Sport Psychology: Intro and Admissions Info

What is sport psychology? According to the American Psychological Association, sport psychology is the "scientific study of the psychological factors that are associated with participation and performance in sport, exercise, and other types of physical activity." Sport psychologists help athletes to achieve optimal mental health and improve performance through the use of psychological principles. Sport psychologists study how exercise and participation in sports influences our psychological development, health, and well-being.

Getting into a Sport Psychology Graduate Program
Unlike other areas of psychology, sport psychology programs are interested in applicants' experience in sport. Granted, applicants must meet basic requirements (e.g., academic excellence as indicated by GPA and GRE scores), but breadth and depth of experience in sport is an asset. 

The standard components of a graduate school application also hold for sport psychology programs:

• GRE Scores
• Letters of Recommendation
• Admissions Essays (here's where you discuss your burning desire to contribute to the knowledge base of how to enhance performance in sport!)
• Interviews 
• The standard information about applying to graduate programs in psychology also applies
• Before you apply consider whether graduate school is right for you, and carefully consider the merits of various graduate programs 
• Check out these links to graduate programs in sport psychology.