WAMC: What Are My Chances

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Originally Posted by Pragma

I would say yes to the bolded question. I hear experimental Ph.D.s are more valuable.

Your GREs are not bad and I think GPAs really vary from University to University. WHy not aim high and see how you do? You can always apply for a backup Master's program if you are determined to begin school either way right away.

Omg, thank you for the advice. I really thought I didn't have a chance, but I will for sure apply very broadly and see how I do. What does an eperimental psych do?

Hi Everyone...

I really wish someone responds to my previous post. By reading various threads I have come to know that sdn members are serious students and professionals who believe in nurturing, supporting and giving back to the community. I would be really grateful if fellow members can spare my situation a thought. Being international applicant has it's own twists to the process, hence any suggestions/ observations/ advice in straightening things out could be really helpful.

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Synchronicity

Hi everyone,
I'm International applicant, had applied for the first time this year. I'm little confused and disappointed right now: got rejection few hours ago. But being in this forum and reading about application process has assured me that I'm not alone. I'm looking for some guidance.

My credentials-
1. Three year graduation in Applied Psychology, honors; GPA=4.0
2. Two years Masters (with clinical psychology as specialization); GPA=3.9
3. Mater's Dissertation on "Neurocognitive function and functional outcome in schizophrenia patients" (currently working on its manuscript to submit for publication)
4. Four months of posting in state psychiatric unit
5. Five independent professional presentations in my country
6. General Revised GRE: 310 and Psy GRE:650
7.TOEFL scores: 115/120 (iBT)

I have done my graduation and post graduation from very prestigious state university and have good extra-curricular credentials. I was college secretary, editor of college journal, class co-ordinator, have done voluntary social work with special children.

This year I was very unsure of my chances and applied to two Ph.D Clinical psychology programs. I interviewed for one, got wait listed and just received rejection. I'm interested in Schizophrenia spectrum disorders and neuropsychology.

Now my questions-
1. Should I retake psych GRE? Mine seems quite low. I had some unforeseen troubles during the paper and screwed up my scores....
2. I felt I lack experience. What kind of research forays will strengthen my profile in terms of my research interest?
3. Can I apply for paid RA positions in USA? Should I consider this option or is better to get more research experience in my country as getting the latter will not be troublesome...
4. Should I apply this year again with some more experience or get research experience for two years before applying again
4. Anything else that I should consider

Thanks. Looking forward to your replies.....

Originally Posted by Synchronicity

Hi Everyone...

I really wish someone responds to my previous post. By reading various threads I have come to know that sdn members are serious students and professionals who believe in nurturing, supporting and giving back to the community. I would be really grateful if fellow members can spare my situation a thought. Being international applicant has it's own twists to the process, hence any suggestions/ observations/ advice in straightening things out could be really helpful.

Thanks again!

Your GPA is fine, so no need to worry about that. The main "flags" that pop up to me are, as you've mentioned, your GRE score and research experience. Additionally, being an international applicant can be a good thing for some schools, but a hindrance at others. The fact that you only applied to two programs was also a big red flag, as it significantly decreased your chances of gaining an interview from the outset. What I would suggest:

1) Yes, retake the GRE. My "quick and dirty" conversion of your scores to the old scale (assuming a 155/155, as I don't know what you actually made on each area) suggests you were in the ~1050 range. Ideally, you'd want to crack 1300 (old scale), although breaking 1200 (again, old scale) should get you past any official and unofficial cut-offs at most programs. Breaking 1100 is almost an absolute must.

2) Get more research experience. I honestly don't know that it'd make a huge difference if you got it in the US vs. where you are currently, although paid RA positions are hugely competitive, so your international status might make finding one somewhat difficult. You mention how many presentations you have, but not how long you've been working on research; was it only for a few months, or has it been a couple years? Also, five professional presentations could be good, but "professional presentation" is a hugely variable term. Were these posters at local or national scientific conferences, talks at small and local professional meetings, etc.?

3) You don't mention anything about either personal statements or letters of recommendation. Both of these aspects of your application are very important. Who wrote your letters (e.g., psychologists, physicians, grad students), and were they strong? Did you have faculty and peers review your personal statements and provide you feedback?

4) Apply to more schools. Neuropsych is a very competitive specialty, and while most programs are going to offer your actual degree in general clinical psychology rather than explicitly focusing only on neuropsych at the grad school level, the labs that are geared toward neuropysch are very popular. Aim for something more along the lines of 12-15 applications rather than 2 or 3. Importantly, though, be sure your interests (research and clinical) match well with the programs to which you apply. You're interested in SMI/schizophrenia and neuropsych, which is a very niche area; find faculty who do this type of research and stick to applying to those places.

Just to clarify, your GRE scores aren't too bad. According to the old scale a 155V (530) 155Q (700) converts to about a 1230

http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concord...nformation.pdf

Perhaps try to get a year or two worth of research experience as a Research Associate. I don't imagine it to make a difference where you get your research experience as long as the research team you work with is relatively active in research dissemination (peer-reviewed publications, presentations, posters, workshops, etc). And DEFINITELY apply to more schools. You should generally target about ten, give or take.

The work you've done until now is quite impressive! My thought is with some extra added effort, you will certainly gain admission. You could apply next year. I mean, you were very close to gaining admission; the fact that you were interviewed and subsequently wait listed at one of the two schools is a good sign. Whether you apply next year or hold off is up to you. That said, more research experience can only work in your favor, and may help you better understand what you want in a program.

Originally Posted by eligh

Just to clarify, your GRE scores aren't too bad. According to the old scale a 155V (530) 155Q (700) converts to about a 1230

http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concord...nformation.pdf

Perhaps try to get a year or two worth of research experience as a Research Associate. I don't imagine it to make a difference where you get your research experience as long as the research team you work with is relatively active in research dissemination (peer-reviewed publications, presentations, posters, workshops, etc). And DEFINITELY apply to more schools. You should generally target about ten, give or take. But your stats look great! My thought is with some extra added effort, you will certainly gain admission.

You could apply next year. You were very close to gaining admission. The fact that you were interviewed and subsequently wait listed at one of the two schools is a good sign. Whether you apply right away or hold off is your own personal choice.

Ahh, I was apparently using a horribly-crafted conversion chart that must've used the verbal score values for both subject areas; apologies.

Hi,
Thanks a million for the invaluable inputs (AcronymAllergy and eligh)

A few points-
1. Four of my presentations were at national level and one international level

2. I had 4 LORs - one from my dissertation supervisor (distinguished professor) at MA, one from another professor- faculty at MA, one from undergrad Assistant Prof and one more from HOD & Professor of Psychiatry at State medical college, he was my field work supervisor. All of them hold me in good standing. I know they must have put good words for me.

3.My supervisor and my friends who already got into US PhD clinical psychology programs helped me polish it. So I feel it must be worthy enough but there's always scope for improvement. Any further suggestions will be really helpful.

4. During my MA I worked for just two semesters on my dissertation and several other small departmental projects. Nothing exceptional...so far

Now I have started working on getting publications and have applied to RA positions at both my country and USA. I will definitely apply to more schools next time.

My psychology GRE score is 650. Should I take it again? Is it worth it? Yes my score was 155 in both verbal and quant. I hope this score of 1230 as per old pattern is safe, and I don't need to retake it

Thanks for the tip on choosing POI...Do you have any suggestion or names on mind?

Thanks again...

by AcronymAllergy
Your GPA is fine, so no need to worry about that. The main "flags" that pop up to me are, as you've mentioned, your GRE score and research experience. Additionally, being an international applicant can be a good thing for some schools, but a hindrance at others. The fact that you only applied to two programs was also a big red flag, as it significantly decreased your chances of gaining an interview from the outset. What I would suggest:

by eligh
Just to clarify, your GRE scores aren't too bad. According to the old scale a 155V (530) 155Q (700) converts to about a 1230

http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concord...nformation.pdf

Perhaps try to get a year or two worth of research experience as a Research Associate. I don't imagine it to make a difference where you get your research experience as long as the research team you work with is relatively active in research dissemination (peer-reviewed publications, presentations, posters, workshops, etc). And DEFINITELY apply to more schools. You should generally target about ten, give or take.

The work you've done until now is quite impressive! My thought is with some extra added effort, you will certainly gain admission. You could apply next year. I mean, you were very close to gaining admission; the fact that you were interviewed and subsequently wait listed at one of the two schools is a good sign. Whether you apply next year or hold off is up to you. That said, more research experience can only work in your favor, and may help you better understand what you want in a program.

Synchronicity,

I'm not sure what a 650 means--I never wrote the subject GRE test because none of the schools I targeted required it. The GRE of 1230 is okay--a 1300 would be ideal, but I don't think a 1230 would keep you out. The one other thing I might suggest (other than publish and get more research experience), is try taking some research methods courses at the graduate level (e.g., advanced qualitative methods). It could help some.

Originally Posted by eligh

Synchronicity,

I'm not sure what a 650 means--I never wrote the subject GRE test because none of the schools I targeted required it. The GRE of 1230 is okay--a 1300 would be ideal, but I don't think a 1230 would keep you out. The one other thing I might suggest (other than publish and get more research experience), is try taking some research methods courses at the graduate level (e.g., advanced qualitative methods). It could help some.

Thanks.

I have taken advanced papers on qualitative methods and stats. So, I have that covered!

Originally Posted by Synchronicity

My psychology GRE score is 650. Should I take it again? Is it worth it?

What is that as a percentile? If you are below 80th percentile I would take it again, otherwise I wouldn't bother. My understanding is that nobody takes Psych GRE scores very seriously unless you don't have a strong undergraduate psych background (e.g. did a BSc in a different field).

I rocked the psych GRE and I don't think it made a bit of difference in my application.

Hi deliciousgoose,

Yeah my Psych GRE percentile is quite low it's 69. But my I have by BA and MA (clinical Psych) in Psychology. My GPA is good. And I aspire to apply for PhD in Clinical psych, this requires or recommends Psych GRE. So probably, I should take it again.....(?)

Originally Posted by deliciousgoose

What is that as a percentile? If you are below 80th percentile I would take it again, otherwise I wouldn't bother. My understanding is that nobody takes Psych GRE scores very seriously unless you don't have a strong undergraduate psych background
.

Originally Posted by Synchronicity

Hi deliciousgoose,

Yeah my Psych GRE percentile is quite low it's 69. But my I have by BA and MA (clinical Psych) in Psychology. My GPA is good. And I aspire to apply for PhD in Clinical psych, this requires or recommends Psych GRE. So probably, I should take it again.....(?)

I think 650 is fine. I wouldn't take it again if I were you, especially since the committee doesn't put as much weight on it as compared to the general GRE. A score of at least 1300 on the general GRE would be ideal (to make yourself competitive, not to just merely pass the cut off score).

thanks

Originally Posted by Kappadocia

I think 650 is fine. I wouldn't take it again if I were you, especially since the committee doesn't put as much weight on it as compared to the general GRE. A score of at least 1300 on the general GRE would be ideal (to make yourself competitive, not to just merely pass the cut off score).

Originally Posted by Synchronicity

Hi deliciousgoose,

Yeah my Psych GRE percentile is quite low it's 69. But my I have by BA and MA (clinical Psych) in Psychology. My GPA is good. And I aspire to apply for PhD in Clinical psych, this requires or recommends Psych GRE. So probably, I should take it again.....(?)

It's up to you if you'd like to retake it, of course, but I can say that back when I applied, of the 10-12 PhD programs I chose, none required the Psych GRE.

Originally Posted by AcronymAllergy

It's up to you if you'd like to retake it, of course, but I can say that back when I applied, of the 10-12 PhD programs I chose, none required the Psych GRE.

Originally Posted by Kappadocia

I think 650 is fine. I wouldn't take it again if I were you, especially since the committee doesn't put as much weight on it as compared to the general GRE. A score of at least 1300 on the general GRE would be ideal (to make yourself competitive, not to just merely pass the cut off score).

I agree that a higher general GRE score would be advantageous.

I also think that if you did your BA & MA internationally a poor score on the subject GRE will be weighed more heavily than if you completed your BA & MA at American universities.

Originally Posted by deliciousgoose

I agree that a higher general GRE score would be advantageous.

I also think that if you did your BA & MA internationally a poor score on the subject GRE will be weighed more heavily than if you completed your BA & MA at American universities.

Yeah,
This is what I was contemplating..... Thanks for the thought!

Hi Folks!

After going through a good amount of posts, I'm ready to take the plunge and ask WAMC!

Here is my story:
UGPA: 3.4
PsychGPA: 3.5
Major: Psychology w/ Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience (from GWU)

Decided to join Teach for America (personal reasons, I came from a low-income background and wanted to give back to a similar community). Had to get my MAT (Masters in Art of Teaching) from American University. GPA: 3.85.

PsychGRE practice tests are around a 700, haven't taken the general test (will do so in May).

Worked in the ER as a research assistant doing HIV swab tests, animal behavior research at the National Zoo.

Currently I am a research assistant at an autism surveillance study funded by the CDC, I've been there for two years, with experience in almost every step of the research process. Through this, I have 5 posters (2 national, 2 international conferences) and 1 first author paper which will hopefully be published. Pretty solid LORs from this.

Frankly, I'm overwhelmed with the application process, but I would like to apply to Clinical PhD programs and would probably apply to PsyD programs as well. Could anyone point out some good reaches/possibilities? There are about 50 schools on my list and I'm curious to see what people would say) I could see myself working with general developmental disabilities, not necessarily autism. I'd want some the program to be partially funded and I REALLY want/need to stay in the Northeast for family reasons.

So, WAMC?

So Im a psychology undergraduate and Im trying to decide what programs to apply to. Here is my biggest proplem though, my GPA isnt as good as it should be. Since a lot of you have gotten accepted, I would love your opinions on whether it would be realistic of me to even apply for a PhD or PsyD program (I havent decided yet).

I have a 3.4 Psych GPA and a 3.35 overall GPA
My upperlevel GPA however is 3.7

worked at a research lab for 2 years and have recentely entered a new one

TAd for two different professors

I am a certified mediator and a certified victim's advocate

volunteered at a domestic abuse shelter

Interened with a Therapist at her office

am vice president of Psi Chi and treasure of psych society

My biggest problem right now is my gpa and maybe my gre(I will be taking it this summer) I also am in need of another strong letter writer.

Is this enough??

You'd be best served, and would likely receive the most helpful responses, by posting this in the "WAMC: What Are My Chances?" thread, as it's dedicated entiretly to this exact type of question.

Originally Posted by AcronymAllergy

You'd be best served, and would likely receive the most helpful responses, by posting this in the "WAMC: What Are My Chances?" thread, as it's dedicated entiretly to this exact type of question.

Some people deserve their own thread.

I wouldn't worry if your stats are good enough, don't let that get in the way of applying. If you don't apply, you'll never know.

Moving to WAMC

Originally Posted by graduappy

So Im a psychology undergraduate and Im trying to decide what programs to apply to. Here is my biggest proplem though, my GPA isnt as good as it should be. Since a lot of you have gotten accepted, I would love your opinions on whether it would be realistic of me to even apply for a PhD or PsyD program (I havent decided yet).

I have a 3.4 Psych GPA and a 3.35 overall GPA
My upperlevel GPA however is 3.7

worked at a research lab for 2 years and have recentely entered a new one

TAd for two different professors

I am a certified mediator and a certified victim's advocate

volunteered at a domestic abuse shelter

Interened with a Therapist at her office

am vice president of Psi Chi and treasure of psych society

My biggest problem right now is my gpa and maybe my gre(I will be taking it this summer) I also am in need of another strong letter writer.

Is this enough??

The upward trend on your GPA is a good thing. Take a practice test or two in preparation for the GRE. Aim for *at least* 1200 total (310-ish total on the new scale), and preferably 1400 total (321 or so on the new scale). If you're not getting there, study.

If you apply widely, have good letters of recommendation, and your research interests fit well with the labs you're applying to.... Then you should then have a decent chance at funded programs.

Originally Posted by thewesternsky

The upward trend on your GPA is a good thing. Take a practice test or two in preparation for the GRE. Aim for *at least* 1200 total (310-ish total on the new scale), and preferably 1400 total (321 or so on the new scale). If you're not getting there, study.

If you apply widely, have good letters of recommendation, and your research interests fit well with the labs you're applying to.... Then you should then have a decent chance at funded programs.

This. Assuming you're able to "sell" your match with each program, and you have a semi-coherent idea of what topics/populations you'd like to research and work with in grad school, you should stand a chance at landing a few interviews/admissions offers.

But as thewesternsky mentioned, work to get your GRE above 1200 or 1300 on the old scale; without that, your odds are likely going to decrease significantly in light of your below-average (relative to other applicants) GPA.

Hello all, super new to forums so I don't know if I'm even posting correctly or not, but it's a first time calling long time listener type of thing so I've read on and off for about a year. Really I was just going to post a question really quick regarding senior theses but I didn't know the best place to put a question (yet) so I might as well make this relevant to the thread:

Senior Psychology major with a minor in Counseling and Educational Psychology. 3.707 cum gpa, 3.911 major gpa. Finishing up the honors curriculum at my university in the coming months to try to compensate for the fact that I come from a not very competitive large state school. Technically I could have finished school this spring (if I was at my university) because I came in with so many credits from high school and my undying love for summer classes, but I decided to stay for a fourth year so I can further raise my GPA and develop a better relationship with professors, as well as because I wondered if I would be laughed at for applying to such programs before I was even 21 (this June).


Worked at a counseling training center (where counseling MA/PHD students do their practicums) for 2 years. Worked a crisis hotline for 6 months (will go back) and became a certified victims advocate for sexual assault victims last summer.
Research assistant last semester and will do it again this coming summer.
Currently on a study abroad student exchange and I have a position as an English tutor.


Haven’t taken any practice GREs yet but I bought my book and plan on studying the hell out of it this summer. So at this point: WAMC? Any suggestions?


Also the question I was getting at in the beginning: a year or so ago when I was looking at what makes a student competitive on different schools’ websites I read some things about theses. That’s when I decided to do the honors curriculum (which ends with a honors thesis at the end) to make myself more competitive. But recently I started thinking: if you apply in or around December and the honors thesis is typically your last semester, is it even worth it to do seeing as they won’t have an honors thesis to see? Unfortunately I just found out that the deadline for submitting a proposal is in May and I have no topic or mentor at the moment, so my only hope is in the spring, but by then I will already have applied, so is it even worth it?



Thanks to those who suffered through this ridiculously long post. All replies and suggestions are greatly appreciated

Hi Leirah - Absolutely do the thesis! You will regret it if you don't. Although you are applying in the fall, there is no guarantee that you will get accepted into a program. In addition, programs will view it favorably if you are working on your thesis, even if it hasn't been completed. It also gives you some great one on one time with an advisor and should lead to a better letter of recommendation.

Finally - it sounds like you are very bright. However, depending on where you intend to apply, 2 semesters of undergraduate research may not be sufficient for funded PhD programs but you could get some consideration from university based PsyD programs.

If fully funded PhD is your goal, consider taking a year off and bolster your research experience. Good luck!

I have a somewhat unique position and would really appreciate some advice. I got a BS in Accounting in 2007 from a solid undergraduate program. I then worked about 3 years in the that field and decided it wasn't for me.

I quit my job and began volunteering at a crisis hotline, it's been about a year now. By the end of this semester, I'll have taken 5 psych classes (and also statistics). In these classes, I'll have either a 3.6 or 3.83 gpa. My undergraduate GPA, however was a 3.0.

I haven't taken the GRE yet, I'll study for a month after this semester and tackle it.

couple questions:

1)I realize my only shot at getting into a decent phd program would be to do research, because I've done none. Would doing a year of research give me a good chance at a decent phd program? Granted I got a good GRE score of course.

2)I think I'm more interested in a psyd program though. what are my chances at getting into a good psyd program? What can I do to boost my chances? Would taking more time to do research further my cause towards a psyd?

3)general advice? really anything would be helpful to me! Thanks so much.

I've got a list of about 20 programs I'd be potentially interested, including wright, pgsp, roosevelt, MA school of prof psych, rutgers, loyola, george wash, wheaton, u denver, and indiana u. I've even got a couple "fall back" options such as JFK and pacific outside portlant.

Thanks so much for your input.

Originally Posted by stevenjw

I have a somewhat unique position and would really appreciate some advice. I got a BS in Accounting in 2007 from a solid undergraduate program. I then worked about 3 years in the that field and decided it wasn't for me.

I quit my job and began volunteering at a crisis hotline, it's been about a year now. By the end of this semester, I'll have taken 5 psych classes (and also statistics). In these classes, I'll have either a 3.6 or 3.83 gpa. My undergraduate GPA, however was a 3.0.

I haven't taken the GRE yet, I'll study for a month after this semester and tackle it.

couple questions:

1)I realize my only shot at getting into a decent phd program would be to do research, because I've done none. Would doing a year of research give me a good chance at a decent phd program? Granted I got a good GRE score of course.

2)I think I'm more interested in a psyd program though. what are my chances at getting into a good psyd program? What can I do to boost my chances? Would taking more time to do research further my cause towards a psyd?

3)general advice? really anything would be helpful to me! Thanks so much.

I've got a list of about 20 programs I'd be potentially interested, including wright, pgsp, roosevelt, MA school of prof psych, rutgers, loyola, george wash, wheaton, u denver, and indiana u. I've even got a couple "fall back" options such as JFK and pacific outside portlant.

Thanks so much for your input.

I just graduated with a BA in Psychology this past December and will be attending a Clinical Psychology PhD program in the fall, so I can't really speak to applying to programs with a BA not in psychology, but here's my two cents for what it's worth:

Because you don't have research experience and your BA isn't in psychology, I don't think doing one year of research is going to help you. Especially if you were planning on applying during that same year (submit applications in December, after which you will have only had a few months working in that research lab...even though you will have a year by the end of the summer). Does that make sense? I think you would have to do two years of research in order to be competitive (so work one full year and apply during the second year in your lab...that way you can also have a shot at getting a recommendation letter from your lab supervisor, since he/she will have known you for a year by the time you start applying).

Please keep in mind that the above advice is applicable only if you are aiming for admission at a Clinical Psychology PhD program...I did not apply to any PsyD programs and I am not familiar with the amount of research experience they require, if any.

With regards to your GPA (again, only PhD-related advice) I think you might be better off going for a Master's in Psychology. That way you will have a Master's GPA and you will be able to show competency in Psychology (I don't think the 5 courses you took will count for much if they don't amount to a degree, but that's just my opinion and I am not sure about that). Your undergraduate GPA is fine but probably not competitive enough for PhD programs, which is why having a Master's GPA is also a good idea. I am not sure about GPA requirements for PsyD programs, but I'm assuming they're pretty similar in terms of what counts as "competitive."

I think the best advice I can give you (I know I've already said this) is to get involved in a research lab. Other than meeting criteria (GPA/GRE scores), I think research experience is one of the main factors taken into consideration in the admissions process. You will also be able to establish a better idea of what kind of research you are interested in, which will help you when applying to schools.

I hope this helps!

Dear SDN responders,

I will be applying to Clinical Ph.D programs during the 2012-2013 cycle, and I would like to have some suggestions from SDN members!

Background:
I am a Canadian applicant who applied to 3 Clinical Psychology Ph.D programs (UC-Berkeley, University of Arizona, and University of Florida) in 2009. I received an interview from UF. At the time of application, I had the following credentials:

Undergraduate GPA = 3.95/4.00 from Psychology (Hon.) with a minor in Statistics
GRE General = 360(V), 790(Q), 5(writing)
GRE Psychology = 720
Clinical Experience = 0.5 years of mental health hospital volunteering (organize and sell donated cloth to mental health patients)
Research Experience = volunteered research assistant in different labs and forensic research unit for 2 years; was writing an Undergraduate Honors Thesis; 3 conference presentations (international meeting: 2 first author; student based national meeting: 1 second author)

Looking back, I feel that I was extremely lucky to even get an interview...


Since then, I have added the following credentials to my application:

Will be getting a M.Sc degree in Neuroscience from a top institute in the field (not an American school, though...)
GPA from Master's: 3.57/4.00 (molecular biology based courses absolutely killed me)
Research Experience: Poster presentation at 3 national meetings and 5 international meetings as the first author; led a research project at the Master's level; 2nd author publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Relevant clinical experience: Research project involved healthy human participants whom I screened for medical and psychological anomalies. From the screening process, I learned to use psychological evaluation tools such as the Structured Clinical Interview - DSM 4 and various questionnaires (BDI, BECK, etc...). I was also responsible for maintaining the participants' psychological and physical health under the supervision of a medical doctor. I also have treatment related experience with patient and research assistants.


SO! Aside from the obvious that I need to improve my GRE verbal score, are my credentials good enough to be competitive at top tier schools? I am asking because there are relatively few PIs in my field of interest compared to other fields. I am also debating whether I should use Fall 2012 to write and publish or to volunteer in a clinical setting. Given that I have material to write at least 3 papers (4 if I get positive results from a case study), should I focus on writing papers or should I write less and volunteer more? I keep getting the feeling that I do not have enough clinical experience to compete for a Clinical Ph.D spot...


Thank you for reading and for providing me with valuable inputs. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Originally Posted by whyeh

Dear SDN responders,

I will be applying to Clinical Ph.D programs during the 2012-2013 cycle, and I would like to have some suggestions from SDN members!

Background:
I am a Canadian applicant who applied to 3 Clinical Psychology Ph.D programs (UC-Berkeley, University of Arizona, and University of Florida) in 2009. I received an interview from UF. At the time of application, I had the following credentials:

Undergraduate GPA = 3.95/4.00 from Psychology (Hon.) with a minor in Statistics
GRE General = 360(V), 790(Q), 5(writing)
GRE Psychology = 720
Clinical Experience = 0.5 years of mental health hospital volunteering (organize and sell donated cloth to mental health patients)
Research Experience = volunteered research assistant in different labs and forensic research unit for 2 years; was writing an Undergraduate Honors Thesis; 3 conference presentations (international meeting: 2 first author; student based national meeting: 1 second author)

Looking back, I feel that I was extremely lucky to even get an interview...


Since then, I have added the following credentials to my application:

Will be getting a M.Sc degree in Neuroscience from a top institute in the field (not an American school, though...)
GPA from Master's: 3.57/4.00 (molecular biology based courses absolutely killed me)
Research Experience: Poster presentation at 3 national meetings and 5 international meetings as the first author; led a research project at the Master's level; 2nd author publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Relevant clinical experience: Research project involved healthy human participants whom I screened for medical and psychological anomalies. From the screening process, I learned to use psychological evaluation tools such as the Structured Clinical Interview - DSM 4 and various questionnaires (BDI, BECK, etc...). I was also responsible for maintaining the participants' psychological and physical health under the supervision of a medical doctor. I also have treatment related experience with patient and research assistants.


SO! Aside from the obvious that I need to improve my GRE verbal score, are my credentials good enough to be competitive at top tier schools? I am asking because there are relatively few PIs in my field of interest compared to other fields. I am also debating whether I should use Fall 2012 to write and publish or to volunteer in a clinical setting. Given that I have material to write at least 3 papers (4 if I get positive results from a case study), should I focus on writing papers or should I write less and volunteer more? I keep getting the feeling that I do not have enough clinical experience to compete for a Clinical Ph.D spot...


Thank you for reading and for providing me with valuable inputs. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Regarding that last point (IMO): without a doubt, focus on the research. Volunteering/clinical exposure, particularly when it's not obtained by practicing at the master's-level, isn't given nearly as much weight during applications as is research experience.

Edit: As a personal anecdote, I know of many people admitted to clinical Ph.D. programs who had limited or no clinical/volunteer experience. I don't think I know anyone who was admitted with limited/no research experience.

Hi everyone this is my very first post on this forum,

I'll be applying to PhD Clinical Pysch programs in the fall. I want to eventually end up practicing Clinical Neuropsychology.

Here are my stats:

I'm an African American female. I first started as a chemical engineering major at UT Austin, absolutely hated it, and as a result did not do well! Finally, switched to psychology during my sophomore year after transferring university's in which I fell in love with the field of psychology. I'm minoring in Biology as well.

GPA: 3.2 overall
Psyc GPA: 3.4
^ I know these are kinda low to be really competitive, but those years as an engineering major greatly hurt my GPA, I'll be explaining this in my personal statement though. Should I apply to some MA programs to try and boost my graduate GPA?
Havent taken GRE's yet, I'm taking it in October.

Currently work in a cognitive research lab for a Professor at my school, started that in Fall '11. I'll be starting/running my own experiment this summer as well. No publications however.

I'm going to an interview tomorrow at a Hospital for an internship in their psychiatric ward (I'm quite nervous). Hopefully, this will help supplement my clinical experience, since I have none thus far!

Also, no letters of rec yet, although I plan on asking my adviser, the professor whose lab I work in (he wrote one for me already for the McNairs Scholar Program), and I'm not too sure who the last one will be quite yet.

I plan on applying to:

UT Southwestern (first choice)
University of Houston
University of Texas at Arlington (lowest on my list)
Howard University
University of North Carolina (go Tar Heels! I was born and raised in North Carolina)
UCLA
UNT

Any feedback would be wonderful. Thanks!

Originally Posted by CraveMyThoughts

Hi everyone this is my very first post on this forum,

I'll be applying to PhD Clinical Pysch programs in the fall. I want to eventually end up practicing Clinical Neuropsychology.

Here are my stats:

I'm an African American female. I first started as a chemical engineering major at UT Austin, absolutely hated it, and as a result did not do well! Finally, switched to psychology during my sophomore year after transferring university's in which I fell in love with the field of psychology. I'm minoring in Biology as well.

GPA: 3.2 overall
Psyc GPA: 3.4
^ I know these are kinda low to be really competitive, but those years as an engineering major greatly hurt my GPA, I'll be explaining this in my personal statement though. Should I apply to some MA programs to try and boost my graduate GPA?
Havent taken GRE's yet, I'm taking it in October.

Currently work in a cognitive research lab for a Professor at my school, started that in Fall '11. I'll be starting/running my own experiment this summer as well. No publications however.

I'm going to an interview tomorrow at a Hospital for an internship in their psychiatric ward (I'm quite nervous). Hopefully, this will help supplement my clinical experience, since I have none thus far!

Also, no letters of rec yet, although I plan on asking my adviser, the professor whose lab I work in (he wrote one for me already for the McNairs Scholar Program), and I'm not too sure who the last one will be quite yet.

I plan on applying to:

UT Southwestern (first choice)
University of Houston
University of Texas at Arlington (lowest on my list)
Howard University
University of North Carolina (go Tar Heels! I was born and raised in North Carolina)
UCLA
UNT

Any feedback would be wonderful. Thanks!

I'd say focus on getting very good GRE scores, to compensate for your somewhat lower GPA (like 1400-ish on the old scale, sorry I'm not familiar with the new one), and getting as much research experience as humanly possible. You need presentations and publications, not just experience in a lab. You really don't need the clinical experience so much, but you'll NEED solid research experience to be taken seriously, especially at top-tier programs like UCLA. Also, work on really cultivating those relationships with your soon-to-be letter writers. You want them to know a lot about your research interests and be able to speak, in depth, as to why you're amazing and will be an exceptional grad student. And of course, you should apply based on fit fit fit. Know yourself and what you want to study, get research experience (and hopefully pubs/presentations) in that area, and then find labs that match well with that. Good luck!

Hi All,

I am also in a somewhat unique position as I was not a psychology major as an undergraduate (graduated 2010 from a competitive college with a BS in Biological Sciences). I took a few psych classes to fulfill general ed requirements and did relatively well (As and Bs). I was a pre-med student (pressured into it by my parents) and have been working towards that since graduation without any luck. However, I have begun to realize that I'm simply unhappy with the track that I have been on. My interest in psychology has always been a huge part of my life, but simply put on the back burner because my parents were gunning for medical school which is whole other story. Anyway, I wanted to apply for PsyD programs, but dont really know what to do to be a competitive applicant. Here are my stats:

UGPA: 2.95 - my major was biological sciences which was one the hardest majors at my school
Masters gpa: 2.8 - did a masters in biomedical sciences to get into medical and hated every minute of it
3 years of research experience with excellent LORs - mostly neuroimaging/neuropsych research with developmentally disable kids so I've had experience doing behavioral testing as well imaging testing (MRI, EEG...etc)

I haven't taken the GRE, but plan to soon. Since my gpa is so low I was planning to take some psychology classes at a local college (kind of like a post-bacc) to show my competence in the sugbject as well as take the psych subject GRE. I know people have suggested going the masters route, which I dont mind doing if A) the masters could lead to a career as well and B) would help me get into PsyD programs. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what kind of masters I should be getting (MSW, MA, MS...etc) and in what subject (clincal counseling, clinical psychology...etc). Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

PS. Anyone know anything about the PhD program at stanford? Is it in conjunction with Palo Alto University or are they two separate things?

Originally Posted by sm4angel

Hi All,

I am also in a somewhat unique position as I was not a psychology major as an undergraduate (graduated 2010 from a competitive college with a BS in Biological Sciences). I took a few psych classes to fulfill general ed requirements and did relatively well (As and Bs). I was a pre-med student (pressured into it by my parents) and have been working towards that since graduation without any luck. However, I have begun to realize that I'm simply unhappy with the track that I have been on. My interest in psychology has always been a huge part of my life, but simply put on the back burner because my parents were gunning for medical school which is whole other story. Anyway, I wanted to apply for PsyD programs, but dont really know what to do to be a competitive applicant. Here are my stats:

UGPA: 2.95 - my major was biological sciences which was one the hardest majors at my school
Masters gpa: 2.8 - did a masters in biomedical sciences to get into medical and hated every minute of it
3 years of research experience with excellent LORs - mostly neuroimaging/neuropsych research with developmentally disable kids so I've had experience doing behavioral testing as well imaging testing (MRI, EEG...etc)

I haven't taken the GRE, but plan to soon. Since my gpa is so low I was planning to take some psychology classes at a local college (kind of like a post-bacc) to show my competence in the sugbject as well as take the psych subject GRE. I know people have suggested going the masters route, which I dont mind doing if A) the masters could lead to a career as well and B) would help me get into PsyD programs. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what kind of masters I should be getting (MSW, MA, MS...etc) and in what subject (clincal counseling, clinical psychology...etc). Any and all advice would be much appreciated.

PS. Anyone know anything about the PhD program at stanford? Is it in conjunction with Palo Alto University or are they two separate things?

What I understand is that you felt compelled to do medicine to please your parents and followed their advice for a very long time – long enough to complete a master’s degree. Yet, I do not see a concrete goal you want to achieve by obtaining a doctorate in psychology. It sounds like a big jump to me to have taken a few psychology classes to wanting to get a doctorate. What makes you so sure that this is the career you want to pursue?

Your undergrad and grad GPAs are concerning because they show a trend. Now, it could be that it’s just a reflection of being in the wrong field but programs aren’t going to like this because they’re going to wonder 1) does she really want to a doctorate in psychology?, 2) if so, why?, and 3) will she succeed?

I think the most important thing to do right now is to address your GPA, GRE scores, and work on getting research experience. Since you GPA is not up to par with other competitive applicants, I would suggest that you enroll in a master’s program to bring it up.

The thing is that there are general/experimental and applied master’s degrees (MSW, MA/MS counseling, etc.). The former is more research oriented and many students follow this course to bring up their GPA or get more research experience. In my opinion, I think this is a gamble because there are many students who take this option and still do not get into programs. But, these programs generally give you more exposure to research experience (which is what doctoral programs want). Granted, some people may get in after reapplying, but there is no guarantee that a program will take you after having completed an experimental master’s. Your best bet would be to go to a program that places many of their graduates in PhD/PsyD programs.

The latter is more for people who want to be clinicians, so such programs are more focused on applied work and are generally less research heavy. These types of degrees help you get a job after you’re done but it’s not necessarily the best option if you want to get a doctorate. Again, I say this because doctoral programs want research experience, PsyDs included (even though PsyDs may be less research intensive, you’re still getting a doctorate, which is by nature a research degree). So the applied programs may not give you that much research experience (generally speaking), but if things don’t work out and you don't get in anywhere, you’ll still have something practical to fall back on.

If you need help with the GREs, you can always enroll in a class with Kaplan or PR or just study for a long time and do well. I'd aim for 1400+ (on the old system) if I were you. I'd also suggest that you think about what exactly you want to research and aim towards getting research experience in that particular area of study. Work on presenting at conferences, get your name on a paper, and in general just become active in the lab.

This all goes back to your goals. If you want to become primarily a clinician and/or if you don’t like research, I don’t see any advantage to getting a PsyD/PhD. If you do the math, you’re looking at 1 – 2 years for taking classes or finishing up a master’s program then 5 – 6 years for a doctorate. Is it worth it? With a master’s, you can get out in 2 years and practice. But, if your goal is to do research, enter academia, etc. then the PhD would be the way to go.

Originally Posted by sm4angel

3 years of research experience with excellent LORs - mostly neuroimaging/neuropsych research with developmentally disable kids so I've had experience doing behavioral testing as well imaging testing (MRI, EEG...etc)

Originally Posted by Kappadocia

I think the most important thing to do right now is to address your GPA, GRE scores, and work on getting research experience...

The thing is that there are general/experimental and applied master’s degrees (MSW, MA/MS counseling, etc.). The former is more research oriented and many students follow this course to bring up their GPA or get more research experience. In my opinion, I think this is a gamble because there are many students who take this option and still do not get into programs. But, these programs generally give you more exposure to research experience (which is what doctoral programs want)...

...doctoral programs want research experience, PsyDs included (even though PsyDs may be less research intensive, you’re still getting a doctorate, which is by nature a research degree). So the applied programs may not give you that much research experience (generally speaking), but if things don’t work out and you don't get in anywhere, you’ll still have something practical to fall back on.

...I'd also suggest that you think about what exactly you want to research and aim towards getting research experience in that particular area of study. Work on presenting at conferences, get your name on a paper, and in general just become active in the lab.

This all goes back to your goals. If you want to become primarily a clinician and/or if you don’t like research, I don’t see any advantage to getting a PsyD/PhD.

Kapp, the OP said s/he has 3 years of research experience. Why the emphasis on getting research experience before applying?? That seems to be the least of the OP's concerns!

Thanks for the advice! I guess I should have explained why I want to go the psychology route instead of medicine. Although on paper it seems as though I've been much more medicine oriented, my personality and my goals have always been more aligned with psychology. In high school, I shadowed a psychologist and fell in love with the profession. Had I stood up for what I wanted, I most definitely would have majored in psychology in college and the psychology classes I did take were probably my favorite classes and the ones that I learned the most in (and got the best grades in). Also, ALL of my research has been neuropsych oriented, so I've definitely had the opportunity to work with PsyD/PhDs who do research as well as clinical work. I'm definitely not going into this blind or on a whim. At the end of the day, I would prefer to work clinically so maybe a masters would be more beneficial for me from what you're saying, but I've also been told that job opportunities are available to those who choose to pursue doctorate level esp PsyD.

In terms of my gpa, would a post-bacc not be a good route for me? Let me know your thoughts, and again thanks for all the input.

Originally Posted by Psychadelic2012

Kapp, the OP said s/he has 3 years of research experience. Why the emphasis on getting research experience before applying?? That seems to be the least of the OP's concerns!

I don’t think her research experience is the weakest part of her application, but I think it needs work. My recommendations were aimed towards helping her make the most out of her time so she can craft a solid application package to the committee. The thing that struck me while reading her post is that it seems that she lacks focus and direction. Because I’ve received consistent advice that an applicant’s career thus far needs to make sense and follow a particular theme, I believe that addressing the research would help her in that regard.

Unless she wants to do neuropsych or DD research, I don’t think that her research experience will be a significant boon for her overall application. Will it satisfy requirements? I think so. But I think she needs something more to compensate for her poor academic background, especially since didn’t mention having any presentations, publications, or otherwise. If that’s true (that there’s no tangible evidence of research potential after three years of experience and a master’s degree), I think that’s significant.

Anyway, all of these things will greatly help her application and I think will put her over the top if she does work in a field specific to what she wants to study in the future. In my opinion, it is not enough to have simply any type research experience anymore; committees want people who are focused and know what they want. I did not get that sense from reading her post. Why would they want to pick her over many other applicants who have spent years studying what they want to do, with the grades and research experience to back it up?

OP - My advice was only meant to guide you in the right direction. Good luck.

Originally Posted by sm4angel

Thanks for the advice! I guess I should have explained why I want to go the psychology route instead of medicine. Although on paper it seems as though I've been much more medicine oriented, my personality and my goals have always been more aligned with psychology. In high school, I shadowed a psychologist and fell in love with the profession. Had I stood up for what I wanted, I most definitely would have majored in psychology in college and the psychology classes I did take were probably my favorite classes and the ones that I learned the most in (and got the best grades in). Also, ALL of my research has been neuropsych oriented, so I've definitely had the opportunity to work with PsyD/PhDs who do research as well as clinical work. I'm definitely not going into this blind or on a whim. At the end of the day, I would prefer to work clinically so maybe a masters would be more beneficial for me from what you're saying, but I've also been told that job opportunities are available to those who choose to pursue doctorate level esp PsyD.

In terms of my gpa, would a post-bacc not be a good route for me? Let me know your thoughts, and again thanks for all the input.

Ah, I just saw your latest response after submitting my reply lol

Anyway, it’s good that you have a neuropsych background since some type of research experience will help you. I understand that your personality is more aligned with psychology – but the programs don’t know that. All they’ll have is a personal statement weighed against transcripts and a CV that’s geared toward medicine/natural sciences/maybe some psychology mixed in. They will think, “if she’s personally aligned with the social sciences, why the emphasis on medicine? And why such performance if she decided to study the natural sciences for a graduate degree?” I’m just trying to help you understand their perspective.

Personally, I don’t think the PsyD is the most economical use of your time and/or money based on what your goals are, especially since you said you really want to do clinical work. Unless you want to teach or something, I think the master’s would be the best route. Even if you want to teach, I have noticed that most the faculty at 4-year institutions are PhDs, not PsyDs (though there are exceptions).

I think that the flexibility that comes with the PhD/PsyD is based on research work, teaching experience, etc. Both degrees require research experience and interest. If you have a solid research background, you’ll be more attractive to universities if you want a faculty position. Even PsyDs who work at VAs, medical centers, etc. have a good research background. I’ve spoken to many psychologists, and I agree with their assessment, that the wave is moving more towards doctoral level psychologists taking part in the research/scholarly aspect of clinical psychology and MA level clinicians being responsible for disseminating treatment. (Of course, you’ll have doctoral level psychologists seeing clients, too.) This emphasis has always been there, but I think the distinction is getting stronger between the two.

There are a lot of postbacc programs for med, but there isn’t really such a thing in psychology except for theoretical/experimental master’s programs. If you ace (literally get a 4.0) your classes in such a program, it should help IMO.

Originally Posted by allaireted

Hi all,

So, I'm currently a senior undergraduate student at Georgia State University. I'm majoring in Psychology (BS) with minors in Sociology and Cognitive Science and am graduating this Summer. I've done research in three different labs all pertaining to PTSD/domestic abuse in low-income, pediatric populations.

I have secondary/primary authorship on several poster presentations with highly esteemed clinical faculty from Emory University and Georgia State, one of which I was primary author on was presented at an international conference in France. I have primary authorship on my honors thesis, which should be published this Summer in the international Journal of Arts & Sciences and am second author on an article to be presented in the Depression and Anxiety Journal.

I am graduating with roughly a 3.6, and I am also 19 years old (which is probably more of a hindrance than a bragging right, but it does mean that I still have some time to make up for any weaknesses in my stats). I am on very good terms with several professors/PI's that I've worked/coauthored with, so I'm not worried about LoR's. I'm taking this next year off to take the GRE and get all of my applications in order, so I am applying for Clinical PhD programs starting in Fall '13. I am moving from Atlanta, GA to Baton Rouge, LA this Fall and will be doing psychometrics with a PsyD as well as further research on PTSD (Specifically in populations of hurricane survivors). My research interests are fairly broad (pediatrics, PTSD, domestic abuse, domestic violence, minority populations, etc.), so I have a wide array of schools to pick from when applying.

Below is a summary of my stats:

STATS:
University: Georgia State University, BS
GPA: 3.6
Publications: 4 primary author, 3 secondary author (I'm expecting to publish a lot more during my year off)
Research Experience: 2.5 years 20 hours/week
GRE: I haven't taken it yet, but I tend to score well on standardized tests and am giving myself ample time to prepare for it.
Letters of Recommendation:
1.) PI I've coauthored with/worked with for years (He's an MD (Psychiatry) /PhD (Biochemistry) from Harvard and is part of Emory School of Medicine's Psychiatry faculty. He's one of two PI's for the largest civilian study of PTSD in the US)
2.) PI I've coauthored with/worked with for years (PhD in Clinical Psychology, Director of the VA for PTSD, Emory Clinical Psychology Faculty, He's the second PI for the largest civilian study of PTSD in the US)
3.) PI/Professor I've coauthored with/worked with for years (PhD in Community Psychology, She's highly esteemed in community psychology and is an expert in culturally relevant violence interventions, She is also the mentor for my honors thesis)
4.) PI/Professor I've worked with for years (PhD Clinical Psychology, He is the director of graduate studies at Georgia State and is an expert in pediatric clinical psychology)
5.) Professor who is my cognitive science mentor/professor I studied abroad with (PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Princeton)

Only thing I'm concerned with in regard to my LoR's is that most schools only allow students to turn in 3 or 4, and I'm not sure, which 3 or 4 out of the 5 I provided I should pick from. I've heard that it's important to have a professor who has actually taught you write an LoR (#5 is the only one who has done that), but I also know that it's crucial to highlight your research experience, and letters #1 - #4 all highlight different parts of my research experience.

Below are some of the schools I'm considering, in no particular order:

University of Southern California
Emory University
Louisiana State University
Georgetown
NYU (Counseling Psychology)
University of Miami
University of Maryland: College Park
University of Washington
University of Central Florida
Columbia
Georgia State University
UCLA

I feel like I have too many 'long shot' schools selected right now, so I want to try and find some more state universities with decent programs as quasi-safeties. I appreciate all your input, and please don't hesitate to ask if you want to know anything else. Additionally, I know that the GRE is a major factor in admissions, so I understand that it's difficult to forecast my acceptance offers without having taken the exam yet. Apologies for such a long post; I've just been going crazy lately trying to figure everything out - One of the graduate students I've been working with lately told me that her CV had over two pages full of publications she was on before she applied to grad school, so needless to say I've been convincing myself that I'm terribly behind everyone else applying for '13.

There will always be someone with better stats than you, so don't worry. Make sure you tell a coherent story in terms of your research interests and background and that you have a good match with your POIs, and you'll be fine.

Originally Posted by nessa34

There will always be someone with better stats than you, so don't worry. Make sure you tell a coherent story in terms of your research interests and background and that you have a good match with your POIs, and you'll be fine.

Agreed. I don't know whether or not I'm the norm (haven't looked much into the stats lately myself), but back when I applied, I was accepted without any publications. I can say with certainty, though, that having two pages' worth of co-authored posters and publications isn't the norm pre-admission. Based on your stats, and if you're able to have a strong showing on the GRE, I'd say you should be rather competitive at most of the programs you've listed.

As for rec letters, I personally have never heard that one should/must come from someone who's taught you; I think that's probably just the norm for most people, as they may not have three or four PIs available. Might vary from program to program as well. I say just include whichever of the three or four you feel will write the strongest letters, and be sure NOT to include more letters than asked for by the programs to which you apply.

Yeah I am not sure if it matters if you have a class professor write a letter. I actually would view that as a negative, meaning that the students couldn't come up with a better reference than that? I mean, you can see the grade from the course. I teach and I get students asking me to write letters for them. I usually do it, but I tell them to go with a better option if they can find one.

Letters from research or work supervisors are going to be a much better indicator. I was admitted years back with a letter from my research mentor and letters from two work/clinical supervisors (worked in paraclinical positions).

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to see if anyone knows the competitiveness of school/educational psychology programs. I have spent the last three 1/2 years as a high school special education teacher specializing in students with ED & LD in the transition age group.

Stats:

Undergrad GPA: 3.85 - Double Major in Elementary / Early Childhood Education with a minor in Special Education

Masters GPA: 4.0 - Educational Specialist - in Emotional Disorders, Learning Disabilities, & Developmental Cognitive Disorder

GRE - I am taking it in June.

Letters of Recommendation - 1 - Special Education Dean 2 - Supervisor 3 - Academic adviser 4 - Superintendent 4 - Principal 5 - Professor / colleague

Publications - ZERO

Research - Thesis for my Masters

Awards/Honors - Magna Cum Laude, Dean's List, Atheletic Academic Honor Roll, Gamma Sigma Alpha (honor society), Order or Omega (leadership society), and Delta Kappa Gamma (teacher excellence society)

I would like to focus on suicide, depression, and emotional disorders in the teenage population. I had one of my students a year ago commit suicide, and it validated my decision to get my PhD.

The schools I am considering are:

University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin
Duquesne
University of Denver
University of North Carolina
University of Texas
Harvard
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Northwestern University
University of Kansas

Any ideas or tips for me on how to stand out?

This was a post from last month, but I didn't get any feedback. Thanks in advance!



Hi Folks!

After going through a good amount of posts, I'm ready to take the plunge and ask WAMC!

Here is my story:
UGPA: 3.4
PsychGPA: 3.5
Major: Psychology w/ Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience (from GWU)

Decided to join Teach for America (personal reasons, I came from a low-income background and wanted to give back to a similar community). Had to get my MAT (Masters in Art of Teaching) from American University. GPA: 3.85.

PsychGRE practice tests are around a 700 (taken last month), haven't taken the general test (plan to do that this summer)

Worked in the ER as a research assistant doing HIV swab tests, animal behavior research at the National Zoo.

Currently I am a research assistant at an autism surveillance study funded by the CDC, I've been there for two years, with experience in almost every step of the research process. Through this, I have 5 posters (at 2 national, at 2 international conferences), and oral presentation at an international conference and 1 first author paper which will hopefully be published. Pretty solid LORs from this.

Frankly, I'm overwhelmed with the application process, but I would like to apply to Clinical PhD programs and would probably apply to PsyD programs as well. Could anyone point out some good reaches/possibilities? There are about 50 schools on my list and I'm curious to see what people would say) I could see myself working with general developmental disabilities, not necessarily autism. I'd want some the program to be partially funded and I REALLY want/need to stay in the Northeast for family reasons.

So, WAMC?

Please help, I'm freaking out thinking I have NO chance and I've worked SO hard. I feel double majoring screwed up my GPA. I really want to get into a Psy.D. program with a specialization in forensic psychology.

My majors: psychology, and interdisciplinary methods for elementary education certification (as a sophomore I thought maybe I wanted to do the Masters in Teaching program, but wanted to major in psychology too, to keep all my options open. I've known since this past year psychology is what I want to do though, no matter what). Forensic psychology that is.
Minors: Criminal justice and natural science.

I'm a junior, after this semester I'll probably have around a a 3.3 accumulative grade point. The semester after that probably a 3.38 and my last semester it will probably jump up to a 3.45 and will probably graduate with that. My grades have continued to go up every year.

I am studying for the GRE all this summer.

My clinical experience : I work as Court Appointed Special Advocate. I investigate cases for children whom have been declared in imminent danger by the police department for being abusing or neglected (or a lot of times, both). I have to use my critical thinking skills I gained through my educational background to figure out a case and figure out my next lead. I have read many mental health evaluations (which I ask the judge for a court order for). I have learned how to communicate with a diverse group of people, and people who come from a low socioeconomic background. They way I can read the mental health assessments is because of my psychology background. Working with the children I am advocating for, who are victims of abuse, my psychology background has really helped me also. It's all about building rapport with my children so they trust me and confide in me. I also know fairly well what goes on inside a courtroom (especially for family court), which should help if I want to become a forensic psychologist.

-Does teaching for about 80 hours count? I've taught 5th grade and kindergarten.

Research experience :
I took RDA - so has everyone else, lol.
This summer, I will be working with my professor on a new project. It's really good and will tie into everything I did with my clinical experience. I will be the research project leader all next year, and hopefully we will go to conference, and by a long shot, get something published (doubt that). Point is I'll have research experience from this summer and next year.

I really wanted to apply this fall, where my grades will only be a 3.3 and my research experience will only be about half done. However, won't they see the potential I have?
I want to apply to
Florida Institute of Technology
University of Denver
Pacific in Oregon
And Nova... if I have to (I've heard bad things about that program)

With a 3.3 and my background experience should I just try to apply this fall? Assuming I do OK on the GRE?

Or should I wait till I graduate with about a 3.45 and apply after I graduate? And even with a 3.45 do I have a chance to get into these Psy.D. programs? I really like them because I can specialize in forensic psychology (which is my dream)!

Any help would be SOOOO appreciated.

Hope there are no typos, have to run to a final .

Originally Posted by StephNeves

This was a post from last month, but I didn't get any feedback. Thanks in advance!



Hi Folks!

After going through a good amount of posts, I'm ready to take the plunge and ask WAMC!

Here is my story:
UGPA: 3.4
PsychGPA: 3.5
Major: Psychology w/ Concentration in Cognitive Neuroscience (from GWU)

Decided to join Teach for America (personal reasons, I came from a low-income background and wanted to give back to a similar community). Had to get my MAT (Masters in Art of Teaching) from American University. GPA: 3.85.

PsychGRE practice tests are around a 700 (taken last month), haven't taken the general test (plan to do that this summer)

Worked in the ER as a research assistant doing HIV swab tests, animal behavior research at the National Zoo.

Currently I am a research assistant at an autism surveillance study funded by the CDC, I've been there for two years, with experience in almost every step of the research process. Through this, I have 5 posters (at 2 national, at 2 international conferences), and oral presentation at an international conference and 1 first author paper which will hopefully be published. Pretty solid LORs from this.

Frankly, I'm overwhelmed with the application process, but I would like to apply to Clinical PhD programs and would probably apply to PsyD programs as well. Could anyone point out some good reaches/possibilities? There are about 50 schools on my list and I'm curious to see what people would say) I could see myself working with general developmental disabilities, not necessarily autism. I'd want some the program to be partially funded and I REALLY want/need to stay in the Northeast for family reasons.

So, WAMC?

If you get high general GRE scores I think you have a good shot at a spot, especially if you apply to labs that do autism research. Unfortunately I have no idea about that research area but I'd apply to every lab in the Northeast that has an autism focus. Programs view fit as important and you don't have to commit to working in autism research for the rest of your career but it's the area you have experience in now so I'd use that strength to get into a program.

In their minds you do have to compensate for that UG GPA so I think a high GRE score is crucial.

Originally Posted by leah1991

Please help, I'm freaking out thinking I have NO chance and I've worked SO hard. I feel double majoring screwed up my GPA. I really want to get into a Psy.D. program with a specialization in forensic psychology.

When I looked at Psy.D. programs 3 years ago a 3.4 wasn't prohibitive. Just look at the programs and their average GPA for entering class and base your judgement on that.

Also a forensic psych specialization or track is more of a marketing tactic than a substantive advantage. You should be looking at any program where you can get good neuropsychology practicum experience.

Originally Posted by roubs

When I looked at Psy.D. programs 3 years ago a 3.4 wasn't prohibitive. Just look at the programs and their average GPA for entering class and base your judgement on that.

Also a forensic psych specialization or track is more of a marketing tactic than a substantive advantage. You should be looking at any program where you can get good neuropsychology practicum experience.

Thank you! I'll look into that.
I know, the problem is, the average of people entering in have a 3.5 :/

is a 3.4 unreasonable ? Or close enough maybe to a 3.5 if they only require a 3.0 or 3.3, but the average is a 3.5?

Originally Posted by leah1991

Thank you! I'll look into that.
I know, the problem is, the average of people entering in have a 3.5 :/

is a 3.4 unreasonable ? Or close enough maybe to a 3.5 if they only require a 3.0 or 3.3, but the average is a 3.5?

I'm truly not trying to be condescending but you know that having an 3.5 average for admitted students means they admit a lot of people in the 3.4 area. If you do well on the GRE that should help you a lot considering your GPA is only slightly below the avg.

Yes, it just sucks knowing I could have had a 3.6 without all my education classes. I'd rather be above average, way better chance of getting in. But, I guess I have an okay chance.


Would you suggest applying in the fall for 2013 with a gpa of only 3.3 ? Or wait until I finish undergrad when my research experience will be done with and my GPA is 3.4 something? OR should I apply to all 3 schools both times?


Also, do you think my clinical experience working as a court appointed special advocate will help me at all with being admitted?

Originally Posted by leah1991

Yes, it just sucks knowing I could have had a 3.6 without all my education classes. I'd rather be above average, way better chance of getting in. But, I guess I have an okay chance.


Would you suggest applying in the fall for 2013 with a gpa of only 3.3 ? Or wait until I finish undergrad when my research experience will be done with and my GPA is 3.4 something? OR should I apply to all 3 schools both times?


Also, do you think my clinical experience working as a court appointed special advocate will help me at all with being admitted?

Clinical experience is an asset and will strengthen your app, another thing that will strengthen your app is waiting a year and having more experience, better stats, more $ in the bank. Is it possible to get in now? Yes, but you'll have a better shot and can aim for a higher program by waiting a cycle which is what I'd recommend. Also apply to 12 schools instead of 3 :/

Originally Posted by roubs

Clinical experience is an asset and will strengthen your app, another thing that will strengthen your app is waiting a year and having more experience, better stats, more $ in the bank. Is it possible to get in now? Yes, but you'll have a better shot and can aim for a higher program by waiting a cycle which is what I'd recommend. Also apply to 12 schools instead of 3 :/

There aren't that many Psy.D. programs that I am interested in, and I definitely don't want to get a Ph.D.

I'm pretty sure those are the schools I want to get into because of the focuses they offer. I also don't think I have high enough scores GPA wise, and probably GRE wise (when I take it), to get into better Psy.D. programs, but okay, that's a good point. It can never hurt to apply to more.

I'll probably apply just to three this fall, and then if I don't get accepted, apply to a lot more after.

Thank you so much for your help!

Originally Posted by leah1991

There aren't that many Psy.D. programs that I am interested in, and I definitely don't want to get a Ph.D.

I'm pretty sure those are the schools I want to get into because of the focuses they offer. I also don't think I have high enough scores GPA wise, and probably GRE wise (when I take it), to get into better Psy.D. programs, but okay, that's a good point. It can never hurt to apply to more.

I'll probably apply just to three this fall, and then if I don't get accepted, apply to a lot more after.

Thank you so much for your help!

Sure but I just want to stress again that most people who go into forensic psych did NOT attend a Psy.D. program with a track. That track is meant to attract students like you so you might overlook a program's less flattering APA match rate or class size of 60-100, not give you some special edge over other students at other programs. It's unlikely to give you any kind of edge.