Clinical PhD Admissions
Holistic Admissions Process
The Department of Psychology at the University at Buffalo takes a holistic approach to admissions. We review each applicant as a whole person—the sum of their experiences, accomplishments, and goals—rather than relying on any single measure such as GPA.
This process allows us to:
- Recognize strengths across multiple areas of achievement
- Evaluate all aspects of an application for a complete view of the candidate
- Ensure a strong match between applicants and our programs and faculty mentors
Over time, we’ve found that holistic review:
- Selects applicants who thrive in our graduate programs
- Brings a diversity of experience and perspectives to our academic community
- Supports a fair and thorough evaluation of all applicants
While we consider quantitative measures like GPA, we value academic excellence in its many forms. Success in graduate training cannot be reduced to numbers alone. We emphasize fit—between applicant interests and program orientation, and between student goals and potential faculty mentors.
We seek students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, hard work, resilience, grit, professional ambition and enthusiasm—future psychologists eager to make discoveries and advance knowledge in their field.
Each application is evaluated based on:
- Personal statement
- Undergraduate transcript and GPA (and prior graduate record, if applicable)
- Writing sample (Social-Personality PhD program only)
- Letters of recommendation
- Resume and research experience
Selected applicants will be contacted by prospective advisors to schedule interviews. Interviews are required for applicants to:
- Behavioral Neuroscience PhD
- Clinical Psychology PhD
- Social-Personality Psychology PhD
- General Psychology MA
They are not required for applicants to the Cognitive Psychology PhD program.
Applicants to our doctoral programs may submit an optional Schomburg Statement to be considered for a Schomburg Fellowship.
These statements are not used in admissions decisions.
Components of the Application and How They Are Used
Personal Statement (required)
Helps contextualize the more quantitative and objective credentials of an applicant. The statement is used to evaluate the applicant’s goals and fit with the program and research interests of the faculty as well as how they would contribute to the diversity of thought and perspectives.
Describe the area of research you are interested in pursuing during your graduate studies and explain how our program would help you achieve your intellectual goals. The statement should include your academic background, intellectual interests and training or research experience that has prepared you for our program. The statement should also identify specific faculty members whose research interests align with your own interests.
Uploaded as part of the online application.
Transcript and GPA (required)
Provides evidence that the applicant is seeking challenging coursework, while excelling and showing academic growth. The University at Buffalo requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. However, applications with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0 can still be considered, particularly when other components of the application are strong (e.g., a high graduate GPA, etc.).
Upload scanned copies of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts as part of your online application. Include the English translation, if applicable.
Letters of recommendation (3 required):
Provides a third-party endorsement of the applicant’s attributes, ability to succeed in the graduate program, and potential to contribute to the field. The letter offers a perspective on the applicant’s prior achievements and potential to succeed, along with concrete examples of the subjective traits described in other elements of the application.
Letters must be submitted electronically. Further instructions are included in the online application.
Resume and research experience (required):
Provides information on how the applicant has practically applied ideas and concepts learned in the classroom. It helps show that applicants possess the skills and dispositions needed to conduct extensive research and make substantive contributions to their chosen field.
Uploaded as part of the online application.
Interview
Interviews are a way for programs to get to know applicants as a person. They provide a qualitative means of: (a) contextualizing quantitative and objective credentials, and (b) evaluating how well an applicant’s goals and training needs fit with the program and potential mentors. In addition, the Clinical PhD program also uses the interview to evaluate suitability for clinical work.
Schomburg Statement (optional Applications to our doctoral program):
The Schomburg Fellowship offers support for students in doctoral programs who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or have permanent resident status and have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
The Schomburg statement provides useful information in helping the faculty decide whether to nominate an applicant for the Schomburg Fellowship.
If you would like to be considered for a Schomburg Fellowship, please upload a written statement with your online application (maximum of 500 words) describing how you will contribute to the diversity of the student body in your graduate program, including by having overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education. See the Schomburg Fellowship page for additional details.
Uploaded as part of the online application.