Frequently Asked Questions
Which faculty are accepting students?
You can see which faculty are accepting students on the faculty page of our website. Under each faculty’s bio, you will see a checkmark (green) stating they will be (or may be) accepting students or an “X” (red) indicating that they are not accepting students.
What is the average GPA/GRE scores of students you've accepted?
In the 2018-2019 academic year, the average scores of applicants were: GPA 3.6, GRE Verbal 159, GRE Quantitative 160. Of note, starting in the 2020-2021 application year, we will no longer be requiring or reviewing GRE scores.
You can find these data from the past 10 years in the Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (AOOD) document on our website [PDF].
When will I be notified if I was invited for an interview?
All applicants who are invited for an interview will be notified no later than mid-January.
When is interview day?
Interview day is Friday, February 4, 2022.
Typically, labs (with graduate students, not faculty) have an informal dinner the Thursday before the interview day and on Saturday the department host brunches for racial/ethnic minorities and LGBTQ individuals and allies.
For the current admissions cycle, our department is planning to have an in-person interview day, but will revisit this later in the fall and re-evaluate as needed based on public health recommendations to see if we need to switch to a virtual interview day. If we change to a virtual interview day, this will be posted on the our Application Process webpage.
Are GRE scores required? If they are not required, can I send them anyhow?
Starting with the admissions cycle for entry in Fall 2021, the UNC Department of Psychology & Neuroscience (the Clinical Psychology program and the 5 other programs) has decided to no longer require or review GRE scores. Applicants should not submit their GRE scores through ETS nor report their scores in their CVs or any other admissions material.
How long does it take to complete the program?
In the past 10 years, the average time it has taken to complete the program is 6 years (including internship). For more information, visit our Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (AOOD) document on our website [PDF].
How much is tuition?
For over 50 years, students admitted to the Clinical Psychology program have had a full tuition remission and a nine‐month stipend (most typically for a research or teaching assistantship) and health insurance for at least 5 years in residency at UNC. The minimum nine‐month stipend offered to incoming students of the 2020-2021 academic year was $19,000.
Do you have any advice on applying to the Clinical Psychology doctoral program?
Yes, we do! Please review Dr. Mitch Prinstein’s document called Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology [PDF]. Dr. Prinstein was our Director of Clinical Psychology for 12 years and his document provides tips on how to apply to clinical programs, how the admissions process works, how to obtain research experience, how to interview, and so much more!
Becoming a Psychological Scientist: A Series to Successfully Apply to Grad School and Help Diversify the Field.
The application process for doctoral programs for psychological science has several steps. Join APA for a series of 6 videos and live question and answer sessions with psychological scientists and current graduate students from different subfields with lived experience and expertise in the application process. Sessions will offer advice and strategies for navigating all the steps of the application process, discuss important considerations for selecting a program, and highlight resources for funding your graduate education. The series will address challenges and systemic barriers for students and is free and open to all. It is of particular interest to students applying to graduate school for the Fall 2023 term.
Session 1: Top Things to Know as you Apply to Grad School
Video: https://youtu.be/wyHRnnS0MWQ
Live Q&A Recording: Link from Oct. 7th program coming soon!
Session 2: Writing a Compelling Application Essay
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (ET)
Register
Students interested in applying to doctoral programs for psychological science are invited to join APA for a live question and answer session about writing compelling personal statements. Watch a quick 10-minute video to gain tips for writing a statement that makes a strong case for admission and then join APA for a live panel discussion with Mitch Prinstein, PhD, APA Chief of Science, psychological scientists from different subfields, and Application Statement Feedback Program (ASFP) core team members.
What does the program's curriculum look like?
What is the Diversifying Psychology Weekend?
This is a weekend full of seminars, panel discussions, and workshops for ethnic/racial minority undergraduates and recent college graduates who are invested in pursuing doctoral-level training in clinical and/or developmental psychology. More information about this program can be found online.
Is the program accredited?
Yes, the UNC Chapel Hill Clinical Psychology doctoral program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1949 and is accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).
Can I apply as an international student?
Am I required to have my Master's degree before joining the program?
No, this is a five- to six-year program where you will receive both your Master’s degree and PhD. Most of our students join our program with only a Bachelor’s degree.
Is this a Master's program?
No, this is a doctoral program. You earn your Master’s degree en route to your PhD, but the program is not a terminal Master’s program. We only accept applicants who are pursuing their PhD. We do not accept students who are only interested in receiving their Master’s degree.
How do I know which faculty are in the adult or child track?
How do I know if your Clinical program is for me?
You can find information on each faculty member’s research in their bios on our website. You can find information on our program, the structure, the mission, the curriculum, and more in the Clinical Handbook. You can also contact the faculty you would be interested in working with or the Director of Clinical Psychology (Dr. Anna Bardone-Cone) with any questions you have.
How many applicants apply?
Typically, more than 500 people apply for admission to our Clinical Psychology doctoral program, usually for about 8-10 spots. You can find data from the past 10 years in the Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (AOOD) document on our website [PDF].
Who should write my letters of recommendation?
These letters of recommendation should be written by people qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications. You should solicit recommendations from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievement and who can address your potential for success in this academic setting. If you have been out of school for several years and are unable to contact former professors, letters from other individuals who can address your achievement and potential will be accepted. We advise against using generic letters of recommendation such as those provided by campus career planning and placement offices. The online application includes a place for you to provide the names and email addresses of your recommenders (3 are required); email invitations will go out to these recommenders once you select “Save” in the application. Letters must be received by the application deadline.
You can see which faculty are accepting students on the faculty page of our website. Under each faculty’s bio, you will see a checkmark (green) stating they will be (or may be) accepting students or an “X” (red) indicating that they are not accepting students.
In the 2018-2019 academic year, the average scores of applicants were: GPA 3.6, GRE Verbal 159, GRE Quantitative 160. Of note, starting in the 2020-2021 application year, we will no longer be requiring or reviewing GRE scores.
You can find these data from the past 10 years in the Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (AOOD) document on our website [PDF].
All applicants who are invited for an interview will be notified no later than mid-January.
Interview day is Friday, February 4, 2022.
Typically, labs (with graduate students, not faculty) have an informal dinner the Thursday before the interview day and on Saturday the department host brunches for racial/ethnic minorities and LGBTQ individuals and allies.
For the current admissions cycle, our department is planning to have an in-person interview day, but will revisit this later in the fall and re-evaluate as needed based on public health recommendations to see if we need to switch to a virtual interview day. If we change to a virtual interview day, this will be posted on the our Application Process webpage.
Starting with the admissions cycle for entry in Fall 2021, the UNC Department of Psychology & Neuroscience (the Clinical Psychology program and the 5 other programs) has decided to no longer require or review GRE scores. Applicants should not submit their GRE scores through ETS nor report their scores in their CVs or any other admissions material.
In the past 10 years, the average time it has taken to complete the program is 6 years (including internship). For more information, visit our Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (AOOD) document on our website [PDF].
For over 50 years, students admitted to the Clinical Psychology program have had a full tuition remission and a nine‐month stipend (most typically for a research or teaching assistantship) and health insurance for at least 5 years in residency at UNC. The minimum nine‐month stipend offered to incoming students of the 2020-2021 academic year was $19,000.
Yes, we do! Please review Dr. Mitch Prinstein’s document called Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology [PDF]. Dr. Prinstein was our Director of Clinical Psychology for 12 years and his document provides tips on how to apply to clinical programs, how the admissions process works, how to obtain research experience, how to interview, and so much more!
Becoming a Psychological Scientist: A Series to Successfully Apply to Grad School and Help Diversify the Field.
The application process for doctoral programs for psychological science has several steps. Join APA for a series of 6 videos and live question and answer sessions with psychological scientists and current graduate students from different subfields with lived experience and expertise in the application process. Sessions will offer advice and strategies for navigating all the steps of the application process, discuss important considerations for selecting a program, and highlight resources for funding your graduate education. The series will address challenges and systemic barriers for students and is free and open to all. It is of particular interest to students applying to graduate school for the Fall 2023 term.
Session 1: Top Things to Know as you Apply to Grad School
Video: https://youtu.be/wyHRnnS0MWQ
Live Q&A Recording: Link from Oct. 7th program coming soon!
Session 2: Writing a Compelling Application Essay
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (ET)
Register
Students interested in applying to doctoral programs for psychological science are invited to join APA for a live question and answer session about writing compelling personal statements. Watch a quick 10-minute video to gain tips for writing a statement that makes a strong case for admission and then join APA for a live panel discussion with Mitch Prinstein, PhD, APA Chief of Science, psychological scientists from different subfields, and Application Statement Feedback Program (ASFP) core team members.
This is a weekend full of seminars, panel discussions, and workshops for ethnic/racial minority undergraduates and recent college graduates who are invested in pursuing doctoral-level training in clinical and/or developmental psychology. More information about this program can be found online.
Yes, the UNC Chapel Hill Clinical Psychology doctoral program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association since 1949 and is accredited by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).
No, this is a five- to six-year program where you will receive both your Master’s degree and PhD. Most of our students join our program with only a Bachelor’s degree.
No, this is a doctoral program. You earn your Master’s degree en route to your PhD, but the program is not a terminal Master’s program. We only accept applicants who are pursuing their PhD. We do not accept students who are only interested in receiving their Master’s degree.
You can find information on each faculty member’s research in their bios on our website. You can find information on our program, the structure, the mission, the curriculum, and more in the Clinical Handbook. You can also contact the faculty you would be interested in working with or the Director of Clinical Psychology (Dr. Anna Bardone-Cone) with any questions you have.
Typically, more than 500 people apply for admission to our Clinical Psychology doctoral program, usually for about 8-10 spots. You can find data from the past 10 years in the Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (AOOD) document on our website [PDF].
These letters of recommendation should be written by people qualified to evaluate your academic and professional qualifications. You should solicit recommendations from individuals who are familiar with your academic achievement and who can address your potential for success in this academic setting. If you have been out of school for several years and are unable to contact former professors, letters from other individuals who can address your achievement and potential will be accepted. We advise against using generic letters of recommendation such as those provided by campus career planning and placement offices. The online application includes a place for you to provide the names and email addresses of your recommenders (3 are required); email invitations will go out to these recommenders once you select “Save” in the application. Letters must be received by the application deadline.