Work Experience or Prac Experience, which should I go for?

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I am having a little bit of a personal debate, so I decided that I would put it out to the SDN universe and see what some of you wiser, more experienced peeps think. I went through the match process last year and didn't match, so I elected to wait and go through the match process again this upcoming cycle instead of seeking out an outside internship. In the meantime, I have completed all my coursework and I am in the middle of data collection, which should hopefully be done by August.

I am currently working a part-time paid job outside the field. I am seeking employment in the field, but haven't found anything yet. So I'm kind of in a stuck position. I can seek full-time employment in the field, but that would likely block any more opportunity to gain practicum hours that could be reported on the AAPI. OR I can keep working in my non-psych job, which is really flexible and will allow for me to take on some additional practicum come fall (particularly, a university counseling experience which may boost my apps to counseling center internships).

Which do you guys think would reflect better on my next round of internship application? If I move toward a job in the field, should I focus on certain kinds (for example, would an ABA home-therapist be better than a non-psych job, or focus on strictly clinical jobs)?

Any advice is appreciated.

Although sites do look at clinical jobs as well, as I'm sure extra money would be nice, given the financial burden of not matching, I'm inclined to tell you go to the practicum route. That way you can actually count your hours on the APPI, and obtain additional supervision. Additionally, a reference letter from a practicum supervisor would probably look better than from an employer, I would guess.

That route also seems like it would allow you to focus more on your dissertation over the summer, which would be an added bonus, and would probably make you a stronger applicant.

Good luck!!

You may want to try and find a practicum placement that also has an APA accredited internship, if possible. Connections seem to mean a lot these days (I guess they always have?). Even though the money from a job would be nice, strengthening your application is a priority since the application cycle begins soon again in the fall.

And I agree, finish your dissertation. I know that my connections, plus completion of my dissertation, helped me to get interviews and to ultimately match.

Best of luck with the next year and next round of applications.

Posters, thanks for the good wishes. I'm going to bump this up just to see if anyone else has some advice? I am starting to lean the way of forgoing paid work for unpaid prac, but still open to other opinions (or further confirmations).

Originally Posted by eudaimonPsyD

Posters, thanks for the good wishes. I'm going to bump this up just to see if anyone else has some advice? I am starting to lean the way of forgoing paid work for unpaid prac, but still open to other opinions (or further confirmations).

I'm not more experienced than you but if I find myself in your shoes I would choose practicum unless the job was extremely practicum-like (but you get paid).

I would absolutely choose practicum over doing ABA therapy or a non-psych job.

Originally Posted by eudaimonPsyD

Posters, thanks for the good wishes. I'm going to bump this up just to see if anyone else has some advice? I am starting to lean the way of forgoing paid work for unpaid prac, but still open to other opinions (or further confirmations).

Good luck. I hope you find a good situation and the match goes better next year.

By the way, if I recall correctly you attend the program I'm most interested in attending. If you wouldn't mind saying, were there a lot of other folks who had trouble securing APA internships?

Originally Posted by roubs

I'm not more experienced than you but if I find myself in your shoes I would choose practicum unless the job was extremely practicum-like (but you get paid).

I would absolutely choose practicum over doing ABA therapy or a non-psych job.

I agree; I'd be leaning heavily towards the practicum experience as well.