Before You Apply

Deciding where to go to graduate school to earn your Ph.D. may well be the most important intellectual, and perhaps personal, decision you will make by this point in your life. You are deciding to whom to entrust your intellectual development in clinical psychology. Programs are absolutely not equivalent in the students who graduate from each program. This is an individual decision, but here are some issues to consider before applying to the clinical program at the University of Nevada, Reno.

This is a clinical science program (see McFall, R. M. (1991) Manifesto for a science of clinical psychology. American Psychologist, 44, 75-88.) If your intention is to become a practitioner delivering services in a primary care setting, you should not apply to our program. Our program does train its students in psychotherapy very well. However, that is a byproduct of the fact that many of our faculty do treatment development, dissemination and evaluation research. The key word is "research". For you to enjoy the years you will spend earning your Ph.D., you must value research. There are many other types of programs to consider if you do not enjoy research, and if that is the case, you should investigate these other types of programs. Some of our graduates do go onto deliver one on one therapy. In so doing, we expect that such practice is informed by the psychological science literature and values of the clinical program.

Disclosure About the Application Review Process

By way of full disclosure, current graduate students in the program are involved in reviewing the files of applicants and are very active participants during the interview day to which approximately 20-25 applicants are invited. It is our experience that applicants get a great deal of useful information from their interactions with current doctoral students during the admissions process. The faculty have their view of the program, but existing students can add their own experiences that can help inform your choice if you receive an offer to attend the program.

One of the many differences between undergraduate or even a masters program is that one is entering a time where henceforth, you will be part of the peer review process. The Ph.D. is the highest degree one can earn in our field. This means that you and your peers will be involved in all kinds of peer review processes - acceptance of convention submissions, review of scholarly articles, involvement in the grant process, and tenure and promotion should you choose to become a member of the academy. It is important for current students to learn how to behave professionally. As part of that process, current students do provide input into the selection process. Admissions are ultimately the decision of the faculty, but this is a collegial, trusting and respectful program where our doctoral students do participate.

How to Apply

We welcome your application. Your complete application must be received by January 1. Required forms and a description of materials are available by clicking here.

From among all the applicants, approximately 20 -25 people will be invited to an on-site interview that usually occurs in early March. Approximately 6-9 students are admitted each year, most with funding. Members of all racial and cultural groups are encouraged to apply.

In order to help you plan your travel schedule here are the approximate dates for the application review, interview notification, interview dates, and offer dates:

Students who receive offers have until April 15th (or the first Monday thereafter) to accept or reject an offer. APA programs cannot force or coerce students into a decision prior to that date, though students may accept or reject an offer earlier if they so choose. See policy statement by the Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology.

*Reno is an international airport (RNO) served by serveral airlines. However, Southwest Airlines often has competitive rates in/out of Reno.