Psy.D. in clinical psychology: Admissions

Thank you for your interest in our Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology program. Admission to the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology program is open to applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree, preferably in psychology, at a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.

We encourage you to review our application requirements and process, and set up a meeting with an admissions advisor today to learn more about our one-of-a-kind Psy.D. in clinical psychology program. If you want to learn more watch our on-demand admissions webinar.

Application Deadline

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Apply for Fall 2024 Cohort

*PLEASE READ:

All Applicants: please read this webpage in its entirety to understand all components of the admissions process, especially the particular details of the in-person interview and the October 29th deadline for those who would like to apply for the 50% scholarship.

Late Applicants: Be advised that applications received after the final deadline will *only* be considered for well-qualified applicants if space remains available after the above deadlines have passed. Serious applicants should select an earlier application deadline to ensure the possibility that their application can be considered for the August start term. Please contact PsyD admissions before submitting your application after the final deadline has passed.

Admission Requirements

  • A baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education.
  • Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum of a 3.5 GPA for any graduate studies
  • In rare circumstances, applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 may be considered for admission.  An applicant with such circumstances should contact the PsyD admissions office directly via email (admissions.psyd@divinemercy.edu) before completing the application process.
  • Undergraduate degree in psychology preferred. Note: Students admitted without an undergraduate degree in psychology will be required to complete prerequisite courses during the first year of their program.
  • A completed application package for those meeting the above requirements.

General Admission Information

  • Please note that this is an on-site, in-person program, requiring relocation to DMU campus in Sterling, Va for 4-5 years of the 5 year program depending on internship location in the 5th year.
  • The PsyD application package, including all supporting documents, must be submitted by the published deadlines.
  • There are no requirements or limits on selecting which application deadline applicants intend to meet. Applicants may simply self-select a deadline from above and ensure all materials are submitted by that deadline.
  • Applicants who are invited to interview are required to attend the interview date associated with the application deadline selected. Interviews are by invitation only and are not guaranteed.
  • Admission decisions are typically (but not guaranteed to be) communicated within 4 weeks following the in-person interview.
  • All admission decisions are for application to the Fall 2024 PsyD cohort. Applications to a future term beyond 2024 are not permitted. For questions about applying to a future term beyond 2024, email admissions.psyd@divinemercy.edu.
  • Serious potential applicants are highly encouraged to visit DMU’s campus in Sterling, VA.  Each year, DMU hosts a number of scheduled visit days.  Please contact admissions.psyd@divinemercy.edu for a list of visit day opportunities. Further, DMU is open to visitors who would like to visit campus outside of the published interview dates and scheduled visit dates. To visit DMU’s campus, please contact admissions via admissions.psyd@divinemercy.edu at least one week prior to your desired day of visit or inquire about other possible visit days/times.

Admission Process

The application process contains two steps:

  1. Completed Application Package: A completed application package received in the Office of Admissions by published deadlines is required to progress to the second phase of the admission process.
  2. On-campus Interview: After the completed application package is submitted, well-qualified applicants are selected for an interview with the PsyD admissions committee. The interview is required for admission to the Psy.D. program. Please note that interviews are not guaranteed at any point in the process.

A Completed Application Package Includes:

  1. Completed Application for Admission. Click here to begin the PsyD Application.
  2. Three recommendations using our official PsyD Recommendation Form, at least two of which must be from current or former faculty having the ability to assess future success in doctoral-level clinical psychology education and training. The third recommendation should be from someone of another professional nature (supervisor, or similar). Recommendations from family, friends, personal counselors, spiritual advisors or similar are not permitted. See the PsyD Recommendation Form for full details and instructions.
  3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
  4. Two Completed Personal Essays; instructions and essays found within the Application for Admission or by reaching out to admissions.psyd@divinemercy.edu
  5. Current Curriculum Vitae or Resume, inclusive of work/employment history
  6. Official GRE general test scores (DMU school code 5639) within the past five years. (The GRE score is required of all applicants and is considered part of a completed Application Package;  no preferred minimum score has been established for admission to the program.)
  7. Non-refundable $55 application fee
  8. TOEFL or IELTS Academic Exam*
    1. *Applicants whose primary language is other than English must have taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) within the past two years, and the scores must be submitted directly to DMU by the testing agency. (DMU school code 5639).
    2. TOEFL scores must be at least 100 on the internet-based version (iBT), 250 on the computer-based version (CBT), and 600 on the paper-based version (PBT). Academic IELTS scores must fall into the overall band of at least 7.0, with no individual band scores below 6.0. Test results must be sent directly from the testing agency, which will only make them available for up to two years from the test date. For more information, follow this link to our academic catalog.
  9. Transcript Evaluation
    1. For international applicants and applicants whose baccalaureate degree was earned at an institution outside of the U.S., a transcript evaluation is required. If applicable, please note the following:
      1. Applicants holding degrees from outside the United States must submit any international transcript(s) to a NACES approved evaluation service (such as www.edperspective.org) for a “Course-by-Course” evaluation and translation (to English, as applicable) of their transcripts. For more information, follow this link to our catalog.
      2. Applicants holding degrees from outside the United States must demonstrate post-secondary education that is, at minimum, equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.

Understanding the In-Person Group Interview with the PsyD Admissions Committee:  

  • After a completed application package is submitted to the PsyD Admissions Office, the application will be reviewed and well-qualified applicants will be invited via email to the corresponding in-person group interview with PsyD faculty.
  • The interview will take place on DMU’s campus in Sterling, VA.  All applicants are strongly encouraged to reserve the interview day corresponding to the deadline they are intending to apply for well in advance, so they are prepared in case the invitation to interview is extended.
  • Because there is such a short timeline between an application deadline and its corresponding interview day, applicants are highly encouraged to turn in all application materials well before the deadline so that their application materials can be reviewed earlier, and an invitation to interview can be considered and issued with more time to pursue travel and lodging arrangements, etc.
  • Applicants are responsible for all travel costs associated with attending the interview day (transportation, hotel, etc.)
  • Applicants must attend the interview day that directly corresponds with the specific application deadline for that interview day.
  • Applicants may apply for any one of the published deadlines.  There are multiple deadline options, allowing applicants to pick a deadline that coincides with a time frame when they anticipate all materials ready.
  • Applicants with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to compete for merit scholarships between 50%-25% off tuition, provided they are admitted into either the November or January interview dates. Well-qualified applicants who interview in March are not guaranteed consideration for merit scholarships. More information can be found on our scholarship page.

Preparing for the Interview Day

  • The invitation to interview is not guaranteed for any applicant.
  • If invited to interview, further detailed information about the day will be provided via email when the official invitation is issued.
  • The interview day is a professional, all-day experience, in-person experience beginning at about 8:00 a.m. EST and ending by 5:30 p.m. EST
  • Prepare to arrive in the local area near DMU the day before the interview date so you are on-time to the interview.
  • Your full participation in every aspect of the interview day is expected – from on-time arrival through departure. Late arrival to or early departure from the interview day jeopardizes your candidacy.  Therefore, it is highly advisable to make travel arrangements that allow for very comfortable travel windows around the interview day.
  • As previously mentioned, it is to your benefit as an applicant to turn in all application materials well in advance of the application deadline so you can receive all the more notice regarding the potential interview and have plenty of planning time.
  • Professional dress is expected.

International Students

  • International students are required to maintain valid immigration status throughout their time as students in the program.
  • International Students must meet English language proficiencies and degree requirements as outlined herein and in our PsyD program catalog.
  • For any coursework completed outside the United States, please see instructions for the translation and/or evaluation of foreign transcripts.
  • See Catalog for additional information and contact PsyD Admissions with further questions.

Background Check

Applicants who are admitted to the Psy.D. program must pass a background check prior to beginning work with clients in their external practicum or internships. Please see Catalog for further information.

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available to students accepted to the Psy.D. program. Applicants are eligible to apply for these scholarships once their completed Application for Admission to the Office of Admissions has been submitted. You can find more information on in the Financial Aid section.

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