Admissions Questions

When is the application deadline and will applications be considered after that time?
The application deadline is January 15th. If positions are still available, we will consider applicants who apply after this deadline. However, after this date you cannot apply to the KU Graduate School online. Instead you will have to download their paper application , complete it, and mail it in. To find out if any positions are still available, you should contact the professor(s) with whom you want to work.

What happens after I submit my application?

1. Shortly after the application deadline, the ABS faculty will review all completed applications. This process may take several weeks to complete as it must be coordinated with the KU Graduate School.
2. If one of the professors puts you on their short list of candidates, then that professor will contact you.
3. The professor will usually invite you to visit KU and discuss how your career goals may be compatible with the activities of that professor. Applicants are strongly encouraged to visit KU if invited to do so.
4. The professor with whom you interviewed will notify you of his/her decision in a timely fashion.
5. Ultimately, students must be accepted by the professor in the ABS department and the KU Graduate School (a separate entity). Students are not admitted into the program without both acceptances.

Do I really need to complete two separate applications?
Yes. The KU Graduate School and the ABS department are separate entities existing in one university. The ABS department cannot accept any students that have not been accepted by the KU Graduate School. Likewise, the KU Graduate school will not accept any students without being prompted to do so by the ABS department. So, failing to complete either application will result in your not being accepted for graduate studies at KU.

Do I have to take the GRE?
While students are not required to take the GRE, students who have done well on it may be at an advantage compared with others who have not taken the exam.

Does the department consider students with less than perfect GRE scores?
Yes. Some students will have less than perfect verbal or quantitative scores and they may still be strong candidates for graduate study. Students scoring less than 500 on both quantitative and verbal are, needless to say, at a competitive disadvantage.

Is there a minimum undergraduate GPA, below which my application will not be considered?

• No, but you must keep in mind that admission to graduate school is a competition.
• The most qualified applicant will be the one accepted. Having said that, we recognize that many students do poorly in their first year or two of undergraduate study.
• We also recognize that students with extensive math and/or physical science coursework on their transcripts may have lower GPA's that more traditionally trained undergraduate psychology majors.
• With respect to your academic record, we tend to look for students who posted a high GPA in their last two years and have taken (and done well in) coursework relevant to behavioral science.

Who reviews my application?
On the departmental application you will indicate the faculty members with whom you would like to work. These faculty members will conduct the initial review of your application. From there, if a faculty member is interested in your application, he/she must obtain consent of three other faculty members and the department's director of graduate training before your name can be forwarded to the KU Graduate School with our recommendation to accept.

My question didn't appear in this list.
Contact the department at absc@ku.edu with your question.