PhD in Clinical Psychology Admissions

PhD Admission Deadlines Application review begins Nov. 1, 2022. Apply by Dec. 1, 2022 for early consideration

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The PhD in Clinical Psychology program admits students once a year for the fall term, which starts in September.

Quick Application Checklist

Online Application via PsyCAS
Application Fee
Official Transcripts
Resume or CV
Three Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose

Deadlines

The application for the fall 2022 cohort is now closed. Application review for the fall 2023 cohort begins November 1, 2022.
Apply by December 1, 2022 for early consideration.
Apply by January 8, 2023 for regular considerations. Applications may be accepted after this date if space is available.

Preparation

Applications for fall 2023 open mid-September 2022. PAU uses the American Psychological Association’s (APA), Psychology Centralized Application Service (PSYCAS). In preparation for applying, you will need a copy of your transcript(s) available for your review.

Prerequisites

The PhD program requires the following prerequisites for entry into the PhD in Clinical Psychology program:

Biopsychology (e.g. Sensation and Perception, Brain and Behavior)
Abnormal Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Statistics

The four mentioned courses will help ensure that all incoming students have a smooth and easy transition into graduate school.

Start your PSYCAS Application

MS and PhD Virtual Open House

Watch our on-demand graduate virtual open house to learn more about the MS and PhD program at PAU. Learn more about our faculty and meet our admissions team.

Admissions Snapshot 2021-22 Application Cycle (as of 5.16.22)

PhD Total Applicants	528
Admit Rate	27.7%
Final Cohort Size	70

Demographic Summary: 2021-22 Deposited PhD Students

Self-Reported Race (PAU uses IPEDS rules when reporting race and ethnicity)

Hispanic	25.53%
American Indian	N/A
Asian	33.33%
Black	3.92%
Pacific Islander	N/A
White	37.25%
Two or More Races	N/A
No Response	1.96%

Race - Narrative Summary

Hispanic	3
Hispanic - White	6
Hispanic - Black - Pacific Islander	1
Hispanic - Black	2
Asian Asian Indian Chinese Filipino Japanese Pakistani Sri Lankan Taiwanese	17 7 5 1 1 1 1 1
Black	2
White	19

Gender

Male	9.80%
Female	86.27%%
Gender Non-Conforming	1.96%
Not Listed	1.96%

Academics

Average Cumulative Undergraduate GPA

Lower Quartile: 2.71 – 3.34

Mean: 3.53

Median: 3.63

Upper Quartile: 3.85 – 4.0

Other Demographics

Average Age at Application	25.01 (Range: 20-33)
US Citizenship	72.5%
First Generation	43.13%
Native Languages	Amharic, Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, English, Hindi, Italian, Polish, Punjabi, Spanish, Swedish

FAQ: I would like to apply to the PhD and PsyD. Should I submit two personal statements?

Yes. Although both programs are committed to training clinical psychologists, the programs have different strengths, training missions, structure, and faculty. You do need to write separate statements of purpose for each program.

There are two ways to apply to both programs. You can submit two applications via PsyCAS, or you can speak with your Admissions Counselor and have them manually add the second application to your file. In both situations we recommend submitting two distinct personal statements.

PSYCAS offers an online centralized application portal for you to apply to master’s and doctoral programs across the discipline of psychology.

Apply on PSYCAS

PAU’s doctoral programs have been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)

Learn More about APA Accreditation

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Questions?
Contact Admissions
(800)-818-6136
admissions@paloaltou.edu

PSYCAS offers an online centralized application portal for you to apply to master’s and doctoral programs across the discipline of psychology.
Apply on PSYCAS
Contact Financial Aid for Assistance