21 Year old needs advice. Please help :)

[NoleGirl2011]

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Hello All,

I am a Junior at FSU and I am currently majoring in psychology. I have a passion in me to be a successful therapist with my own practice. I am extremely confused on how to achieve my goals.
1. I do not know which degree would be more rewarding for me
2. I want to open my own practice
3. confused between a masters/psyd/phd and even going with the social work route.
4. I have a psychology GPA of a 3.7
5. currently doing all I can to build up my resume (DIS, hotline help)
6. I do want to make money but that is not my number one importance in my career.
7. Although it would be amazing to be called Doctor- i do not have a big ego

If some one could help me sort out my brain i would greatly appreciate it!
Thanks so much!

 

[futureapppsy2]

Do you have research experience/do you like research?

 

[NoleGirl2011]

truthfully i don't mind it.

 

[researchgirl]

-Which degree is most "rewarding" depends on your goals, etc. Also, it might come down to which specific school will give you the best experience, and that may or may not be related to your goals.
-If you want to open your own private practice, do not get an MA in Clinical Psychology, as this will not be legally feasible in many states. However I believe there are several places that would allow and MSW with proper licenses to have their own private practice but you need to check the laws in states you would consider practicing. From what I know, a PsyD or a PhD in Clinical or Counseling psychology (+ a license) would allow you to run a private practice in any US State.
-The differences are spelled out many places on this forum. Length of time in school, how school is paid for, and types of jobs you will be well-prepared for vary by degree, and even within degree by institution. If you have more specific questions after reading other threads, let us know.
-Your GPA and experience will be strengths on applications to any psychology related graduate program. For a PhD in Clinical, you will likely need to have research experience as well.
-Reimbursement rates vary by state, degree, and health insurance companies (I think). Cost of running a practice also vary, by location etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[NoleGirl2011]

My overall GPA is a 3.7 as well. After a few phone calls today I am leaning more towards the PsyD route. I am just worried about how much it will cost. I am hoping to get scholarships and financial aid.

What are my chances of this for the PsyD program?

 

[AryaStark]

57.86%

 

[deleted176373]

57.86%

Stop rounding. 57.8572214%

Have you switched to a Psy.D. 😉

Mark

 

[PrisonPsych]

Stop rounding. 57.8572214%

Have you switched to a Psy.D. 😉

Mark

57.8572214% +/- with a confidence interval of 1% to 99% at the .05 level.

You're both PsyDs. 😉

 

[cara susanna]

Man, that's a lot of test error. 😉

 

[PrisonPsych]

Man, that's a lot of test error. 😉

Well, in response to one of the "what are my chances" question, it's a pretty accurate answer, don't you think?

 

[NoleGirl2011]

Yes, i have made the decision to do the PsyD program. I just went to purchase a GRE book to start studying... I don't think the PhD is right for me considering I do not want to do research. I hope it pays off and I can pay off my debt in the end...

 

[cara susanna]

PrisonPsych: Yes, though I think you'd be safe putting 1-100% at 99% confidence versus 95% 😀

 

[AnnoyedByFreud]

Yes, i have made the decision to do the PsyD program. I just went to purchase a GRE book to start studying... I don't think the PhD is right for me considering I do not want to do research. I hope it pays off and I can pay off my debt in the end...

You might want to read the "where does all the money go" thread...

 

[Wildcat06]

i know you don't want to do research, but i'm guessing there are plenty of people on here who have no intention of doing research past grad school but are in phd programs none the less. i would HIGHLY recommend not ruling out the phd yet. do you think you could put up with the research part just for five years so you can have your education paid for at a balanced program?

also, keep in mind that the numbers aryastark quoted are for ANY financial aid, not full-rides which are scarce in the world of psyd's, especially compared to phd's.

 

[Wildcat06]

. . . oh, and WildCat, it's not about "putting up with research," at a balanced PhD program, a clinical leaning program, a research heavy program, or even at Psy.D. programs, learning research skills is a valuable process to clinical skill development. It's a way of thinking about problems that is important to the field. Psychology is a science. It's important that we think about it that way.

haha, you don't have to tell me. i'm a the most research-oriented person in my cohort at one of the most research-heavy programs in the country. i'm just trying to make the sale 😉

p.s. what's with the need to cut people down, when you obviously don't know my frame of reference?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

. . .learning research skills is a valuable process to clinical skill development. It's a way of thinking about problems that is important to the field. Psychology is a science. It's important that we think about it that way.

I wanted to highlight this again, because it is becoming more and more vital to your professional competence and your viability. I currently work at a VA, and all of the mandates about clinical treatment are based off of research, and it is really important to understand the research that is informing your clinical work.

Program evaluation/improvement is also a growth area at many hospitals, and the psychologists are expected to effectively evaluate their programs and make improvements as needed. I'm currently in the middle of an evaluation, and my research training has really aided me in the what, when, where, why, and how to quantify the program. SPSS and I are doing a reunion tour, and it has been pretty fun so far.