Competitive Applicants for Clinical Ph.D. Programs

Competitive applicants for Clinical Psychology Ph.D. programs will typically meet at least the criteria below. Note that a high percentage of applicants who meet many of the following criteria still do not gain admission to doctoral programs -- remember that there are few fields that offer such a high degree of competitiveness for admission into Ph.D. programs.

Typically, Counseling Psychology Ph.D. programs are slightly to somewhat less competitive than Clinical programs, and most Psy.D. programs are less competitive than Ph.D. programs.

Criteria

• GPA: 3.5 or higher
• GRE Scores: Verbal + Quantitative of 1100 or higher (1200 and up is more characteristic of accepted students at many programs)
• Research Experience: The more, the better. Having work published in a scientific journal is especially helpful. Presenting scientific work at professional conferences, though less impressive than publication, will also help your application.
• Letters of Reference:You will need at least three very solid references. At least two should be academic references in nearly all cases. It is helpful if your references can attest to the traits listed in the linked document. You will also find my policy on letters of reference within the document.
• Clinical Experience:The great majority of programs are much more concerned with the amount of research experience than the amount of clinical experience you have gained to this point. However, clinical experience can only help your application and may be somewhat helpful to your chances of admission depending on the programs to which you apply.
• Other Experiences:Most programs place little weight on the types of unrelated experiences you have compiled. It can be helpful to list these experiences on your resume, but do not expect them to help your application very much.

Note that these are only rough estimates, as programs tend to vary somewhat in their expectations. However, it is likely safe to say that if you do not meet the above credentials, you are quite unlikely to gain admittance to the great majority of clinical psychology Ph.D. programs. It would be wise to also consult the rough criteria for masters program admissions.

Disclaimer: The content and opinions represented in this site are not necessarily those of Metropolitan State University. The site author, Dr. Glen Spielmans, is solely responsible for the site's content.