BEFORE YOU APPLY

Admission to the Clinical Psychology program is competitive. We receive 200-350 applications per year and have 5-6 openings available for incoming students.

The fit between a student and the program philosophy, structure, and faculty interests is essential. See the list of faculty members interested in accepting students for the upcoming academic year. Visits prior to application are not permitted as this may give an unfair advantage to local individuals.

PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON THIS SITE AND OUR FAQ PAGE BEFORE CONTACTING THE PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM OR THE DCT. **Is Clinical Psychology the best type of training for me?** **Your guide to getting in** The Admissions Director, Norah Feeny, is happy to respond to e-mail inquiries regarding specific questions that cannot be answered here.

For important information on our guidelines for graduate school offers and acceptances, please read this.

ADMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Students are accepted for fall admission only.
  • To be admitted, students are required to have a completed bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology.
    • For students who already have a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, transfer credits are assessed once an applicant is accepted and enrolled. A master’s degree from another program may meet some of the requirements of our Ph.D. program. There is no guarantee, however, that the courses taken at another college or university will transfer, and a thesis completed elsewhere may not meet the requirements of our program.
    • Students should have completed a minimum of 18 semester hours of undergraduate psychology courses.
  • Students should have at least 1 year research experience in a psychology lab.
  • Students should have at least 1 publication or presentation.
  • Students should have a strong research match with the faculty member they indicate on their supplemental application.
  • Preferred minimum scores for admission are:
    • GPA: 3.25
    • TOEFL iBT: 90, TOEFL PBT: 577, PTE: 61 for international students.
    • *GRE not required and is not used in application review*

HOW TO APPLY

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 1 OF EACH YEAR.

Instructions/FAQ about the online application process can be found here.

Submit the following using the online application process:

  • A thoughtful personal statement that clarifies the student’s specific interests and background in psychology
  • Strong recommendation letters documenting experience relevant to psychology research and clinical service
  • Writing samples of submitted publications (optional but recommended)
  • Ensure the faculty member you indicate on the supplemental application is a good research fit

The School of Graduate Studies must receive all required materials before any formal action can be taken. It usually takes several weeks for all the application materials, including letters of recommendation, to be received and processed. Applications completed after the deadline may not be given full consideration.

Interview invitations to interview are sent out by e-mail or phone in January. Interviews will be performed via Zoom on two Fridays.


Applicant Data

Academic year applied for entrance in

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

Number of Applicants 256 300 234 239
Size of Incoming Class 6 6 5 5
# Incoming Students Receiving Financial Aid 6 6 5 5

Year entering program

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

Undergraduate GPA mean 3.82 3.82 3.66 3.92

Questions related to the program’s accreditation status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 Email: apaaccred@apa.org

CWRU complies with the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) Guidelines for Graduate School Offers and Acceptances.