Graduate School in Psychology

How difficult is it to gain admission to graduate programs in psychology?

Acceptance rates vary depending on the degree (e.g., masters or doctoral) and the type of the program (e.g., clinical, cognitive, developmental). Median acceptance rates for doctoral programs are below.

From Norcross, Kohout, and Wicherski (2005).

Acceptance rates for doctoral clinical psychology programs tend to be the lowest among all fields of psychology. Acceptance rates for clinical programs vary greatly, depending on whether they award the PhD or PsyD degrees. Accaeptance rates for APA-accredited doctoral-level clinical programs are below.

From Norcross, Kohout, and Wicherski (2005).

What is the difference between PhD and PsyD programs?

Most PhD programs follow the scientist-practitioner model of training, sometimes called the Boulder Model. This model emphasizes the integration of psychological science and clinical practice. Although most graduates of scientist-practitioner programs are clinicians, all are training first and foremost as behavioral scientists. These PhD programs are located in universty settings, typically in departments of psychology. The scientist-practitioner model was established in 1949.

Most PsyD programs follow the scholar-professional model of training, sometimes called the Vail Model. This model emphasizes the clinical practice of psychology and is analogous to other professional programs (e.g., law, medicine). PsyD programs may be located in university psychology departments, university-affiliated psychology schools, and freestanding for-profit professional schools that are not affiliated with universities. The scholar-professional model was established in 1973.

 Norcross, Sayette, and Mayne (2008) identify seven other differences between PhD and PsyD programs:

1. Research skills. PhD programs provide more extensive research experience to students, including the completion of an original, empirically-based dissertation. For this reason, the authors argue that a PhD is desirable for individuals interested in academic careers such as teaching and research.
2. Length of training. On average, students take 1 to 1.5 years longer to complete PhD programs than PsyD programs, probably because of the greater research demands associated with the former.
3. Acceptance rates. Acceptance rates vary considerably between PhD (6-10%) and PsyD (41-50%) programs.
4. Financial assistance. Students attending PhD programs are more likely to receive full funding (61-81%) than students attending PsyD programs (3-10%).
5. Loan debt. The median debt for clinical PhD recipients is approximately one-half the median debt for PsyD recipients.
6. Accerdited inernships. PhD students are significantly more likely to acquire an accredited clinical internship than PsyD students, espcially those attending freestanding professional schools.
7. Licensure exam scores. On average, PhD graduates earn significantly higher scores on the national licensing exam than PsyD graduates. The exam is necessary to practice psychology.

The student-teacher ratio may also differ significantly between PhD and PsyD programs, especially among PsyD programs in freestanding professional schools. For example, the 2007 incoming PhD classes at Loyola University Chicago and University of Illinois at Chicago were 6 and 5, respectively. In contrast, the 2007 incoming PsyD classes at Argosy Unievrsity Chicago and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology was 68 and 82, respectively.

What criteria do graduate programs use to select applicants?

Here is a list of selection criteria, ranked by importance, for doctoral level graduate programs in psychology. The survey was completed by graduate faculty.

From Norcross, Kohout, and Wicherski (2005). Note that ratings apply to all doctoral programs in psychology, including experimental programs.