PhD/PsyD USUHS Clinical Psychology 2026

[JRM96]

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Hello all,

I noticed that there has yet to be a thread about the AY 2026 application cycle, so here it is!

A little about me:
I am an active duty commissioned officer in the US Army (CPT / O-3), currently in command of my second company. I’ve worked in two different fields; I commissioned into the Chemical Corps in 2019, and have since transitioned into Signal/IT.

I’ve always had a goal of working in psychology professionally and have been quietly pursuing it alongside my career. It’s what I studied in undergrad, and I completed my M.S. in Psychology from Arizona State in 2023.

What’s really filled my cup as a military leader over years has been helping people work through challenges and problem sets, both personal and professional. During some reflection last year, I recognized that if I was going to shift my career to make providing that help my profession, I needed to commit sooner rather than later. I started looking for Advanced Civil Schooling opportunities for a military funded terminal psychology degree and found USUHS! In NOV, I attended a virtual open house, and decided that this specific program (PhD, Military Track) most closely aligns with my goals.

Some stats:

Academic
+BS Psy 2019 (3.2 GPA)
+MS Psy 2023 (3.9 GPA)
+AMEDD Intern in Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRICD), SM2018
-No clinical/research experience (attempting to remedy this by jumping on to a research project at the closest military treatment facility)
-153/144/4.0 GRE (mediocre, was a requirement for a military course and did not study at all, will retake prior to app submission)

Military
-Active Duty Officer since 2019 (ROTC Commission)
-Several years of Operations Planning (S-3) experience in logistics and signal organizations
-18 months as a Hazard Assessment Platoon Leader (dismounted CBRN Recon and Decon operations)
-Experience working directly for a general officer (SGS/executive front office)
-2 Years of command in a strategic signal organization (enterprise IT, theater-level signal asset management)

I look forward to going on this journey with you all!

-John

 

[dukun8ter]

I'm surprised there hasn't been a response yet! I just made the decision to reapply this year. Taking it a lot slower this time and just started my masters. As part of my transition plan, I'm hoping to squeeze out some research time with the local VA and shadow a geriatric neuropsych for my SkillBridge. If I don't end up getting selected, then I'm transitioning out of Active Duty to commit full time to graduate studies and use my GI Bill in pursuit of a PsyD or PhD. I figured the worst thing that'll happen is getting another rejection letter lol.

 

[mintplant]

There really has not been much activity on here for 2026. I'm applying for the first time this cycle, cautiously optimistic but not much can be done since hitting submit.

If you haven't put through yet,

Hello all,

I noticed that there has yet to be a thread about the AY 2026 application cycle, so here it is!

A little about me:
I am an active duty commissioned officer in the US Army (CPT / O-3), currently in command of my second company. I’ve worked in two different fields; I commissioned into the Chemical Corps in 2019, and have since transitioned into Signal/IT.

I’ve always had a goal of working in psychology professionally and have been quietly pursuing it alongside my career. It’s what I studied in undergrad, and I completed my M.S. in Psychology from Arizona State in 2023.

What’s really filled my cup as a military leader over years has been helping people work through challenges and problem sets, both personal and professional. During some reflection last year, I recognized that if I was going to shift my career to make providing that help my profession, I needed to commit sooner rather than later. I started looking for Advanced Civil Schooling opportunities for a military funded terminal psychology degree and found USUHS! In NOV, I attended a virtual open house, and decided that this specific program (PhD, Military Track) most closely aligns with my goals.

Some stats:

Academic
+BS Psy 2019 (3.2 GPA)
+MS Psy 2023 (3.9 GPA)
+AMEDD Intern in Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRICD), SM2018
-No clinical/research experience (attempting to remedy this by jumping on to a research project at the closest military treatment facility)
-153/144/4.0 GRE (mediocre, was a requirement for a military course and did not study at all, will retake prior to app submission)

Military
-Active Duty Officer since 2019 (ROTC Commission)
-Several years of Operations Planning (S-3) experience in logistics and signal organizations
-18 months as a Hazard Assessment Platoon Leader (dismounted CBRN Recon and Decon operations)
-Experience working directly for a general officer (SGS/executive front office)
-2 Years of command in a strategic signal organization (enterprise IT, theater-level signal asset management)

I look forward to going on this journey with you all!

-John

Surprised that there's not been much activity on here! I applied for the first time this cycle, cautiously optimistic, but really just hoping there was enough weird stuff my packet to pique their interest in interviewing lol

How did you do on the next GRE try/did you include them with your packet?

 

[btsh99]

Applied as well. Currently a PSYOP officer in the Army Reserve, coming up on 10 years in. I’ve been a PL, XO, detachment commander, and company commander. Deployed once to Afghanistan. Currently work at the VA in clinical psychology research for about the past 3 years and have another year of experience in a behavioral neuroscience lab. No publications, but I’m on a few papers currently under review and have a handful of presentations at local, regional, and national conferences.

-B.S. in biochemistry (3.88 gpa)
-164/164/5.5 GRE

Applied last year and didn’t get an interview, but figured I’d give it another shot!

 

[Woody143]

Hey Everyone,

I applied in September. According to the other threads I’ve seen, interview invitations are typically sent out around the 3rd week of January. When I called in November, they were working through a huge backlog of paperwork. Do you think it would be on the same timeline since there was a disruption of work due to the government shutdown in October?

 

[btsh99]

Hey Everyone,

I applied in September. According to the other threads I’ve seen, interview invitations are typically sent out around the 3rd week of January. When I called in November, they were working through a huge backlog of paperwork. Do you think it would be on the same timeline since there was a disruption of work due to the government shutdown in October?

My assumption is that it will be along the same timeline. You can only push interviews so far to the right before it would be way later than other programs.

 

[dakki016]

Fourth time applying here. If I don't get picked up, I'll do it one more time before I go reserves and pursue it in the civilian side.

I got interviewed the first time. Then nothing for the next two. Hoping this year would bring something different. Good luck to all of us!

 

[btsh99]

Fourth time applying here. If I don't get picked up, I'll do it one more time before I go reserves and pursue it in the civilian side.

I got interviewed the first time. Then nothing for the next two. Hoping this year would bring something different. Good luck to all of us!

Out of curiosity, did your application change much year to year (new pubs, gre score, etc)?

 

[dakki016]

Out of curiosity, did your application change much year to year (new pubs, gre score, etc)?

The first time up I only had my BS in Psychology, clinical experience through my internship, and I was a RA for a lab in my university. The second one I was pursuing a masters (did not graduate). The third one I did a presentation. This time up I have three masters, 1000+ hours of clinical work, a license, a research lab (out of university), and a publication in works. Crossing my fingers this year.

 

[btsh99]

The first time up I only had my BS in Psychology, clinical experience through my internship, and I was a RA for a lab in my university. The second one I was pursuing a masters (did not graduate). The third one I did a presentation. This time up I have three masters, 1000+ hours of clinical work, a license, a research lab (out of university), and a publication in works. Crossing my fingers this year.

If that doesn’t at the very least get you an interview then I don’t know what does. Good luck!

 

[dakki016]

Did anyone get an invite yet? Currently away on leave.

 

[Woody143]

Did anyone get an invite yet? Currently away on leave.

I haven’t received anything. I also haven’t seen anything post on other sites, like GradCafe.

 

[btsh99]

Still nothing on my end. Fingers crossed for next week but I’m probably being optimistic!

 

[dakki016]

Yeah. Aiming for next week. I’ve seen them sent either this week or the following week after MLK day. Good luck to all of us!

Still nothing on my end. Fingers crossed for next week but I’m probably being optimistic!

 

[WaterLife]

Hello, just wanted to help with the notification situation just made an account to communicate. Applied for the first time last application period and made interview selection, but not final student selection. This was my second application attempt. I was also wondering about the interview notification this application cycle. Thought I would make it for interviews since I did last year and only strengthened myself as an applicant since then.

Just verified through calling the USUHS Graduate Education and a current PhD Clinical PSY student. Interview notifications were sent out about 2-weeka ago. I even had the admissions receptionist verify my name was not on the list for selected. Odds are if you haven't heard anything yet then you were not selected.

The current student mentioned this application cycle was very competitive, so even if you were selected before like me then he implied this cycle of applicants must be more competitive than me.

 

[badmojo26]

Hello, just wanted to help with the notification situation just made an account to communicate. Applied for the first time last application period and made interview selection, but not final student selection. This was my second application attempt. I was also wondering about the interview notification this application cycle. Thought I would make it for interviews since I did last year and only strengthened myself as an applicant since then.

Just verified through calling the USUHS Graduate Education and a current PhD Clinical PSY student. Interview notifications were sent out about 2-weeka ago. I even had the admissions receptionist verify my name was not on the list for selected. Odds are if you haven't heard anything yet then you were not selected.

The current student mentioned this application cycle was very competitive, so even if you were selected before like me then he implied this cycle of applicants must be more competitive than me.

Thank you for the information! Would you be able to provide the number you called? I have tried calling 4 different numbers for days and no one has picked up.

 

[WaterLife]

Thank you for the information! Would you be able to provide the number you called? I have tried calling 4 different numbers for days and no one

Thank you for the information! Would you be able to provide the number you called? I have tried calling 4 different numbers for days and no one has picked up.

Yes. When I got back in tomorrow I wrote it down in my notebook. I called multiple numbers and sent a few emails had no luck. The registrar office answered, transferred me to another DPT who transferred me to another DPT that actually knew something.

 

[Allura32]

Hello, just wanted to help with the notification situation just made an account to communicate. Applied for the first time last application period and made interview selection, but not final student selection. This was my second application attempt. I was also wondering about the interview notification this application cycle. Thought I would make it for interviews since I did last year and only strengthened myself as an applicant since then.

Just verified through calling the USUHS Graduate Education and a current PhD Clinical PSY student. Interview notifications were sent out about 2-weeka ago. I even had the admissions receptionist verify my name was not on the list for selected. Odds are if you haven't heard anything yet then you were not selected.

The current student mentioned this application cycle was very competitive, so even if you were selected before like me then he implied this cycle of applicants must be more competitive than me.

Hi! Thanks for the info. Do you happen to know if invites were sent to military or civilian track applicants or both? My understanding is that different committees review each track...

 

[Woody143]

A current military track student told me that the interviews are at the end of this month. We are pretty close to the end of the month, and I haven’t heard anything so I am going to focus on the next thing for myself. Good Luck, everyone!

 

[WaterLife]

Thank you for the information! Would you be able to provide the number you called? I have tried calling 4 different numbers for days and no one has picked up.

301-295-3913

 

[WaterLife]

Thank you for the information! Would you be able to provide the number you called? I have tried calling 4 different numbers for days and no one has picked up.

301-295-391

Hi! Thanks for the info. Do you happen to know if invites were sent to military or civilian track applicants or both? My understanding is that different committees review each track...

I am unsure I can only speak on the military track.

 

[Tnaralem1]

I think everyone is resigned to interviews being sent out, but I just wanted to add this in here for final confirmation. I saw a post from USU’s Center for Deployment Psychology stating that today is the first day of virtual interviews for prospective graduate students. This was my 4th time trying, and I’ve yet to have an interview. I’ve got 300 hours of in-person clinical experience, 150 hours of virtual crisis experience, and a published research article. Best of luck to everyone next year!

Today is the first of three virtual interview days at USU for Medical and Clinical Psychology (MPS) students interested in military behavioral health careers. Graduates from our program have become… | Center for Deployment Psychology

Today is the first of three virtual interview days at USU for Medical and Clinical Psychology (MPS) students interested in military behavioral health careers. Graduates from our program have become key military leaders shaping the future of military behavioral health and prominent civilian...

www.linkedin.com

 

[browneyedgirl12]

Good luck, everyone! Unfortunately, I just found this thread! In case it is helpful for others when applying for next year, I heard back for an interview on Tuesday, Jan. 6th, which sounds like it was significantly earlier than last year or prior years. This year, they also had everyone do the DOD Med exams before interviews, so maybe that was why they were sent out so early?

Can confirm that interviews were held Jan. 26th, 27th, and 28th. We were also told during a program overview that they only have 7 spots open, so I think this year was even more competitive. They did say that next year, the normal 10 spots should be what they focus on.

Hoping this is helpful for others! 🙂 Remember, clinical psych programs are so random in who gets interviewed. You could have zero publications/research experience, or you could have 100+. It all widely varies by what the PIs are specifically looking for and the school in general. You all got this!