APPLY To The Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Application Materials

• $50.00 Application Fee (non-refundable), $75.00 if applying to more than one program
• Completed application form
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• Curriculum Vitae
• Autobiographical Statement (not required for MA in Organizational Psychology applicants)*
• Statement of Purpose & Goals
• Official transcript(s)
• GRE General test is required for the Doctoral Program. For Master’s programs it is optional.
• Re-Application Statement (see Re-Applicants section)*
• Change of Career Statement (see Change of Career section)*
  * if applicable

All materials should be sent in one package (with the exception of any standardized test scores which you arrange to have sent to us) to the Admissions Office. Please begin the process early as we will consider only those completed applications which arrive on or before the deadline.

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Recommendations

Three letters of recommendation are required from people who are able to attest to your personal qualities, such as: professional; academic; intellectual; motivational; interpersonal; and, emotional. References should not be provided by family members, friends, or others who do not know you in either a professional or academic context.

Recommendation forms are provided for this purpose. Be sure to fill in your name and address on the back of each form so that your recommender can return the form directly to you for inclusion in your application packet. MSPP acknowledges those who supply recommendations for applicants.

Letter of Recommendation Form (PDF)

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Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Please attach a current CV or résumé which includes the following: educational background; current activity; length and description of employment and/or training experiences; hours per week at each job or training site; names of supervisors at each facility; workshops and seminars attended; and any other professionally-related material (e.g., presentations, publications, etc.). You may also include any extracurricular activities or interests that you deem relevant.

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Autobiographical Statement

Please provide a 3 to 5 page autobiography. This perspective should include both personal background and professional factors that contribute to your interest in the field of psychology. Be sure to include an historical perspective on the evolution of your interest in psychology.

This perspective, which is an important part of your overall application, should not include a detailed description of your entire life; it should briefly cover important experiences, relationships, interests, and abilities as they relate to your seeking professional training at MSPP.

All writing samples must be typewritten, double-spaced and, when applicable, must adhere to the specified page limit.

*An autobiographical statement is not required for MA in Organizational Psychology applicants.

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Statement of Purpose & Goals

Please address each of the following statements.

1. Rank order and discuss your major areas of interest in psychology and your professional goals.
2. Why are you pursuing training in professional psychology rather than in the other mental health disciplines?
3. How do you anticipate the MSPP program meeting your learning goals?
4. What do you have to offer the MSPP community?
5. Why is this an optimal time for you to be entering MSPP? Have you considered how you will meet the required financial obligations and other compromises and challenges you will face in order to attend graduate school?
6. Describe the supports that would facilitate your participation in the program, such as family, mentors, professional contacts, friends, significant others, etc.
7. Considering your total application, what do you consider your major strengths and weaknesses with respect to being admitted into the program?

Please allow 3 to 5 double-spaced, typewritten pages for this section.

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Official Transcripts

Please request an official transcript from each undergraduate and graduate institution that you have attended. Supply each institution with a self-addressed envelope, and request that the envelope be signed across its seal. The official transcript must be forwarded to you for inclusion in your application packet.

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Test Scores

The General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) applicants. Applicants to other programs are encouraged to submit GRE scores to enhance their application. The psychology subject test is optional. MSPP’s School Code/Reporting Number is 3501.

For doctoral applicants GRE results (verbal and quantitative) are expected to be at least 1150 combined. Score level for the Analytical Writing section GRE-A is expected to be 4.0 or higher. Non-native speakers of English may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). TOEFL results (listening, structure and writing expression, speaking and reading) combined scores are expected to be at least 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 92 (in the new internet-based).

The general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required of all doctoral applicants who are native speakers of English. The psychology subject test is optional. International applicants who are non-native speakers of English may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not the primary language (see International Applicants on page 1, and/or contact the Admissions Office if you are unsure about which test to take). GRE test scores are valid for five years, and TOEFL test scores are valid for two years.

For information regarding the GRE (MSPP Reporting Number 3501), please call Educational Testing Services at 609-771-7670, or visit www.gre.org.

For information regarding the TOEFL (Reporting Number 3501), call 609-771-7100, or visit www.toefl.org.

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Re-Applicants

Please attach a statement regarding your decision to re-apply. Be sure to indicate your re-applicant status on the front page of the application, the program to which you applied and the year.

This statement should contain whether you were or were initially offered admission or not, and address the specific factor(s) that contribute to your re-application. In addition, please provide a description of your interim experiences (both personal and professional) since your last application.

Previous admission files are kept on file for a period of two years. Reapplicants may utilize any, or all, of the original application. However, we strongly recommend that you take the time to strengthen your original application, update your statements and recommendations whenever possible.

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Change of Career

This section applies to those applicants who have made a decision to change careers within several years of application.  Describe the evolution of your career change and discuss the ways in which the experiences academic and applied you have had and skills acquired in your previous career might relate to your work as a psychologist.

Updated 7/23/08