Reference no: EM131231728

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?