Wow its been quite a journey reading through 20 pages of posts... all of which very informative.
So here is my short story.
I was a psychology undergrad that started very young (16), and was involved in research very young. My research experiences varied hugely within psychology. As I progressed in the program, I thought I wanted to do an MD/PhD (PhD in neuropsych) so I pursued the requirements for the MD AND began doing research in non-psych fields.
The premed requirements hurt me, bringing my gpa down to ~3.4, (psych gpa 3.9). Also while doing these requirements, I received a summer research fellowship in neuroscience/immunology, and my mentor liked me so much that she offered me a 2 year post-bacc position at the NIH doing neuroimmunology research.
I am finishing the first year of this, starting the second and after all this I know now I want to do clinical psych with an emphasis not pertaining anywhere near what I am doing now (more closely to what I did early on).
I will have several first author works (either submitted or in preparation) as well as posters and abstracts. Im retaking the GRE because my old scores, good as they were, are too old.
Questions: 1. Realistically, although I have great research experience in both psych-related and non-related fields, how will my last two years do for me? I would like to think that I can argue I was young and unsure but now I am sure of what I want to do. Also I can argue that I have a great basic and social science research background, do you think this is good?
if you can make a link between what you did and what you now want to do - any link at all based on theory, methods, or anything - then this certainly would help. otherwise, i am not sure I would argue that you varied in your level of certainty. i might suggest reframing this a bit in terms of growth in your interests and describe how your ideas have evolved. a constructive thoughtful discussion of your path (if it is indeed a linear one) would probably read well.
2. I have emailed a few admissions chairs, department chairs and have received mixed answers (all clin psy phd) some say that this is great experience especially being at the NIH, others say you will REALLY have to make the argument that psych is the right field and that I match with someone there. WHAT is your insight into this? What would you tell me if I had emailed you?
both are correct. your research experience is great, and you need to discuss what you learned from this experience. but a match is essential. so, the statement must go beyond a description of your pat work and include more than a mere sentence or two about your current interests. make a strong case for what you want to study in clinical psych, and why, and how you see a match with a specific faculty member.
3. How will the GPA hurt me, especially since my psych gpa was great
GPA is fine
I would love to hear your opinions on my case.
Thanks much