Prospective PhD Students
Dr. Hamilton will NOT be reviewing applications for Fall 2026 matriculation. Please check this page for further updates.
For more information about Rutgers University's APA- and PCSAS-accredited clinical psychology doctoral program,
please visit the main website here.
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The application submission deadline for students applying for the 2026-2027 academic year is December 1, 2025.​​
Resources for Applying to Clinical Psychology PhD Programs
Links below include advice and guidance from those who have been there before. Resource are designed to help level the playing field for clinical psychology PhD applications.
Rutgers-Specific Resources:
Rutgers Psychology PhD Programs
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Additional Rutgers Clinical Psych Admissions website
Commonly Asked Questions & Answers about the Program
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General Information and Resources
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Annotated Example of Clinical Psychology PhD (Dr. Rodriguez-Siejas)
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Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology:
Getting into Clinical Psychology Grad School
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Uncensored Advice for Graduate School
(Dr. Mitch Prinstein)
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Open-Access Resources/Materials
for Clinical Psych Applicants
FAQs
The application process is hard. I have questions about applying to your lab and your ongoing projects. Can you help?
Yes! We know this process can be very challenging, so we have created a guide with some helpful tips about applying to our lab, including what makes someone a "good fit" and an overview of our current projects.
Click here for the full FAQ:
Applying to The Hamilton Lab
Do I need to email you to apply to your research lab?
No! I am more than happy to receive an email with an introduction of who you are and why you are interested in my lab, but I will not be replying to emails this fall and I do not do 1-1 zoom/phone calls with applicants.
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What makes someone a good 'fit' for your lab?
Students who are motivated and excited about the research we are conducting (see here) and who hope to have a broader impact on suicide prevention (achieved through a combination of research, clinical work, teaching, and/or community outreach). We also think it is important for our lab members to enjoy their work, and to enjoy their lives outside of work in whatever ways are meaningful to them!
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Should I apply if my GPA is lower than the average? What about the GRE?
Yes, please apply! We recognize that your GPA or GRE scores do not fully reflect you or your talents (or potential to be an incredible PhD student and clinical scientist!), so we encourage you to apply regardless of your GPA or GRE score. The GRE is NOT required for admission to the Rutgers clinical psychology PhD program. Your research interests, prior research and clinical experiences, intellectual curiosity, and motivation to improve the burden of mental health among adolescents are more valuable indicators of fit than standardized scores.