Select Graduate Schools
What will you take into consideration when selecting graduate schools to which you will submit applications? Your career and degree goals of course. What else? The orientation and emphasis of the departments and programs, number of applicants admitted, tuition costs and availability of financial support, resources available to students enrolled in the program, employment information of program graduates and lots more. Where can you find this information? Scroll down the page to look at the directories and rankings of graduate programs in psychology and neuroscience.
If you are applying to a research-oriented graduate program in psychology or neuroscience, keep in mind that your biggest task in graduate school will be to complete research projects and publish your results. You aren't just applying to a graduate program, you are applying to work with one particular faculty member who will be your research advisor for the next 4-6 years. Exploring graduate programs may begin with a literature search to find scientists whose research fascinates you. Once you've found potential mentors, you can collect information about the programs where they teach. Ideally, you will find a department with more than one faculty member whose research interests you so that you have the choice to collaborate with more than one mentor while you are a graduate student. Read Advice for Undergraduates Considering Research-Oriented Doctoral Programs and An Insider's Guide to Choosing a Graduate Adviser.
Comprehensive directories of research-oriented & applied graduate programs in psychology:
- Graduate Study in Psychology is the best source of information related to graduate programs in psychology and provides detailed information related to approximately 600 graduate programs in psychology in the U.S. and Canada. Graduate Study Online is the fully searchable online database of this popular book. (The 2008 edition of the book is available for check out from the Psychology Advising Resource Library - click on the "Advising" link in the menu to the left to learn more.)
- Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology: 2008/2009 Edition.
- GradSchools.com is a database that includes a wide variety of psychology graduate programs.
- Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs. The "Social Sciences" list also includes a wide variety of graduate programs.
- Links to many APA Accredited Programs in Clinical Psychology.
- Links to Graduate Programs in Applied Psychology: Programs for non-academic careers in cognition; development; industrial/organizational psychology; social psychology and more.
- A complete list of Accredited Doctoral Programs in Professional Psychology. Scroll to the bottom of this page to access lists of APA accredited doctoral training programs in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology and more.
- Gourman Report. Rankings of graduate programs in many specialties including clinical, cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational psychology and more.
- U.S. News and World Reports Rankings for Graduate Schools: Top psychology schools and specialities.
