Hello,
I plan on applying to Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology with the hopes of starting Fall 2017, and I’d like some advice on my list of schools. In a perfect world, I would apply to 10-15 different programs. University-based Psy.D. programs are not out of the question, but funding is important to me.
Broadly speaking, my interests include trauma psychology, veterans of OIF/OEF (I spent six years in the military and served in OEF), how adversity in early childhood shapes adult behaviors, and anxiety disorders in general. I have related interests in public health policy, including health promotion and providing mental health services in geographically and socially isolated rural areas.
This is my current list of schools. I wanted to know if anyone has input on these programs. Also, are there other programs I should consider? I’d like to add a few more to the list.
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
University of Oregon
Northern Illinois University
Saint Louis University
University of Utah
Boston University
University of Pennsylvania
Case Western
Here’s the long version of my story.
Grew up in rural West Virginia, then packed up and went to college. Graduated in 2005 with a double major (lit and writing) from a top 50 liberal arts college. 3.85 GPA, but no direction. Figured I’d be an artist, but realized I liked to eat and pay rent. Worked at a shipyard for a few years, then joined the military. Excelled in the military, got some direction, and voluntarily separated after six years of service so I could go back to school.
While on active duty, I took the following classes online: intro to psych I and II, developmental psych, social psych, abnormal psych, child growth and development, basic human biology, biology of nutrition, and intro to stats. Got an A in all of them.
Now that I’m back at a brick and mortar, my coursework will include quantitative methods, research methods, a clinical practicum, and advanced statistics. Throw in a handful of electives and I’ll graduate with a B.S. the Spring of 2017. I’m also pursuing a minor in public service. If I start grad school when I’d like, I’ll be 34 (!) years old.
Loosely related experience:
Spent a year as a vocational counselor for 200 enlisted service members.
Lots of informal exposure to mental health issues. I’ve referred more than one person to substance abuse treatment, responded to suicide attempts (including one 12 hour ordeal at the hospital) and one instance of homicidal ideation. All of this falls under the umbrella of supervision when you’re in the military, and my unit was a particularly troubled lot.
Right now I volunteer as a victim advocate for a program that assists people affected by domestic violence. The program has a trauma-informed approach, so it's a good fit for my interests.
Experiences I need to add:
Research. I’m currently testing the waters both at my university and the local VA to find a good match. Then hopefully cram a lot of experience into 1.5 years. The good news is I saved a lot of money before I got out of the military, so I have the luxury of committing to unpaid work if necessary.
GREs. Plan to take them spring 2016. I need to brush up on math, but I’m otherwise crushing the practice tests.
Maintain the good grade trend.
Posters? Presentations? Anything else you can think of?[/QUOTE
PhD programs are research based, so they focus more on research than clinical experience. If you want to practice, PsyD is a better option, but I know its very expensive. Till you start your application, make sure you get tons of research experience, and maybe publications. Poster presentations are a plus too!
