Diversity in Psychology Program

To be considered for the Diversity in Psychology Program, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a junior or senior in a bachelor’s program; have graduated with a bachelor's degree; or be enrolled in a terminal master's-level graduate program in psychology. Students currently attending the University of Minnesota are eligible to apply.
• Be a U.S. citizen or lawfully here on a non-temporary basis (e.g. permanent residents, asylees, refugees).
• Be interested in pursuing training in one of the Tri-Psychology Departments’ doctoral programs (listed below).

The application portal for the Diversity in Psychology Program is open annually June 1-August 25.

1. Confirm your eligibility and determine if DPP is a good fit for your graduate school application journey.
2. Explore the Tri-Psychology Department Doctoral Programs and research their faculty to learn if one may be a good fit for your research interests and graduate training goals. While a commitment to applying for graduate admission to one of our programs is not a requirement for participation, some aspects of the DPP program are organized by department and/or training program, so the application will invite you to identify programs of potential interest.
3. Prepare an applicant statement responding to this prompt.
4. Update your résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) and save it as a PDF file; download your unofficial bachelor’s transcript and, if applicable, your unofficial master’s transcript (compile all transcripts into a single PDF file).  
5. Complete the online application (link will be live June 1-August 25). The deadline to apply is 12:00 noon CDT on August 25.

The Diversity in Psychology Program helps participants learn about the following doctoral programs:

Department of Psychology

The Psychology PhD program offers seven areas of specialization:

• Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research
• Cognitive and Brain Sciences
• Counseling Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Personality, Individual Differences, and Behavior Genetics
• Quantitative Psychology/Psychometric Methods
• Social Psychology

Institute for Child Development (ICD)

The PhD in Developmental Psychology program offers two areas of specialization:

• Developmental Science
• Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Science

Department of Educational Psychology

The Department of Educational Psychology offers four doctoral programs:

• Psychological Foundations of Education
• Quantitative Methods in Education
• School Psychology
• Special Education

Learn about the Diversity in Psychology Program experience from past participants who went on to become students in the Tri-Psych Departments:

• “The Diversity in Psychology Program allowed me to learn a lot about the PhD application process before applying. It was extremely helpful to hear about the application process from both current graduate students as well as faculty members in the department. The continued investment of UMN's Tri-Psych departments on increasing and retaining diverse students is one of its greatest strengths. I felt valued as a participant and have been volunteering the last few years as a mentor! I encourage anyone who is eligible to apply because it is one of the best ways to learn about grad school before applying!”
  Romulus Castelo, Institute of Child Development, PhD Student
• “The Diversity in Psychology Program was a great experience for me to learn more about the overall grad school application process, the psychology departments at UMN, what the Counseling Psych specialization has to offer, the lab in which I was interested, its research and its culture, and the different communities in the Twin Cities. Those couple of days made me fall in love with this PhD program and it quickly became my #1 choice! Grateful to be here!”
  Qurat-ul-ain Gulamhussein, Department of Psychology, PhD Student
• “Diversity in Psychology was one of the most impactful experiences during my graduate school application journey. I learned about school psychology right before applying for DPP, and I was having a crisis about what type of programs to apply for and where to apply. I was a little scared about moving to the Midwest from the East Coast. DPP gave me the opportunity to come to the Twin Cities, learn about all the different psychology programs, and talk directly with my current advisor Dr. Amanda Sullivan. I was shocked to see the commitment to recruitment and success of underrepresented students the department seemed to show. The trip solidified my interests in school psychology and UMN became my top choice. I can't imagine myself anywhere else!”
  Thuy Nguyen, Department of Educational Psychology, PhD Student
• “The Diversity in Psychology Program was invaluable and crucial during the application process. Not only did this program help prepare me for the logistics of the application process by providing information on the requirements for grad school, but DPP provided more support that has been helpful during grad school as I gain more cultural and social capital.

  This program provided an open and honest space for participants and current students to share their own experiences, which contributed to a sense of community among participants and students. As a Latina first-generation college student, it was important for me to be able to see other students with similar backgrounds be working towards the same goals and be able to learn from them and their experiences. The DPP program helped me see that I was capable of being in a PhD program and that wherever I decided to go I would be able to accomplish my goals.”
  Melissa Velez, Department of Psychology, PhD Student

• “Diversity in Psychology created an opportunity for me to connect with current faculty and students and learn about the graduate programs firsthand. I was especially inspired by the session where faculty shared their paths leading to academia. Their stories of overcoming obstacles have given me faith and encouraged me to continue pursuing an academic career. Even a year after my participation, a professor in the program reached out to me and offered to help me with graduate school applications by reviewing my personal statement. The program’s continued support and investment in underrepresented students demonstrated the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, which played a major role in my decision to come study here.”
  Jinyi Zhang, Institute of Child Development, PhD Student
• “I found U of M's Diversity in Psychology Program to be both an impactful and unique experience. Being able to meet with students and faculty from the department well before the actual grad school application cycle not only helped out with the application process but also motivated—in part—my eventual decision to join the department.

  Seeing the commitment the department is moving toward, for supporting the intellectual development and financial stability of students from all backgrounds, identities, and walks of life, really made the U of M stand out in my mind, compared to my other grad school options. I'd definitely encourage anyone interested in this program to apply and attend, regardless of where you might be considering or eventually end up for grad school!”
  Scott Blain, Department of Psychology, PhD 2021