School Psychology, Ph.D.

Frequently Asked Questions - Applications

Who might apply to the UNC School Psychology Program?

Applicants come from various fields and stages of life.  Successful school psychologists tend to be intellectually capable and socially responsible, and enjoy working with both children and youth. Individuals without a strong psychology background may need to obtain additional knowledge in the field prior to applying. Individuals without experiences in working with children and/or youth will need to obtain direct experiences prior to applying.

What are you looking for in applicants to your program?

We look for applicants with a solid undergraduate record, which generally means a GPA above 3.3, and evidence of success in upper level psychology classes, including the prerequisites courses. We expect strong GRE scores and prior experiences that have allowed one to gain knowledge and self-awareness pertinent to the field of school psychology. We look for a statement of purpose that shows a clear understanding of the field of school psychology and of the applicant’s match with the field, as well as clarity regarding why UNC’s program is a good fit for the applicant. We examine all the available evidence to help us answer these fundamental questions:

  • Can this applicant succeed in a rigorous graduate program?
  • Has this applicant made a careful, well-educated choice regarding this career, this University, and this Program?
  • Is this applicant likely to become an outstanding school psychologist, contributing to the professional in significant ways?

How should I prepare for graduate training in school psychology?

Preparation has three basic components:  preparatory course work, relevant experiential activities, and exploration of the career and its appropriateness for you.  All three are essential to your preparation for graduate training in School Psychology.

Preparatory course work: You should aim for solid performance in your undergraduate course work, including the prerequisite courses and upper level psychology classes, such as statistics, research methods, and tests and measurement. Supporting course work in related areas, such as education, sociology, special education, communication disorders, and social work is desirable but not essential.

Relevant experiences: For all applicants, relevant employment or volunteer experiences involving children or youth is required. For doctoral applicants, research experience is expected which may be obtained by working with faculty in your undergraduate or graduate program, or through employment.

Understanding the field of school psychology: We strongly recommend that prospective applicants explore not only the field of school psychology but also other related career options, including clinical child psychology, developmental psychology, school counseling, educational psychology, special education, and school social work, to help refine a decision to pursue a career in school psychology.

Additional suggestions to facilitate your understanding:

  • Explore the content on the website of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), paying particular attention to the links about Becoming a School Psychologist. Also follow other links to gauge your interest in the content.
  • Explore the content on the website of the American Psychological Association.
  • Interview at least one school psychologist (and other professionals whose fields you are considering) to gain insight into day-to-day roles and both positive and negative aspects of the job. If possible, “shadow” one or more of these individuals as well.
  • For doctoral applicants, review research published in the major school psychology journals (e.g., Journal of School Psychology) as well as related journals to determine if you have overlapping interests with these topics.
  • Read books that help you explore careers in psychology. One example is Applying to Graduate School in Psychology: Advice from Successful Students and Prominent Psychologists Edited by Amanda C. Kracen and Ian J. Wallace.

Does your program provide individual advisement to interested applicants regarding courses or experiences that would enhance the likelihood of admission?

We recognize the need for many individuals to have advice regarding their preparation for graduate studies. Though we cannot provide individual advisement, by phone, mail, or in person, for individuals who are interested in enhancing their credentials for graduate school, we can provide the following information that should help you prepare a strong application, whether for UNC-Chapel Hill or another campus. 

Learn about and take the prerequisite courses for the campus you are interested in. At UNC-Chapel Hill, we require courses in developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, learning or cognition, and personality theories. You can also increase your preparation for graduate work by taking courses in experimental design and statistics, and by obtaining a broad exposure to fields such as education, sociology or social work. Such work is not required for admission to UNC-Chapel Hill, but these courses will help you when you are in graduate school, and might enhance your application. (See FAQ on prerequisites.)

Obtain experiences in working with children and youth. Such experiences might include serving in Ameri-Corp or Teach for America, camp counselor work, serving as a tutor in the schools, working with children with disabilities, volunteering with the Special Olympics, and working with children with ADHD, autism, or learning disabilities, teaching, and counseling. Individuals with backgrounds in teaching or counseling who are switching careers also bring strong backgrounds to the field of school psychology.

Individuals applying for the doctoral program can enhance their application by gaining research experiences, including working on research projects, writing research reports, and presenting at professional meetings.  Learning a second language, especially Spanish, is particularly advantageous, given the increasing diversity of languages in the schools in the US. 

The UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate School recommends that applicants have a minimum combined GRE verbal and quantitative score of 1000. The undergraduate grade point average is recommended to be at least 3.0. Please review the information on our admissions statistics to gain additional information about applicant credentials. These numbers are merely recommendations and do not exclude or ensure applicant acceptance into the program. Evidence that shows students will succeed in a rigorous graduate program may outweigh low GPA or GRE scores.

May I meet with the faculty to obtain additional information about the Program?

Because we receive a large number of requests for information, we cannot meet with individuals to discuss the Program. However, we have prepared these FAQs to provide you with detailed information on our program.

Additional detailed information on admissions is located on our website. Please address questions on the status of your application to the School of Education Office of Student Affairs, ed@unc.edu or (919) 966-1346. We do hold a one hour information session in late November, early December, for individuals within driving distance who wish to learn more about the program and visit the campus.

The date will be posted on the website by November 1.

What information do you consider in making decisions?

 

Admission to the program is based on several factors, including rigorous undergraduate preparation, strong letters of recommendation, competitive GRE scores, relevant experience with children and youth, and a clearly written personal statement of professional objectives. Doctoral applicants' research experience and interests are also highly important factors.

We use the application materials to help us make a determination of whether you will be a successful student, a committed and competent professional, and whether our program can meet your personal and professional goals. We give importance to the three letters of recommendation. The Statement of Purpose helps the faculty determine your projected career path and whether your interests are compatible with our program. We encourage you to be as specific as you can as to your career goals and what you intend to do when you graduate. We also review your resume that details your academic and employment histories. One sample of professional writing (e.g., papers, publications) is not required but is encouraged.

Whom should I ask to write letters of reference for me?

The most effective letters come from professors and professional supervisors who know you very well and also know what it takes to succeed in graduate school. Less useful are references from professors who don’t know you well or from family friends or non-academic employers who are not familiar with graduate school demands. We realize that some applicants have been away from college for an extended period of time, and that letters from former instructors may not be feasible and we take that fact into account.

When is the deadline for applications?

The deadline for receipt of applications and all supporting material is January 1 preceding the fall enrollment. No late applications and no late supporting materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, Statement of Purpose) can be accepted after January 1.

Be sure to begin the application process sufficiently early to assure that all materials arrive on time. Please be sure that persons who write your letters of recommendation are aware of the deadlines. UNC policies strictly preclude reviewing any late application or applicants adding materials to an incomplete application after the January 1 deadline. We highly recommend you submit all materials no later than mid December to ensure you meet the deadline. Make sure that those writing your letters of recommendation understand that if the letter arrives late, your application can't be reviewed.

Are the application deadlines different for international students?

No. The application deadlines are the same for everyone.

What happens if I have low test scores or GPA?

In cases where you believe an indicator (e.g., test score) does not accurately reflect potential for graduate study, we encourage you to provide additional evidence to show that the indicator is not valid. Alternate evidence could include high performance in prior course work, scores from other tests, or professional publications. We do not use scores or GPAs as strict cutoffs, and will review evidence suggesting such indicators are inaccurate.

Is it possible to enter the program with an undergraduate major other than psychology?

Yes. However, it is still necessary to complete the prerequisite courses and it is highly desirable to have additional course work in psychology, including content in research methods and statistics. Note that our students take the School Psychology PRAXIS II exam during the spring of their second year, and this exam contains considerable psychological content.  Applicants with undergraduate majors in areas such as teaching often bring highly related experiences, and may have completed prerequisites in areas such as development and learning.

Individuals without a psychology background will want to examine in detail the psychology websites, especially the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association for School Psychologists (NASP). The more information you have about psychology in general and school psychology in particular, the more informed decision you can make about applying to graduate school and the stronger your application will be.

Is it possible for me to enter the doctoral program right after finishing my undergraduate degree?

Yes. We accept students into the doctoral program after they have completed their undergraduate degrees. Most students enter with an undergraduate major in psychology.

We also typically admit two students a year who have completed a master's degree at another institution, sometimes in counseling and sometimes in school psychology.

Do you admit transfer students?

We do admit transfer students, but not as a separate category. If you wish to enter the School Psychology Program with credits from another program, you would apply to the degree program you are interested in, meeting the deadline for admission.

If I have a previous graduate degree or course work, can I apply the credit hours to my degree?

Master's Degree Guidelines: Upon recommendation of the academic program and approval by the Graduate School, up to 20 [percent of the total hours required for the master’s degree may be graduate-level courses transferred from another approved institution, or from this institution for courses taken before admission to an academic program in The Graduate School. Credit received for graduate-level courses taken as an undergraduate may be transferred into an academic program with the program’s approval provided the course did not count towards the requirements of the undergraduate degree. Transferred credits will not be included in the program residence credit calculation.

Doctoral Degree Guidelines: Upon recommendation of the academic program and approval by the Graduate School, a doctoral student may transfer into his or her degree program relevant graduate courses from approved institutions or from other graduate programs within this institution.  The doctoral student may be examined on all transferred courses at the time of the doctoral oral examination. There is no limit to the number of hours that can be transferred into a doctoral program to meet course requirements—with the academic program’s approval.  Transferred credits will not be included in the program residence credit calculation. The School of Education requires that courses be taken within the past five years and passed with a grade of "B" or better. A review is completed after a student has been admitted and course work and experiences have been reviewed by the academic advisor, course instructors, and the program coordinator.  

Are there special admission requirements for individuals who have or will complete a master’s degree/specialist degree at the time of application to the doctoral program?

Yes, applicants who have completed, or who are completing, a master’s degree/specialist degree at the time of application to the doctoral program, are asked to submit the following materials. To ensure your application can be considered, make sure these items are received by the January 1 deadline.

A reference from your internship on-site supervisor must be included in your application. This reference may be one of your three letters, but the internship supervisor should specifically address your performance while an intern. In addition, one of your three letters must be from the program chair of your master’s program/educational specialist program. If you are asked to come for an interview, you should bring work samples with you, such as an example of a psychological report and a research paper.

Applicants having competed two years of graduate studies in school psychology prior to applying are required to submit PRAXIS II scores for School Psychology. Minimum scores of 700 are required for admission.

What are the requirements for the doctoral degree if I enter with a master’s/specialist degree?

Regardless of one’s prior course work or degree, all doctoral students must have a minimum of four semesters of full time enrollment at UNC to meet The Graduate School requirements for the award of a Ph.D. The program requires a minimum of 30 hours of doctoral level course work and field experiences, not including the internship year or dissertation, for students entering with a master’s in school psychology. Individuals entering the doctoral program with a three master’s degree/specialist degree should anticipate at least a three to four year program at UNC, with two years spent in course work, advanced doctoral placements, and research, and one full year of internship. The student with a master’s degree/specialist degree must register fulltime for the first two semesters of enrollment. Individuals entering with a master’s in counseling or teaching will most likely have the same number of years in the program as those entering from undergraduate programs, but may have a lighter course load for one or two semesters.

Does being able to speak a language other than English enhance my application?

It is highly advantageous to be able to speak another language, especially Spanish, for the field of school psychology. We recommend students consider obtaining this proficiency as an undergraduate. Preference during admissions is not given for proficiency in foreign languages, but such proficiency will provide you with a valuable set of skills and may enhance your career options. These skills may also open up areas of research for you.

Do you require prerequisite courses? Why do you require prerequisites? May I take the prerequisites after I enroll? Will not having any prerequisites influence an admission decision?

We require prerequisite courses to help ensure you have a basic foundation in areas of psychology important to the profession of school psychology. These courses help ensure knowledge about theories and theorists in psychology, as well as provide you with historical information and current research. With these courses as background for our students, we are able to begin the program of studies at the graduate level, rather than introducing you to undergraduate level content. You may enter the program with three of the four prerequisites completed, and then take the fourth course during your first semester of enrollment. We do evaluate the credentials of any applicant who does not have all the pre-requisites; however, if admitted, the applicant must ensure that at least three of the four prerequisites have been completed by the time of fall enrollment. If a student enters with three of the four pre-requisites, the 4th course is taken during the first fall semester as an overload. Some students take courses the summer before enrollment, either on their undergraduate campus or through online courses. Completing these prerequisites will likely enhance your application for any graduate program in school psychology.

How competitive is your program?

Admission is competitive. In a typical year, the UNC School Psychology program receives about 150 applications, interviews a total of 30 master’s and doctoral applicants, makes 18 offers of admission, and enrolls 10 to 12 students.

What happens after I submit my application?

Immediately after the application deadline all applications are given careful consideration to determine which applicants will be invited for an interview. The top applicants are invited to our "Interview Day." During this day-long event, applicants have the opportunity to meet with program faculty, talk with current students, and tour the campus facilities. After all interviews are completed, offers of admission will be made. In some cases, a student may be put on a wait list, with a decision on admittance deferred until we receive replies from other admitted students.

Does your program require in person interviews?

Yes, the program requires in person interviews. Once applications are reviewed, selected applicants will receive a request for an on-campus interview with the faculty. The interview provides you with additional information about the program and provides the faculty an opportunity to further evaluate your match with our program, including career goals, theoretical orientation, interests in working in schools and other educational settings, research interests, interests in intervention and prevention efforts at the systems level, and your professional dispositions and skills. This interview also provides you an opportunity to assess how well our program fits with your goals and objectives. In extenuating circumstances, applicants may request a phone interview.

When do the campus interviews take place?

On-campus interviews take place on one of two Fridays from mid to late February. Applicants are asked to arrive the evening before, if possible, to attend an evening social with current students. Applicants attend the full interview day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. - including a program overview, interviews with faculty, and meetings with students. Campus tours are also possible.

Does the program provide financial support for on-campus interviews?

The program does not provide financial support for on-campus interviews.

May I enter the program at different times during the year?

Students are only admitted for matriculation in the fall of each academic year because the course of study is sequenced and cumulative. Entering in the spring semester would put one out of sequence. However, students who are admitted for the fall may begin course work in the preceding summer in areas such as statistics or required foundation courses. Students currenlty enrolled in another program are also admited only during the fall semester.

I have a graduate degree in Psychology. May I take the courses from your program that the state department of public instruction requires for licensure and not enter your degree program?

No. The program does not offer a non-degree, certification/licensure-only training track.

May I pursue my degree on a part-time basis?

No. Both our master’s and doctoral programs are designed for full-time students. Courses and field placements are generally offered during the work week (Monday-Friday). We do not admit part-time students.

Will taking time off after completing my undergraduate degree be a disadvantage?

No. Generally, “taking time off” before enrolling in graduate school is not a disadvantage, especially if you have remained involved with children, youth, or schools in some way. In fact, the maturity and added experience may provide a distinct advantage.