With the continuous breakdown of information barriers, more and more students are choosing to study across a wider spectrum of fields when applying to graduate school. Many also only truly discover their interests after entering college. As to whether one can apply for a psychology graduate program abroad without a relevant background, the answer is yes—but it is indeed fraught with difficulties. Overall, research experience during undergraduate studies is extremely important. Therefore, if you did not major in psychology, your relevant credentials will be scarce, and your application will naturally lack a competitive edge. Many schools offer psychology programs that are PhD rather than Master’s degrees, because psychology is broadly considered a foundational science, and its graduate programs tend to be research-oriented.
For example: according to the US News psychology rankings, the top five—Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, UCLA, and UMich—only offer PhD programs in psychology.
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https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings
However, beyond the top five, as we look further down the list, there are still some quality Master’s programs. For more detailed guidance, you can also add a CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor～
1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MS in Psychological Science
https://psychology.illinois.edu/academics/msps
UIUC is a public university that, while not at the very top of overall rankings, places its psychology program among the top dozen or so nationwide. Looking at past student outcomes, many graduates choose to continue on to a PhD and delve deeper into psychological research, making it an excellent choice for those with academic aspirations.
Recommended Profile:
- GPA: 3.6+; TOEFL: 103; GRE: 325
- At least one lab experience during undergraduate studies + relevant internship, or at least two lab experiences, to be competitive.
2. Cornell University
MA in Human Development
https://psychology.cornell.edu/-human-development-major-
As a historic Ivy League school, Cornell is a top choice for international students. However, note that Cornell’s psychology department is divided into two main tracks; the more research-oriented, traditional Developmental Psychology track does not admit master’s students, so only the Human Development track is available for graduate applicants. This program also requires a thesis and is well-suited for those planning to pursue a PhD.
Recommended Profile:
- GPA: 3.6+; TOEFL: 100 (no sub-score below 22); GRE: 325
- At least one lab experience during undergraduate studies + relevant internship, or at least two lab experiences, to be competitive.
3. Columbia University
MA in Developmental Psychology
Columbia University’s psychology-related academic strength ranks within the top 20 nationally. Since Columbia’s psychology programs are housed under Teachers College, they place greater emphasis on practical training in areas like counseling. However, students aiming for a PhD need not worry—TC also offers a PhD in this field, so further academic advancement is not a problem!
https://www.tc.columbia.edu/human-development/developmental-psychology/
Recommended Profile:
- GPA: 3.6+; TOEFL: 100 (no sub-score below 22); GRE: 320
- At least one lab experience during undergraduate studies + relevant internship, or at least two lab experiences, to be competitive.
4. University of Pennsylvania
M.S.Ed. in Counseling and Mental Health Services
https://www.gse.upenn.edu/academics/programs/school-mental-health-counseling-masters
UPenn differs somewhat from the schools mentioned above, as its psychology program focuses on psychological counseling rather than traditional areas like neuroscience or cognitive science research. This is a one-year program, but there is an optional second year to earn an additional UPenn degree, the M.Phil.Ed. in Professional Counseling.
Recommended Profile:
- GPA: 3.5+; TOEFL: 100; GRE: 320
- At least one lab experience during undergraduate studies + relevant internship, or at least two lab experiences, to be competitive.
From the application requirements of these schools, we can summarize some key characteristics of applying for psychology programs in North America. The CheersYou（清柚教育） team has summarized the following three points:
1. Distinction of Research Directions
Psychology as a discipline requires you to clearly identify your direction at the graduate level; you need to decide early on whether you prefer a theoretical or applied path based on your own profile. If you plan to apply for a pure psychology program, you must be certain that you intend to take the research route.
Pure psychology focuses on studying psychological science itself, exploring how people consciously respond to stimuli, hence directions such as neuroscience and cognitive science. Applied programs, on the other hand, concentrate more on psychological counseling, including school-based counseling, child mental health, and human development psychology.
2. Strong Emphasis on Lab Experience
Returning to our original question, it is not that cross-disciplinary applicants are prohibited; rather, your past practical research experience is paramount. If you studied a related field as an undergraduate, you would naturally have relevant experience and thus meet the requirements. Conversely, what cross-disciplinary students lack is exactly that relevant experience—meaning you may need to seek out programs beyond the classroom to compensate for this gap.
3. Importance of the GRE
The importance of the GRE goes without saying, as STEM programs themselves value GRE scores highly. Moreover, with the pandemic situation improving in recent years, competition for study abroad applications has intensified, and schools are increasingly reinstating mandatory GRE requirements. A high GRE score can to some extent offset the disadvantages of a cross-disciplinary background.
Finally, as usual, let’s share some freshly received psychology offers from the 23fall application cycle:
For more details on graduate application strategies and admission cases, feel free to scan the QR code below to consult~
