How do I have information about the graduate programs mailed to me?

You can request program information through an online form available on our website. Click on the “Request Information” link on the following webpage for access to the online form: http://www.psy.fsu.edu/grad.prog/gradapp.html. You can also obtain detailed information about our graduate programs at other locations on this website (see http://www.psy.fsu.edu/grad.prog/grad.html).

How do I apply to your program?

You will need to complete both a university and departmental application online. International students will be unable to complete the university application online and will need to download and print the application and mail it to the FSU Office of Admissions; the departmental application can be completed online. All students will need to send two official transcripts for each college and university attended and official GRE scores to the FSU Office of Admissions. You will need to send a photocopy of your GRE scores, a photocopy of your transcript(s), and three academic letters of recommendation to the department; this will expedite review of your application if there is a delay in the department’s receipt of the official records from the Admissions Office.

You can see detailed information about the application process, and get links to the online application forms, by clicking on “Application Procedures” from the following webpage: http://www.psy.fsu.edu/grad.prog/gradapp.html

Do I need to send official transcripts?

Yes. Official transcripts from each college and university you’ve attended must be sent to the FSU Office of Admissions. In addition, you need to send copies of your transcripts to the Department of Psychology. Please see Application Procedures at http://www.psy.fsu.edu/grad.prog/gradapp.html for addresses and instructions.

What is the application fee?

The application fee is $30. Fee waivers are not available.

What is the minimum GPA required?

The minimum overall GPA required to be considered for admission is 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) for all programs except Clinical Psychology, for which it is 3.2. The average undergraduate GPA of recently admitted students has been approximately 3.7. Practically speaking, you need at least a 3.2 to be considered competitive, unless your other qualifications (e.g., GRE scores, background experience, and letters of recommendation) are strong enough to compensate for a less than desired GPA.

What are the minimum GRE scores?

Minimum combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores are 1000 for the Cognitive, Developmental and Social Psychology programs and 1100 for the Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience programs. The average combined verbal and quantitative scores for recently admitted students have been approximately 1200. However, averages vary between programs, with scores typically higher for Clinical students than those in other programs. Please note that special care is used in interpreting the GRE scores of students who may have had an educational or cultural experience somewhat different from that of the traditional majority.

Is the GRE psychology subject exam required?

No, we do not require the GRE Psychology subject exam.

What is FSU’s institutional code?

In order to have official GRE scores sent to us, you’ll need FSU’s institutional code and the major field code. The institutional code for FSU is 5219. Major field codes are: Clinical 2001, Cognitive 2002, Developmental 2006, Social 2015, Neuroscience 0213.

Do I need an undergraduate degree in psychology?

We require a bachelor's degree or equivalent in psychology. What that means is that if you have a degree in nursing, social work, or some other related field which requires a fair number of psychology courses, you have a chance of being accepted, depending on your other qualifications. If your undergraduate degree was in an unrelated area and the only psychology class you took was the basic introductory course, you're not going to be competitive. We do not have a set list of prerequisite courses and it is difficult to specify the minimum number of courses you need to be competitive. An important course for all applicants is research methods.

How many applications are received by your department? Of those, how many are recommended for admission?

We generally receive approximately 350 applications for graduate admission a year. We typically offer admission to 20-26 graduate students (across programs) on a yearly basis.

What is the deadline for filing application materials?

We admit students to the doctoral programs during the fall semester only.

For Fall 2007 admission, application deadlines for receipt of materials are as follows:

Clinical Psychology: November 30, 2007

Neuroscience, and Social Psychology: December 15, 2007

Cognitive Psychology and Developmental Psychology: January 14, 2008

Do you have a standard form or format for the required academic letters of recommendation?

No.

How may I review the University Catalogue?

The University Catalog, or Bulletin, can be reviewed online. See the FSU Prospective Students Graduate Information Page (http://www.fsu.edu/prospective/graduate/) for this, and other, helpful information about pursuing graduate education at FSU.

How can I increase my chances of getting accepted?

Besides having a good GPA and GRE score, you will increase your chances of admission by showing that you are dedicated enough to the field of psychology to go above and beyond the basic undergraduate curriculum. The most important way to do this is to obtain research experience. Some ways to do this are to write an honors thesis and/or to work in a professor's research lab. For students interested in the Clinical Psychology program, you may also wish to do volunteer work, such as with the suicide prevention hotline or at your local community mental health center.

Applicants should be aware that a matching of student and faculty interests plays a major role in the admissions process. For any given year, approximately half of the faculty accept students to work in their research laboratories. Those students whose background and expressed areas of interest best match the research interests of these particular professors have an increased likelihood of being selected. It is therefore important that applicants carefully consider those faculty with whom they would like to work prior to completing the application. Applicants should list those faculty whose research best fits with their own interests and experiences, as this information is used in the matching process.

Are there any websites that you would recommend for an applicant to graduate school in psychology?

For more hints on getting into graduate school and succeeding once you’re there, see: http://www.psychgrad.org.

I have a Master's Degree in Psychology- can I waive some graduate courses at FSU?

Previous graduate courses taken at another institution may be accepted by the Department in place of required courses. Acceptance is generally based on similarity of a previous course with the one taught at FSU. Acceptance of a course is done following admission to the program on a course-by-course basis by the FSU faculty member teaching the course you'd like to waive.      

Would getting a master's degree help me get into a Ph.D. program?

Possibly, but not necessarily. The students who might be most helped by pursuing a terminal master's degree in psychology or a related field before applying to a Ph.D. program are those whose undergraduate qualifications are good, but not strong enough to get into a Ph.D. program straight out of college (e.g., lower than desired GPA or minimal research experience). In those cases, a master's degree would show a dedication to the field and the ability to successfully complete graduate-level work. It’s advisable to attend a master’s program that provides an empirically-based thesis option or at least opportunities to gain research experience.

Is funding available? How do I apply?

It is not necessary to make a separate application for funding. Our Department makes every effort to provide financial assistance for doctoral students in good standing in the department. Students typically receive some kind of support throughout their graduate education (graduate, teaching, or research assistantships), as well as tuition waivers. Students are generally responsible for fees associated with enrollment (these are minimal: approximately $1,000 per year for Florida residents and $1,800 per year for out-of-state residents) and the cost of books and supplies. For more information about the financial support available in our Department, see: http://www.psy.fsu.edu/grad.prog/financial.html.

How much is the graduate stipend?

Graduate stipends differ based on the source of the funding. For example, 12-month graduate stipends vary between $15,000 for a departmental assistantship for first year students to $23,000 for a presidential university research fellowship.

Is there an interview process for acceptance?

Most programs in the Department of Psychology have an interview process in which select applicants are invited to campus. Invitations are usually extended in January or February, depending on the program.

How may I review the University Catalogue?

The University Catalog, or Bulletin, can be reviewed online. See the FSU Prospective Students Graduate Information Page (http://www.fsu.edu/prospective/graduate/) for this, and other, helpful information about pursuing graduate education at FSU.

How can I check the status of my application?

It is the applicant's responsibility to have all required materials on file in our department by the deadline. If you have any doubts about the completeness of your file, it is advisable to send an e-mail message to grad-info@psy.fsu.edu. If you are unable to communicate via e-mail, then you may call the department at (850) 644-2499. Please allow at least two weeks for receipt and processing of your materials prior to contacting us. You may need to send us your application materials via overnight mail or, if necessary, by fax (850-644-7739) if it is close to the due date and you discover that your application is incomplete. There will be no extension of the deadline date and the faculty will not review incomplete files.

Does the Department offer distance learning options?

No, the Department does not currently offer any graduate distance learning programs.

Does the Department offer part-time degree options?

No, full time enrollment is required for all programs.

Does the Department offer terminal master’s degree options?

The master's degree is obtained in route to the PhD and is considered incidental to the doctorate. The only program in our Department that offers a terminal master's degree is the Applied Behavior Analysis Specialty Program offered at the Panama City campus. For more information about this program see: this link.