Answers to frequently asked questions regarding general program information and application/admission: 
A: This is a 5 to 6 year, full-time PhD program (with the average graduation time of 6 years). Please refer to our program data for a table on the “Time to Completion for all Students entering 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 an in-depth description of the program and the opportunity to speak to JDP faculty and students.
A: No, We require in person full-time attendance and participation; we do not offer weekend/evening courses.
A: Our program is open to accepting well-qualified students whose undergraduate or Master’s degrees are not in psychology. For such an individual to qualify for admission, they must have taken a variety of advanced (upper division) psychology courses which are listed on our What We Consider for a Competitive Application page.
A: No. A Master’s degree is not required for admission into our program, however it could be beneficial to students for various reasons including those who do not have an undergraduate Psychology degree or for students who are looking for more research experience. Approximately one-quarter of the students admitted each year enter with a Master’s degree. Please refer to our What We Consider for a Competitive Application page.
A: The MS in clinical psychology is available only to students already in the JDP.
A: We accept students for Fall admission only. We do not have Spring admissions.
A: Statements of purpose, letters of recommendation, CV, and essays are all part of the Supplemental Program Application that will be available starting October 1 on our Application Procedures page.
A: Letters of recommendation are part of the Supplemental Program Application that will be available starting October 1, and must be completed online by the recommender by our application deadline. 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 & Test Scores” section of our Application Procedures page for this information. https://clinpsyc.sdsu.edu/admissions-2/application-procedures/
Note: The SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program has decided to waive consideration of all scores from the GREs (General and Psychology Subject Test) for the 2021-2022 application cycle (for entry to the doctoral program in Fall 2022). We will not review any GRE scores for admission to the program.
A: The SDSU/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program has decided to waive consideration of all scores from the GREs (General and Psychology Subject Test) for the 2021-2022 application cycle (for entry to the doctoral program in Fall 2022). We will not review any GRE scores for admission to the program.
A: No, please DO NOT send any application materials to UC San Diego at this time. ONLY those students who are admitted to the program and elect to come need to complete the UC San Diego application process.
A: Each year, the SDSU Graduate Studies is able to provide a limited number of application fee waivers to McNair and other Trio scholars. If this applies to you, please contact the main Graduate Studies office directly at gra@sdsu.edu to request an application fee waiver.
Please note: Application fee waivers can only be awarded after you begin the Cal State Application (opens October 1) since you will need a CAS ID number (which is assigned to you once you begin the application). Also, it is advised that you submit your request for an application fee waiver at least 2 weeks before our Supplemental Program Application deadline (December 1) to allow time for the fee waiver to be processed. Once the application deadline passes, Graduate Studies is not able to process any type of refund or apply the coupon code. Fee waivers are first come, first serve so it is best to begin the application as early as possible and reach out to Graduate Studies.
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.
For a list of our program faculty and those who are interested in taking a student for the upcoming admission cycle, please visit our Faculty page.
A: Application review for our program is holistic, and all applications are reviewed. Please refer to our What We Consider for a Competitive Application page for everything we consider when reviewing applications.
A: Our program may use publicly available social media resources in determination of applicant suitability.
A: April 15th. Our program is a member of the Council of Graduate Schools and supports the Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Assistants
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: No, the programs are entirely separate. Entry into a masters program at SDSU is, in no way, a stepping stone into the JDP.
A: To apply in a subsequent year, you must submit a new Cal State Apply online application as well as our Supplemental Program Application and pay the fee. Your transcripts will remain on file for up to one year since your last application submission date.
A: No, you must be admitted and enrolled in the program to take JDP courses.
A: Visit the Council of University Directors of Clinical Training (CUDCP) website at www.clinicalpsychgradschool.org
