Application Procedures
The Admissions Committee seeks intelligent, mature, and highly motivated candidates who show the greatest promise for becoming leaders and contributors in psychology. When evaluating candidates, the Committee takes into consideration several different factors, such as the applicant’s academic and non-academic accomplishments, personal qualities, and their compatibility with the Psychology Training program and its areas of specialization. The Committee seeks to admit students who will be able to function well within the psychological training program and, therefore, looks for evidence of maturity, self-discipline, strong motivation, creativity, and enthusiasm. Committee evaluations are based on the applicants’ academic record, research experience, activities and accomplishments, recommendations, and personal interviews. The Admissions Committee also considers personal qualities necessary for the successful study and practice of psychology.
The Child Study Center is committed to recruiting, supporting and encouraging the most gifted clinicians, researchers, and leaders in the field today as well those in succeeding generations in the service of its clinical, research, training, policy, and prevention agendas. Yale values diversity in all its forms and seeks to create an inclusive environment that embraces the unique talents and attributes of all is faculty, staff, and trainees.
The Yale Child Study Center Psychology Training Program encourages applications from individuals from all identities and backgrounds and has a solid record of recruiting and training individuals from under–represented groups within psychology. We aspire to training a diverse population of scientists and practitioners. The faculty, staff, and trainees of the Child Study Center include individuals from many cultural and racial backgrounds.
We review applications in a holistic manner. Prior experience with treatment and psychological assessment of children is critical. In addition, we seek candidates with research and clinical experience consistent with one of our four areas of specialization: Autism, Early Childhood, Trauma, and/or Pediatrics.
How to Apply
Our two-year integrated program is specifically for doctoral candidates currently enrolled in clinical, counseling, or school psychology programs in the United States.
We only enroll through the AAPI Online electronic matching system. Further information is available at AIPPC.
Applications are due at midnight Eastern Standard Time on November 1. Early applications are encouraged and may be reviewed upon receipt. All applications are screened by early December and will be notified of their status by December 15 by phone and/or e-mail.
We review applications in a holistic manner. Prior experience with treatment and psychological assessment of children is critical. In addition, we seek candidates with research and clinical experience consistent with one of our four areas of specialization: Autism, Early Childhood, Trauma, and/or Pediatrics.
Please review our brochure for additional information.
Your online application should include:
- a cover letter (details below)
- a Curriculum Vitae
- the actual application (which includes essays and the DCT's verification of eligibility and readiness)
- all graduate transcripts
- three letters of recommendation, at least two of which should be from supervisors familiar with your clinical work
- A de-identified psychological assessment report, preferably one for a child
- A de-identified case formulation and treatment summary, preferably one for a child. We realize that different programs and clinics provide differing opportunities for learning to write case formulations and treatment summaries. Please choose your best available example of a treatment write-up that includes: the presenting problem, your clinical assessment, and your formulation of the client’s difficulties
The cover letter must explicitly state the following:
- In the first paragraph, list and enumerate in order of your preference the tracks that are your top TWO choices (if you only wish to be considered for one track, please indicate that).
- indicate the reasons why you are a good match for both the overall program and for the track or tracks for which you seek consideration, including any relevant experiences during or prior to graduate training.
- please note how many comprehensive psychological assessments you have provided to date. We consider a comprehensive assessment one that includes cognitive, achievement, adaptive, and social-emotional data that is integrated through a formulation and provides specific recommendations and clinical feedback to the family.
Top candidates are invited for interviews in January. In 2024 all interviews will be completed remotely via Zoom. Interviews are a very important part of the application process. Applicants will receive a general program overview, meet with current psychology trainees, and meet individually with one trainee and several members of the faculty, including faculty currently working in the focused training area.
Applicants who are not granted interviews after review of written materials are notified by e-mail. Interview dates for this year are January 8,9,10,13,14, and 15. As we interview numerous applicants over a short period of time, we do ask that candidates consider providing us with a photo prior to their interview. The purpose of this photo is merely to jog the memory of the interviewers.
The starting date for the fellowship is July 1, 2025.
As a member of APPIC we adhere to all APPIC regulations concerning the selection of interns. Our institutional and state requirements call for a criminal history, background, and child abuse clearance prior to beginning the internship. An individual who does not pass these background checks will have their offer rescinded prior to the start date. Yale University requires that all faculty, staff, and trainees who interact with patients to be vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they are able to obtain a medical or religious exemption before their first day. COVID-19 Vaccination Policy | COVID-19 Information (yale.edu).
This internship site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking–related information from any intern applicant.
Contact Information
Questions regarding the psychology fellowship or the application process should be addressed to:
Dr. Michele Goyette–Ewing
Yale Child Study Center
P.O. Box 207900
230 South Frontage Road
New Haven, CT 06520–7900
Email: michele.goyette–ewing@yale.edu
Phone: (203) 785–5165
The internship in clinical psychology is APA Accredited.
To contact APA regarding this program:
American Psychological Association Committee on Accreditation (APA CoA)
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336–5979
TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123
Fax: (202) 336–5978
apaaccred@apa.org
Equal Opportunity Statement
Admission to the Psychology Internship Training Program at the Yale Child Study Center is open to all qualified individuals and the Center is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all applicants for employment.
Yale University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities, and affirmatively seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on the basis of that individual's sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.