School Psychology MEd/EdS Admissions

Application Timeline

School Psychology Faculty take the admissions process very seriously. Each application is thoroughly reviewed by faculty members following the January 2 submission deadline. By the end of January, applicants will be contacted regarding their application status and whether or not they will be invited for a faculty interview in February. Applicants must participate in an interview to be considered for admission. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to attend the program information sessions and campus, where they will also be given ample opportunity to meet with current students. Following interviews, applicants will be informed that they are either accepted, waitlisted, or rejected. Accepted applicants have until April 15 to make a decision about attendance.

Important Dates:

Thursday, November 21, 2024: Program Overview // 6:00-7:30pm EDT

Meet with Faculty and students to learn more about our School Psychology Program. We will discuss our exciting program of study and the integrated practicum experiences. We will share our current research endeavors, and current students will discuss what it is like to live, learn, and play as full time graduate students at UMass Amherst.

RSVP for the Zoom link invitation: RSVP to the Program Overview Session

Thursday, January 2, 2025: Application Deadline

All application materials are due this first business day of the year, so faculty can begin our application reviews. Invitations to interview will be extended to approximately 30 qualified applicants by January 31st.

Tuesday, February 11, 2025: Information Session // 6:00-7:30 EDT

Students who have been invited to interview based on our evaluation of their application materials will be invited to attend a remote information session to learn more about our programs and get their questions answered.  Invitations to this session will be sent to applicants who are invited to interview.

Thursday and Friday, February 13 and 14: Interview Days

Approximately 30 applicants will be offered an interview to evaluate whether the UMass Amherst School Psychology Program is a good fit for their professional goals. Applicants will meet with two faculty members for a 20-minute remote Zoom call for this discussion.

Monday, February 24, 2025: Campus Visit // 10:00 AM-2:00 PM EDT

Interested applicants are invited to UMass Amherst for a campus visit. Applicants will be met by current students to tour our College of Education resources and the UMass Amherst Campus. Applicants are invited to stay for lunch to meet current students and faculty and get their questions answered as they make their final decisions.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025: Decision Day

Applicants are expected to make their final decision to accept or decline their admissions offer at this time.

Prerequisites 

General prerequisites for graduate study in the program include undergraduate and/or previous graduate preparation in psychology, education, or related disciplines. Additional training and experience in special education, communication disorders, sociology, anthropology, or human development is desirable but not mandatory. The application of previous graduate coursework to the fulfillment of various requirements is decided by the student’s advisory committee in accordance with university policy.

Required Materials 

Additional information can be provided by applicants with the most common being GRE test results (although these are not required of the School Psychology program) and a sample of professional writing. Personal statements are rated with respect to perceived match with program goals and orientation and faculty training interests.

Diversity of students' backgrounds, identities, and experiences are important to our learning community. To this end, School Psychology faculty consider the totality of the applicants as reflected in their application materials when making our admissions decisions. Your cover letter is an opportunity for you to convey a more holistic view of your strengths and potential contributions to our program. Similarly, letters of recommendation are reviewed carefully for each applicant. There are no minimum GRE cut scores required for admission to our program. We encourage all students, particularly those from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups, to apply regardless of test scores. 

Program Costs and Funding

Detailed information on University tuition rates and fees is available through the Bursar's office.

  • Check with the Graduate School for assistantship listings, financial aid information, and grant and fellowship awards. 
  • Follow the College of Education’s newsletter, which sometimes contains assistantship postings.
  • Consult the UMass at a Glance and Organizational Chart - which lists all offices and departments within UMass Amherst. If one is in your area of interest, check with them directly about possible assistantships.
  • Visit Financial Aid Services for information about applying for financial aid. 
  • Review your employee benefits and rights with the Graduate Employee Organization.
  • Apply for scholarships through the College of Education.