Admission Requirements
PhD Program in Clinical Psychology
Accepting Students for Fall 2014:
This list is tentative and reflects our status as of 7/1/2013. Please check back regularly for updates.
Admission Requirements
Students are admitted to the Clinical Psychology Program to work toward the PhD degree only; the program does not offer a terminal master's degree. Applications are due in the Graduate Admission Office of the University, by December 1, for enrollment the following September. Approximately 10-14 full-time students will be admitted to the program each fall. There are no spring semester admissions in this program.
The Psychology Department does not have an Open House for prospective applicants (like other graduate programs at Suffolk). However, we do offer 1-2 online information sessions, organized through the Office of Graduate Admissions (dates to be announced).
Students wishing to apply for admission must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must complete the Suffolk University Graduate Admission Application Form. Please note that you may now submit your application online at the following website: https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=suffolk-g. A downloadable PDF is also available from Graduate Admissions. If you choose to submit your application via paper, you must include the additional updated Psychology Ph.D. supplement form. We strongly encourage applicants to use the online application.
Students must submit official scores on the general aptitude (verbal, quantitative, and analytic or analytical writing) sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); the advanced psychology subject test is not required, but is recommended for applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree in psychology. The Suffolk University GRE code is 3771. There is no separate GRE code for the Psychology Department; please code all scores with 3771.
NOTE: Students who score less than the 50th percentile on either the GRE verbal or the GRE quantitative sections have little chance of admission in the absence of compelling compensating factors. In addition, a GRE writing score of 4.0 or higher is typically a prerequisite for admission. In addition, most of our admitted applicants carry a psychology GPA of at least 3.5.
Special attention should be paid to the personal statement, which should include all relevant background experience (in both research and clinical settings), academic interests, professional goals, and potential mentors. Applicants should specifically identify and describe those portions of their experience and professional goals that they believe make them well-suited to this program and the faculty with whom they would like to work. In addition, the program is dedicated to training clinical psychologists who will have competency working with diverse populations. We encourage applicants to address any interest and/or experiences they have with regard to this issue.
Two letters of recommendations are required for all applicants. Recommendations can be submitted electronically through the online application process or directly to Suffolk University (please see the application for more details). The recommender should use institutional letterhead when available. Recommendation letters will not be accepted by any third party agencies. Recommenders should include their full name, title and a phone number where we can contact them if necessary. Applicants first and last names should be included in the letter.
Applicants must have completed a minimum of five courses in psychology, preferably including courses in both statistics and research methods. Though not required, the program values the additional evidence of maturity, competence, and capacity for responsibility that comes from a broad range of work and life experiences. Thus, many students admitted to the program have engaged, after college, in both supervised psychological research and some type of supervised work in a clinical setting.
Please note that while sealed materials (transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) will be accepted with application materials, they must remain unopened. This method is strongly encouraged. These materials can certainly be sent directly to Suffolk University; however, it does create the potential for your credentials to be lost in the mail or otherwise not collected into your application package. The occurrence of this is rare, but it does happen, and may delay your application materials from being received by the deadline.
International students must also take the TOEFL and provide a statement of financial resources. Additional requirements for international applicants may be found online.
The Ph.D. program receives approximately 300 applications each year. We thoroughly review these and invite 75-80 candidates to Suffolk University for an interview weekend. Interview Weekend 2014 will take place in early March (dates to be announced). All applicants invited to interview are strongly encouraged to attend in person at that time. Due to the size of the applicant pool, department faculty will generally not conduct interviews with applicants who have not been invited to interview. However, the department holds two information sessions during the fall semester to meet applicants and address questions.
Final decisions will be made by April 15th.
On acceptance, each student will be assigned a program advisor. This advisor will guide the student over the course of his or her graduate education, helping to plan course work as well as discuss research and clinical opportunities.
For information on transferring credits, see here.
Applicants interested in further information on the qualifications of admitted students should consult the full disclosure data page. This page also details the program's graduation outcomes and student internship application success.
To request additional information and application materials, contact the Office of Graduate Admission via e-mail, or phone (617) 573-8302.
Beginning in 2004, the President of Suffolk University authorized the Psychology Department to award two, full-tuition fellowships based on both student economic need and commitment to study and treat people from culturally diverse and under-served populations. Please see the OUTREACH Fellowship page for more information.
Graduate tuition and fees
Funding
The Office of the Bursar is your best resource for getting information about your financial aid award. The material below is provided as a helpful guide specifically for students in the doctoral program in clinical psychology. However, if there are inconsistencies between this information and that provided to you by the Office of the Bursar, the Bursar's Office ruling stands.
Tuition and Program Costs
Tuition
Tuition rates change yearly. Current rates can be found here. Tuition has been set at $33,300 for the 2013 – 2014 academic year. All financial aid awards include an automatic grant for Fall and Spring semesters equal to 50% of tuition charges of your matriculating tuition rate for the first three years of full time study (or 72 credits of required course work). After the first three years of full time study, students must remain continuously enrolled in the program, paying for at least one credit per semester until they have graduated. The 50% tuition reduction will no longer apply after year three.
Additional expenses
Other university and program related costs include books, professional liability insurance (required for students on practicum and internship) and health insurance (required by the State of Massachusetts; students without private insurance can purchase insurance through Suffolk University at a cost of $1,700 for the 2012-2013 academic year. (See here.)
Financial Aid
New students normally receive notification from the Office of the Bursar regarding their financial aid package by April of the preceding academic year. Award offers are extended on a “rolling basis” as students are admitted to the program and aid applications become complete. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA as soon as it’s available on the web (January 1st). The Psychology Department due date for FAFSA filing is April 1st. Graduate aid application information is available here.
Employment Opportunities
Some students may be eligible for work-study on the basis of financial need. Eligibility for work-study is determined by the Student Financial Services Office after students complete a financial aid application process. Regardless of the source of funding, no student employed by the university may work more than 20 hours per week during the academic year.
Students may also pursue other university employment opportunities without applying for federal aid. Specifically, students may apply for Administrative Fellowships, Research Assistantship positions within the department and across the university, and Lab Instructor, Lecturer and Course Assistant positions within the Psychology Department.
Administrative Fellowships
Administrative fellowships are highly competitive positions within different departments and university offices across campus. Fellowship responsibilities vary from department to department but might include research, office tasks, data input, customer service initiatives, etc. In the past fellowships have been available in Student Activities, Admissions, Athletics, Office of Institutional Planning and Research, Ballotti Learning Center, Student Financial Services, and Career Planning/Placement among others.
Applicants must be proactive and apply directly to each department/office that has a fellowship for which the student would like to be considered and hiring decisions are made by the department/office holding the fellowship. As a service to students, each April, the Student Financial Services Office compiles a listing of fellowship positions available for the following academic year. Unfortunately, this list is not updated as the positions are filled. Students interested in pursuing these positions are urged to begin applying as soon as the list is available.
Administrative fellowships offer recipients a $14,000 award in exchange for 16 hours of employment a week during the academic year (30 weeks). $7,200 of the administrative fellowship is credited directly to the recipient’s tuition account ($3,600 per semester): the remainder is paid to the student bi-weekly as hours are worked.
Administrative fellowships are limited to 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students.
Research Assistantships
The College of Arts and Sciences has a research assistantship program that is aimed at supporting faculty research. Interested faculty members submit a competitively reviewed proposal to obtain an RA to work on a specific research project or projects. Students who are hired through the RA program cannot work on their own masters or dissertation research as part of their RA duties.
1st, 2nd and 3rd year students are responsible for independently pursuing RA positions. The department maintains a list of faculty members within the Psychology Department who have funding to hire an RA. Students can apply to be RAs for their faculty mentor, for another faculty member in the department, or for someone outside of the psychology department. A list of approved RA positions is posted to the financial aid section of the university website in late July.
Unlike fellowships, RA positions do not include grant funds. Students may work up to 10 hours a week during the academic year. The current graduate student hourly rate is $16.00.
For more information on positions available for advanced student, please see the Doctoral Program Manual.
OUTREACH Fellowship
The Outreach Fellowships are directed toward serving economically disadvantaged students, as well as economically and socially disadvantaged client populations. The purpose of the fellowships is to enhance the diversity of our program, thereby enhancing its richness and vitality.
The fellowship provides full tuition remission as well as a stipend for the first three years of graduate training. Recipients will be required to update and confirm their continuing eligibility in order to continue to receive the fellowship before each succeeding year of their participation.
Basic Eligibility:
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to a career in ethnic minority mental health or working in communities that are socially and/or economically disadvantaged. This commitment must be demonstrated in the application essay.
- Consideration will be given to candidates who demonstrate awareness and understanding of the unique issues faced by members of these populations (or members of communities that are socially and/or economically disadvantaged).
- Applicants must demonstrate need for economic support determined by federal assessment guidelines.
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Procedure:
Two fellowships are available for incoming Ph.D. students. Candidates should submit a 500-word essay that discusses their eligibility for and interest in the fellowship. Finalists will be interviewed by members of the Psychology Department. If you have questions about applying for an Outreach fellowship, please contact the Psychology Department (phd@suffolk.edu or 617-573-8293).
Application:
Please click here to download the 2013 OUTREACH Fellowship Application.
Applying for the OUTREACH Fellowship? Here are the four easy steps to submitting your application:
1. File your FAFSA at the start of the new year! Forms are available January 1st, and we ask that you submit yours by January 7, 2013. (We recommend estimating based on 2011 W2 forms if you have not received your 2012 W2s yet.)
2. Download and complete the application form posted above. You can either type onto this form, or print it and fill it out by hand.
3. Write a short (500-word) essay detailing your eligibility for and interest in the fellowship. Read the description on the application for suggestions and tips!
4. Send your application form and your essay by January 7, 2013 to Naomi Gutierrez via snail mail at the Psychology Department, 41 Temple Street, Boston, MA 02114 or fax at (617) 367-2924.
FAQ
Graduate Admissions Questions
When is the program's application deadline?
All application materials must be postmarked to the Office of Graduate Admission by December 1st.
Can I set up an informational interview?
We have many applicants every year, and, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for individual informational interviews. However, we have scheduled online Information Sessions. Please also explore our website as we have posted a great deal of information about our program!
What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. program?
Our program leads students to a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Ours is a Boulder-model program that equally emphasizes both research and clinical aspects of psychology to produce competent scientist-practitioners. Most Ph.D. programs incorporate elements of research and clinical training in their curricula. In contrast, Psy.D. programs typically train students in a practitioner model and focus on clinical aspects of training.
How long will this program take?
Our program involves three years of full-time study, one year of full-time internship, and a dissertation. Full-time students may be able to finish all program requirements within five years.
What qualifications are you looking for in an applicant?
We do not believe that there is a "typical" Ph.D. student, and so we cannot describe a "typical" successful applicant. However, we have outlined some general guidelines on the Admissions Requirements Page.
Do you have a minimum GRE/GPA score?
As noted in the question above, we cannot describe a "typical" candidate, and this extends to both GRE and GPA scores. These scores are examined in the context of a candidate's entire application. We have found that students with a combined GRE verbal and quantitative score of less than 1200 or a psychology GPA of less than 3.5 are less likely to be admitted, but this is not always the case, especially in the presence of extenuating or compensating factors. Please feel free to discuss any perceived discrepancies between your scores and your abilities in your personal statement.
Is an interview required? Is a telephone interview acceptable?
A select group of applicants will be contacted in mid to late January to attend an Interview Weekend to be held in early February. The interview is an important part of the application process, and selected candidates should make every effort to attend. However, if scheduling conflicts or expense will prevent you from making a trip to Suffolk, a phone interview may be arranged. A telephone interview will not negatively impact an application.
Where do I send my application paperwork?
All application paperwork should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admission.
What courses can I transfer in?
Once a student has been accepted into the program, he or she may file a petition to transfer credit with the Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies. Transfer requests are evaluated on an individual basis and credit is ordinarily given only for courses whose content is similar to those offered within our own program. Please see here for the Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form.
Is graduate housing available?
Suffolk does not provide housing for its graduate students. Any student interested in obtaining assistance in locating housing in the Boston area can contact our Office of Off-Campus Housing at (617) 573-8647. Additionally, graduate students may choose to apply for Resident Assistant (RA) position in one of our undergradauate dorms. RAs fulfill many duties in the areas of student development, programming, and administration, and they receive housing free of charge as compensation.
Can you tell me why I wasn't accepted into the program?
Our department receives 300+ applications each year. Unfortunately, the overwhelming volume of applications keep us from providing individualized feedback to applicants.
Is it possible to take a graduate level psychology course if I'm not a student in the clinical psychology Ph.D. programs?
Prospective non-matriculated students interested in taking a graduate level course in the Psychology Department should contact the faculty member teaching the course via email for consent. Course offerings can be found here.
When permission is obtained, the graduate Continuing and Professional Studies (CAPS) application should be submitted along with the email from the faculty member. The application is posted on the University's website and can be found here.
What kind of funding/financial aid can I expect from Suffolk?
Three forms of aid are available to Psychology Ph.D. and Respecialization students and include grants, employment, and loans. Details about the aid are located on our funding page.
After the first three years of full-time study, what can I expect to pay for tuition?
Students who have completed all course and practicum work and who are engaged in predoctoral internship should register for PSYCH 801, Doctoral Internship. Students who have completed all course work and are engaged in doctoral dissertation work (or dissertation work + advanced practicum, PSYCH 777), should register for PSYCH 000, Advanced Dissertation Residency. These advanced student courses are intended for those students working full time on their dissertations or internship training. Students at this level will receive no fellowship aid. Tuition for PSYCH 000 and PSYCH 801 is presently set at the cost of one credit hour per semester. These students will have full access to privileges, services, and facilities and will retain full-time status. Cost per credit can be found at the Registrar's Office, or on the Budget Office website located here.
