When starting this mentorship program, we received numerous emails from students seeking answers regarding psychology graduate school – specifically, the application process. This FAQ aims to answer some of the common questions and supply potential graduate school applicants with additional resources.
Disclaimer: The information provided below is for informal reference purposes only. Though informal, we hope that this FAQ page will be a helpful resource for potential graduate school applicants. Please keep in mind that both the field of psychology and the admissions process are constantly evolving. Though we try to stay current, the information provided here may not be up to date. Likewise, the information here may not be applicable to all schools or programs. These FAQs are specific to Clinical Psychology graduate programs. While we expect that some of the information provided may apply to other types of psychology graduate programs, we cannot ensure this. Furthermore, acceptance into a psychology graduate school program is not guaranteed and your experiences may vary. For more resources outside of this FAQ, please see the Additional Resources tab at the bottom of the page.
The UCF Clinical Psychology Mentorship Committee would like to extend our gratitude to the authors of many of the guides, webpages, documents, and other resources linked throughout this FAQ.
There are many different types of graduate program types and specialties. Picking the type of program or degree that is best for you requires careful consideration of a variety of factors. This guide by Dr. Mitch Prinstein describes many of the different types of psychology graduate programs. You can also find information on the different types of psychology graduate programs in this book, and on the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Careers in Psychology webpage.
Generally, picking a program should be based on what you envision your career to be. If you aim to work as a clinician, a Masters or PsyD may be preferable. If you wish to do research, a PhD would be ideal. If you wish to work in academia, a PhD will be preferred, although a PsyD can also be an option. One important distinction between a Master’s and PhD/PsyD is that you will generally not receive funding for a master’s degree, but it will only take approximately two years. PhD/PsyD programs take 4 to 6 years but will generally include some sort of funding.
Choosing what specific schools that you apply to requires a lot of careful consideration. There are a few key factors that you should consider:
Does the program/school’s education philosophy and values align with yours?
Does the program/school offer training experiences that will help you reach your professional goals?
Does the program/school have a faculty member whose research and clinical interests align with yours? Are they taking a student this year?
Do you have any restrictions that would prevent you from being a good fit for the program/school (e.g., geographical restrictions, test scores or academic history that are significantly under the program/school’s average acceptance rates)?
Dr. Prinstein's guide offers a detailed perspective on how to make these decisions. The APA also has a psychology graduate school search tool that can help with comparing different psychology graduate programs. Please note, however, that this is not a free tool.
APA accreditation gives applicants a measure of assurance that their education and training at a given program or school meet the standards of the profession. This can be helpful in securing opportunities for jobs and membership in professional organizations. Most importantly, most states require a degree from an APA accredited institution to qualify for licensure. More information on APA accreditation and its importance for psychology graduate programs can be found here and on the APA website.
Dr. Prinstein's guide has a helpful a timeline for applying to graduate school.
Admissions requirements for graduate school vary widely based on the school. In general, however, most schools require that applicants submit test scores (e.g., GRE), personal statement/personal essay, and three letters of recommendation. Please note that not all programs require that applicants submit scores on the GRE Psychology Subject test. Additionally, international students may be asked to take additional tests, such as the TOEFL.
In general, programs seek students who want to work with people. The exact requirements will differ by program, but in general, PhD and PsyD programs are significantly more competitive (e.g., 3-5% acceptance rate) vs. master’s degree programs (e.g., 35%). With PhD and PsyD programs, a background in research will be helpful for your application. Doing work as a Research Assistant (RA) or writing an undergraduate thesis can be very helpful for getting that research experience and forming connections with mentors or supervisors who can write stronger letters of recommendation.
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is meant to serve as a broad assessment of an applicant’s overall verbal and quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and critical thinking skills. Although different programs have different GRE cut-off score requirements, studying for the examination is strongly recommended to be a competitive applicant. Please note that the GRE is ever evolving, with frequent changes in format and scoring. Thus, the information provided here may not be current. Please visit the ETS website for up to date information on the GRE.
Not all schools require the GRE Psychology Subject Test.
Resumes are approximately one to two pages in length with a select group of experiences, while a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a much longer document (2+ pages) where more detailed accomplishments can be listed. A CV will typically list any publications or posters presented (if applicable), any clinical experiences one has had (if applicable), research experiences (e.g., involvement as an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate research assistant in a lab), awards or honors (e.g., graduating cum laude or a presentation fellowship), and any other important experiences that denote your skills and capabilities (e.g., volunteering work).
A personal statement/personal essay is a way for you to tell your story. How did you get to where you are? What are the significant influences that have made you believe that a graduate career in Clinical Psychology is your calling? One recommendation is to tell a cohesive “story” about your path towards becoming a Clinical psychologist. Most often, applicants begin this story by sharing an anecdote about how they came to be interested in a career in psychology, then describe the experiences they have had that support this interest (e.g., attending offices hours by the UCF Mentorship Committee, creating a relationship with a mentor, joining a research lab, or undergraduate research). It is important to connect these experiences clearly to the program and/or mentor that you are applying to work for. How do your experiences make you a good fit for the program or lab you’re applying to? What additional skills would you bring to the new environment? Be direct – this is your chance to highlight all of your hard work and skills!
A letter of recommendation is a letter written by someone who can provided detailed information about an individual’s academic or work capabilities. In general, it is important that you ask individuals who know your skills, experiences, and work ethics well, and can speak to them clearly. Additionally, it is important to ask someone who will be able to provide a strong letter of recommendation. Dr. Prinstein notes that a lukewarm or weak letter of recommendation can be the “kiss of death” for some applicants. As noted earlier, most schools require that you submit three letters. At least two of those letters should be from individuals with a Ph.D in psychology.
Congratulations on receiving an interview! You made it past the first hurdle and have demonstrated yourself to be a qualified candidate. While the interview process can seem scary, this guide has a helpful section on preparing for the interview process. The APA website also offers some advice on general interview do's and don’ts.
We offer weekly virtual office hours that are open to UCF students who are seeking guidance or have specific questions about Clinical Psychology graduate programs. We also host panels throughout the year where we discuss the graduate school application process. Panel discussions and office hours are listed on our Events calendar.
Writing Help (CV/Personal Statement)
Finding Research Experiences as an Undergraduate
UCF Research Position Database
UCF Academic Advancement Programs
UCF Experiential Learning Program
Finding Post-baccalaureate Experiences