Answers to frequently asked questions regarding application/admission:
A: Statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, vitae, and essays are all part of the supplemental online application that will be available starting October 1.
A: Letters of recommendation are part of the supplemental online application that will be available starting October 1, and must be completed online by the recommender by December 1. Paper recommendations will NOT be accepted.
A: No, when filling out the Cal State Apply application, there is no need to input your statement of purpose. Please just answer “See supplemental application”
A: Please refer to the “Submitting Transcripts & GRE Scores” section of our Application Procedures page for this information. https://clinpsyc.sdsu.edu/admissions-2/application-procedures/
A: No, please DO NOT send any application materials to UC San Diego at this time. AFTER you are selected for admission to the Joint Doctoral Program you will be required to complete a UC San Diego application. Only those students who are admitted to the program and elect to come need to complete the UC San Diego application process. After formal notification from SDSU, students will receive material from UC San Diego.
A: To inquire about the possibility of a fee waiver for the Cal State Apply application, contact the SDSU Graduate & Research Affairs Office at either 619-594-5213 or at gra@sdsu.edu.
A: No, contacting a professor directly about your application will not better your chances of being accepted. In fact, for some faculty members it may even decrease your chances. It is, however, appropriate to contact professors ahead of time to find out more about their research if you are considering applying to work with them.
A: No, you must be admitted and enrolled in the program to take JDP courses.
A: Acceptance is determined by multiple factors and is based on the entire application package; your prior research experience, recommendations, publications, GRE scores, and prior coursework all factor into our decision.
A: April 15th. Our program is a member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology and subscribe to their Policy on Graduate Program Offers and Acceptances http://cudcp.wildapricot.org/page-1779520
A: No, We require full-time attendance and participation; we do not offer weekend/evening courses.
A: We accept students for Fall admission only. We do not have Spring admissions.
A: We do not have a paper brochure, this website contains all relevant information about the program.
A: Due to the high volume of applicants, we cannot accommodate requests for meetings/tours. If you are offered an interview, we have a two-day interview process in mid-February which will include tours and an in-depth description of the program.
A: If your degree is in an area other than psychology (or a closely related field), your application will not be considered unless you have taken courses that have given you a foundation for doctoral-level study in psychology.
A: Yes, our program may use publicly available social media resources in determination of applicant suitability.
A: The MS in clinical psychology is available only to students already in the JDP.
A: No, the programs are entirely separate. Entry into a masters program at SDSU is, in no way, a stepping stone into the JDP.
A: We are unable to provide specific reasons for non-acceptance. If your application credentials were competitive compared to the averages listed in our admissions data, it is likely that a major reason you were not accepted was that you were not a good match with program offerings at that time. If your application was generally competitive, perhaps feedback from your own professors would assist you in strengthening a subsequent application. Keep in mind that we receive hundreds of applications each year and many are exceptionally well-qualified. It is usually very difficult to choose among them and the fact that we can take so few students means that every year at least some very highly qualified students are not offered admission.
A: To apply in a subsequent year, you must submit a new Cal State Apply online application as well as our program specific application and pay the fee. Your transcripts and GRE scores will remain on file for up to one year since your last application submission date.
A: Visit the Council of University Directors of Clinical Training (CUDCP) website at www.clinicalpsychgradschool.org