Psychology Graduate School Requirements

Most psychology graduate school programs look for a competitive score (above 1200) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), a GPA above 3.3, and volunteer or paid experience in the field. To maximize your chances of getting in consider these useful tips:

• Gain experience in the field: volunteer in a local hospital or clinic to gain practical experience.
• Work closely with your advisor: your advisor will guide you through the admission process.
• Community service: leadership roles will give you the chance to prove your abilities.
• Academic research: volunteer in a research lab and write about your results.
• Stellar letters of recommendation: get letters of recommendation from faculty members, physicians, or community leaders who know you well and have supervised your work directly.
• Excellent communication skills: convey in your application and interview why you're a superb choice and wholly qualified to undergo training to become a psychologist.

Coursework prerequisites for master's programs in psychology generally include the following:

Some doctoral programs require applicants to have a master's degree in psychology. Other doctoral programs allow students to enter the program with a bachelor's degree and work directly on a doctoral degree. Coursework prerequisites generally include the same classes as required for master's programs.