Back Up Plans

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spillsomepaint

spillsomepaint

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So, during my daily 'what if I don't get into grad school freak out', I was wondering what everyone else has planned or if at this point they have no idea.

Personally I have a lot up in the air. If I get in, then I will be studying in Spain for my last language requirement for undergrad. If I don't get in, I will probably delay the trip to Spain, because I've applied to some summer research programs to help me out in the next go around if need be. As for what I will do next year, I was wondering if it would help my application out to double major? I will be earning my BS in Psych this year, and I was thinking about staying enrolled and getting my BA in Women's Studies- Health and Sciences.(My primary research interests are women's health, feminist theory etc.) Then I can find a new research team too. (The one I am currently on won't be offered for credit next year) Does this seem worthwhile? Or should I just find a job?

anyway, what are your plans?
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spillsomepaint said:
So, during my daily 'what if I don't get into grad school freak out', I was wondering what everyone else has planned or if at this point they have no idea.

Personally I have a lot up in the air. If I get in, then I will be studying in Spain for my last language requirement for undergrad. If I don't get in, I will probably delay the trip to Spain, because I've applied to some summer research programs to help me out in the next go around if need be. As for what I will do next year, I was wondering if it would help my application out to double major? I will be earning my BS in Psych this year, and I was thinking about staying enrolled and getting my BA in Women's Studies- Health and Sciences.(My primary research interests are women's health, feminist theory etc.) Then I can find a new research team too. (The one I am currently on won't be offered for credit next year) Does this seem worthwhile? Or should I just find a job?

anyway, what are your plans?
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First of all, studying in Spain is fantastic. I was a Psychology/Spanish double major for undergrad, and I spent a semester in Valencia (a life changing experience!). Anyway, if the second major compliments your research interests (which it sounds like it does), I would go for it AND the chance for extra research.
 
get a new RA join more in line with the research i'd like to do in grad school, maybe also do some more volunteering in areas that better match, re-take stats (i got a B, and i took it like 8 years ago, so my knowledge isn't very sophisticated and really only limited to the rather basic stats we use in our current work), keep on volunteering with my current lab, maybe even volunteer, if possible with one of the labs i'm applying to. otherwise, i don't know what else to do - i really want to do research as well as practice, so ma/ms/msw won't do what the phd would, i did well in undergrad, in my psych classes, and on the psych GRE, well enough that doing a masters would be overkill. i have one non-prof letter, but i worked in a clinical setting, so i think that's fine. i have one prof LOR that i'm sure is good, but i wasn't nearly as close or as involved with him as i was at work or in my current lab, so maybe the new job/vol/lab goals can get me an even more solid letter there.

spillsomepaint, studying abroad sounds great. extra research i am sure would help, especially if it's in line with what you may want to do. try to go to conferences and present posters and such (network). you're an undergrad, right? more life experience can't hurt.

nervous!:eek:
 
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Continue at my RA position until they get a postdoc who will replace me. :mad: Do research with this professor up until that time and volunteer and do more afterwards. Maybe take some more classes to try and boost my GPA and CV. Decide if a 700 psych GRE is high enough or if I need to take it again. Same thing with regular GRE scores - does my 780 verbal balance out my 610 Quant? Save money for next year's application process and to support myself for when I am in grad school.
 
kestrelcry said:
Decide if a 700 psych GRE is high enough or if I need to take it again.
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Yes. Yes it is.

Seriously, that puts you probably around the 85th percentile?

It isn't weighted heavily enough to be a major decision factor, and 700 is well over the cutoff for pretty much anywhere. Unless you only plan on applying to Penn, I wouldn't bother. Spend the time you would have spent studying putting together a poster for some major conference (ABCT, APA, whatever), and that will make a MUCH bigger difference in your app than raising your psych GREs.
 
Ollie123 said:
Yes. Yes it is.

Seriously, that puts you probably around the 85th percentile?

It isn't weighted heavily enough to be a major decision factor, and 700 is well over the cutoff for pretty much anywhere. Unless you only plan on applying to Penn, I wouldn't bother. Spend the time you would have spent studying putting together a poster for some major conference (ABCT, APA, whatever), and that will make a MUCH bigger difference in your app than raising your psych GREs.
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It's just that whole not majoring in psych in undergrad thing that's making me antsy about the scores, plus a not-stellar undergrad GPA. Overcompensate! Overcompensate! But yeah, I'm really hoping to do some postering and publishing. Oodles of it. Now, if I can just get my prof to approve my research ideas. . .
 
work as an RN making lots of money so I can apply to more programs the following year. Also keep doing research, go to conferences and such. Network more.
 
i've been thinking to do an MSW/master's in occupational therapy/train to be a doula.

either one of those or marry into money :D
 
Um...I have no idea. Working on my master's right now so if I don't get in this round (2nd time arounder here), I'll continue working where I'm working (clinical experience) and hopefully increase research experience as well. Retake the psych GRE. *maybe* retake general GRE (happy with overall score but it's unbalanced). Ugh...I don't want to think about not getting in....again :(
 
Apply to work as a Psych tech at an inpatient program OR as an RA, and take grad. classes.

Would you recommend working as a psych tech or an RA? I have an honors thesis, a summer research internship, and I worked as an undergrad RA for a semester before that. In terms of clinical work, I have 3 years of reslife experience, mediation certification, and I'm a certified domestic violence counselor.
 
A year long research program, a master's degree, or a second undergraduate degree in biology--because i've lost my mind...
 
Move back to NYC (which barring my acceptance at two schools in NJ or one in CT, I'll be doing anyway), try to get another job as an RA. I'll either continue in vision research, or maybe see if I can get a job working for the Guttmacher Institute.

My other idea (to run concurrent with a job) is to see if a prof will "adopt" me. A lot of the research I'd like to do doesn't require much in the way of money, so I could self fund it (surveys are amazingly cheap, especially web-fielded ones!) I'd just need someone willing to advise me, oversee my work, and shepherd me through the journal article submission process. For their trouble, they'd get more pub/poster credits, and probably some press coverage. This'll probably be a lot easier if some college/community college will take me on as an adjunct (I have a MA in Psych already).

My wife starts working at her law firm this October, so money won't be that big an issue. I'm 30... I'd say if I fall flat this year, I still have two more bites at the apple before I'm willing to throw in the towel.
 
Does anyone know a good site to find out about available RA positions? Thanks!
 
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kr862313 said:
Does anyone know a good site to find out about available RA positions? Thanks!
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Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals typically have a couple, but I don't know if they have any in clinical. I've worked at two different ones, one for vision research, one for vision/diabetes/ telemedicine work. Search for titles like "Health Science Specialist"... that sometimes does the trick.
 
immortalavalamp said:
Apply to work as a Psych tech at an inpatient program OR as an RA, and take grad. classes.

Would you recommend working as a psych tech or an RA? I have an honors thesis, a summer research internship, and I worked as an undergrad RA for a semester before that. In terms of clinical work, I have 3 years of reslife experience, mediation certification, and I'm a certified domestic violence counselor.
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By psych tech, do you mean on the clinical side of things? I ask, because some places also use this title in research.

Depends on your goal. If you want to go to one of the clinically-oriented schools and then open a private practice - I think either would be helpful.

If you want to go to a research university and then get a faculty job...its not even a question - go for the RA. Don't look back, RA 100%, no doubt whatsoever.

You have a decent balance of both right now, but all schools favor research experience, whereas research universities will not weigh additional clinical work very strongly (though obviously having SOME is very helpful). I'd also caution you against trying to portray being a resident advisor as "clinical experience". If you dealt with a suicide crisis in the dorms, you could describe that in your personal statement, but if you are just listing "Resident Advisor" under clinical experience - it isn't clinical experience, and that will definitely look like you're just padding your CV.

As for getting RA jobs - you can ask around your department if you're at a research university. As new folks get grants, they often look to hire people on part of full-time, and if you were a volunteer RA for their friend, they're more likely to hire you. This is assuming you have a decent bit of research experience - if you don't, it can be very very hard to get RA jobs.

Other than that, check out major hospitals - MGH/Mclean, UPMC/Western Psych, places like that.
 
kestrelcry said:
Continue at my RA position until they get a postdoc who will replace me. :mad: Do research with this professor up until that time and volunteer and do more afterwards. Maybe take some more classes to try and boost my GPA and CV. Decide if a 700 psych GRE is high enough or if I need to take it again. Same thing with regular GRE scores - does my 780 verbal balance out my 610 Quant? Save money for next year's application process and to support myself for when I am in grad school.
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Your stats sound awesome. Stop worrying. You WILL get in. Someone will want you. Majoring in Psych isn't necessary to get into a good program. Research experience is more important. Being an RA is important. And GPA, as long as it's above 3.5, shouldn't be too much of an issue ...
 
Thrak said:
Move back to NYC (which barring my acceptance at two schools in NJ or one in CT, I'll be doing anyway), try to get another job as an RA. I'll either continue in vision research, or maybe see if I can get a job working for the Guttmacher Institute.
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I was actually offered an RA position at the Guttmacher Institute when I finished my BS (back in 1995). I sort of wish I had taken it now ... It would have been great experience and I probably would have had a doctorate by now. It seemed like a great place to work, even if the pay was ridiculous.
 
Ollie123 said:
By psych tech, do you mean on the clinical side of things? I ask, because some places also use this title in research.

Depends on your goal. If you want to go to one of the clinically-oriented schools and then open a private practice - I think either would be helpful.
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Thanks, Ollie! By Psych tech, I mean in an inpatient mental health hospital. One in my hometown has a TON of openings, and only a BA is required.

I want to eventually work in the public sector, providing mental health care for underserved populations (if you want to know anything more specific, you can PM me--it's a little lengthy to go into here). I also want to stay involved in research, though. Ideally, I'd be splitting my time between research and clients.

I'm applying to programs that have a dual focus, as opposed to the more research-oriented ones. I currently have my ResLife experience under "Community Service Experience," not clinical experience. I do mention (briefly) in my CV how it has influenced me and contributed to my decision to pursue a doctoral degree, though.

I'm at a small, liberal arts college right now. I think an RA position would definitely help me get in to grad school next year, but I'm also concerned about finding one in the near future (over the summer/next year). I'm going to try to publish my honors thesis ASAP, so we'll see whether or not that pans out. I only have one poster to my name so far, and it was only presented at my college's annual research symposium. I really appreciate your reply and advice! It's hard to figure out which way to go, since I eventually want to be involved in research and practice.
 
Are you planning to apply to balanced PhD programs then? U Vermont, U Montana, U Florida, those kind of places?

In that situation I would definitely go for the RA job if you can get one - I think it will make a much bigger difference in your app. Talk to your professors - if they keep a hand in research they might have collaborators they could put you in touch with at some of the big labs either in your area, or around the country.
 
kr862313 said:
Does anyone know a good site to find out about available RA positions? Thanks!
Click to expand...

When I was looking for an RA or Research Coordinator job I went to the websites of all the major hospitals in my area (I'm in NYC, so there were a lot) and also any major universities and looked at their job postings. There are also free standing places (in NYC a great place to work after undergrad is the NY State Psychiatric Institute -- although it is actually affiliated with Columbia University) that you can research and see if they have job openings on their site.

As for me, I might join my friend teaching Autistic children at a private school if I don't get in and take my research interests in a whole different direction.
 
Ollie123 said:
Are you planning to apply to balanced PhD programs then? U Vermont, U Montana, U Florida, those kind of places?
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Yes--MSU, Central Mich, Case Western, KU, etc. I'm looking for places that also have an eclectic clinical orientation.

Thanks so much for the advice!!
 
Are we still talking about backup plans? I didn't feel like reading all of the posts and this may have evolved into another discussion. If we are, my backup plan in a masters in mental health counseling. It is much less competitive area and if fail at getting into a masters in counseling psychology or clinical i will go that route and assess my options after. I have talked to advisors at grad schools and they have said that a masters in mental health counseling is a decent springboard to getting into a PsyD program in counseling psychology or clinical. If i ended up with a masters in MHC and couldn't get into a doctoral program or was no longer interested then i would still be doing what I ultimately want to do. I would definitely want to be a doctor of psychology, however, i wouldn't freak out if i ended up as a mental health counselor instead.
 
I'm hoping not to need a backup plan this go-round :) But the professors I work for have already said I could keep my RA position next year if I wanted to.

Last time I applied (two years ago), I ended up turning down my one acceptance. I then did an internship in Berlin, which I knew I'd never be able to do as a grad student or afterwards (since it ran from March-July and had an age cutoff of 30). That summer in Berlin, I e-mailed all my favorite advisor choices, stating my credentials and asking if they needed any help. I had my undergrad research supervisor lined up as a reference. Lo and behold, one of my top choices said they could use a person like me! After checking with my reference and holding a few international conference calls, I got the job. These professors don't advertise job openings anywhere, so I never could have gotten to work here otherwise. So it pays to put yourself out there!
 
If all else fails, folks, we can start a group llama farm. :)

Kidding.
 
*sigh* Speaking about back-up plans makes me sad. Haha. I'm not yet positive what I will do, but I think I have a pretty good idea. My research interests are with autism and I have been the lead teacher for an autistic classroom at an ABA school for almost two years now. The pay is more than I would get as an RA and I definitely have plenty of opportunity to do my own research on the side as I have been doing recently. I am pretty sure I will remain at my current job and enroll in a master's program in ABA offered through my work. The downsides are: I wouldn't be able to apply to a doctorate program again until 2011 to begin in 2012 [the master's program takes 3 years because you have to work full-time in order to get to do it for free.. and then sign a 1 year contract]... and by then my Subject GRE scores will no longer be valid. Plus, I worry that I would lose motivation to bother applying to doctoral programs again. After all, what would be the point in putting all that time/effort into getting a master's and then not even using it? I don't want my back-up plan to seriously JUST BE something to hold me over...
 
layleh said:
If all else fails, folks, we can start a group llama farm. :)
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A group therapy llama farm.

And that can be either way... people in group therapy raising llamas as part of the treatment, or therapy for llamas with emotional issues.

What? Seriously! When llamas get annoyed they spit! That's certainly not acceptable. Damned oppositional-defiant llamas...:mad:
 
Does anyone know of any programs similar to the National Institute of Mental Health's Post-bac program? It seems really competitive but a great way to spend the year before re-applying. It's a year of mentored research at NIMH with a 24,000 fellowship. Anyone know of anything similar?
 
I'm not applying until this fall, but my back-up plan is to try to get a paid RA job for a year or two.
 
Bumping this up for this year's applicants....

Mine are:
1) To continue my RA position part time while hopefully scrapping together some additional income elsewhere and continuing to do clinical volunteering.
2) I go back and forth on this, but I may apply to funded MA programs as well.

And you?
 
I will either stay at my current RA job or look for another one at the Depression Center in order to do research closer to my area of interest. It would depend on where I'd get more opportunities to go to conferences and publish etc. I'd also retake the GRE (currently have a 570v, 770q).

I really hope that it doesn't come to this. I really do not want to go through this process again. I've been working on applying since March. Argh.
 
Stay at my current job and try to avoid strangling my boss's boss who is power-hungry, manipulative, micromanaging, and incompetent (why yes, this might have something to do with the timing of my applications...).
 
PrisonPsych said:
Stay at my current job and try to avoid strangling my boss's boss who is power-hungry, manipulative, micromanaging, and incompetent (why yes, this might have something to do with the timing of my applications...).
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Come on now, tell us how you really feel. ;)
 
I'm glad you made me think about my back up plan, because now that I do I guess the prospect of not getting in doesn't seem as bad. I think I would become a middle school guidance counselor. I would always miss research and intellectual rigor, but it would be fulfilling nevertheless.
 
PhDClinical said:
I'm glad you made me think about my back up plan, because now that I do I guess the prospect of not getting in doesn't seem as bad. I think I would become a middle school guidance counselor. I would always miss research and intellectual rigor, but it would be fulfilling nevertheless.
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I've thought of that as well, as I've really enjoyed my counseling experience to date. It would involve a master's or msw, correct?
 
Those of you who have said you'd opt for another degree (an MSW or whatever it may be)... would this be in place of or in preparation for a clinical PhD? Has anyone applied in the past already?
 
This is my first time applying.

Unfortunately, I think the MSW would be in place of the PhD. In addition to my educational goals, I have other goals that would have to be put on hold for far too long if I were to apply year after year for a PhD program that would then take years on its own. I have been in an RA position since graduating in May 2008, so if I get in this year, I won't finish until I am 30, which of course is still young, but then you have post-doc, etc.

Which is why I am determined to get in this year and am applying to 18 schools!

In the end, though, I can see myself applying again next year before I give up on this dream...

Indecisive much?
 
I'm kind of in backup planning mode now as well. I know I want a mental health career. I originally ruled out psychiatry, too old, thanks PhDClinical for making me feel even older:D, and too many kids (which I wouldn't trade for the world). So, that left me with psych NP, or so I thought.

I've been doing the prereqs for that and I really love A&P, especially the nervous and endocrine, duh. But I have doubts about 2 years of nursing school, between my kids, and clinicals and um, that nursing stuff, which I know I can handle for a few years, but I know that's not where my heart would ever lie forever - it would be straight for a Masters.

Now, I'm looking at other options just to make sure. With a family it makes it harder to plan because you feel that pressure to earn a decent living as quickly as possible. I've been a long term volunteer in a state mental hospital and will continue to do so as I love this experience.
 
Needing a back-up is becoming so much more real now as the time gets closer. I am really not sure if my GREs are going to cut it this year. I just interviewed for a full-time RA position and am waiting to hear back. I will be looking for more RA positions to apply to in November as well. Other than that, probably an MA program or a PhD in developmental/school psychology. So much to think about...
 
I don't have a back-up plan. I'm going to wait and see if I get accepted at any PhD programs before I start planning. My mind is all-or-nothing. If I start planning back-ups, I'm not going to stop and that will just be too much for me to do!
 
ugh... not getting in this year is something I am dreading. I really do not want to take another year off.

I have several options.

Apply to my graduate department and do a general M.Sc in psych.

If CIHR goes through without placement, then I'll have more opportunity for the M.Sc. I can still do the project... i will have to find somewhere to do a master's and do the project.

Considering applying to other programs... maybe even M.B.A. or med school.
 
deadmau5 said:
Considering applying to other programs... maybe even M.B.A. or med school.
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Do yourself a favor, and if you look at MBA programs, don't look much outside of the Top 25, and really try for the Top 10, as much lower and the value of the degree (for getting a solid job and/or networking) really drops.

I formerly was in the consulting/biz world, and people who didn't go to a Tier I program were basically relegated to lower-end jobs and had to prove their training, while people from Top 10 (or so) programs were sought out and hired. The business world is 100x worse when it comes to "where did you go", particularly for b-school. You also build connections to other up and coming names while in b-school, and anywhere outside of the Top 25, and the caliber of the student drops. There may be a bit more flexibility in smaller cities, but there are enough b-school graduates that any decent market can still pick and choose from top programs.

*edit* I took out my spiel about niche programs, because it was even more OT. Feel free to PM me if you have questions.
 
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This thread seems worth pulling up this time of year, while waiting to hear about school interview invites. ~Not that there is any reason to give up hope yet-- because there's not-- but it's nice to have somewhere in mind to land if necessary.

It sounds like most people are thinking about the clinical services path (MSW's, etc), but I'm wondering if anyone else has other ideas, particularly "researchy" ones...

I'm a third timer and a 4th go-round isn't too appealing.

My thoughts:
Research project management (after a master's)
Pharmaceutical clinical research coordination/management path
Teaching?


Ideas?
 
If I didn't get in the first time...I'd apply again...and again :p

But in the meantime I'd get another job in academic psych reseach as an RA as it pays decently, and probably do some sort of Master of Neuroscience part-time, to consolidate the science part of my psych knowledge.
 
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