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Application Information

Questions regarding applications should be sent to  cgorham@umd.edu

To maintain our low student-faculty ratio that permits high quality supervision of both research and professional education, only a small number of students with outstanding credentials are selected for admission each year. The Department accepts as graduate students only those who have demonstrated the capacity for completing the doctoral degree and whose goals are consistent with the educational opportunities offered by our specialty areas.

The specific criteria for admission to the Department of Psychology vary somewhat across specialty areas, but generally include a high undergraduate grade point average, high scores on the Graduate Record Examination, strong letters of recommendation, and research experience and/or previous relevant work experience. In most specialty areas, students are expected to have a thorough background in psychology, however some specialty areas prefer a thorough background in mathematics, biological and/or physical sciences (see specialty area descriptions). Students are expected to have appropriate background experiences that prepare them to begin graduate work when they enter our graduate program.

Doctoral degrees at other institutions. Selection criteria for these students are similar to the criteria listed above.

To be considered for admission, a complete application should be received by December 1.

The most efficient and effective method of applying to the University of Maryland, College Park is through our Online Graduate Application. Applying online saves time and money, is more environmentally friendly than the traditional application, and reduces the chances for human error in processing.

The University strongly encourages all eligible applicants to the Graduate School to apply online.

Completing the Online Application is the first part of the application process; both the Graduate School and the graduate programs require additional supplemental information from all applicants.

When you submit your online application, you will be assessed a $75 non-refundable application processing fee. Applicants are responsible for paying this fee whether or not they submit any supporting materials, are offered admission, or choose to enroll.

After you submit the online application, you will be given the option to immediately access your program’s Application Supplemental Form (ASF).

If you wish to complete the ASF at a later date, you can log back to any unfinished form (create hyperlink to the online application login page) using the same Screen Name you created to begin your online application.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit supporting materials using the ASF. Through the ASF, applicants can submit:

• Letters of recommendation
• Statement of Goals, Research Interests, and Experiences

Information on Other Supporting Documents:

• Official test scores, such as the GRE, or TOEFL must be sent directly from the testing agency to the University. The University's institutional score reporting code is 5814 for these tests and there is no specific department code.
• All applicants must send official, sealed undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended.
• Applicants with international credentials must submit their transcripts in their original language along with certified English translations.
• In addition, international applicants must send completed Certification of Finances Form and other relevant visa/permanent residency status documentation.

Please send only those materials specifically required by the Graduate School (indicated above) and by your program of study. Any additional materials will not be included with your application materials. You are welcome to upload these non-academic documents directly into your ASF.

Prior to mailing, please remove all staples from your documents and ensure that the full name you used on your Online Graduate Application and your date of birth are clearly written on each page of your materials. These documents should be sent in a single package to:

University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operation – Attn: Graduate Admissions
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742

IMPORTANT

1. Although they are not required, consider including an official copy of your GRE scores with application materials. They will be useful if there are delays in transmitting official documents.
2. Page 2 of the application asks for a four-letter program code. The code is PSYC.
3. Area of specialization must be filled in and you may apply to only one area.
4. We recommend that you submit as many application materials electronically as possible. In addition, we suggest that you gather all application materials and send them in one envelope.
We admit students in the Fall term only.