Admissions Standards and Procedures
The department and all of its programs welcome applications for graduate study from individuals with diverse educational, academic, cultural, and religious backgrounds and values, as well as diverse personal qualities and experiences. Flexible evaluations based upon multiple criteria (such as undergraduate grades, breadth and rigor of undergraduate courses, GRE scores, professional or work experiences, and letters of recommendation) are made by our admissions committee.
Other indices of potential for graduate study in psychology include a diversified liberal arts or sciences undergraduate degree from a fully accredited college or university; evidence of well above average competence in written and oral communication; diverse coursework in science, mathematics, and/or statistics; and sufficient breadth and depth of preparation in psychology to begin graduate study in the discipline. In general, the successful applicant will have completed an undergraduate psychology degree or its equivalent.
Applicants who succeed in gaining admission to graduate study at Iowa State have indicated a mature interest in the field of psychology as demonstrated by well-organized, realistic goal statements consistent with the resources and faculty interests of the program to which they are applying. Successful applicants are often persons who have sought out and completed research, psychology-related work, and/or volunteer experience in addition to their normal undergraduate studies.
Applications for admission, including ALL of the above materials, should be received by December 15 for Counseling PhD applications and January 2 for both Cognitive and Social PhD applications. Those who have completed applications by this date will receive written notification of the review committee's decision.
Students applying for admission to graduate studies in psychology at Iowa State University must submit a Department of Psychology application and a Graduate College application. A complete application consists of these materials:
1. ISU Graduate College Application
Return the completed ISU Graduate Admission Form (or submit on-line), application fee, and official transcripts of all prior work to the Office of Admissions, 100 Enrollment Services Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-2011. ETS will send required GRE and TOEFL scores directly to all schools as you requested.
2. Departmental Supplemental Application and Required Materials
Download, complete, and submit the Supplemental Application Form [MS Word]. Submit Supplemental Application and required materials by email attachments to: psychadm@iastate.edu. You may review the status of your department Supplemental Application by calling (515) 294-1743 or e-mail psychadm@iastate.edu
3. Transcripts for supplemental application (unofficial or copies or web-based)
Have transcripts sent from all schools attended from which you received grades and credits, whether or not for a degree. ISU students: in order to expedite receiving your transcripts, please email as an attachment a copy of ISU transcripts from Access Plus to psychadm@iastate.edu.
4. Three Letters of Recommendation
Applicant: please complete Letter of Recommendation Form by filling in the applicant portion with your name. Also, read and sign, if applicable, the waiver statement. Please forward this form to your letter writers to complete and e-mail as an atttachment to psychadm@iastate.edu.
5. GRE Scores
The General Test is required for all applicants and the Advanced Psychology Test is recommended for all applicants. GRE scores sent by ETS are not sufficient for our departmental requirements; therefore, you must provide a copy of the GRE scores, including percentiles, which you receive in the mail, as an e-mail attachment to psychadm@iastate.edu.
6. TOEFL Scores
TOEFL scores are required for all international students when first language is not English. TOEFL is waived only if you have received a degree from a U.S. school. To expedite our receiving your scores, please provide a copy of these scores as an e-mail attachment to psychadm@iastate.edu.
