How to Apply to the Oklahoma State University
Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program
All applications are submitted online through the Oklahoma State University Graduate College. You must
meet Graduate College requirements and our program requirements. You can find out more about
Graduate College requirements here: http://gradcollege.okstate.edu/content/application-process-0
To apply, go here: http://gradcollege.okstate.edu/apply
ALL MATERIALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 1
ST
.
OSU Counseling Psychology Ph.D.
Program Requirements
Applicant CV
This is different from a resume. If you don’t know
what a CV is or how it is different from a resume,
you should consider researching it or asking
someone for help. We are looking for your
educational background; research, teaching, or
clinical experiences (if applicable); work or
volunteer experiences; professional or other
organization memberships; awards and honors;
and any other skills that might apply in a counseling
psychology setting.
Personal Statement
We recommend approximately two single-spaced
pages. Please do not just list what was already
listed on your CV and please do not give us your
whole life story. We are trying to get a sense of
who you are as a person, student, and
professional. We want to gauge your readiness and
fit with our program. Some things to consider: Why
are you interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in
counseling psychology? Why are you interested in
the program at OSU specifically?
THREE letters of recommendation
*Note that the #1 reason why applicants’ files are
considered incomplete at the deadline is because
letter writers have not submitted their letters on
time. We encourage you to give your
recommenders plenty of time to upload their letters.
Letters are typically 1-2 single-spaced pages and
should address your potential as a counseling
psychologist: potential for clinical work, for
research, and for service.
Writing Sample
This should be an example of your writing; group
writing is not acceptable. An assignment turned in
for a class is a good example.
Official GRE scores
These must be sent from ETS to the Graduate
College with plenty of time to meet the December 1
deadline.
Transcripts
This is also a Graduate College requirement. You
can upload unofficial transcripts into the system.
Then, if you are accepted to the program, we will
ask for official transcripts to be sent to the
Graduate College.
Graduate college fee
Please see the Graduate College website for fee
information.
TOEFL/IELTS scores, if appropriate
Please see the Graduate College website for
TOEFL/IELTS score information.
Should I apply as a post-bachelor’s student or a post-master’s student?
• If you hold a bachelor’s degree and no other graduate degrees, you should apply as a
post-bachelor’s degree student. Our post-bachelor’s students all begin in the SUMMER.
They complete a master’s degree in Educational Psychology en route to the Ph.D. in
Counseling Psychology.
• If you hold a master’s degree in counseling, clinical psychology, marriage and family
therapy, or a similar field, you probably qualify to apply as a post-master’s student. To be
a post-master’s student, you must have AT LEAST 100 hours of supervised clinical
experience such as an internship or practicum. Please contact the Training Director to
clarify any questions prior to completing your application.
• If you hold a master’s degree in a related field or unrelated field such as Higher
Education, Business, or other, or if you have not completed at least 100 hours of
supervised clinical training, you should probably apply as a post-bachelor’s track
student. Please contact the Training Director to clarify any questions prior to completing
your application.
Should I contact faculty prior to applying?
• Faculty welcome your inquiries about their research and scholarship. However, you
should be aware that unlike some other counseling psychology programs, faculty do not
“take” students into their labs. Rather, we admit students based on overall goodness of
fit. Students and faculty make collaborative decisions about their research advisors in
their first year post-master’s.
What makes OSU’s program different?
• We consider our program to be a student-centered program that focuses on
collaboration rather than competition. We like to allow for student flexibility in choice of
practicum placements, research opportunities, and graduate assistantships. This
flexibility also means that students should have lots of self-initiative and motivation.
What else should I know about the program at OSU?
• Our program is competitive nationally and internationally. Applicants should be able to
clearly articulate their reasoning for their interest in our program beyond geographical
convenience or the simple desire to pursue a Ph.D.
