Grad_Appl_Procedures

Graduate Application Procedures

Please be sure that each part of your application is complete and sent to the appropriate office before the deadline. We can only evaluate your application once it is complete. Thus, failure to follow the procedures below will result in a delay in the evaluation of your application.

STEP 1: Complete the application form
Applications may be made on-line through the graduate school at http://graduate.ua.edu/application/index.html. This link connects you to the major information needed to complete an application. There are a few specifics that relate to the Psychology Department:

In Box 4 (Proposed Major) of the application, select "PSYCHOLOGY PHD."
In the box beneath that, indicate the specific program and concentration to which you are applying (Clinical: Clinical Child, Clinical Health, Clinical Geropsychology, or Psychology & Law; or Experimental: Cognitive, Developmental, or Social).
For proposed entrance date, select "August."
In addition to the application forms, you will complete a statement of purpose (also on-line). In your statement of purpose, describe your specific interests, your previous research or applied experience, and your career goals. It is a good idea in your statement of purpose to note two or so possible faculty mentors whose interests most closely match yours.

STEP 2: Pay the application fee
An application fee of $30 for online applications (or $35 for paper applications) may be mailed or paid online by credit card.

STEP 3: Send transcripts to the Graduate School
We need two official copies of transcripts from all previous colleges and universities you attended . These should be ordered from the colleges or universities and mailed directly to

Graduate School Admissions
The University of Alabama
Box 870118
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0118

Undergraduate coursework in general psychology, statistics, and research methods are typically required for admission. Other desirable undergraduate courses include developmental psychology, physiological psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, cognition, learning, sensation and perception, history and systems, mathematics, and natural science. The minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) required for regular admission is 3.0, however, successful applicants typically exceed this minimum. Conditional admission may be granted if GPA is below 3.0 but other credentials are outstanding.

STEP 4: Send recent GRE scores to the Graduate School
Arrange for Educational Testing Service (ETS) to send your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores directly to the University of Alabama Graduate School (Institution Code: 1830). The GRE General Test, which contains Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytic Writing sections, is required, and it must be less than 5 years old. The GRE Advanced Psychology Test is recommended, particularly for the clinical program, but not required. The minimum score required for regular admission is 1000 (Verbal and Quantitative combined), however, successful applicants typically exceed this minimum. Conditional admission may be granted if scores are below 1000, but other credentials are outstanding.

STEP 5: Send letters of recommendation to the Psychology Department
Three letters of recommendation are required. These should be written by professors or supervisors who are familiar with your academic ability and career aspirations. There is no longer a recommendation form. However, you can direct your letter writers to the guidelines at http://graduate.ua.edu/application/forms/letrec.html, Letter writers should prepare and mail letters of recommendation directly to:

Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Department of Psychology
Box 870348
The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0348

Please give letter writers accurate information about where to mail the letter and when the deadline is. Letters must be received by the application deadline to ensure full consideration. It is a good idea to provide each letter writer an addressed stamped envelope marked with the deadline date, and to remind them when the deadline nears. If letters are late or go to the wrong address, your application may not receive full consideration.

STEP 6: Check the status of your application
You may check the status of your application online at http://graduate.ua.edu/application/index.html as long as you remember the PIN you entered when you submitted your application!! Also, the Graduate School notifies applicants by letter as to the status of their applications.

Note: The Graduate School normally forwards applications to the Department of Psychology only after all materials listed above have been received, with the exception of recommendation letters, which are sent directly to the Psychology Department.

In Box 4 (Proposed Major) of the application, select "PSYCHOLOGY PHD."

In the box beneath that, indicate the specific program and concentration to which you are applying (Clinical: Clinical Child, Clinical Health, Clinical Geropsychology, or Psychology & Law; or Experimental: Cognitive, Developmental, or Social).

For proposed entrance date, select "August."

Note: The Graduate School normally forwards applications to the Department of Psychology only after all materials listed above have been received, with the exception of recommendation letters, which are sent directly to the Psychology Department.