Reasons For Denied Acceptance

We know that a deny letter is never welcome news, and we appreciate that some students may wish to reapply in a future cycle, or may desire feedback about ways to improve their application. The PAU Office of Admissions team does not have enough staff to provide individual feedback on applications, but we do encourge students to review the charts below for more information about the most common reasons a student may not be admitted to one of our graduate programs.

All Graduate Programs

	Common Reasons Applications Are Denied	Recommendations
Academics and Transcripts	Academic history and transcripts were not strong. Grades do not demonstrate preparedness for rigorous graduate-level work. Lack of foundational or pre-requisite courses.	Take additional courswork to improve GPA. Speak to the Admissions Counselor on other ways to show academic strength.
Recommendation Letters	References were inappropriate: neither professional nor academic. References provided low evaluation scores or did not recommend.	Select professional or academic references. Improve professional or academic history to strengthen reference relationships.
Personal Statements	Statement contained mechanical errors, lacked clarity, or had weak structure. Statement did not meet the formatting and content criteria. Statement did not address the prompt, was vague or unfocused, or did not demonstrate a basic understanding of the discipline.	Take time to self-reflect on why you want to pursue a graduate degree in this field. Consider rewriting with editing assistance from someone else.
Poor Fit	Upon review of application materials, committee determines that applicant may not be a good fit for this program. This may include clinical or research interests, interpersonal concerns, or community mis-match.	Double-check that your goals, skills, and values are good fit for the program to which you are applying. Engage in mock interviews to practice interpersonal and interview skills. Engage in personal counseling to address past trauma or mental health concerns that may need work before you are ready to help others.
Lack of Sensitivity or Knowledge Surrounding Diversity	Displaying insensitivity when speaking about diverse populations. Lack of self-awareness around personal biases, or lack of willingness to engage in growth in this area. Inability to work with or support fellow students or clients who hold identities different from your own.	Educate yourself by reading, taking classes, or attending events that focus on ethnic, minority, or racial groups about which you have limited knowledge. Engage in work to identify your personal biases and consider how these might affect your work as a psychologist or counselor.

Doctoral Programs

	Common Reasons Applications Are Denied	Recommendations
Lack of Experience	Applicant does not have enough clinical experience or research experience. Applicant has not engaged meaningfully with the field of clinical psychology.	Find work or volunteer opportunities to gain clinical experience. Join a research lab to gain research experience. Join a professional organization or attend conferences and webinars on topics relevant to clinical psychology.
Lack of Knowledge about Doctoral Program	Inability to clearly explain why they want a PhD or PsyD as opposed to providing therapy as master's level licenced counselor. Applicant cannot articulate, even broadly, their research or clinical interests.	Research the difference between the programs. Reach out to clarify unasnwered questions. Be able to clearly explain how a doctoral degree will lead you to your goals as opposed to a master's program. Identify at least one or two PAU faculty with whom you would like to conduct research.
Unclear Motivations	Applicant cannot identify why they want to pursue a PsyD vs. a PhD, or vice versa. For applicants applying to both programs, student cannot identify the differences between the programs and why each might be a fit. Applicant appears primarily moativated to apply by prestige or brand name.	Research the differences between the programs and go beyond the surface level in understanding program design, values and purpose.