Admissions Overview

Online Application Instructions

Application Process
Below are the application instructions.
At the bottom of the page, you will find links to the application forms.

Thank you for your interest in applying to ITP. This is a great time to join our community. The process for the application is as follows:

Upon receipt of your Application, Admissions will create a file and an Admissions Counselor will contact you to acknowledge what materials we have received and which ones we still need. The counselor will stay in contact with you on a regular basis, keeping you informed of the current status of your application file. Upon a favorable review of your completed file, the counselor will set up an appointment for your interview. Residential applicants (except for those residing outside of the U.S.) will be scheduled for an in-person interview, and Global applicants will be scheduled for a 30-minute phone interview. Within two weeks after the interview, you will be notified of the admission decision. Please feel free to contact us at any time during this process with questions that you might have.

Once again, welcome to the first step toward a transpersonal education that could be one of the most exceptional experiences of your life.

Application Requirements

1. APPLICATION FEE
   A non-refundable fee of $55 (US dollars) is required with your application. You may pay by check, money order, credit card, or through our online Bursar (www.itp.edu/bursar/product-info.php?pid88.html).
   
   
2. AUTOBIOGRAPHY (Global applicants, also submit as Word attachment)
   A 5-page (1½-line spacing) personal statement/autobiography reflecting upon what led you to apply to ITP at this point in your life. Please include significant life events covering most of the following:
   
   • Childhood experience
     
   • Personal growth work/spiritual development
     
   • Significant relationships
     
   • Physical and emotional health history, including any psychotherapeutic experiences, major illnesses, and psychiatric or physically related hospitalizations
     
   • Significant educational and professional experiences
     
   • Experience in community or groups
     
   • Research or scholarly studies
     
   • Knowledge of Transpersonal Psychology
     
3. GOAL STATEMENT (Global applicants, also submit as Word attachment)
   A 2-page goal statement answering the following questions:
   What are your personal and professional goals? What role will earning a degree at ITP play in achieving these goals? What do you want and need from the ITP program? What are your expectations of the program with respect to academic requirements, experiential work, community environment? What do you have to contribute to the program? How do you see yourself using your ITP education to contribute to the greater community after graduation? Ph.D. applicants: What are your research interests? Global applicants: Have you done any independent research or projects?
   
   
4. TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
   Print out two letter of recommendation forms (download the form in PDF format), and fill out the applicant's page before sending them out. Ask people who can comment on your academic, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and professional development. We need two letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional sources. Examples of academic sources are teachers, academic advisors, and career counselors; and examples of professional sources are work supervisor or associate, therapist, and spiritual advisor. These letters must come directly from the letter writer and may be either mailed or faxed to the Admissions Office.
   
   
5. ACADEMIC WRITING SAMPLE
   (Ph.D. and Psy.D. applicants only, or if your GPA is below 3.0)
   (Global applicants, also submit as Word attachment)
   
   • Length of paper: minimum of five pages
   • Writing must demonstrate critical thinking skills and capacity for research, preferably using APA style.
     
   • The paper may be a critical review of an article from a peer-reviewed psychology journal.
     
   • Or, you may submit a paper prepared for other purposes (e.g., term paper, senior thesis, or published article) that was written within the past 5 years.
6. ACADEMIC TRANSCRIPTS
   Contact all official educational institutions which you have attended and request that your transcripts be sent to:
   Admissions Office
   Institute of Transpersonal Psychology
   1069 East Meadow Circle
   Palo Alto, California 94303
   
   
7. PROFESSIONAL RESUME (Global applicants, also submit as Word attachment)
   Enclose a professional resume, listing your work and educational history as well as relevant volunteer or training experience.
   
   
8. PERSONAL INTERVIEW
   An interview with the ITP Admissions Committee may be held after all application materials have been submitted. Barring extenuating circumstances, Residential programs and Low-Residency programs require an in-person interview.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The TOEFL exam (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required in order to demonstrate English language proficiency. An applicant must pass with a score of 600 or better for the Written Exam, 250 or better for the Computerized Exam, or 20 or better for each of the four categories in the Internet Exam. If you have attended schools outside the United States, you will need to have your transcripts evaluated by a Credential Evaluation service to determine their U.S. equivalency, preferably World Education Service (www.wes.org).

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS Residential and Low-Residency programs begin once a year in September. You may submit your application any time during the year. However, to ensure that space is available, it is advisable to apply as early as possible.

GLOBAL PROGRAMS Global programs start twice a year in winter and summer/fall. You may submit your application any time during the year. However, to ensure that space is available, it is recommended that applications be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the opening seminar date.

If you have any questions, please contact the Admissions Office for further information at:
(650) 493-4430 ext. 216 or itpinfo@itp.edu.

Please note: All application materials, once submitted, become the property of ITP and will not be returned, reprinted or photocopied.

CHECKLIST

New Students Please use the following checklist to verify that you have completed all requirements: Application Form, which you can fill out online here or fill out a paper version here. Application Fee, which you can pay online here Upload application documents with this form: Autobiography (maximum of 5 pages) Goal Statement (maximum of 2 pages) Professional Resume Writing Sample (for Doctoral programs and applicants with a GPA below 3.0) Two Letters of Recommendation to be sent to ITP. Fill in the applicant’s side of both letter of recommendation forms, available here as a PDF. All Official School Transcripts - request to be sent to ITP (address is above) TOEFL Exam (if applicable) - request scores to be sent to ITP Foreign Transcript Evaluation (International Applicants Only)

Current or Former ITP Students Current or Former ITP Students applying for Advanced Standing in another program need to submit the following: Application Form, which you can fill out online here Application Fee, which you can pay online here Upload application documents with this form: 1-2 page update of your Autobiography - Goal Statement for the new program Doctoral Programs Applicants Only: Academic Writing Sample (see instructions on p.3) One letter of recommendation from an ITP core faculty or faculty mentor (see above)

ITP holds a policy of non-discrimination. All interested persons who meet the Admissions criteria are encouraged to apply.