Admissions FAQs

The following are general admissions-related FAQs. If you have any questions that we have not addressed here, please contact us at iomps [at] umd.edu.

The program admits students twice a year: in the Spring and in the Fall. This offers two options for completing the IO MPS. Both options offer seminar-style instructions, career guidance, and applied opportunities. 

• The Spring online cohort offers a fully virtual option to students whose schedules require greater flexibility. Spring students will attend live-synchronous virtual classes through easy to use web-based technology that enables learning in an engaging, interactive environment. Virtual classes are also complemented by pre-recorded online learning resources. 
• The Fall in-person/ hybrid cohort offers blended learning with face-to-face instruction on the UMD - College Park campus complemented by online lectures. Students are required to attend classes once per week in College Park.

How do I apply for the program?

• To apply for the IO MPS program, you will need to complete your online application and submit the following required documents:
  • CV/ Resume
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Letters of Recommendation (2)
  • Transcripts
  • TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE (for international students only)
  • Supplementary application
  • Optionally, you can also include: writing samples, description of work experience or research, and a portfolio 
• The program code is for our Spring online program is MPIV
• The program code is for our Fall on-campus/ hybrid program is MPIO
• More information for the application can be found here: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process
• A step-by-step guide to the graduate application can be found here: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying
• Here is a direct link to the graduate application portal: https://terpengage.force.com/community/CustomLoginPage?GradApp=True

When can I start my application to the IO MPS program?

• Applications for 2025 will open this summer.
• A step-by-step guide to the graduate application can be found here: https://gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process/step-step-guide-applying

Where can I find the supplementary application? 

• The Supplementary Application for our program can be found here. 

What are the program codes for the IO MPS program?

• The program code is for our Spring online program is MPIV
• The program code is for our Fall on-campus/ hybrid program is MPIO

When are application deadlines and when will I get my admissions decision?

Applications for Spring and Fall 2024 cohorts are open!

* For each admissions cycle, we aim to send out decisions as soon as possible prior to the end date. Please note that due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide specific details on individual admissions decisions.

When do classes start for the Spring and Fall 2023 terms? 

• The Spring 2025 cohort will begin classes on February 24, 2025.
• The Fall 2025 cohort will begin classes on August 25, 2025.

If I start the program online, can I take some classes in-person? Or, if I start the program in-person, can I take some classes online?

• No, students who start the program through one mode will be required to complete the program in that modality. 
• There is no cross-pollination between the online and in-person cohorts. 

Do I need the GRE to apply for the IO MPS program? 

• We don't require the GRE or GRE-Psychology entrance exam as part of the application for the IO MPS program. 

Is there a minimum grade point average required for admission to the IO MPS program?

• The Graduate School requires a minimum standard GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate courses taken at a regionally accredited college or university. 
• In certain instances, we have admitted students below a 3.0 average if the remainder of their application is exceptional. We look at applicants holistically, which includes their transcripts, statement of purpose, resume/ cv, work experience, and letters of recommendation. 
• International applicants: Applicants with international credentials must submit in the original language those academic records that are not written in English. Such credentials must be accompanied by a literal English translation. Both must be submitted at least six months prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which the applicant seeks admission.

How should I approach my Statement of Purpose?

• We garner information about an applicant from the different parts of your application package: transcripts, resume/ CV, letters of recommendations (2), and very importantly, your statement of purpose. Your personal statement is your opportunity to tell us about who you are beyond your academic background and grades. 
• Your statement should address the following questions: 
  • Tell us your personal narrative - your story of why you're pursuing IO and what brought you to this point. What are your reasons for undertaking graduate study at University of Maryland's MPS IO program? What do you plan to do with this degree?
  • What life experiences have prepared you to pursue a graduate degree at a large, diverse institution, such as UMD? You may care to include things like your community and family background, whether you are the first person in your family to pursue a higher education, or other factors that you feel would contribute to the diversity of our academic community. 
  • You may also wish to give the graduate admissions committee some examples of your determination to pursue your goals, your initiative and ability to develop ideas, and/ or your capacity for working through problems independently as well as within a team. 

I have been out of school for a while and have been working for a number of years. Can my letters of recommendation be from a professional source? 

• Yes! Letters of recommendation are required to be from academic and/ or professional references. We do not consider letters of recommendation from personal sources.
• If you graduated years ago and don't have an academic reference, that's okay - you may choose recommenders who can speak to your professional work. 

Where should I have my letters of recommendation sent?

• The online application allows recommenders to easily upload Letters of Recommendation onto your online application. 
• Please do not send Letters of Recommendation to the Department of Psychology. 
• If your recommender has not uploaded their Recommendation by the deadline but would still like to send one in, please have them reach out to us at iomps [at] umd.edu. 

Do I have to send official transcripts and degree certificates for graduate admission?

• The online application requires applicants to upload a scanned copy of their official transcripts/diplomas in English. Official transcripts can also be sent:

Via email: eso-help [at] umd.edu

Via mail:

Enrollment Services Operation

0130 Mitchell Building

University of Maryland

College Park, MD 20742

Are there specific required prerequisite courses that I would need to take before applying for the IO MPS program?

• There are no specific prerequisite courses required to apply for the IO MPS program. Students who have taken any psychology, statistics, or research methods classes in their undergraduate studies or other graduate programs may find that experience beneficial. However, we do not require them. During the first term, we start with the basics of IO psychology and the basics of data management and statistics- this means that students with no prior psychology research or statistics experience can succeed. 

Can I apply with an application fee waiver?

The IO MPS program is unable to offer application fee waivers at present. There may be other options that applicants can take advantage of:

• There are some graduate preparatory programs that offer an application fee waiver. These include programs such as McNair, SACNAS, SROP, etc. If you have participated in any of these programs and have an application fee waiver to UMD graduate programs, they can be applied to the IO MPS application. Complete application fee waiver information and eligibility requirements can be found here: https://gradschool.umd.edu/feewaiverinformation
• UMD accepts applications for Free App. Eligible students with financial burden that qualify for FreeApp should fill out the form on the Free App site and send an email to FreeApp [at] umd.edu with the subject line: "FAFSA FreeApp Eligibility" and provide documentation of need from FAFSA in the email. *Please note that FreeApp is available for Domestic applicants only. 

Does the program provide funding?

The IO MPS program is presently unable to provide funding for students. We do share opportunities for assistantships to current students, but these are not guaranteed. Information about jobs and assistantship at the university can be found at ejobs.umd.edu, and more information on general funding can be found at https://gradschool.umd.edu/funding.