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The Selection Process

Here is what the selection committee looks for (in no particular order) when reviewing applications:

1. Research interests that are relevant to the expertise of the faculty and program.
2. Some form of research experience in psychology (e.g., assisting in psychology laboratory).
3. Strong GRE scores. (There is no set cutoff point, but 1200 for combined verbal and quantitative is usually seen as the minimum. Some exceptions apply, such as when the applicant's native language is not English. The higher the scores the better, but your GRE scores are only one of many factors that influence acceptance decisions.) It is not necessary to take the Psychology Subject GRE test.
4. Strong GPA.
5. Relevant coursework in psychology. Some courses in research methods and statistics.
6. Strong letters of recommendation.
7. An appropriate and compelling personal statement.

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Applying

You can apply for PhD program in the Psychology Department via regular mail or electronically. Click here to receive application forms or read more about the electronic application process. Note: If you apply electronically, you might wish to prepare your Statement of Purpose before initiating the electronic application process. The statement of purpose is a 1-3 page statement describing (a) your prior preparation for graduate school in psychology, including research experience, (b) your specific research interests, (c) the faculty member(s) with whom you plan to do research in graduate school, and (d) your long-range objectives in pursuing advanced study in psychology. This can be submitted as a PDF file, as an MS Word file, or as text entered into a text box in your web browser.

Applicants are encouraged to examine the websites of the individual professors and/or to contact those professors to ensure adequate fit between the applicant's interests and the professor's research. Contacting professors is also a good way to ensure that they are accepting applicants within the relevant year.

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Additional Questions

If you have questions about applying to our Ph.D. program in Personality and Social Psychology, please feel free to contact our training area coordinator, Dr. Paul Windschitl. You are also encouraged to contact other individual faculty members if you have questions about their specific research interests.

Contact information for Dr. Paul Windschitl

	E-Mail: paul-windschitl@uiowa.edu
	Office Phone: 319.335.2435
	Department of Psychology
	E11 Seashore Hall
	The University of Iowa
	Iowa City, IA 52242