My personal experience in the program gives me the following perspective: Overall, it's an incredible program which empowers the Talmid with tons of time to learn and grow in his Torah and leadership skills, under the guidance of Torah personalities of world renown.
1) Yes, but it's more fluid in many ways if you went through the system via college. Those ways include fitting in with the chevra, amount of time you have to spend on campus, familiarity with the bullet train that is YU and how everything runs, and scholarship awarded upon admittance.
2) Ayen the links in the comments and other answer.
3) Nope, but the pastoral training is of a unique caliber. Listen to the shiurim on YUTorah and note how they do not cover anywhere near enough information (nor do the ten months of yeshiva a year allow) for one to be immediately competent to pass a Rabbanut exam. Compare to the testing requirements on http://smicha.co.il.
Regarding psychology:
Dr. David Pelcovitz and Dr. Norman Blumenthal are renowned veteran psychologists in the Jewish community - they're flown in to speak all over the country and world for halls filled to the max regarding all sorts of issues - and the students in RIETS have the opportunity to learn from them on a weekly basis. Public speaking training can be intensive, and shimush opportunities in the in major synagogues in the tristate area are mandatory. Of course, it all depends on the chosen track. See the docs for details.
