About SCOPE

SCOPE was founded in 2015 with the aim of improving the recruitment and retention of students who identify with a historically excluded racial and/or ethnic group into graduate programs in psychology through culturally responsive mentoring. ​

Who?

The ideal participant for SCOPE is a current or recent undergraduate student who identifies with a historically excluded racial/ethnic and is interested in pursuing graduate-level education in psychology or a closely related field. Faculty and graduate student mentors represented at SCOPE include (but are not limited to) individuals from Clinical Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Industrial Organizational Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Neuroscience, Social Work, and Applied Behavioral Analysis. ​

Where?

Auburn University's 2022 SCOPE will be held over zoom. Historically, SCOPE has been held both on zoom and in-person at Auburn University's campus.  

When?

Auburn University’s SCOPE program will be held on a weekend in the Summer of 2022 (June 4th, 2022 from 9am to 5pm CST).

What?

The program includes a series of dynamic breakout sessions led by psychology faculty and graduate students. The ratio of participants to breakout leaders is 5 to 1 with the intention of giving participants an individualized experience. After attending this program, participants will continue to work with their mentor to enhance their graduate school applications by learning skills that will increase their likelihood of success in the graduate application process. Such skills include:
  • Understanding disparities in education and behavioral health among BIPOC individuals
  • Understanding how to identify graduate programs that match your professional goals and interests
  • Learning how to write a personal statement and format a CV
  • Practicing interview skills through mock interviews
  • Learning how to receive fee waivers for graduate applications and GRE testing
  • Learning more about the different options for graduate school in psychology
  • Taking a full-length practice GRE test
  • Learning self-care skills to manage common graduate application and graduate school stressors
In addition to the development of new skills, participating students will:
  • Receive a free GRE practice book
  • Be paired with a psychology graduate student or faculty mentor based on shared clinical/research/advocacy interests
    • Your mentor will meet with you one-on-one to provide individualized feedback about your application materials and academic/career advice
​

SCOPE Outcomes

Students who participate in SCOPE reported an increased knowledge about the GRE, knowledge about the general application process, increased confidence in their applications, increased self-efficacy, and decreased perceived stress with the application process (2016, 2017 Cohort Data). 

SCOPE Publications

Fix, R. L., Silverstein, M. W., Nuhu, N., & Gray, W. N. (2020). Scholars committed to opportunities in psychological education: a training and mentoring program for future psychologists of color. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 28(1), 44-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2020.1736776 

Silverstein, M. W., Fix, R. L., Nuhu, N., & Kaslow, N. J. (2020). Disseminating a mentoring program for undergraduates of color: Lessons learned. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/stl0000224

​Silverstein, M. W., Miller, M., Rivet, J., & Nuhu, N. (in press). Program evaluation of a virtual mentoring program for BIPOC undergraduates in psychology. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology.

Grants Supporting SCOPE

  • APA Early Career Service Grant ($3,000, Fall 2021)
  • Loyola University New Orleans Marquette Fellowship ($5,000; Summer 2021)
  • American Psychological Foundation Mary Whiton Calkins Grant ($2,000; Summer 2020)
  • APAGS Student Diversity Initiative Award ($3,000: Fall 2018)
  • Emory University Racial and Cultural Engagement Microgrant ($1,000: Fall 2018)
  • Auburn Psychology Department Project Support Grant ($2,000: Spring 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; $1,000: Fall 2015, 2016, 2017; $500: Summer 2014)
  • Auburn Community and Civic Engagement Project Support Grant ($1,500: Spring 2018, 2020, 2021; $1,000: Fall 2015, 2016, Spring 2019)
  • Michael Sullivan Diversity Scholarship ($500: Spring 2017)
  • SPSSI Grants-In-Aid Program Award ($2,000: Spring 2017)
  • Auburn Graduate School Project Support Grant ($1,000: Fall 2015; $2,000: Fall 2016)
  • APA Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs Grant ($1,000: Summer 2014)

Contact

Email
scope@auburn.edu

Address
Department of Psychological Sciences
226 Thach Hall
Auburn University, AL 36849-5214
​*The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the page developer and not necessarily those of Auburn University. Any comments on the contents of this page should be directed to its administrator via scope@auburn.edu.