ADMISSIONS DEADLINES Please note the following deadline dates for receipt of materials: December 1st, 2011 for:  Neuroscience Due to delays in the scoring of the new GRE, the deadline for the Clinical Program has been extended to December 12th, 2011. December 15th, 2011 for:  Social Psychology  Cognitive Psychology January 13th, 2012 for:  Developmental Psychology

Doctoral Programs

New students are accepted for enrollment in the doctoral programs only in the fall semester of each year and only for full-time study. Credit for thesis work and previous graduate course work is determined on an individual basis for students accepted with master's degrees from other institutions.

Admission to graduate study is based on a combination of factors including:

(1) Undergraduate and graduate GPA. The suggested minimum GPA for all doctoral programs except Clinical is 3.0; the Clinical program has a suggested minimum GPA of 3.3. The average undergraduate GPA of those admitted to the department is typically around 3.7.

(2) Graduate Record Examination scores. The General Test is required. As of August 2011, there will be a new version of the GRE test. We will accept scores from either the old or new version of the test. The suggested minimum total score (based on old scoring) on the verbal and quantitative scores is:

• 1000 for the Cognitive and Developmental Programs
• 1100 for the Social and Neuroscience Programs and
• 1200 for the Clinical Program.

At this date, the equivalent score using the new GRE scoring method is not available but the suggested minimum average percentile score (verbal and quantitative) is:

• 40-45% for the Cognitive and Developmental Programs
• 54-57% for the Social and Neuroscience Programs and
• 62-67% for the Clinical Program.

The average combined total of the verbal and quantitative scores of those admitted to the department is typically around 1250. It is the applicant's responsibility to take the test in time for scores to be included on the departmental and university applications. If the GRE scores are older than 5 years, it is necessary for the GRE to be retaken. Special care is used in interpreting the GRE scores of students who may have had an educational or cultural experience somewhat different from that of the traditional majority.

(3) Strong letters of recommendation. Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from professors, mentors and/or employers familiar with your academic and/or research experience via the university online application system.

(4) Prior experience (most students have 1 to 2 years of empirical research experience before entering one of our graduate programs), and:

(5) The applicant's personal statement.

Applicants should be aware that a matching of student and faculty interests plays a major role in the admissions process. For any given year, approximately half of the faculty accepts students to work in their research laboratories. Those students whose background and expressed areas of interest best match the research interests of these particular professors have an increased likelihood of being selected. It is therefore important that applicants carefully consider those faculty of interest (in the program to which they are applying) with whom they would like to work prior to completing the application. Applicants should list those faculty whose research best fits with their own interests and experiences, as this information is used in the matching process. The names of faculty who are considering accepting a student to their research laboratory are listed in the online application.

The Department of Psychology adheres to the resolution adopted by the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology, which provides that a student has until April 15th to accept offers of admission and funding. A student who accepts an offer prior to April 15th, and subsequently desires to withdraw, may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through April 15th. However, an acceptance in force after April 15th is binding. Acceptance of an offer from another school requires a written release from the original institution.