Alliant SF Forensics

[operant]

Hi Everyone,

I recently had an interview at Alliant (SF) for the Psy.D in Forensic Psychology. Well after reading all the reviews of Alliant and especially going through the interview I am really unsure I want to continue with this. Doesn't seem like it's worth the money.

My ultimate goal is to become a forensic psychologist. Are there any schools in the bay area (Psy.D) that are better than Alliant? I have a decent GPA (3.95 graduate and 3.4-3.5 undergraduate) and 4 years of work experience in the field of psychology. Research isn't really my thing, nor do I have any research experience so I guess I can't go for my Ph.D. Any advice on what to do??

Thanks!

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[progter]

The forensic program is housed at Alliant but is not the same program as the one ppl debate here. The forensic program is part of the center for forensic studies, whose dean is Dr. Eric Hickey.

The SF campus really is not the best one to go to if you are going to go. The Fresno one is, since thats where the better faculty are and they have the PhD option where you can become licensed as a clinical therapist.

In Fresno the regular psych kids and the forensic kids seem to have this "debate" going as to who is better and the forensic students match higher rates of internships and pass licensing exams at a much higher rate than the CSPP students over the last few years.

There are tons of great opportunities at the fresno campus for getting involved in the forensic psych field. Dr. Hickey has connections everywhere and really helps students out that seek him out. I personally know a few who went on to the FBI, one to NCIS, one CIA, many into the federal prison system and others who present/publish regularily in the field.

As for the SF campus I don't know. Dr. Holcolmb is apparantly moving up there from fresno this year so thats an added bonus, but SF does not have the clinical program, nor is it the campus that Dr. Hickey has his office in and you'll want to get to know him.

best of luck

 

[operant]

Thanks for your reply!

Does anyone have any experiences they want to share about the center for forensic studies in San Francisco?

How is Dr. Holcomb? I had my interview with him, and I was not impressed with the overall structure (or lack thereof) of the interview. I asked him about APA accreditation and he told me that there are no APA accredited forensic psychology programs. This worried me a bit, but he explained that APA accreditation isn't important to forensic psychology.

Will I still be able to take the licensing test if I receive my Psy.D in forensic psychology?

 

[erg923]

If your not clinically trained with this degree (is that correct?), what does one do with this degree? Why would you even need an internship? What is the earning potential? Is it sufficient to justify 150k in loan debt?

Non-apa acrred will bar you from many (forensic) internships sites, as i know the BOP only takes accredited program applicants. It may not actually be an automatic cut, but if you look at forensic hospitals and the BOP sites over the last 3 years, they dont take non accredited people. I think that would just be the start of the hoops, im not too sure.

 

[olychick65]

While it may be true that there aren't any programs that are called forensic psychology programs with APA-accredation (and I'm not positive about that), there are many clinical psych programs with forensic psych mentors or tracks so that you can essentially tailor your education to be in forensic clinical psychology, just as you don't have to attend a child clinical psych program to have a emphasis in peds. For instance, the University of Nebraska has a great track in Psych and Law (which is somewhat different than forensics, but you would be set up to match with any number of fabulous forensics APA internships) where you earn an MLS alongside your PhD. The practicums are forensic, your research is forensic, etc etc. But your PhD will say "clinical psychology".
So, with some more digging, I bet you will find programs with the emphasis you desire and accredidation.

 

[operant]

Thank you for all this information. I believe it is a clinical degree...but not having APA accreditation ruins it for me. Hopefully I can find a program here in the bay area (maybe even Ph.D). Alliant just seems shady...

 

[erg923]

Well, what are you interested in specifically?

 

[operant]

Specifically I am interested in assessment. I would like to do a lot of field work and I am not interested in research. I would like to particularly work with individuals with pervasive developmental disorders and help them in the legal setting. I feel that I should wait a year and apply to more reputable programs here in Northern California.

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

Specifically I am interested in assessment. I would like to do a lot of field work and I am not interested in research. I would like to particularly work with individuals with pervasive developmental disorders and help them in the legal setting. I feel that I should wait a year and apply to more reputable programs here in Northern California.

Hi. Which programs do you imagine this formula (not research/PhD, reputable, Northern California, assessment and DD, forensic/legal psych) would steer you towards? Re: apa accreditation for forensic programs, a few months ago in another thread here at SDN some of the applicants to forensic programs confirmed such programs do not need APA accreditation.

FWIW, your post resonated with me -- as someone who put off applying to school for fifteen years. I hope you are being clear with yourself...there are no sure things. Maybe you get accepted at Alliant SF this year maybe you don't; then again, maybe you get in somewhere else next year maybe you don't. And then again, if you get accepted at SF but then decide to decline, does that hurt your chances at Fresno next year? And, maybe your whole world can change in the blink of an eye, or maybe your ideas about what you want to do and your ability to develop them will have changed not a jot come this time next year. I'm not sure I have much of a significant point to make here -- obviously it pays to be thorough and careful, but such diligence has diminishing returns...

 

[progter]

dr. holcomb is an amazing professor and researcher, I'd know, I've worked with him and am about to start a new project w/ him this summer.

You are asking the wrong questions.

First of all, there is no apa accred for forensic psych programs, the apa does not have it. forensic psychs are clinical psychs first and from my understanding all of the alliant schools clinical psych programs are apa accredited.

its just like any other forensic psych school (john jay, univ of az, etc.) the program itself is not apa accredited because it cannot. But the clinical aspect is. However, the SF program does NOT have a phd in forensic psych, so you could run into issues there.

Dr. Holcomb is moving up to SF full time next fall and from my understanding is going to build the clinical phd in forensic psych like the one in Fresno (which is excellent if you want to go into forensic psych).

Remember, the forensic psych school is a part of alliant yes, but it is basically its own entity. Nothing alliant does impacts the program, dr. eric hickey runs the CFS, which is why its much more highly regarded than Alliant. You don't apply to alliant, you apply to CFS

 

[operant]

Thanks for the information. It's great to hear good things about CFS. Hopefully they start the PhD program. So will I still be able to sit for licensing, even though it's not a clinical psych program?

 

[progter]

Thanks for the information. It's great to hear good things about CFS. Hopefully they start the PhD program. So will I still be able to sit for licensing, even though it's not a clinical psych program?

the one in fresno is a clinical psych program but w/ a forensic emphasis

yes you can sit for licensing

But it could be years until that program starts up in SF and if you aren't willing to move, your options are very limited

 

[DrGero]

PAU (http://www.pgsp.edu) has a forensic track (as well as a JD/PhD track), they're in the Bay Area, and they have APA accreditation. Their match rates are fair. Of course, they're hugely expensive, even more so than when I graduated six years ago, and even relative to other professional schools.

I would take the position that if you're going to drop down such a serious chunk of change on a doctoral degree, you would insist on at least APA accreditation.

 

[operant]

Looks like I'll be attending here in the Fall. Anyone else going?

 

[aequitasveritas]

make sure you can get licensed as a clinician

make sure there is program strength outside of only 1 or 2 profs.

Also, make sure you really want to go to a program that was created only a year ago.

Alliant has a tendency to just make up degrees...Consulting psychology(basically I/O) & PhD in Leadership for example.