School Psychology PhD Admissions
Admissions
Apply to the School Psychology doctoral program by submitting through the Graduate School online application.
Prerequisites
A complete application to the School Psychology doctoral program consists of
- (a) personal statement,
- (b) CV,
- (c) official transcript, and
- (d) three letters of recommendation.
- Additional information can be provided by applicants with the most common include:
- GRE test results (although these are not required of the School Psychology program),
- or a professional writing sample.
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, your potential contributions to our program, and how your professional goals are aligned to our UMass Amherst 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.
Admissions Deadline
Applications are due the first business day of the new year for fall admission. This year, our application deadline is January 4, 2027. Our program only accepts applications for the fall admissions cycle.
Application Timeline
Each application is thoroughly reviewed by faculty members following the January 4 submission deadline. The first week in February, applicants will be contacted by email 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 visit where they will also be given opportunities to learn more about our program and 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 decide whether or not to accept our admissions offer.
Important Dates:
Please save these dates if you are interested in attending our program. The timeline moves quickly from application review through the interviewing process, so please have these important dates on your calendar if you choose to apply to our program.
Thursday, October 14, 2026: PHD Program Overview // 7:00-9:00pm (Eastern US Time)
Meet with faculty and students to learn more about our School Psychology PHD 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
Friday, January 4, 2027: 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 the first week in February.
Tuesday, February 9, 2027: Program Overview Session // 7:00–9:00 p.m. Eastern US Time
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 program and get their questions answered. Invitations to this session will only be sent to applicants who are invited to interview.
Thursday and Friday, February 11 and 12, 2027: 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. Applicants will get a link to reserve an interview time with their email following the application review process.
Monday, March 5, 2027: Campus Visit // Times: TBD
Applicants who are offered admissions or a place on our waitlist 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. If you are interested in attending our graduate program, save this date in anticipation of your acceptance to our program.
Tuesday, April 15, 2027: Decision Day
Applicants are expected to make their final decision to accept or decline their admissions offer by April 15, 2027.
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.