Loyola University Chicago

Department of Psychology

Prospective Graduate Students

Welcome prospective graduate students! Thank you for your interest in our Clinical Psychology PhD program. This page provides an overview of our application materials and process along with resources to assist you in preparing your application. Application materials must be received by 5:00 pm CST on December 1. Please submit your application via the GPEM website. Please note there is no application fee.

Application Materials

Letters of Recommendation

Please submit 3 letters of recommendation. Please do not submit additional letters as they will not be reviewed. We recommend prioritizing letter writers who can speak to your research experience and/or academic potential whenever possible. Applicants often take an active role in ensuring that letters of recommendation accurately summarize past accomplishments as well as your potential for success as a graduate student. It is generally a good idea to reach out to your letter writers at least two months before the deadline. You should confirm that your letter writers will be able to write strong letters of recommendation on your behalf. If someone is unable to write a strong letter then you should ask another person. Most letter writers will find it useful to have access to a copy of your CV and personal statement. It is also useful if you can provide letter writers with a spreadsheet with the various submission links and deadlines. Many letter writers appreciate a gentle reminder seven days before the deadline and again 48 hours before the deadline since they often have many deadlines to keep track of. Sample resources for actively communicating with letter writers during the application process are available on OSF.
 
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Resume/CV

Please submit a CV that provides an overview of the following content areas (as relevant): 1) relevant educational experiences 2) awards/honors/fellowships 3) relevant research experiences, including published scientific papers/pre-prints and conference presentations, research skills and experience with research methods 4) relevant clinical experiences 5) leadership/service/advocacy/ commitment to diversity activities. Sample CVs are available here.
 
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Transcripts

An undergraduate background in psychology with at least 24 semester hours in psychology is preferred. Courses in statistics and in research methods, or the equivalent, are required. Please note that unofficial transcripts may be submitted, however official transcripts are required upon acceptance.

Statement of Purpose

Your personal statement should address the following questions. Please keep your comments to no more than 2 pages, single-spaced.
 
What specific areas are you interested in researching while completing your PhD in clinical psychology? What relevant experiences have you had that have informed your decision and prepared you to pursue a graduate degree in psychology? What are your career goals following completion of your PhD? Why are you applying to Loyola and which faculty do you envision working with to support your goals?
 
Learn about each of our faculty. The following faculty will be accepting a graduate student for the next school year (2025-2026): Dr. Colleen Conley, Dr. Sungha Kang, and Dr. Scott Leon. Dr. Amy Bohnert is currently considering accepting a student and welcomes applicants.
 
We know that undertaking the process of writing a graduate statement of purpose can be a daunting and time-intensive, requiring several revisions and input from others. We have found the following resources (including examples) helpful for students who are undertaking this process.
 
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Please note the GRE is not accepted and scores will NOT be considered if submitted.
 
Please note there are additional requirements for international applicants. See details here.
 

Application Process

This doctoral program receives many applications each year but only selects five to six full-time students. All applications are reviewed by an admissions committee, and those in the final group of approximately 40 applicants are interviewed individually by at least two faculty members and an advanced graduate student.
 
Our interview process is conducted on-line. Applicants are invited to participate in a virtual day-long program of activities that includes an orientation, question-and-answer period, opportunities to meet all of the clinical faculty and current graduate students, and a tour of the department and campus. Final applicants are required to participate in this virtual interview process. Applicants are also invited to participate in an optional Inclusivity Gathering with current graduate students; this Inclusivity Gathering is an opportunity for prospective candidates from self-identified underrepresented groups to openly discuss the graduate school experience. We do not do telephone interviews as part of the interview process.

CUDCP Policy for Graduate School Offers and Acceptances: Info for Applicants

Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology (CUDCP) has adopted the following guidelines for offers into doctoral clinical psychology programs. If you are applying to a CUDCP program, you should expect that the following policies will apply.
  • In most CUDCP programs, a subset of applicants will be invited for an interview. Within a few weeks of the final interview dates, applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application. You may be offered admission, declined admission, placed on a wait list, or in some cases, a decision has not yet been reached regarding your application.
  • Training programs will notify students no longer being considered for admission as soon as possible. In some cases, this information is communicated by the university graduate school and can take several weeks to be processed. In some cases, you may be able to get updated information on the status of the application process (e.g., whether all interview invites have been extended; whether all offers have been extended), on a clinical program’s website, or by contacting a program administrator. Beware of information posted on student-focused online forums that may be inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Offers of admission can be extended during a large time period. Most initial offers of admission are extended by April 1. Offers may be communicated by phone or email, but should be followed up by a written confirmation within 48 hours.
  • You should not be pressured, nor feel compelled to accept an offer of admission before April 15! This applies to offers of admission and to funding offers that accompany admission. It is impermissible for programs to request a decision prior to April 15 or to indicate that funding will be available only if students make decisions earlier than this date. Violations of this policy should be reported to CUDCP immediately and your identity will be protected. Of course, it is permissible for you to accept an offer as soon as you are certain of your decision (i.e., even before April 15). But the decision to do so should be based on you, and not due to pressure placed upon you by a training program.
  • Do not hold more than two offers for more than one week unless there is specific information (e.g., a visit is scheduled, funding decisions) you are waiting to receive from the program. Difficulty making up one’s mind is not considered an adequate excuse to limit the options available to other applicants.
  • Once you have accepted an offer of admission to a training program, you should inform all programs in which you are still being considered. Be sure to inform programs either that you are declining outstanding offers of admission or you no longer wish to be considered for admission.