What does it take to make Yale clinical psych?

[Shallot]

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Yale and its peer schools are the most selective PhD programs in the generally hyper-competitive field of clinical psychology. Does anyone know the kinds of credentials admitted candidates actually have? What kinds of research experiences, recommendations, background? I think this would be instructive to know.

 

[JockNerd]

http://www.yale.edu/psychology/clinical_perfdata.html

Voila.

5%. Not outrageously selective as far as psych grad programs go.

Don't make the error of thinking that Big name school = best place for you to go. The top researchers in many areas are at state schools.

 

[Wildcat06]

Where do you get 5%? Looking at those numbers it's closer to 1-2%.

 

[Shallot]

http://www.yale.edu/psychology/clinical_perfdata.html

Voila.

5%. Not outrageously selective as far as psych grad programs go.

Thanks, but the latest reported year shows 6 acceptances out of 324 applicants. That's 1.8%, and with avg GRE scores of about 1400, seems pretty competitive to me. Or am I making a mistake?

Although I'm really wondering more about the other factors, like research experience, that these admits have.

 

[erg923]

I wouldn't view it as something unique to Yale of any of the Ivy leagues. Its just as hard to get into the University of Minnesota, Wisonsin-Madison, and UCLA as it is Yale. Students dont necccarily have higher GPAs or GREs at those schools. Although the GRE scores do seem slightly elevated at those schools. But in general, people who get accpeted to those places make it very well known that they are dedicated to research and they have a track record of being productive in research even before they have started grad school. I would guess that the vast majority of applicants getting into these programs already have 1 or 2 peer reviewed pubs before they apply. In otherwords, there is little doubt they will make dedicated and productive lab rats.....I mean grad students . This makes them a perfect "fit" for what those programs want. Thats how they get in.

 

[Cosmo75]

Nepotism? 😀

Just kidding, sort of. I'm often curious how much of admission to some programs is based on the "who you know" factor versus your credentials.

 

[JockNerd]

Oh, durr, I was reading that wrong.

Yeah, that is more competitive.

I think a fair number of those are people applying just because it's Yale, though, just like schools in Florida and Cali get huge influxes of applicants because they want to live there.

 

[cara susanna]

I agree.

American University had 350 applicants and AFAIK only selected 8, so that's pretty much the same rate.

 

[krisrox]

A big admissions criteria that isn't noted in the full disclosure information is poster presentations, publications, and relevant research experience. That's what separates the boys from the men as far as any of the big-name or reputable programs go.

 

[Ollie123]

Agree with all of the above, but I think its pretty safe to say that Yale is on par with Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the other schools mentioned. Just a glance through their faculty listing reads like a who's who in clinical psychology: Kazdin, Nolen-Hoeksema, Brownell... I don't think the poster was implying that Yale was in a league of its own, just asking what it takes to get into a program of that caliber since the information on the web is only a small (and probably relatively unimportant) part of the application compared to the soft factors.

Other than that - pretty much what everyone else said🙂

 

[Wildcat06]

...and fit. fit fit fit fit fit.

 

[AryaStark]

did anyone mention fit yet? 😉

 

[okayroots06]

Yale and its peer schools are the most selective PhD programs in the generally hyper-competitive field of clinical psychology. Does anyone know the kinds of credentials admitted candidates actually have? What kinds of research experiences, recommendations, background? I think this would be instructive to know.

the faculty at yale is second to none. alan kazdin, susan nolen-hoeksema and kelly brownell are top researchers in their respective fields.

as an applicant, you will not only need excellent gre scores and gpa, publications but your recommendation letter will play a huge role. i can only speak for susan nolen-hoeksema but she heavily weighs your pedigree, who you worked for previously and the quality of work produced. the letter of recommendation plays a critical role esp. for her.

 

[erg923]

she heavily weighs your pedigree,

Now THATS a Yale statement.........🙄

ps: What happends if they catch you using yellow mustard instead of Grey Poupon.....?

 

[deleted176373]

the faculty at yale is second to none. alan kazdin, susan nolen-hoeksema and kelly brownell are top researchers in their respective fields.

as an applicant, you will not only need excellent gre scores and gpa, publications but your recommendation letter will play a huge role. i can only speak for susan nolen-hoeksema but she heavily weighs your pedigree, who you worked for previously and the quality of work produced. the letter of recommendation plays a critical role esp. for her.

Dr. Kazdin is a wonderfully nice man. He was very open to talking about the application process, and even though I was a bit shy of the mark (1300 GRE) he still encouraged me to apply. While I didn't make the interview cut, I still felt as if I was given fair consideration. It's the brass ring, if you don't try for it, you won't get it... better to try and fail than not to try at all.

Mark

 

[futureapppsy2]

I'd extend the importance of publishing and presenting to even balanced programs--I've had several faculty and grad students tell me that in order to have a chance at any program, you need to have at the very least a regional poster, preferably a national one and/or a publication. YMMV, of course.

 

[okayroots06]

Dr. Kazdin is a wonderfully nice man. He was very open to talking about the application process, and even though I was a bit shy of the mark (1300 GRE) he still encouraged me to apply. While I didn't make the interview cut, I still felt as if I was given fair consideration. It's the brass ring, if you don't try for it, you won't get it... better to try and fail than not to try at all.

Mark

most def. its better to try and and fail than not to try at all. i also echo your comment about kazdin, altho. he scares me. his lab is a well-oiled machine.

 

[Eruca]

...just want to pass on the message to be mindful of quality of life, quality of mentorship, and general wellbeing as much (or I would argue, more than) reputation.

 

[PsychBrownBag]

...just want to pass on the message to be mindful of quality of life, quality of mentorship, and general wellbeing as much (or I would argue, more than) reputation.

I absolutely agree. Before heading to grad school, I worked for Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema as an RA and, while that doesn't give me a complete view into the lives of Yale grad students, the ones I know seem very happy there and their relationship with faculty members was strong and collaborative. Definitely not the case universally, but overall I thought it was one of the most positive environments I've seen or heard about in clinical programs.

 

[okayroots06]

I absolutely agree. Before heading to grad school, I worked for Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema as an RA and, while that doesn't give me a complete view into the lives of Yale grad students, the ones I know seem very happy there and their relationship with faculty members was strong and collaborative. Definitely not the case universally, but overall I thought it was one of the most positive environments I've seen or heard about in clinical programs.

well said.

 

[Wildcat06]

I absolutely agree. Before heading to grad school, I worked for Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema as an RA and, while that doesn't give me a complete view into the lives of Yale grad students, the ones I know seem very happy there and their relationship with faculty members was strong and collaborative. Definitely not the case universally, but overall I thought it was one of the most positive environments I've seen or heard about in clinical programs.

I agree also. That's why I'm so happy most programs require on-site interviews. One of the biggest reasons I chose my program was because the current students seemed so well adjusted and happy. That was not true for every place I visited...

 

[alansda]

DrClinPsyAdvice:"You absolutely do no need a publication or any presentations to be taken seriously, even at a top research-oriented PhD program"