Table: Graduate school admissions in departments of psychology by subfields
|
Doctoral Programs
|
Master's Degree Programs
|
|
Subfield
|
Number of programs
|
Average percentage accepted
|
Total students enrolled
|
Number of programs
|
Average percentage accepted
|
Total students enrolled
|
|
Clinical
|
211
|
21.2
|
3,324
|
98
|
52.7
|
1,671
|
|
Clinical Neuropsychology
|
20
|
25.8
|
213
|
|
|
|
|
Community
|
12
|
31.0
|
43
|
22
|
53.8
|
416
|
|
Counseling
|
34
|
21.5
|
447
|
108
|
65.5
|
2,764
|
|
Health
|
12
|
30.9
|
87
|
3
|
70.3
|
23
|
|
School
|
52
|
37.4
|
392
|
49
|
48.9
|
682
|
|
Other health services provider subfields
|
48
|
25.7
|
477
|
64
|
64.5
|
1,395
|
|
Cognitive
|
88
|
32.4
|
353
|
10
|
52.8
|
25
|
|
Developmental
|
99
|
27.2
|
374
|
19
|
47.9
|
166
|
|
Educational
|
31
|
50.0
|
170
|
15
|
57.3
|
149
|
|
Environmental
|
2
|
39.1
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
Experimental
|
31
|
37.6
|
163
|
38
|
55.4
|
261
|
|
Industrial/ organizational
|
53
|
25.7
|
281
|
76
|
56.6
|
849
|
|
General
|
|
|
|
59
|
58.0
|
972
|
|
Neuroscience
|
49
|
26.9
|
148
|
6
|
32.3
|
50
|
|
Personality
|
15
|
19.2
|
45
|
|
|
|
|
Physiological
|
4
|
39.4
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
Psychobiology
|
13
|
25.0
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
Quantitative
|
14
|
42.6
|
32
|
5
|
72.7
|
18
|
|
Social
|
80
|
19.4
|
270
|
8
|
47.6
|
29
|
|
Other research subfields
|
76
|
33.2
|
339
|
41
|
60.7
|
443
|
|
Other fields
|
8
|
22.9
|
36
|
2
|
33.3
|
12
|
|
Total
|
981
|
27.4
|
7,247
|
624
|
57.4
|
9,925
|
The data in Table 8.3 provide some indication about the relative popularity of programs (number of students enrolled), as well as the competitiveness (average percentage accepted).
One fact about Table 8.3 to keep in mind is that the category "doctoral programs" includes both Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs across specialty fields. When someone applies to graduate school, it is typically a more involved process than applying to an undergraduate institution.
Here are the types of information that you might be asked to provide in the graduate admissions process (from Landrum & Davis, 2010):
(a) curriculum vitae or resume;
(b) biographical statement or personal statements with your career interests and goals;
(c) overall GPA, GPA in psychology, last two years GPA (verified with official transcripts);
(d) list of relevant courses completed in the major;
(e) Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores (may include GRE Psychology Subject Test);
(f) letters of recommendation sent by you or sent directly from the school from (typically) three recommenders; and
(g) application fee (if applicable).
How do graduate admissions committees evaluate and weigh the different components of the graduate admissions package?
The answer is complicated and varies greatly by school and type of degree program. But you can get a sense of what is important to
Which three subfields in psychology that most interest you?
What personal characteristics (knowledge, skills, abilities) do you possess that might make these areas a good fit for you?
Which three subfields interest you the least?
If you were challenged with creating a new subfield, what would be the name of your subfield and what would it consist of?