FAQs

Although program applicants can send potential program faculty mentors an email about experience and fit, please do not be offended if the faculty member does not respond to your inquiry. Our faculty are very busy with clinical research and training! Because we routinely get hundreds applications annually, generic program emails such as “tell me more information about the program” will likely not be responded to, nor will requests for preliminary virtual meetings to discuss fit. Only emails exhibiting clear, specific questions and demonstrating that you’ve read our online materials will be responded to. General information on the program can be found on this page, please familiarize yourself with these materials prior to reaching out to us. If you have a question that is not answered in our materials, please reach out to our Program Coordinator, Julie Skorny

Recommendation letters can be from a professor of a previous program or if employed, from a past employer/manager/supervisor.

Yes, if an applicant is accepted and chooses to attend a program, they are expected to complete their outstanding prerequisite requirements prior to beginning class in the fall semester. Prerequisites can be completed at an accredited institution. 

No, a student can apply to any of our doctoral programs directly from having earned a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, a Master’s degree is advised as a good way for prospective applicants to develop more experience (both clinical and research) in the field.

No, Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology accepts and considers applications from applicants of diverse academic backgrounds. However, for all applicants from non-psychology (or other related fields) academic backgrounds, we require that they fulfill all listed prerequisite courses prior to the first day of class, if accepted.

No. However, all applicants are expected to have taken approximately 15 undergraduate credits in psychology, including statistics, experimental and abnormal. Other prerequisites apply.

Applicants are restricted from applying to more than one (1) doctoral psychology program in New Brunswick each term. Applying to more than one program may significantly delay your application.

Each PsyD program is designed to be completed in five years. Students must complete four years of coursework (including externships) and a full-time internship in their fifth year.

GRE Psychology Subject Test required for the Clinical PsyD program only. 

All programs for the Departments of Clinical and School Psychology start in the Fall without rolling admissions. 

Applied Psychology Programs:

• The Organizational Psychology PsyD Program begins in the fall only, without rolling admissions.
• The Master of Applied Psychology Program begins in both the fall and spring, without rolling admissions.
• The Master of Applied Behavior Analysis Program begins in the fall only, without rolling admissions.
• The Accelerated Bachelor to Master of Applied Psychology Program begins in the fall and spring, without rolling admissions.
• The Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate begins in the fall and spring, with rolling admissions. 

Please our tuition and fee rates page for more information. 

Letters of recommendation should speak to your capabilities, strengths, and likelihood of success in our programs. These letters are typically from professors, mentors, and/or employers.

If an applicant has an international transcript, they must have a third-party transcript evaluation service complete an evaluation into US.

The Office of Graduate Admissions grants application fee waivers to the following groups only: active U.S. military and military veterans who plan to apply for educational benefits under the GI Bill, current Rutgers students and alumni, and participants in various scholar programs. Students are automatically reviewed for fee waiver eligibility based on the information they provide on their Rutgers graduate school application. Any questions can be directed to go.rutgers.edu/contactgrad.

• A complete application to GSAPP must include the following information:
• Official Undergraduate Transcript (submitted electronically or by mail); electronic transcripts should be sent to e-transcripts@gradadm.rutgers.edu
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (submitted electronically)
•  Personal Statement (submitted electronically) - describing your experiences related to, and your commitment to, pursuing a career in professional psychology and a doctoral degree. Page length: 1.5-2 pages, approximately 750 – 1000 words.
• In addition to the personal statement, the Clinical program also requires a brief essay (300-500 words) describing how your life and/or professional experiences and aspirations relate specifically to GSAPP’s mission. 
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume (submitted electronically)
• Any materials that are mailed can be sent to the follow address:
  • Offices of Graduate and Professional Admissions

    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

    ASB I

    65 Davidson Road

    Piscataway, NJ 08854

No, applicants are accepted to Rutgers Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology based on optimal class size and the strength of their own application and interview performance. Faculty advisors are assigned after acceptance is offered.

Interviews for admission into the doctoral programs take place in mid-February.

No, each admissions committee selects applicants for interviews from the application pool, based on their respective admissions criteria.

Applicants being considered for an interview will be emailed. Applicants not being considered will be notified via the portal.

Deadlines for both the Clinical PsyD and School PsyD Programs are displayed below: 

Learn more about admissions information on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).

Deadlines for Applied Psychology are displayed below:

• Applied Psychology - Rachel Diaz r.diaz@rutgers.edu
• Clinical Psychology - Julie Skorny js1977@gsapp.rutgers.edu
• School Psychology - Robin Hussey rhussey@gsapp.rutgers.edu 
• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support - Dr. Jennifer Foster jjfoster@gsapp.rutgers.edu

You can check your application for materials received (transcripts, letters) by logging into the portal here: https://rutgers.force.com/ApplicantPortal/AppPortalCustom Go to Supporting Materials, where you will be able to see what has and has not been received.

If accepted/waitlisted applicants are notified via email and the portal. If not accepted, notifications of non-acceptance is sent via the portal. Applicants have until April 15th to accept their offer via the portal. 

You will receive a certificate of admission by email from the RU admissions office and there will be a direct link to your application where you can accept or deny admission.