Admission to the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program

Considerations for Applicants

The following should be considered when applying to a doctoral program in clinical psychology (Psy.D.), and the LIU Post program in particular.

Commitment to the Field

Doctoral work in clinical psychology is a necessary step into the professional field as a psychologist. To become a licensed psychologist, in addition to successfully completing an APA-accredited doctoral training program, graduates must complete a post-doctoral training experience and pass the licensing exam (depending on the requirements of their home state). A significant commitment to a career as a licensed clinical psychologist is paramount to being successful in this professional journey.

The field of mental health is very diverse and becoming a psychologist is one of many ways to serve populations suffering from mental illness. Psychologists, school psychologists, counseling psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, art therapists, applied behavior analysts, and psychiatrists all work in the mental health field using different conceptual tools and competencies that they learned in graduate programs in their field. A career in clinical psychology begins with a training program focused on working with people in clinical settings.

The LIU Post Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program is a full-time, minimum 5-year commitment.  Students spend hundreds of hours in the classroom in clinically-focused academic courses, completing practicum, externship, and internship hours, and in completing program milestones such as clinical competency exams and dissertation defenses. The various careers in the mental health field require a varied amount of time, money, and commitment to the graduate-training piece of this process.

LIU Post: Type of Training Program

Clinical psychologists work in a myriad of settings, from private practice, to consultant work, to working in mental health facilities, to work in schools, to work in large organizations. Graduates of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program are trained within two theoretical orientations: cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy. The training program has at its core mission to serve underserved populations.  Within that training, students also receive training in at least two of our concentration courses, including Assessment and Treatment of Substance Abuse Disorders, Synthesizing Psycho-therapy (integration), and interventions with high-risk families. 

One of the unique features of our program is our second year clinical training experience. In addition to second-year coursework, all of our second year students complete an on-site practicum in our Psychological Services Center. Students carry a 4-6 client case-load throughout the academic year in addition to conducting psychological assessments and a group. As part of their training, students in the second year also receive supervision by a faculty supervisor, a community supervisor, an assessment supervisor and a group supervisor, and the PSC directors. Weekly in-service presentations and meetings are also required. This second-year training experience is designed to give students their first clinical training experience in a highly supervised setting with a wealth of support.

The location of the LIU Post program enables students to take advantage of the many training and clinical opportunities of the tri-state area, in a variety of settings for their third and fourth year externship experiences. In the fifth year, students apply to internship sites in the New York area, as well as out-of-state sites.

LIU Post: Time Commitment

The program is a full-time commitment, with classes typically held in the first and second year on Mondays - Thursdays from 9:00am through 5:00pm with one weekday night. In the third year students complete a part-time externship while completing classes on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In the fourth year students complete a part-time externship while completing classes on Thursdays. In the fifth year students go on full-time (usually paid) internship while also completing their dissertation (if they have not already defended their dissertation). In some cases students take an additional sixth year to complete their dissertation and/or internship year.

Part-time study is not available for students. Aside from 3rd or 4th year choice of concentration, students follow a lock-step curriculum during their time in the program that does not allow for part-time study. For the same reason, students who transfer in graduate-level course credit (up to 12) do not typically reduce the time-to-completion.

LIU Post: Program Size

The Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program takes in approximately thirty students per academic year divided into two cohort of approximately fifteen students. We aim to provide students with a dynamic and personal training program, throughout which strong mentoring relationships are formed between students and core faculty members. Students continue in their first through fourth year coursework in cohorts, which form the base of their professional network of peers. Additionally, through the required lunchtime lectures, colloquiums, and peer-mentorship program, students will interact with other students in both upper and lower student cohorts as they progress through the program.

LIU Post: American Psychological Association Accreditation & NYS Licensure

LIU Post’s PsyD program is fully accredited by the APA.  Accreditation with the APA means that a program has follows guidelines for operation and training as set by the APA’s Commission on Accreditation. These guidelines also mean that each program must list on its website information concerning its student outcomes, retention, internship match rates, and cost.

LIU Post’s PsyD program is also listed with the New York State Department of Education as a program https://www.op.nysed.gov/search?search=university&page=1that provides the necessary degree requirements in partial fulfillment of the requirements for licensure as a psychologist.

For accreditation and licensure, the APA and NYSDoE lay out a set of topics that must be covered in the curriculum in order to maintain its status. In addition to the list of topics below, the program must prove to the APA that its curriculum, evaluation methods, and faculty are logically and consistently aligned throughout a student’s time in the program.

APA Required Topics	NYS Licensure Required Topics
Biological Aspects of Behavior	Biological basis of behavior
Cognitive Aspects of Behavior	Cognitive-affective basis of behavior
Affective Aspects of Behavior	Cognitive-affective basis of behavior
Social Aspects of Behavior	Social basis of behavior
History & Systems	History and systems of psychology
Psychological Measurement	Psychometrics
Research Methodology	Research design, methodology, and statistics
Techniques of Data Analysis
Theories and Methods of Evaluation and Effective Interventions
Individual Differences in Behavior	Individual difference
Human Development
Dysfunctional Behavior or Psychopathology
Professional Standards	Scientific and professional ethics and standards of practice
Theories and Methods of Assessment and Diagnosis	Psychometrics
Theories and Methods of Effective Intervention
Theories and Methods of Consultation
Theories and Methods of Supervision
Issues of Culture and Individual Diversity	Issues of cultural and ethnic diversity
Attitude - Lifelong Learning

In addition to this coursework, programs must ensure that students complete externship and internship hours with a licensed psychologist supervisor.

All APA-accredited programs will have this set of coursework listed, though State licensure requirements may be different depending on the location of the program. Each program’s curriculum and method of training will differ. Applicants should consider what learning environment, educational pace, and program size they might thrive best in based on prior educational experiences.

Please see our website for a full listing of our required courses and full course descriptions.

Students spend a considerable amount of time and resources on doctoral training to become a psychologist – it is imperative that you consider which program best suits your needs.

LIU Post: Financial Aid Options

The program does provide students with some amount of financial aid. This may include research assistantships, student group assistantships, adjunct teaching and upper level student worker positions. Typically our students take our Unsubsidized Federal Loans, GradPLUS loans, or receive funding from personal sources.

Nationally, Psy.D. programs typically offer less financial aid directly to students than Ph.D. programs would. The nature of the program as a practitioner-scholar program, emphasizing clinical work (rather than intensive research) simply does not provide many of the large grant-funded projects. In addition, Psy.D. programs tend to be larger than Ph.D. programs, thereby distribution of programs’ funds must be made to a larger cohort of students. Each applicant must weigh the differences of the training programs for themselves. Making informed decisions about the financial commitment of any doctoral program is an important professional decision. More information can be gathered from the APA website, as well as through review of resources available online about funding graduate education.

Timing of Application in Your Career Path

The program receives approximately 300 applications every year. This competitive pool of applicants includes students from all over the globe, from various academic and personal backgrounds, and with a myriad of career objectives. Summary data on admissions is available on our webpage. Applicants should apprise themselves of the admission requirements before beginning the applications process.

Having some related field experience is crucial to a success application, as well as for a successful entry into the program’s rigorous courses that pull much from students’ clinical experiences. For information on how to gain this experience, applicants are encouraged to contact our current students, as well as research the APA and local Psychological Associations’ websites.

These considerations will come into play as you make your decision about attending any doctoral-level program. If you have any questions about these or other considerations, please do not hesitate to ask.

Getting Information about the Program

Applicants should inform themselves about the training program in one or more of the following ways:

Before Contacting the Program:

• Review the curriculum materials available on the program’s webpages, including the Student Admissions Outcomes, and Other Data.
• Review the list of current student and alumni contacts available. Contact one or more of these students with any questions about being a student in the program, as well as clinical experiences before, during, and after the program.
• Applicants can also add themselves to the program’s Facebook Group page for Prospective students, which can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clinical-Psychology-Doctoral-Program-LIU-Prospective-Students/305365402822762
• Information on career outcomes, salary information, and other career-related data may be obtained from research the American Psychological Association’s webpage for graduate students. www.apa.org
• Applicants should register for the GRE Subject Test in Psychology, which is only offered in April and November every year. Check the Educational Testing Service website for more information on the exam: http://www.ets.org/

Contacting the Program Directly:

• Applicants may contact a faculty member about the program. However, due to the large number of applications we receive every year, faculty usually cannot meet one-on-one with prospective students.
• Attend a Graduate Open House event. Our program director or core faculty members provides an overview of the training program for prospective students, as well as answers any questions about the program.
• Online Information Sessions: We will also host online information sessions throughout the year. All prospective applicants who have submitted an inquiry with LIU and those who have started an application will receive invitations via email to these online events. If you are reading this guide, you likely fall into one of those two categories.

Contact the Program Director or Assistant Director with any lingering questions about the program that you may have. Please note that faculty and staff cannot answer prospective students’ questions about the applicant’s chances in any given admission cycle.

Application Components

1. Official college transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work (if applicable)
2. Official General GRE scores (ETS Code: 7436)
3. Official Psychology GRE scores (ETS Code: 7436)
4. 3 letters of recommendation from academic / clinical work sources **
5. Personal statement
6. CV/Resume

You may also include an optional sample of scholarly work (no longer than 25 pages). This can be uploaded in the "additional document" section of the application.

Please note that you will be required to input all of your coursework information and work/clinical experiences into the PSYCAS application system. This enables the admissions committee to see how well you have done academically across different disciplines, to see how much related fieldwork experience you have, and other snapshots that help determine if you are a good fit for the program. This information is checked against your official transcripts and CV/Resume. You may also request the PSYCAS do this data entry of coursework from your transcripts for you, for a fee. 

Interview

After initial file review, some approximately 100 applicants will be invited for an interview with the doctoral program in late February and early March. The announced dates will be our ONLY interview dates.

Interview Dates

Interview Dates have not yet been scheduled. We will email all applicants as soon as the dates have been selected. On these two interview dates interviewing applicants are invited to one of the 3-hour sessions. Each interviewing applicant will have 2 interviews in their session. Interviews are individual with a faculty member, an adjunct faculty member or recent alum.

Online Interview Availability

Out-of-State / Out-of-Country SKYPE Interview Dates are:

• Scheduled between mid-February and early March (specific dates TBA)
• Online interviews are only offered to those out of the area. 
• Online interviews will not put you at a disadvantage. 

No additional dates/times will be added to these dates. Please plan accordingly to be available during these 2-day timeframes. Interview invites are emailed to applicants. Applicants are expected to respond to the email invite within 48 hours or the given date/time may be released to another applicant and an alternative date/time sent to the applicant again. 

Final Decisions
Final decisions will be made from the pool of interviewed applicants. We will establish a wait list, depending on the pool of applicants. Admitted and waitlisted applicants are invited to program events and open classes in March and April.

We plan to enroll approximately 25 students for the fall 2020 cohort.

If you have any questions about the admissions process, please email the program at: anna.gallo@liu.edu Please do not email multiple staff members of LIU with duplicate questions. If the program cannot answer your question, we will forward your message onto a staff member who can.

Application Components Descriptions

1. Online Application

All applicants must apply to the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program using the PSYCAS system as indicated above.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume
Typically a CV / Resume includes: Educational, honors and awards, clinical experience, research experience, related work experience, publications and presentations (if applicable), and relevant memberships.

3. Official Transcripts

Official undergraduate and graduate transcript(s) from any and all college(s) you have attended are required (including any transfer credits from AP courses or study abroad experiences).

Any international transcripts will require a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) approved course-by-course evaluation (e.g., from World Education Services, or WES).

4 & 5. Graduate Record Exam (GRE)        

It is the applicant’s responsibility to request that the Educational Testing Service (ETS) forward official GRE scores directly to the LIU Post. Inquiries concerning this testing program and application to take the tests should be addressed to the Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service at www.gre.org, or call 1-800-GRE-CALL.

Be sure to use the ETS PSYCAS Code for the LIU Post PsyD Program: (ETS Code: 7436)

6. Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. These letters should be written by persons who can comment from personal knowledge on the academic and/or professional qualifications of the applicant. Applicants to the Psy.D. Program must submit at least one letter of recommendation from a current or former instructor or professor. Employers, former instructors or professional colleagues of status may write the second and third letters of recommendation.  Letters should address your academic potential for doctoral-level work, as well as your aptitude for work as a clinical psychologist and any experiences that may speak to those capacities.

Recommenders should review our Letter of Recommendation instructions, which include question prompts.  Instructions for letter writers can be downloaded here.  

7. Personal Statement

Write a statement describing your personal educational and professional goals and discuss what you hope to gain from doctoral study at the LIU Post. The statement should be one to 3 pages in length, typed and double-spaced. Be sure to include your full name and page numbers in the upper-right-hand corner of each sheet and include the heading “Personal Statement” on the top of each page.

Because our doctoral program is specifically geared to training clinical practitioners, your personal statement should address two or more of the following:

• Your specific goals in applying to the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program.
• The scope and nature of any prior clinical experience.
• Your research experience and/or interest areas in clinical psychology research
• The type of research you would like to get involved in while in the LIU Post program*
• In addition to general training in the practice of clinical psychology, the program emphasizes training in


• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Interventions with high-risk families
• Clinical work with high-risk and underserved populations
  
  

Applicants may want to discuss how their own professional goals, previous experience/training, or interests align with any of these program aspects.

Additionally, applicants may want to discuss how our program in particular aligns with your educational needs in terms of learning environment, academic culture, commitment, and mentorship needs.

*You may choose to make a connection between your general research interests and that of our one of our faculty members. However, you are not required to choose a faculty member as a research mentor at this point. You may rather choose to write a statement about your own past and future research interests.

Sample of Scholarly Work (Optional)

If you would like to submit a sample of a published work or other scholarly writing, you may attach it to your application in the "additional documents" section. (Note that this is not required, but strongly suggested; limited to 25 pages; this can be a portion of any academic or clinical writing you have done). Please do not submit more than 25 pages.

International Students – Degree Requirements

Applicants who do not have a master’s degree from a U.S. institution must also submit official score results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The required minimum acceptable TOEFL score is: 100 Internet-based (250 computer based or 600 paper-based) or minimum IELTS score: 7.5.
International students whose native language is English, or who have received a degree from an accredited college or university where the only medium of instruction is English, may have the English Language proficiency requirement waived. The waiver is determined on an individual basis following a review of the student’s application.

Please also see "3 Official Transcripts" above for information on international transcripts.

Admission Process Timeline

Please see our application cycle timeline above.  We recommend that you begin your online application in PSYCAS by October in order to be placed on our emailing lists throughout the admissions process.

The LIU Post admissions review process is completed in four stages:

Stage One: Review of Applicant Files (Winter):

The program receives approximately 300 applications each year. 

Each file is reviewed by core faculty.

These initial faculty reviews determine who will receive an interview offer. Approximately 100 applicants will be invited for an interview.  Invitations for interviews are sent via email to applicants. Applicants are sent their interview session schedule in advance.

All applicants who do not receive an interview are encouraged to reapply or consider other programs in the field of mental health at LIU Post.

Stage Two: Interview Process (February-March):

Following a program overview by the director, each interviewed applicant will interview with a faculty member for approximately 30 minutes, applicants will also have a chance to speak with current students about the program , as well as hear from many of the faculty.  These interview days are approximately 4 hours.  

Interviewed applicants will also be asked to complete a survey about the LIU Post admissions and interview process. 

Stage Three: Admit Process (March-April):

We strive to inform applicants about their application status as soon as possible.  All admitted and wait-listed applicants will be invited to sit in on classes, attend lectures and events, and speak with current students and faculty before making their final decision.

Stage Four: Acceptance (April): 

All admitted applicants will have until April 15th to send in a $500 deposit to LIU and their acceptance form in order to hold their place in the incoming class. 

• The deposit must be submitted on April 15th.
• The acceptance form must be post-marked by the 15th. 
• Applicants should email the program director the acceptance form by the April 15th deadline as well. 
• Admitted applicants are asked to submit final degree-noted official transcripts from any undergraduate and graduate programs they are completing in the spring or summer before beginning the PsyD program.
• Applicants will be told if they will receive an assistantship and the amount when they are invited into the program.  Those who are accepting our offer and wish to receive offered funding will be asked to complete a form regarding their interest in various assistantship positions.  We will do our best to match students with their interests.  Students will receive information about their assistantship position in the summer before they begin the program in the fall.

Admitted applicants who will not be accepting our offer are encouraged to let us know as soon as possible so that we may open the slot to the next applicant. 

*Note that all APA-accredited programs must give admitted applicants until April 15th to accept an offer of admission, following the Council on Graduate Schools’ guidelines for graduate admissions.

Wait List:

We typically maintain a waitlist.  In some cases, waitlisted applicants will not hear a final answer until after April 15th. We ask that all admitted and waitlisted applicants who have accepted at another university let us know as soon as possible so that the slot can be opened for another candidate. 

After Entry to the Program

We hope​ you celebrate as a first step! All incoming students will then be invited for a Welcome Webinar with the director in the summer. Incoming Orientation occurs typically during the last week of August and first week of the fall semester. Incoming students will be provided with information about how to enroll in their first fall semester courses. ​

What's Next if I am Denied?

If you have heard back that you have not been granted acceptance to the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at LIU: Post, we would like to offer you some basic advice for next steps to take in terms of your graduate education path.

First, know that we received close to 300 applications every year.  The applicant pool becomes more competitive every year, which is a wonderful thing for the field of clinical psychology. 

A number of factors go into the admission committee’s decisions when reviewing files.  These include past academic performance (transcripts and GRE scores), letters of recommendation, clinical experience, research experience, personal and research statements, as well as fit with the program.  When looking at ways to improve your application in order to reapply to this program, keep in mind the following:

Academic Performance

• Our incoming student cohorts have had an average GPA is at or above 3.5 over the last ten years
• Our incoming student cohorts have had general GRE scores in the 152-155 for Quantitative and 158-162 for Veral, with a 4.4-5.0 for writing, and a 640-705 for the Psychology GRE.
• If your scores fall below these ranges, you may want to consider attending a GRE prep course and retaking the exam.

Experiences

• Our students typically have previous clinical experience, and/or experience with research in the field.
• Our students typically receive in-depth letters from recommenders that include information about recent achievements in clinical and/or classroom settings. We always look for at least one comprehensive, recent academic reference.
• Our students typically have a wide-range of clinical and research backgrounds.
• Pre-doctoral clinical experience can be obtained in a number of ways.  Applicants should see the American Psychological Association’s website for more information on such opportunities.

Personal Statements and Research Statements

• One of the main things that sets denied applicants apart from those who have been accepted is the depth of their knowledge of the field and their commitment to clinical practice that comes across both in their statements and in their interview.
• Applicants whose backgrounds and experience are diverse are able to offer the program a wide range of experience in which to pull from as students begin their training here.
• Our program is a very close-niche program in which interpersonal relationships are key to getting the most out of our training.  Self-reflection, diverse experiences, as well as academic aptitude are all integral pieces to highly qualified applicants.

“Fit” with the Program

• As many of our current students have put it, “fit” with a program is often hard to define.  As a Psy.D. program, the clinical basis of our work is an important piece of deciphering applicants’ interest in the program.  The clinical training requires a tremendous amount of dedication, time, effort, and ability.
• We maintain a relatively small court of students who should be aligned with our program mission and concentrations. Applicants with interest in other areas that we do not offer (forensic applications, neuropsychology, addictions, behavioral health, etc.) should consider other programs more in line with their progressive professional goals.

Other LIU Post Programs to Consider

If you find that you are not yet ready to re-apply, there are a few other options you may want to pursue.  First, look into other programs at LIU: Post.  Our graduate programs in Applied Behavioral Analysis (in the main Psychology Department), in Mental Health Counseling (in the College of Education, Information and Technology), and in Social Work (in the School of Health Professions and Nursing) are often programs our applicants ultimately choose.  These programs open up many career opportunities for those looking to enter the field of mental health professions.  While these programs are not associated with the doctoral program and will not allow future students to waive any credits in the doctoral program, they may offer alternatives into the field of mental health that are equally fulfilling professionally.

Be sure to review the American Psychological Associations website on graduate education at: www.apa.org

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need to take the GRE?  What if I have a Master Degree already?

All applicants must take the GRE general exam.  No exceptions to this are made.  You must submit your scores using the programs PSYCAS Code: (ETS Code: 7436). Do not submit your scores to LIU’s ETS code.

• Do I have to take the Subject GRE?

No, this test is not required at this time.  All applicants must take the General GRE. 

• Will directly contacting the director or faculty with my credentials increase my chances of receiving an interview?

Submitting letters and/or CVs to faculty or staff of the program will not increase your chances of receiving an interview.  Note that these documents will not be placed in your application file.  Additionally, applicants are encouraged to consider all correspondences with program faculty, staff, and current students formal. 

• Can I submit more than three letters of recommendation?

You may submit more than 3 letters of recommendation, however we do not guarantee that the reviewer will read more than 3 of the submitted letters.

• What kind of formatting do you expect on the uploaded materials?

Each file should be saved as a PDF or Word document.  This ensures quick and easy processing of your materials.
To save a Word document as a PDF, go to “Save As”, then use the drop down menu under the file name and choose “PDF.”

• I see that there is a processing Center I should send my materials to, but I don’t see that mentioned in this guide. What should I do?

The PsyD program will not be using the Processing Center for the 2018-2019 admissions cycle. The program will be using the PSYCAS. Do not submit any documents to the LIU Processing Center or LIU Post campus. 

• Can I submit all of my materials online?

Yes!  Materials should be submitted online using the PSYCAS: https://psycas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login Follow the instructions on the PSYCAS website.

• I have a degree in a related field already.  How many transfer credits will I receive?

Students are able to transfer up to 12 graduate-level transfer credits.  Students will need to submit a request form, the original syllabus, and their transcripts in order for our faculty to consider the transfer request.  Requests are only granted in cases where the former graduate course matches up to our courses, and in which the students’ grade was acceptable to our faculty member. This process happens in the summer before a student begins the program. You cannot find out ahead of time if your courses will transfer into the program.

• Will transferring credits reduce my tuition expense or time in the program?

Note that transferring credits will not reduce the amount of time a student spends in our five-year program.  Transferring 1st, 2nd, or 3rd year courses also will not change the tuition expense in these years, as students are under a flat tuition rate.  

It is important to note that in some cases, transferring 3rd or 4th year classes may reduce students’ credit load, causing issues with their eligibility for federal loan monies above their tuition expenses. 

Transferring credits will enable students to choose between two options, depending on scheduling and time.  In some cases students may elect to take an extra course.  Others may be able to complete upper level coursework ahead of time.  Others may simply elect to have some extra time in a given semester in which a scheduled class was transferred. 

• My undergraduate work was poor and is reflected in a poor GPA and transcript.  However, my graduate work is stellar.  Will this affect my application to the program?

The short answer is yes. The review committee will look at the total of your application, including former academic work. However, applicants may include a supplemental brief paragraph to explain poor academic performance and how it has been remediated. 

• I do not do well on standardized exams and my GRE scores are low.  Will this affect my application to the program?

The short answer is yes. The review committee will look at the total of your application, including aptitude tests. However, applicants have two options if their GRE scores are low.  Applicants may include a supplemental brief paragraph explaining poor performance on these exams. This should be included with your hardcopy materials. 

The program is highly invested in having students do well in every aspect of the training program. It is imperative that students are ready for doctoral-level work in clinical psychology. Therefore the program may require remediation for applicants before and during the program for those whose admission files indicated deficiencies. 

• How do I check on the status of my application?

To check on the status of your application, please log onto the account you created when you applied within the PSYCAS applicant page: https://psycas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

We ask that applicants not call the program or Graduate Admissions for status updates.  We make every effort to get information out to applicants as soon as it is available. 

• Can I apply to the LIU Brooklyn Ph.D. Program in Clinical Psychology AND the LIU Post Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology?

Yes.  These programs are completely separate from one another.  Applicants may apply to both programs. LIU Brooklyn will not be using the PSYCAS system for 2018-2019. Contact that program directly for information. Please note that each program may have different application procedures and timelines. 

• Should I contact the Graduate Admissions Office about my application?

We ask that applicants not contact our Graduate Admissions Office about their application. All application components are handled within the PSYCAS. We ask that applicants be patient throughout this process. Additionally, the program office will not be able to tell you if all of your documents have been received – you can check the status of your documents in your PSYCAS account.

• I live out of state (or out of the country), and will not be able to come for an in-person interview.  Is there an alternative?

The program will arrange for applicants from outside of the area to have an interview over video conference.  The program sends all interview invitations via email. 

• Who will look at my file?  Who will I have an interview with?

All applications are reviewed by faculty members in the program. All interviewed applicants will be interviewed by at least one core faculty member as well as an alum, adjunct faculty member, or second core faculty member in the program.

• How can I apply for financial aid from the program?

All interviewing applicants will be given a financial aid application to complete.  We make every effort to provide admitted applicants with a financial aid package offer at the time of acceptance.  Within this application applicants are given the opportunity to indicate which faculty members they would like to work for as a research assistant, to apply for teaching fellowships, and Service Disparity Fellowships. Students receive only one type of aid from the program, but can apply to all that we have available.

Aid is determined by undergraduate GPA and takes into consideration an applicant's EFC. Be sure to file a FAFSA in order to be considered for aid from LIU. 

• I didn’t get in, who can I talk to about making my application stronger?

Faculty and staff are not able to offer feedback on individual applicants’ materials before applying to the program.  We recommend looking over our student outcomes listings (average GREs, GPAs, etc), as well as discussing pre-doctoral experiences with our current students to gain an understanding of our student body. If you applied to the program and did not get in and would like feedback on making your application stronger, please contact the program after our April 15th deadline for feedback on your application.

• I am reapplying, do I need to resubmit my documents or can you use the same ones?

It is highly recommended that you review and revise your materials.

Additional Information & Resources for Prospective Applicants to Psy.D. Programs

The following list includes resources from outside sources in regards to applying to doctoral programs. For more information, applicants should research the particular sources from which these pieces were culled.

In addition to these collections, applicants would benefit from thorough review of information available from the following organizations:

• Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists
• American Psychological Association
• American Psychological Association – Division 39
• International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy
• International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies  (ISTSS)
• International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis
• National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD)
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
• New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA)
• NYSDoE: Licensing Information for Clinical Psychologists
• Information from CUDCUP

http://cudcp.us/files/Reports/CUDCP_2010_Psy_Grad_School_Fact_sheet.pdf

Recommended Reading for Graduate Students Entering Psy.D. Programs

Borden, Kathi and E. John McIluried. “Professional Psychology Education and Training: Models, Sequence, and Current Issues.”  in David Richard and Steven Huprich (eds), Assessment, Treatment, and Research. New York: Elsevier, 2009.

Bruss, Katherine and Mary Kopala, “Graduate School training in Psychology: Its Impact Upon the Development of Professional Identity.”  Psychotherapy, Vol. 30, No. 4, Winter 1993. 685-691.

Canna, Mark A. and Brian M. Freidenberg, “Special Series The Graduate School Experience: Academic and Personal Opportunities and Challenges Within Psychology Doctoral Programs.” The Behavior Therapist, Feb. 2003, Vol. 26, No. 2.

Courtois, C. A., & Gold, S. N. (2009). The need for inclusion of psychological trauma in the professional curriculum: A call to action. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, And Policy, 1(1), 3-23.

Eby, M., Chin, J.L., Rollock, D., Schwartz, J. & Worell, F.. (2011). Professional Psychology Training in the Era of a Thousand Flowers: Dilemmas and Debates for the Future. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 5(2), May 2011, 57-68.

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