Academic Eligibility Requirements

For admission to the Fox Graduate School at Penn State, an applicant must hold either: (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. This degree must be from an officially recognized degree-granting institution in the country in which it operates.

Admission decisions are based on the complete application portfolio. Admission to the Clinical Psychology program is granted jointly by the Fox Graduate School and Penn State Behrend's School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following is required by the Clinical Psychology program: 

GPA

Students must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 credits of course work. The undergraduate work must include a statistics course and a psychology research methods course with grades of B or higher.

Education

The applicant must have completed at least 18 credits in psychology as part of their four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Supporting Materials

  • Submit Penn State’s Graduate School online application.
    • Before you apply, be sure to have official transcripts from all institutions attended. In the application, skip any questions that don’t apply, such as junior/senior GPA, GMAT/GRE scores, etc.
  • A copy of an official transcript from each institution attended except Penn State
  • Three professional letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be academic
  • A resume or curriculum vitae
    • Include any and all job experience, research experience, and/or clinical or clinically-related experience 
    • Include any and all skills that would assist you in completing a rigorous graduate program
  • A writing sample (e.g., a course paper)
    • The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to write in a scientific manner (i.e., command of APA style, reference to and synthesis of scholarly sources) and your overall writing ability.
  • A brief (two-page) interest statement 
    • There is no official prompt for this statement; we encourage you to address the following things:
      • Why have you chosen to pursue a Clinical Psychology degree at Penn State Behrend?
      • How will these studies help you achieve your personal and professional goals?
      • How will your participation contribute to Penn State Behrend's Clinical Psychology program?
      • Indicate your current or most recent work, internship, and/or clinical experiences.
      • You also can address any concerns that you have regarding GRE scores, undergraduate GPA, or the like.
  • GRE scores are not required for admission, but students who do not submit GRE scores will not be eligible for most graduate assistantships and/or scholarships.
  • A personal interview is required.

Clinical Psychology Application Deadlines

The deadline to apply for admission to the fall semester is April 30.

  • For Fall 2025 admission:
    • The Admissions Review Committee will begin reviewing completed applications in mid-February. A second round of applications will be reviewed beyond April 30, if space is available in the program.
    • Domestic applicants can apply now for Fall 2025. A complete application should be ready for review by April 30. 
    • International applicants should have a complete application ready for review by mid-February. 
  • All application requirements, including references, are due by the deadline.
  • Once your application is accessible, Graduate Admissions will begin assembling your application portfolio and will send a confirmation email.
  • View semester dates and student action guidelines on Penn State's academic calendar.
  • Early application is encouraged, especially for anyone who is hoping to be considered for merit-based awards. Decisions are made on a rolling basis beginning in February. Only completed applications received by April 30 will be considered for the subsequent fall semester.

Admissions Timeline

  • Submit completed application and application fee, including all components listed below, through the application portal. Please note: Your application will not be reviewed by the program faculty until it is complete, including your letters of recommendation.
  • The Program Coordinator will review your application to verify you have met the minimum application requirements. They will then determine, based on the strength of your application, whether you will be interviewed.
  • A core faculty member will interview selected applicants via Zoom. Interviews typically last 20-30 minutes; applicants should come prepared with any questions they might have. If the interviewing faculty member feels more information is needed after an interview, or believes a specific faculty may want to discuss the program further with an applicant (e.g., an applicant with an addictions focus may benefit from a second interview with a faculty member in that research area), a second interview may be required. Request for a second interview does not automatically indicate that the first interview was subpar.
  • Interviewing faculty member(s) will share their impressions with the Program Coordinator, who will make a final decision in admittance.
  • Given the rolling admissions nature of our application process, applicants who have been offered acceptance must decide about their standing in the program within two weeks of their offer. The Program Coordinator may allow extensions on a case-by-case basis.