FAQs: Prospective students for the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
Are you planning on accepting a new graduate student to begin in fall 2025?
I will NOT be reviewing applications to accept a new PhD student for the 2025-2026 academic year.
How do I know if I am a good fit for the PIVOT Lab?
When reviewing prospective graduate students’ applications, I am most interested in the fit between their interests, experiences, and goals, and our lab’s mission and research focus. Applicants will be a good fit if they are:
- Interested in a research career. This can include traditional academia but also work in medical center settings, foundations, and industry. Our Clinical Science PhD program emphasizes research training and courses/program expectations focus heavily on this aspect of development
- Interested in research on the prevention of and response to sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence and/or the intersection of mental health difficulties and substance misuse
- Have research experience through any combination of the following:
- Conducting a thesis or coordinating an independent research project
- Working intensively in a research lab
- Making conference presentations or co-authoring papers
- Have participated in any kind of community work associated with supporting and improving the well-being of individuals who have experienced physical or sexual violence
How can I apply (i.e., documents) and what are the requirements?
Information on the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at UW-Madison can be found on the Department of Psychology website.
Should I email you to express my interest in applying to the PIVOT Lab and will we be able to meet to discuss my interests?
While I receive many emails from prospective applicants, your decision to email me will have no impact on your odds of receiving an interview invitation or an offer of admission. As I cannot equitably accommodate the number of requests for meetings with potential applicants, I do not meet with applicants outside our program’s formal interview process.
For general information and guidance about applying to doctoral programs in clinical psychology, see:
- Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology, provided by Dr. Mitch Prinstein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. An important document for those considering applying to graduate school in clinical psychology. It contains guidance for all things related to applying from determining your best-fit career path to deciding between offers from Clinical PhD programs.
- Getting Into Psych Grad School, provided by the Council of University Directors in Clinical Psychology. Great guide from Directors of Clinical Training at Clinical Psychology PhD programs across the country.
- Open Access Tips/Materials for Clinical Psych PhD Applicants, made by Mallory Dobias, a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Stony Brook University. A collection of open-access pointers, timelines, and materials—from sample e-mails to prospective advisors to ‘before’ and ‘after’ personal statements.
- Master Calendar: ‘Notify By’ and Interview dates, U.S. Clinical PhD programs. Updated annually by Directors of Clinical Training at U.S. Clinical Psychology PhD programs.
- Examples of Clinical Psychology Personal Statements. This document includes a number of real examples of personal statements written for applications to clinical psychology PhD programs (Graciously prepared by Dr. Craig Rodrigo-Seijas and Dr. Jessica Schleider).
(Thanks to Dr. Jessica Schleider for her FAQ template)