Admission Requirements and Procedures

Deadline for Fall applicants: January 15th

* Please note that the application for 2010 is slightly different than the 2009 application you may have downloaded before mid-November. Here are answers to some FAQs regarding the changes:

• Please include as many of your application materials as possible in one large envelope. Transcripts and letters of recommendation should be in separate envelopes and sealed (with stamp or signature over the seal).

• You do NOT have to duplicate any materials.

• We ask that you submit only one official transcript from all undergraduate and/or graduate institutions you have attended You may have the transcripts sent directly to the Graduate Admissions Office at C.W. Post, or you may wish to have them sent to you. In the event that you have the transcripts sent to you directly, you should submit the transcripts in the original sealed envelope as part of your application packet. Official transcripts are valid when they are issued by the school you attended. They have an official seal/stamp and an official signature by an appropriate academic officer. They are sealed by the university. Photo copy or scanned documents are not official. NOTE: If your previous educational records or other documents are in another name, please be sure to note that on the print or online application.

• You MUST complete an online application with graduate admissions. While some of the information on the online and our program supplemental hard copy application is the same, the completion of an online application begins the process of applying and will ultimately speed up the processing of your hard copy materials.

• The single personal statement formerly required is now two statements: one Statement of Purpose on how your educational and professional goals can be achieved from study in our program and one Statement of Research/Inquiry on your primary areas of research interest. See the supplemental application directions for more information.

• Three recommendation letters are required. You may use the older forms if you have already sent them out to your recommenders.

• Many people ask if they can include more than 3 recommendations. You may, but there is no guarantee that the faculty member reviewing your application will read more than 3 recommendations.

• You MUST note on the supplemental application the dates you have taken the GRE General and the date you took the Subject GRE. If you plan on taking the Subject GRE in April, mark this down on your supplemental application- if you do not note this, your application will remain incomplete.

** Due to the large volume of requests, we will be accepting applications from those who have not yet taken the Subject GRE in Psychology. Note that if you are accepted, you will need to take the test the next time it is given (April 2010) before you will be allowed to enroll for your first year courses. Please indicate that you plan to take the April test on your application.

An applicant's eligibility for admission is based on evidence of intellectual aptitude, personal maturity, and commitment to psychology in the public interest.

This doctoral program is highly competitive due to the large number of applicants (typically between 200-250) for few openings (approximately 20 each fall).

Applications are evaluated in academic and non-academic areas. Academic factors include overall GPA and GRE scores as well as letters of recommendation. Non-academic factors include evidence of a commitment to public service and personal characteristics necessary to be a clinical psychologist. A weighted scoring system is used in the evaluation of all these areas. Following the evaluation of all completed applications, approximately 100 prospective students are invited for one day of interviewing in mid-February to early March. Final selections are made from this group.

For your convenience, you can find the C.W. Post – Long Island University on-line application at www.liu.edu/cwpost/apply. Visit our website at: http://www.cwpost.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/clas/psych/doctoral for additional instructions and supplemental application. I urge you to complete the online application, which you can access at www.liu.edu/cwpost/apply and submit your completed Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program supplemental application and supporting documentation to the Graduate Admissions Office as soon as possible. Final decisions will not be made until after the January 15th deadline.

We understand that this is a very stressful time for prospective students. Please do not hesitate to contact the program directly at 516-299-2090 or pamela.ayari@liu.edu. You may also contact your Graduate Admissions Advisors (Kathy Riley, A-K, 299-4010 and Katie Cush, L-Z, 299-2634). Once your application is received, you can expect to receive notification from Graduate Admissions concerning anything missing from your file.

Again, thank you for your interest in our program. Prospective students are encouraged to look over our website at: http://www.cwpost.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/clas/psych/doctoral and to sign up to our facebook group for weekly updates and information about the program and admissions process (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=129863273003&ref=mf).

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors!

For our Fall 2010 Application, please click here

Applications Must Include:

The program’s supplemental application (see link above)

• A statement of purpose describing the relevance of a clinical psychology doctoral education to you

• A statement of research/inquiry discussing your area of research interest

• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts, (including a minimum of 18 credit hours of psychology, including courses in statistics, research design or methods, personality and abnormal psychology)

• Three letters of recommendation

• A sample copy (10 pages maximum) of a publication or a sample of other scholarly work (if applicable)

• Curriculum vitae/résumé, including clinical experience

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required, including the GRE Subject Test in Psychology.

• For international students, a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 600 is required. International student applicants also must complete the International Admissions Application at at www.cwpost.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/but02/applying/int.html

• Attach a non-refundable check or money order for $30 to the front of the application form. Make the check payable to Long Island University.

Please note that many of the changes we have implemented in our application process are a result of moving over to a paperless system. We apologize for any confusion and hope that the future paperless system will truly make the process seamless, efficient, and more environmentally friendly.