Graduate Program
Acceptance and Reapplication
ACCEPTANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING FACTORS:
- Adequate academic ability as measured by the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing scores on the GRE General Test. For doctoral students accepted recently, the total of the verbal and quantitative scores has averaged about 1200. Students scoring below 1000 generally are not considered for admission.
- General achievement in undergraduate work. Most students accepted in the program have cumulative grade-point averages of 3.5 or more, where A = 4.0. Particular stress is placed on grades in psychology and performance in the last two undergraduate years; thus an upward trend in grades is favorably considered by the department. Students recently accepted have averaged about 3.7 in their psychology work. Achievement in the natural and social sciences, mathematics, education, statistics, and computers is also of special relevance.
- Adequate background in psychology. Students with undergraduate degrees in fields other than psychology are considered for admission. Student must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of undergraduate psychology. Recommended courses include introductory psychology, statistics, research methods, and research-oriented courses. By permission, deficiencies in background may be made up after admission to the department. Individual programs may have specific course requirements. They can be found on the different individual program web pages.
- Personal qualities that predict success in graduate study and satisfactory professional placement after graduation. For these qualities to be evaluated, the applicant is required to submit three letters of recommendation. In addition, a personal interview is part of the usual evaluation process for students who pass an initial screening. The Interview Weekend for students who pass the initial screening will be held February 15-16, 2008. Invitations to Interview Weekend will be sent by early February.
- Fit between the applicants' interests and those of departmental faculty. Applicants' interests are communicated in their personal statements. We believe that we can provide the best training for students who share research and/or clinical interests with our faculty.
Students who are West Virginia natives or who have attended West Virginia colleges or universities are encouraged to apply. In fact, students who are, and plan to remain, residents of the Appalachian region, and who have some experience working in the the fields of mental health or education, are particularly invited to apply for the Professional Master's program in clinical psychology .
If you are not admitted to a graduate program, we will hold your folder for reapplication for one year. If you request reapplication, you also will need to reapply to the Department of Admissions and Records using their Graduate Application and pay the application fee again. You should notify the Graduate Admissions Secretary of your intention to reapply and update your Psychology Department application in three ways. First, please submit a new personal statement emphasizing any professional activities that you have engaged in over the past year. Second, if you have continued to work in the field, please send updated letters of reference from your supervisors or others who have had contact with you during this time. Finally, please update your transcripts and list of courses.