I underestimated how much accreditation matters

I underestimated how much accreditation matters when evaluating programs.

When I first started looking at psychology graduate programs, I focused almost entirely on research fit, faculty interests, and the overall match with my academic goals.

The further I got into the process, the more I realized how important accreditation is. At this point, it's often one of the first things I check before I spend time digging into a program's faculty, curriculum, or research opportunities.

I'm curious whether others had a similar shift in priorities. Was accreditation always a major factor for you, or did you come to appreciate its importance later in the application process?