How to Apply
Our application for Fall 2023 admission is now closed. Fall 2023 applicants may check their application status by logging into our application portal.
See our FAQ page for frequently asked questions about our graduate programs and application process.
Updates on Admissions for Fall 2023
The following information about our 2022-2023 admissions procedures will help potential applicants plan ahead. These procedures apply to all our PhD programs (clinical, developmental, and social-personality psychology).
We will not require the GREs. Applicants may submit GREs if they choose, but the faculty will be de-emphasizing scores in our admissions process and evaluating applications with a holistic approach.
We will continue to keep our application fee low. Why? The cost of applying to graduate school can run into the thousands, and we are concerned that this creates a barrier that allows only students of financial means to apply (or requires applicants to take on debt). We hope that by alleviating the total cost of grad school applications even a little, we might increase access to academic psychology to underrepresented minorities, first generation college students, and other applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds. Please note that if $40 is still a financial burden for you, email our academic coordinator at PsychAcademics@ur.rochester.edu to ask for a fee waiver, no questions asked.
Please note we are no longer offering application fee waivers for applications for Fall 2023 admission because we have reached the maximum number of fee waivers that we can provide for this application season.
Learn more about applying through the links below:
- Application Checklist and Instructions
- Program-Specific Application Information
- Financial Support
- International Applicants
- Application Process and Timeline
- Diversity
- FAQs
- Contact Information
Application Checklist and Instructions
You may login here to check your application status.
Applications for fall 2023 admission are due December 1, 2022.
There is a $40 non-refundable application fee.
To submit an application:
Complete the University of Rochester online application. You will need to upload all of the required documents:
- Official transcript(s)*
- Three letters of recommendation
- CV/resume
- Personal statement
- Writing sample (optional)
- GRE scores (not required for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle)
- English Proficiency scores, for international applicants
*Please scan and upload an official or unofficial copy of your transcript(s) to your application. You will be required to provide the University with an official transcript upon acceptance.
Selecting a Mentor
In the online application you will be asked to select which faculty members you are interested in working with. You must select a first preference for a potential mentor and may select one additional potential mentor (two additional for Clinical).
For more information about which faculty members are reviewing applications this year, please see the Program-Specific Application Information below.
GRE Scores
- GRE scores are not required for the fall 2023 admissions cycle. Faculty will be deemphasizing them in the admissions process and evaluating applications with a holistic approach.
- Scores less than five years old can be submitted.
- Results of GREs taken in December may not reach us in time to consider with your application.
- GRE codes: Institution - 2928; no department code needed.
Program-Specific Application Information
The following faculty are interested in mentoring graduate students for the 2023-2024 academic year:
- Clinical: Dr. David Dodell-Feder, Dr. Christie Petrenko, Dr. Ron Rogge, Dr. Lisa Starr, Dr. Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez
- Developmental: Dr. Patrick Davies, Dr. Isobel Heck (incoming faculty member)
- Social-Personality: Dr. Jeremy Jamieson, Dr. Bonnie Le, Dr. Harry Reis
For more information about each program's admissions criteria, please visit the following pages:
Clinical Psychology Admissions Criteria
Developmental Psychology Admissions Criteria
Social-Personality Psychology Admissions Criteria
Financial Support
Students who are accepted into our PhD programs are granted a full tuition scholarship and receive a fellowship or assistantship supported by department funds or a research or training grant. The departmental stipend for incoming students during the 2022-2023 academic year is $24,000.
University Sproull Fellowships and Provost Minority Fellowships provide additional awards to graduate students of exceptional academic promise.
The University also covers the cost of student health insurance and the University's mandatory health fee. Please see the financial support section of our FAQs for more information.
International Applicants
English Language Proficiency Requirement
All international applicants from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through one of the following:
- You are a native speaker of English in your home environment;
- You completed 3 or more years of postsecondary education at an American or international school where English is the primary language of instruction; or
- You have fulfilled the English proficiency examination requirement through one of the following: IELTS, or TOEFL. In addition, we will accept the Duolingo English Test for the current application cycle.
Applying with a Three-Year Degree
If you are applying with a three-year degree from a foreign institution, you will need to provide a WES evaluation stating that the degree you were awarded is equivalent to a bachelor's degree. You can upload this information directly to your online application along with a copy of your transcript.
Application Process and Timeline
Reviewing of materials (and notifying candidates) will begin in December/January. Faculty in each area will conduct interviews with promising candidates in February 2023. Interviews for Fall 2023 admission will be conducted online via Zoom. Decisions about admissions are made after the interviews.
Clinical interviews: Interviews for the Clinical Psychology program will be conducted online via Zoom during the weekend of February 3rd and 4th. Admitted applicants will be invited to an in-person campus visit during the weekend of February 25th through 27th.
Developmental and Social-Personality interviews: Interviews for the Developmental Psychology and Social-Personality Psychology programs will be conducted online via Zoom based on applicant and faculty availability. In-person campus visits for admitted students will also be scheduled based on student and faculty availability.
Because of the large number of applicants, interviews are arranged by invitation only. We regret that we cannot honor requests for interviews initiated by applicants.
Applicants with Prior Graduate Studies
Applicants who have completed graduate work at other universities are evaluated by the same criteria as other students. Transfer of credit for graduate work with approval can be made up to a state-mandated maximum of 30 hours, but these arrangements cannot be made until after an applicant is offered admission.
Diversity
The Department of Psychology deeply values diversity, equity, and inclusion. Qualified applicants from under-represented identities are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our diversity efforts and resources, please visit our diversity, equity, and inclusion page.
FAQs
Please see our FAQ page for a full list of frequently asked questions.
Contact Information
If you have additional questions, please contact us at PsychAcademics@ur.rochester.edu.