Choosing a School

There are a number of different factors that you should consider in choosing the graduate schools to which you will apply. Some of the factors you will want to consider are:

*whether or not the school has a program in the specialty area in which you are interested.

Not all schools that offer graduate studies in psychology offer programs in each specialty. In fact, most don't. So, the first step to choosing a school is to decide what type of program you are interested in pursuing. This involves choosing the specialty area that you plan to pursue. For help in choosing a specialty area, click on the link at the right entitled "Choosing a Career Route."
Once you have chosen a specialty area, you need to locate schools who offer programs in the specialty area you plan to pursue.

*the type of degree the program awards

Graduate programs in psychology award a number of different degrees including the M.A., the Ph.D. and the Psy.D. You will want to explore what type of degree best fits your interests and career goals.

*entrance requirements/competitiveness of the program

Programs differ in terms of how many applications they typically receive for the number of slots they have available. Some require that applicants have GRE scores or GPA's above a certain cutoff; others have recommended scores/GPA's. We recommend applying to schools with varying degrees of competitiveness so as to increase the likelihood that you will be accepted into at least some of the programs to which you apply.

*the interest of faculty members at the school

If you have a particular research or clinical interest, you may want to search for faculty members who can serve as mentors to you as you develop these interests.

*whether the program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

You can read more about accreditation on APA's website.

Resources to Help in Choosing a School

The reference book Graduate Study in Psychology (available for purchase from the American Psychological Association or for review on the bookshelf outside the psychology offices on the 3rd floor of Centennial Hall) indexes school by state, provides information about the programs and degrees offered by each school, and lists the entrance requirements of various programs. Information regarding the number of applicants vs. number of accepted applicants is often also provided.

The APA website also provides additional information about graduate work that may be of help to you.

Click here for rankings of undergraduate and graduate psychology programs in various concentration areas.

Interested in pursuing counseling or clinical areas within psychology? Click here for further information about various options for graduate work in these areas.




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