Clinical Psychology Admission information

The Clinical program admits new students to a program of full-time study once a year at the beginning of the fall semester. All application materials should be submitted to the Admissions Office of the Graduate School by December 1

Our program is committed to equity and inclusion of students who are traditionally underrepresented in psychology. As a tangible step towards this goal, the faculty voted to suspend use of the GRE in the upcoming admissions cycle. The GRE General test (verbal, quantitative, and writing) and psychology subject test are not required, and scores will neither be accepted nor considered. Please do not submit them through the formal submission portal or directly to individual faculty members.

We value diversity in all its forms and actively promote a culture of inclusion and respect. Students from under-represented racial/ethnic populations and disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation college students, veterans, students with disabilities, and people who identify as a sexual or gender minority, are highly encouraged to apply. Admitted students from underrepresented groups may be eligible for additional fellowships (specifically see the Clark Diversity Fellowship), awarded by the graduate school on a competitive basis. The University also offers an application fee waiver to various applicants. Students in need of fee waivers who are unsure of their eligibility are encouraged to contact the Graduate School directly.

Admission to the graduate program supports our clinical scientist training mission. The following serve as examples of information considered in the admissions process:

·         Undergraduate academic performance

·         Work history and research experience, especially as it pertains to fit with the applicant’s
          identified mentor

·         Dedication to advancing and applying scientific knowledge in clinical psychology

·         Personal statement

·         Letters of recommendation

·         Awards, honors, and distinguishing aspects of the application

·         Interview performance of applicants

Our program does not use a pre-determined formula or cut-scores for admission. Instead, applicants are considered holistically to determine match between each applicant’s training goals and opportunities available from the prospective mentor and program. Applicants’ individual professional and developmental trajectories are considered on an individualized basis. Binghamton University is ranked among an elite group of institutions that achieve the highest Carnegie Classification, Very High Research Activity (“R1”) and, as such, prior research and scholarly activities are weighed heavily.

Following review of the application components due on December 1, some applicants will be invited to participate in personal interviews. Please note that some labs (but not others) conduct preliminary phone interviews with select applicants prior to in-person interviews. In either case, the goal of these interactions is to provide mutual opportunities to better determine a match between the applicant, prospective mentor, and the clinical program. Indeed, just as we utilize interviews as part of our evaluation process, applicants are encouraged to identify the strengths of our training program in relation to their own training and career goals. Although interviews have traditionally been conducted in person, we anticipate that interviews for the next admission cycle will be held virtually. We remain committed to ensuring that applicants who participate in interviews will have a broad range of interactions with faculty and graduate students.

Admissions offers are extended after evaluation of all applications has concluded. We make every effort to update all applicants as to the status of their admissions decision as quickly as possible, and in accordance with laid out by the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology.

If you have questions about applying to Clinical Psychology PhD programs, in general, please consider visiting https://cudcp.org/Predoctoral-Competencies