*DOCTORAL APPLICANTS READ FIRST* Helpful Threads

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ALL posts about your statistics, chances of getting into a program, and or related topics MUST be posted in the WAMC: What are my chances thread. DO NOT make your own thread.
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Program admission rates: http://www.unc.edu/~mjp1970/Admissions%20Rates.pdf
Program placement into APA-acred internship sites: http://www.unc.edu/~mjp1970/Internship%20Outcomes.pdf
*Added 12/28/11*
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Useful Threads:
Ph.D./Psy.D. comparison
APA-accredited Clinical/Counseling PhD/PsyD programs on Google Maps
Admissions Stats: The Big Picture--Clinical, Counseling, & School
Grad school survival guide (a.k.a. How to not live in a box)
Advice From A Professor For Applicants To Ph.D. Programs
Insider's Guide to Clinical/Counseling Psychology Thread
Housing Resources and Data
Kiss of Death in the Graduate School Application Process (External Link)

The idea is that these threads can still be found and bumped as needed, but non-applicant threads are not lost amongst the many applicant specific threads. If there are other general applicant threads that you think will be helpful, post a link to here, and I may add it to the list. To keep things neat, I may delete suggestions after they are reviewed so that the thread is kept informational and doesn't get off track on discussion of any one topic. -t4c

This thread will probably be really useful:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=489204

This thread was interesting:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=647296

Hi,
It is not a thread, but you might want to post this:

http://www.temple.edu/psychology/cli...guidelines.pdf

Its the APA guidelines that have been posted several times over different threads (but can never find when I want to consult it).

Added a good thread on housing resources: Housing Resources and Data

I added the WAMC thread.

Updated.

Here are some FACTS all students should know. Clinical psychology is probably the most difficult graduate program in terms of how long the training takes and how many requirements you must pass (it will take you 8 years after college to become a licensed psychologist)

1) After completing your bachelor’s degree, a clinical psychology PHD or PsyD will take you an additional 5-7 years of full-time graduate study.

2) If your program is not funded, this may cost you $200,00 in loans.

3) There is a HUGE imbalance and shortage of internship positions (this is a requirement to graduate) and the stipend is $25,000 at best if you get into a super competitive position. There are currently about 100 applicants per 1-2 positions. Look at the APA MATCH RATES for each program before you apply. They should be close to 100%

4) If you are lucky enough to land a post-doc AFTER graduating, this will pay you between 25,000-45,000 on the high end.

5) After you graduate, you will still need 3,000 hours (this includes internship hours) to be licensed. You will need to take a demanding exam and some states have further regulations, such as an oral exam and case formulation, which may have very low passing rates (50% in NJ). This can delay your ability to practice after you graduate for several years!

6) Salaries in clinical psychology are among the lowest compared to other professions, particularly given the extensive training requirements you must pass (yes, its longer than medical school). Current salaries are very low for clinical post-docs (between 25,000-35,000). Average mid-career salaries can range from 60,000-85,000 plus depending on where you work.

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum an don't know anything about psychology. I have Bachelor in Arts from international Institute (out of the US) and decided to enroll in online school and study psychology and become important

I live in Los Angeles and called to the California board and a few online universities. To be honest, I still don't know what program will be the best to get in psychology that can make me doctor. I know a few people that are Psy.D ad A few Ph.D. I don't know which is better.

I contacted CAPELLA University and enrolled in MS in Mental Health Counseling which is a 4 year program. Not sure why a master must be 4 years but the recruiter said if I want to open my own firm and practice after getting california state board license I have to study this program, even though they have 2 years master program, and will not allow me to practice and open firm after graduation. so, here is the question?

I want to get my doctoral degree and practice in the shortest time and don't know if this program will end up to that or no? please advise!

Originally Posted by asker

Hello everyone,

I am new to this forum an don't know anything about psychology. I have Bachelor in Arts from international Institute (out of the US) and decided to enroll in online school and study psychology and become important

I live in Los Angeles and called to the California board and a few online universities. To be honest, I still don't know what program will be the best to get in psychology that can make me doctor. I know a few people that are Psy.D ad A few Ph.D. I don't know which is better.

I contacted CAPELLA University and enrolled in MS in Mental Health Counseling which is a 4 year program. Not sure why a master must be 4 years but the recruiter said if I want to open my own firm and practice after getting california state board license I have to study this program, even though they have 2 years master program, and will not allow me to practice and open firm after graduation. so, here is the question?

I want to get my doctoral degree and practice in the shortest time and don't know if this program will end up to that or no? please advise!

Please go through and read these forums. Online degrees are a waste of time and money and generally will not qualify you to get licensure. Don't waste your money.

6) Salaries in clinical psychology are among the lowest compared to other professions

That's not accurate.

particularly given the extensive training requirements you must pass (yes, its longer than medical school).

Also not accurate. Average time of completion at a PhD program is 5-7 years (including internship). So, let's say you take 6 years. You are specializing in neuropsychology. That's 2 more years of postdoc. That's 8 years. You don't specialize, it's 7 years. Medical school residencies vary in length but the average is 4 years. So, 4 years medical school, 4 years residency. Some people then specialize further in 1-2 year fellowships. So, 8-10 years for med school. I think we can say that clinical psychology PhD programs are a similar time commitment to medical school.

Current salaries are very low for clinical post-docs (between 25,000-35,000). Average mid-career salaries can range from 60,000-85,000 plus depending on where you work.

Consider that postdocs are necessary for to be licensed. It's similar to a residency. If you've gone through a funded program, this isn't that bad a deal. Also, postdoc salaries can be higher than that. The mid-career salary estimate is also highly variable. This depends greatly on context and specialization. Many people START in that range coming out of postdoc.

asker, have you checked out an MSW?

Doctoral applicants,

I have a question. I heard that you can only hold one offer at a time?? Is this true? That's a little scary...

Originally Posted by WhitneyMS

Doctoral applicants,

I have a question. I heard that you can only hold one offer at a time?? Is this true? That's a little scary...

This website discusses it a little:

http://www.temple.edu/psychology/cli...guidelines.pdf

I think the general rule of thumb is not to hold more than two at once.

Thank you, this was helpful!

This is worth a read for all prospective applicants:

Kiss of Death in the Graduate School Application Process (External Link)