Department of Psychology

Clinical Psychology Graduate Program Application Procedures

Before Applying

Admission to the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology is competitive with 3-4 students accepted into the program each year from an applicant pool of approximately 100 applicants.

The clinical program endorses a mentorship model of clinical research training. The fit between a student and the program’s philosophy and faculty interests is a critical component of admission.

Our Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Sarah Francis, is happy to respond to specific questions via email that cannot be answered on our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Please read all information about the program on this site and our FAQ page before contacting the program or the DCT. In addition to the information provided below, please also consider these additional resources prior to applying: Is Clinical Psychology the best type of training for me?, Your Guide to Getting In, and What are Programs Looking for in Competitive Applicants?

How to Apply

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR. For an applicant to be considered for admission, all application materials must be submitted by the application deadline. Applications completed after this date may not be given full consideration.

Admission is for the fall term only; there are no spring or summer admissions.

At the University of Toledo, it is necessary to secure admission to both the Department of Psychology and the Graduate School. You must upload your completed application package directly to the Graduate School, not to the Department of Psychology. Applications are received in the Graduate School and processed there before being made accessible to faculty in the Department of Psychology. 

To ensure all your materials have been received and processed, please check the status of your application at: http://www.utoledo.edu/graduate/. 

Requirements for a Complete Application 

An applicant must submit the following material in order to be considered for admission to the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology.  Online submission is done by following instructions below (do NOT submit these materials by mailing them). Specific instructions on how to submit application materials to the College of Graduate Studies can be found here. Please also review the College of Graduate studies website for more information on requirements for the graduate application. International applicants should also review the additional application requirements that can be found here. 

1. A completed graduate school application form  (submitted online). Forms at the online application webpage that have an asterisk (*) are required, inquiring about the applicant’s name, permanent address, local/mailing address, personal information, program of study, and previous college(s) attended.

2. At least three letters of recommendation - submitted electronically by letter writers. Instructions for sending electronic letter of recommendation requests are available at the application webpage. Letters should reflect your suitability to obtain a Ph.D. degree in clinical psychology. It is best to select letter writers who can adequately describe your academic work, research experiences, and, if relevant, any clinical experiences you have had.

3. An application fee of $45.00 paid by credit card with the online application.

4. A graduate advisor ranking form, which will be completed as a part of your application.

5. A statement of purpose of no more than two single-spaced pages. The applicant’s name should be indicated at the top of each page. After you create your document, convert it to an Adobe pdf file before uploading (free pdf file conversion is freely available, such as from www.cutepdf.com, or www.pdf24.org). The statement of purpose should address the following areas:

• Why you want to become a clinical psychologist.
• Your professional plans or goals as a clinical psychologist. As specifically as possible, indicate what you see yourself doing 5 or 10 years from now.
• Your background or experience relevant to clinical psychology training.
• Your interests within the field of psychology. Please describe any specific interests in clinical psychology. If possible, please indicate one or more particular faculty members with whom you would like to work with and how they may assist you in developing your areas of interest further.
• (Optional) Your experiences with diversity and/or how you would bring diversity to the clinical psychology program. The University of Toledo and UT Department of Psychology maintain a strong commitment to diversity in all areas and are especially interested in receiving applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented groups. Our focus on diversity includes, but is not limited to, differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, socio-economic status, and disability status.

6. A curriculum vitae. The applicant’s name should be indicated at the top of each page. After you create your document, convert it to an Adobe pdf file before uploading (free pdf file conversion is freely available, such as from www.cutepdf.com, or www.pdf24.org).

• Please do NOT submit writing samples, theses, journal articles, or conference presentations

7. Additionally, you will need to arrange for transcripts to be sent well in advance of the application deadline. Please have the following application materials sent electronically:            

1. • College transcripts (and graduate school transcripts, if applicable) showing all previous academic work and degrees. (An up-to-date unofficial transcript may facilitate consideration, but an official transcript is needed.) US transcripts can be sent electronically directly from the institution to UT at graduateonlineapplication@utoledo.edu or mailed to the following address:

Graduate Admissions (Clinical Psychology)
College of Graduate Studies University of Toledo
MS 933 - Main Campus
2801 West Bancroft Toledo, Ohio 43606-3390

Interview invitations are typically sent out by email in late December.

Clinical interviews are typically held in February.

Student Selection Information 

When selecting applicants, we consider the student's academic qualifications, clinical and research potential, and match to our program in terms of career goals, clinical and research interests, and fit with particular faculty members.

We do not have specific cutoff levels for GPA.

Interviews:

The top 15-20 applicants are typically asked to come for an interview. We invite selected applicants to attend one of two interview days in early February. Applicants invited to join us on one of those designated days will receive an invitation via email late in December. 

Nature of Students Accepted into the Program: 

Typically, 3-4 students are accepted into the program each year from an applicant pool of approximately 100 students. Students accepted may possess a bachelor's degree or master's degree, and they come from all regions of the country. 

More specific information about applicants over recent years can be found at our Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data.

The Department of Psychology and the University of Toledo maintain a major commitment to diversity in all areas and are especially interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people, including underrepresented ethnic groups. To learn more about diversity-related research and resources in our department, please visit our page for the Department Diversity Committee.