Psychology is the study of behavior, including the biological bases of behavior; learning; memory; motivation; sensation and perception; social interactions; persuasion; personality; attitudes; human development across the lifespan; and psychological factors that influence physical and mental health. The profession of psychology is devoted to understanding factors that influence people’s behavior and how we can enhance the lives of individuals through personal understanding and behavior change. One can pursue advanced degrees (Masters or Doctorate) studying psychology in any of these areas. Individuals interested in helping to understand, treat, and even prevent mental illness can pursue advanced degrees in such disciplines as Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology, among others. The most common programs of this type are Clinical Psychology programs. Most Clinical Psychology PhD programs involve a strong research focus as well as clinical training. Some programs refer to themselves as Clinical Science programs in part to emphasize that they train students for careers in mental health-related research.
The Application Process
Timeline
Applications are typically due in the fall, usually end of November or early December, for the next academic year.
Degree Offerings
There are a range of degree types that can lead to a psychology-related career. In a limited number of states, professionals with a Master’s degree can practice independently or under the supervision of a PhD-level psychologist. A PhD in Clinical or Counseling psychology can lead to either independent clinical work, teaching, research, or some combination. Another option, the PsyD in Clinical Psychology, is designed to focus primarily on clinical training. In contrast, Clinical Psychology program that identify as Clinical Science programs offer considerable clinical training but focus on preparing students for research careers. Many programs, however, have considerable overlap in the amount of time students spend in research training and clinical training and vary in terms of focus and quality, so students should examine individual programs carefully. Questions to ask include: Is the program affiliated with a university? (True for most programs, but not for some PsyD programs, which are run by for-profit institutes.) Do students typically incur debt to finish the program? (True for most masters and PsyD programs, but not for most PhD programs.) What kinds of jobs are graduates likely to obtain at the end of their training? (A doctorate typically opens more employment options than a masters-level degree.)
Undergraduate Experience
There are no specific undergraduate courses or degrees required for admission to many programs. However, the most competitive students typically have undergraduate degrees in Psychology, Psychological and Brain Sciences, or a related field, and have taken undergraduate statistics and research methods for psychology. For many programs, it would be difficult to be admitted without some previous course work in psychology or statistics/methods. In addition, coursework that focuses on written communication and trains you to think analytically will help prepare you for graduate study in psychology. The most competitive students will have had research experience at the undergraduate or post-baccalaureate level. Conducting a research-focused senior thesis, for example, is a clear indication of an interest in and experience with research. Exposure to work with clinical populations, either through research, practicum, internship, or volunteering can also be a strong, positive feature.
GPA
There is no minimum GPA required for admission to graduate psychology, and most programs typically weigh a host of factors in admitting students. However, the typical GPA of a student admitted to a competitive graduate program in clinical? psychology is above 3.5.
Standardized Testing
Some schools require the verbal, quantitative, and writing GRE scores, although others do not. In addition, some schools require the GRE Psychology subject matter score, but most do not. Even when the subject matter test is not required, doing well on it may ultimately help you reduce the number of classes you need to take in a program. You should contact the individual programs to which you are applying or read their website to determine which tests, if any, will be helpful to take. Although there is no minimum required score for most programs, typical scores of a student admitted to a competitive graduate program in psychology are well above the 50th% percentile and most often above the 75th%.
The Application
The application generally consists of an essay and personal statement describing your rationale for pursuing a degree in psychology, your potential for the field, and research areas that are of interest to you. In addition, a resume and three letters of recommendation are normally required. Many programs expect you to identify specific faculty members with whom you are interested in conducting research. In most cases, you need only identify a single faculty member. It is useful to determine if the people you want to work with are accepting students for the year in which you are applying to begin your graduate studies. Most professors will indicate whether they intend to review applications on their personal or lab website; if they do not, it is a good idea to write a brief and polite email to inquire whether they will be.