective student or research assistant can apply to PPREP 2025. However, attendees must be applying for full-time research positions, lab manager positions, and/or advanced degree opportunities in the Fall 2025 cycle.
Q6. I don’t want to go to graduate school at Harvard. Can I still apply to PPREP?
Absolutely! The aim of PPREP is to provide mentorship and guidance to all prospective students, regardless of where you apply. There is no expectation or requirement that your participation in this event will be in service of applying to Harvard. Students selected to partake in PPREP are free to apply to any graduate program of their choosing, although we do hope you will consider us!
Q7. What is the goal of PPREP?
The Harvard Psychology Department is actively and intentionally committing to building a field that reflects the economic backgrounds of all. The purpose of PPREP 2025 is to facilitate access to information, connections, and opportunities for students from all backgrounds. Interested applicants from anywhere and everywhere are invited to apply. However, we strongly encourage individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to attend, including but not limited to, first-generation college students and those from low-income / low-resource backgrounds.
Q8. Are there any other similar events or initiatives that I should be aware of?
Other universities, such as Stanford, Michigan, and Yale are hosting similar mentorship programs. Furthermore, In addition to hosting PPREP, an individualized mentoring event, the Department of Psychology at Harvard also has an informational resource, PRO-TiP (Ph.D. & R.A. Online Tips Page). PRO-TiP includes videos from faculty where they talk about their approach to graduate and RA applications. Selected faculty from each of the four primary areas of research (Clinical, Social, Developmental, and Cognition, Brain, and Behavior) share their insights into what makes for a strong application. They also answer some of the most frequently asked questions that applicants have.
Q9. I have a question not covered in this FAQ. How can I know more/who do I reach out to?
If you still have any questions regarding PPREP or PRO-TiP, please reach out to HarvardPsychRecruitment@gmail.com.