Admission to the School Psychology Program - Dept. of Educational Psychology

Admission Policies and Application Process for the Department of Educational Psychology – School Psychology Track

Admission policies

The candidate for the school psychology track within educational psychology is expected to exhibit adequate undergraduate preparation in the following areas:

Psychology (including coursework in general, abnormal, personality, measurement, statistics, and child psychology)
Education (social sciences and cultural studies, including humanities; and natural and biological sciences)

We are able to accept only a small percentage of the applicants each year. About two-thirds of the students admitted each year are for the Ph.D. degree and the other third for the M.A./Specialist degree. Most Ph.D. students are admitted with educational psychology majors. The exception is joint students. Of the admitted PhDs, one is usually chosen as a joint child psychology-school psychology admission or a joint psychology-school psychology admission. Approximately 33% of Ph.D. applicants were admitted for fall 2013 with an average undergraduate grade point average of 3.69, and average GRE scores of 160 Verbal and 156 Quantitative. Approximately 28% of the applicants for the specialist degree were admitted for fall 2013 with an average undergraduate grade point average of 3.66 and average GRE scores of 161 Verbal and 158 Quantitative. In selecting students the following criteria are considered:

Stated career goals and appropriateness of the program for the applicant;
Experiential background (both academic and general), life history, and work experiences; and
Predictors for success in graduate work, such as undergraduate performance, test scores, and letters of recommendation.
Mutual interests with program faculty.

Application Process

Deadlines

All application materials must be received November 15 for admission in September of the following year. Files not complete by November 15 will not be reviewed. Year-long course sequences make mid-year entrance into the program impossible. Therefore, all applications for admission are reviewed during December and January for entrance the following September.

Materials

All application materials should be submitted directly to the ApplyYourself admissions system unless exceptions are noted. We cannot review your application until all of the required materials listed below are submitted successfully.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation and recommendation forms are required. Using the Recommendations link within ApplyYourself, fill in the names of your three endorsers. Complete the information requested and indicate whether the endorsers will submit the recommendation form and letter of recommendation online or via postal mail. You will find the recommendation form in the Downloadable Forms section.

Letters that are not submitted online must be mailed to the School Psychology Program. These letters may be mailed directly from the endorser to the School Psychology program or sent to the applicant first in a sealed envelope with the endorser’s signature across the seal. In either case, be sure that your endorsers are aware of the application deadline.

Acceptable recommendations will come from current or former professors who can assess your potential for graduate work. Other recommenders, such as employers, are also acceptable.

Statements

Statement of Interest

Please upload a typed statement (not to exceed two double-spaced pages) explaining why you are interested in the profession of school psychology and what has influenced your decision to apply to the University of Minnesota. Additionally, we want to know why the U of M educational psychology—school psychology track is a particularly good match for you.

Upload as the Graduate School Applicant Statement #1 in ApplyYourself. Graduate School Applicant Statement #2 is the Graduate School Diversity Statement.

Critical Issue Essay

Please upload a typed response (not to exceed three double-spaced pages) to the following question: Identify a critical problem facing contemporary schools in America or another country. What do you think are the social, political, and/or economic factors that are contributing to this problem? What specific solutions might you propose to tackle the problem?

Upload it the Program Supplementary Information section, under Upload 1 section in ApplyYourself.

These statements are an integral part of your application and will be weighted heavily in its evaluation.

Submitting the Extenuating Circumstances and Diversity statements in Apply Yourself is optional, however, you are encouraged to complete either or both statements (per the instructions provided in Apply Yourself) if you feel that submitting such essays will add important information to your application.

REQUIRED
Materials:	Where to submit:	How to submit:
Graduate School Application	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Required fields: Personal Information, Application Information, Educational Background, Languages, Awards & Activities, Employment/Residence Information, Financial Support, Applicant Statements 1 (Statement of Interest) and Recommendations. Optional fields: All other fields or application materials are optional, but will be taken into consideration if submitted. Important: Joint program applicants should indicate their intended major as either Child Psychology or Psychology, not Educational Psychology. Click Here
Application Fee	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Click here for more information about fees.
Transcripts	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. International students should also upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material. Click here for more information about transcripts and credentials.
Letters of Recommendation	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Use the Recommendation link in ApplyYourself or mail letters to the School Psychology Program.
GRE Scores	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Scores should be entered in the Test Information-Self-Reported field in ApplyYourself. Click here for more information about the GRE
English Language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, etc.)	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Click here for more information about TOEFL Scores.
Program Application	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Complete the program application and upload it in the Program Supplementary Information section, under Graduate Program Additional Application, in ApplyYourself. Joint Child Psychology/Psychology-School Psychology track applicants should upload the School Psychology application under Upload 2.
Critical Issue Essay	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Upload the essay in the Program Supplementary Information seciton under Upload 1, in ApplyYourself.
Applicant Statement 1 Statement of Interest	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Directions are located in the Program Application. Upload as the Graduate School Applicant Statement #1 in ApplyYourself.
Resume/Curriculum Vita	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Upload it in the Program Supplementary Information, under CV/Resume section, in ApplyYourself.

OPTIONAL
Materials:	Where to submit:	How to submit:
Articles, term papers, theses or reports of experimental investigations	Electronically via ApplyYourself	Upload your publications and articles into the Other Information portion on the Graduate Program Supplementary Information section of the ApplyYourself online application.

Joint Child Psychology/Psychology- School Psychology track

Applicants must also complete the departmental application for Child Psychology/Psychology (see websites for information and instructions) in addition to following the instructions above (complete only one Graduate School application). Upload the Child Psychology or Psychology program application in the Program Supplementary Information section, under Graduate Program Additional Application material, in ApplyYourself. Upload the School Psychology program application in the Program Supplementary Information section, under Upload 2, in ApplyYourself. Please be sure to indicate your intended major as Child Psychology/Psychology PhD, when filling out the graduate school application portion of the application process.

We urge you to apply early and complete the GRE as soon as possible. Be sure to indicate your intended major on the Graduate School online application as Child Psychology or Psychology Ph.D. Materials sent to the wrong department, incomplete applications in either Educational Psychology or ICD, or a Graduate School online application with the incorrect intended major, will cause a delay in processing your application. Applications to School Psychology are due November 15th and applications to Child Psychology are due December 1st. Late applications to either program may mean we will be unable to include your application in our review.

School Psychology Mailing Address

School Psychology Program
Department of Educational Psychology
University of Minnesota
56 East River Road, Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Additional Graduate School/ApplyYourself application information

The Graduate School has a frequently asked questions page for additional information about the application process, transcript requirements, financial aid, etc. Questions regarding the Graduate School application should be directed to the Graduate School Office of Admissions at 612-625-3014.

The University Counseling and Consulting Service Testing Center provides test administration, scoring, and score reporting services to the University and surrounding community. The Computer-Based Testing Center administers the GRE General and Writing Tests, the GMAT, PPST, and TOEFL. http://www.uccs.umn.edu/. You could also visit www.gre.org.

Questions about Admission Policies or the Application Process for the Department of Educational Psychology- School Psychology Track can be sent to: spsy-adm@umn.edu or 612-626-0367.

Graduate School diversity statement

The Graduate School and Educational Psychology Department embrace the University of Minnesota’s position that promoting and supporting diversity among the student body is central to the academic mission of the University. A diverse student body enriches graduate education by providing a multiplicity of views and perspectives that enhance research, teaching, and the development of new knowledge. A diverse mix of students promotes respect for, and opportunities to learn from, others with the broad range of backgrounds and experiences that constitute modern society. Higher education trains the next generation of leaders of academia and society in general, and such opportunities for leadership should be accessible to all members of society. The Graduate School and its constituent graduate programs are therefore committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities through recruitment, admission, and support programs that promote diversity, foster successful academic experiences, and cultivate the leaders of the next generation.