Abstract
As the application process to Clinical Psychology graduate programs becomes increasingly competitive, applicants and advisors have a need to know what to expect. The aim of this article is to provide a brief overview of the application process, an examination of characteristics of admission committees’ criteria and selection policies, and an analysis of differences among and between programs of different types. Programs offering doctoral degrees in clinical psychology (n = 59) were surveyed regarding their admissions procedures and criteria, and the results are discussed in light of what impacts applicants. Findings suggest that policies and procedures are mixed, that important differences exist between Ph.D. programs and Psy.D. programs, and that programs generally follow an assessment model in their selection decisions.
Highlights
Each year, thousands of people seek a graduate education in psychology, as it has become one of the most popular disciplines to enter
The goals of the current study were essentially threefold: to investigate which applicant variables are deemed most significant in graduate psychology admissions decisions; to evaluate if those variables are considered through the lens of testing or assessment; and to determine what differences may exist between Ph.D. and Psy.D. program admissions policies
The current study set out to answer three main questions: what variables are most important in the decision-making process for American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited doctoral-level clinical psychology program admissions boards; are there meaningful differences in the valuing of applicant variables between Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs; and are the admissions boards carrying out their decisions through a testing strategy or through an assessment-like fashion
Summary
Thousands of people seek a graduate education in psychology, as it has become one of the most popular disciplines to enter. With its continued growth and popularity, the application process for clinical psychology programs has become exceptionally competitive. In the 2003-2004 academic year, the overall acceptance rate in doctoral clinical psychology was 21.20 percent (Norcross, Kohout, & Wicherski, 2006). This includes both Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs, and both American Psychological Association (APA)-accredited and non-accredited programs. Specific to APA-accredited programs, Norcross, Ellis, and Sayette (2010) found that acceptance rates for clinical doctoral programs averaged 17.00 percent. The most competitive admissions rates were found at APA-accredited Ph.D. programs with a strong research focus, averaging just 7.00 percent (Norcross, Ellis, & Sayette, 2010)
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