Application Materials
Is a terminal Master's Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology available at Colorado State University?
No. The CSU I/O program only accepts students who intend to obtain a doctoral degree.
Can the application materials be completed on the Internet or downloaded off of the Internet?
Yes. The application materials are available at the department's website. While parts of the application may be submitted online, supplemental materials must be mailed separately. Please visit the Application page for further application information.
What is the deadline for the application materials to be received by CSU?
All materials are due on January 1 the year you plan to enroll.
When will applicants receive notification about selection decisions?
The admission process takes between four and six weeks. If you are accepted into the program, then you should be notified within the first two weeks of February. However, if you are placed on a waiting list, it could take longer.
How many letters of recommendation are required to apply to the program? Are forms available for those who will write the recommendations?
We require three letters of recommendation, though some applicants occasionally provide four. There are no forms that letter writers need to use.
Is the selection of a specific faculty member as an advisor required to apply to the program? If a specific faculty member is requested, how will it affect the selection decision?
All faculty members associated with the program are involved in the selection decisions. As a result, you need not specify a certain faculty member in order to apply. That having been said, we do consider how well the students' interests will fit with the collective research being conducted in our program. Consequently, it is often useful to indicate one or more faculty members whose research especially interests you. Each faculty's research interests are described in the brochure and on the psychology department faculty web page.
What is the average GPA of those applicants that are accepted into the program?
The average GPA is 3.78 overall, with roughly a 3.9 in Psychology.
Is the GRE Psychology Subject Test required to apply to the program?
The GRE subject test is required. The average GRE subject test score in 2005 is 676.
What is the average GRE quantitative score of those applicants that are accepted into the program?
The average GRE quantitative score in 2005 is 672.
What is the average GRE verbal score of those applicants that are accepted into the program?
The average GRE verbal score In 2005 is 548.
What is the average GRE analytic score of those applicants that are accepted into the program?
The average GRE analytic score is 625.
What is the average TOFEL score of those applicants that are accepted into the program?
We do not have an average TOFEL score.
Is previous research experience considered when making the selection decisions?
Yes. Any research experience is of considerable value. This is especially true when the work has led to a publication or presentation at a conference. Regardless of the specific topic of investigation, research experience can demonstrate knowledge in research methodology and skills in statistics.
What other factors are considered during the admission process?
Applicants should demonstrate that they possess a sound foundation in research methodology, statistics, and psychology. In addition, they should describe their interest in I/O psychology and our program in particular.
What is the average number of applications received each year, and how many are usually accepted?
In a given year we receive from 115 to 135 completed applications. Of these, we usually accept from 12 to 15 students. Ultimately, an average of 5 students matriculate to CSU each fall.