Admissions FAQs

Yes, if an applicant is accepted and chooses to attend a program, they are expected to complete their outstanding prerequisite requirements prior to beginning class in the fall semester. Prerequisites can be completed at an accredited institution. Online institution credits are not acceptable.

No, a student can apply to any of our doctoral programs directly from having earned a bachelor’s degree. In some cases, a Master’s degree is advised as good way for prospective applicants to develop more experience (both clinical and research) in the field.

Applications are submitted using the PSYCAS application module. For more information on PSYCAS (as administered through the APA and Liasion) please visit American Psychological Association website.

A complete application to the Ferkauf Gradaute School must include the follow basic information:

• Official Undergraduate Transcript (submitted through PSYCAS or mail/email)
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (submitted through PSYCAS or mail/email)
• 2-3 page Personal Statement (submitted through PSYCAS or mail/email)
• (Please write about yourself and your experiences that you believe make you a suitable applicant. Additionally, please tell us what draws you to the field, and to our program in particular. If there are specific faculty whose research area is of interest to you, please indicate.)
• Curriculum Vitae or Resume (submitted through PSYCAS or mail/email)
• General GRE exam scores (sent electronically through ETS)

Any materials that are emailed or mailed can be sent to the follow address:

• Email: ferkaufadmissions@yu.edu
• Mail: Office of Admissions, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology; Yeshiva University; 1165 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461

No, applications will only be accepted for one doctoral program per yearly admissions cycle. Applicants are welcome to apply to both 1 doctoral program and the Mental Health Counseling program. (See application for details).

No, in some cases applicants may be offered acceptances to both the Mental Health Counseling MA and a doctoral program. Each program has a unique admissions committee; therefore, an acceptance to one program does not influence the admissions decision of the other program.

• • There are no official GRE “cut-off” scores for admission to any of our programs. The figures below are subject to change based on the application pool from year to year. Applicants are encouraged to aim for these minimum scores in order to remain competitive in the application process.

  GRE Preferred Minimum Scores

  Program	GRE preferred Minimum Scores (using the older GRE scoring system)	GRE preferred Minimum Scores (using the revised GRE scoring system)
  Mental Health Counseling, MA	Not required	Not required
  Doctoral Programs (PhD and PsyD)	1250	70th percentile

• Are applicants accepted to a doctoral program based on their research interests and faculty availability?
  • No, applicants are accepted to Ferkauf based on our desired class size and the strength of their own application and interview performance. Faculty advisors are assigned after acceptance is offered.

Interviews for admission into the doctoral programs take place during late January through the end of February.

No, each admissions committee selects applicants for interviews from the application pool, based on their respective admissions criteria.

Applicants being considered for an interviewed will be email and called to schedule an interview date and time during the period of mid January to mid February.

The deadline for all final decision notifications is April 1^st.

A $500.00 tuition deposit must be made or postmarked by April 15th in order for a student to officially join the incoming class.

• Payments by credit card - please call Admissions Office: 718-430-3820
• Payment check or money order- must be postmarked by April 15^th

Some applicants may receive an offer of admission to the MHMA program, regardless of whether or not they applied to the program. The Mental Health Counseling Program reviews many applications that are submitted to the doctoral programs and chooses to offer admission to those applicants that meet all the criteria of admission to the program. In these instances, an offer of admission to the MHMA can be used as a secondary option to the doctoral program; however, it is a valid acceptance and must be responded to by the April 15^th deadline.

Ferkauf Graduates of the Mental Health Counseling program practice in a variety of settings, including independent private practice, community mental health agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, employee assistance programs and substance abuse treatment centers. Our graduates are highly skilled professionals who provide a full range of services including assessment and diagnosis, psychotherapy, treatment planning and utilization review, brief and solution-focused therapy, alcoholism and substance abuse treatment, psycho-educational and prevention programs, and crisis management. Graduates of our program get jobs as Mental Health Counselors, Psychotherapists, Child/Adolescent counselors, Community Counselors, Substance Abuse and Addiction Counselors, Emergency Mental Health Therapists, Life Transitions Counselors, Group Counselors, Behavioral Health Counselors, and Outpatient Mental Health Therapists.

Applications, including all related documents, must be received by February 15th of each year for Fall admission.