Where is your application?

Visit the Department of Psychology Graduate Admissions page for an application.

What is the Graduate student Admissions process?

• Applications to the PhD program are due December 1.

• Application review begins: December 8.

• Application process consists of a review of applications and TWO Zoom interviews (one with faculty mentor and the other with another member of the Clinical Area).

  • Zoom interview invites for Interview 1 invites are sent from mid-December until mid-Jan.

  • Zoom interview invites for Interview 2 are sent early January through mid-January

• Admissions decisions: typically between mid-January and early February

• After admissions decisions have been made, we hold an in-person recruitment weekend for admitted students. This typically takes place sometime between the end of January and the end of February.

What do you typically look for in an applicant?

I review applications carefully to get a sense of how your interests and experiences match with my own. The essay that is a part of the application is very helpful for this, and in your essay it is important to convey how you see fitting with the work that I do. I also look for people who have prior experience conducting research, especially independent research. So, if you are someone who has completed a Psychology honors thesis, or who has worked in a lab – especially where you’ve had the chance to conduct and present (in a poster or paper) your own work, this gives you an advantage.

Can I set up a Zoom meeting or phone call to ask you about your research before I submit an application?

I am very fortunate to be contacted by many prospective students interested in working with me every year. For this reason, it is not feasible for me to speak with people before it is time to review applications. Please rest assured that if you are a good fit for the lab, there is a strong likelihood that we will have a chance to speak during a Zoom interview and I can tell you more about my work and you can tell me about your interests. We try to keep our website up to date so that you will be able to get a good sense of our work and the direction of the lab as you are making your decisions about where to submit your application.

Can I let you know that I plan to apply to work with you?

Sometimes prospective students want to reach out in advance of the application to let me know of their interests and they plan to apply to work with me. This is fine, and I’m happy to hear from you. However, I will review all applications, regardless of whether someone has reached out to me ahead of time.

What is your model of mentorship?

I believe that mentoring is a specific form of collaboration. For this collaboration to work well, but parties have to be working hard both for their own goals and for one another’s goals. As a mentor, I will always work hard to help you to achieve your goals. I also will expect you to be contributing to my lab and the work that we all are doing together, helping me to achieve my goals. This way, together we succeed. A good mentor-mentee relationship – like any relationship – also requires good communication. I make every effort to foster good communication in my work with students.