Clinical PhD Application Information
All applications to the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology are completed online through the Idaho State University Graduate School. Updated clinical application materials are available online by October 1st each year. All application materials must be received before the November 15th deadline. Student applications with missing and/or late required materials shall not be considered for admission.
All interviews are conducted via Zoom in early February. Applicants invited for an interview by the Clinical Admissions Committee will be notified of dates and times.
All qualified applicants will be given equal consideration. Our program values and promotes diversity in principle and practice across all aspects of training. Therefore, we encourage applicants from diverse demographic (e.g., socioeconomic, ethnic, sexual identity) and experiential backgrounds to apply to our program. Given our program’s historical mission to provide Idahoans with quality clinical and academic training, we also encourage Idaho residents to apply to our program. However, Idaho residency does not compensate for deficits in qualifications and is only considered when comparing individuals of equivalent ability.
If you are interested in our program and want to learn more, please reach out to the Associate Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Samuel Peer by phone (208-282-1215) or by email.
Admission to ISU’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology is very competitive. Our program is a member of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) and interested applicants should consider reviewing CUDCP’s review of undergraduate competencies that make for successful applicants to programs like ours.
At a minimum, applicants are required to have a BA/BS in psychology or the equivalent and an undergraduate GPA at or above 3.0 for the last two undergraduate years. However, competitive applicants to ISU’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology program tend to have:
- Undergraduate and/or graduate GPAs of 3.75 or higher;
- Meaningful research experiences that include at least one year of research lab experience relevant to scientific psychology;
- One or more research articles under review (and/or published) and/or several research presentations at regional, national, and/or international professional conferences;
- One or more years of employment and/or volunteer service relevant to clinical-community psychology;
- Clearly identified potential research advisor(s) with a clear and well-articulated rationale;
- A compelling description of program fit, with clear, supportive details (e.g., shared goals, philosophy, values); and
- Strong letters of recommendation that make it clear that the student is likely to be successful in a program like ours.
What if you are admitted to our program?
All clinical students must matriculate during the fall semester. Once admitted, students are expected to maintain “full-time” status (i.e., 9 to 12 credits during fall and spring semesters and 1 credit each summer). Our program does not offer a part-time option except under exceptional circumstances. Doctoral training in clinical psychology requires a full-time clinical internship and usually assigns community practicum placements in regional mental health agencies. Many of these institutions require a legal background check to insure all employees meet current standards. In addition, licensure boards usually require applicants to report on their legal background. In addition, many hospital settings require documentation of vaccinations and /or proof of immunity to common communicable diseases.