Any New or recently Accepted Psy D Students?

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Hi!
For anyone who is a Psy D student, what do you think were the determining factors of being accepted into the program? How many programs did you apply to? Is the program fully funded? Also, I know the program will be tough but anyone who has been a student in the program for a while, do you feel that you are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful clinician?

Thanks!

 

[PsychStudent05]

Hi there,
I will be starting a PsyD program in the Fall so I obviously don't have the experience you may be looking for in a current student. I applied with a very strong GPA, not great GRE scores and almost 2-3 years of clinical and research experience. I was very blessed to get into a great program. If you are in the process of looking into graduate programs, especially PsyD ones, I would recommend:

1. Look at APA- accredited programs only and look at their APA internship match rates
2. There are very few PsyD programs that are fully funded or even partially funded so look into financial aid options that schools offer
3. Location was important to me but may not be as important to you, but try not to pigeon hole yourself.

The most important point I want to make is really do your research on different schools and find which programs really reflect what YOU are looking for in a program and how they may meet your career goals. Don't focus on the "rankings" or what people may tell you about a certain school. Find out for yourself. When you get that interview, you'll really get a good sense if the program fits for you.

Good luck in your process, feel free to message me if you have any questions 🙂

 

[futurepsydoc]

Hi!
For anyone who is a Psy D student, what do you think were the determining factors of being accepted into the program? How many programs did you apply to? Is the program fully funded? Also, I know the program will be tough but anyone who has been a student in the program for a while, do you feel that you are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to be a successful clinician?

Thanks!

Answering your first question is difficult, I suggest you look at the statistics for incoming classes at the programs to which you will be applying (e.g., GPA, GRE, Psychology GRE). It is important to have garnered research and clinical experience as well, with the former typically being accompanied by poster presentations and strong letter(s) of recommendation.

I would suggest applying to at least 12 programs. Admissions to doctoral program is highly competitive.

I will be going on internship (i.e., APA-Accredited) this summer. I feel confident that my program (i.e., APA-Accredited) has prepared me for the demands of internship. The practica I participated in, as well as the applied coursework, really helped me grow as a clinician and forge my identity as a therapist (i.e., CBT)

In terms of funding we received, I received some financial aid from the university. However, it was quite minimal. I came into the program with pretty extensive background in research. As a result, I was able to work for a faculty member on a large research project thought. This income helped offset the costs.

As far as choosing a program, I agree with PsychStudent05 said about research the programs that interest you. Focus on the internship match rates and funding, but also look at the orientation of the faculty/program (e.g., CBT versus psychodynamic) and consider this in relation to your own goal. Look at the threads on this forum discussing applications and programs, buy the insiders guide to doctoral programs in clinical/counseling psychology, and talk with your undergraduate adviser.

Good Luck!!!

 

[PsychStudent05]

Answering your first question is difficult, I suggest you look at the statistics for incoming classes at the programs to which you will be applying (e.g., GPA, GRE, Psychology GRE). It is important to have garnered research and clinical experience as well, with the former typically being accompanied by poster presentations and strong letter(s) of recommendation.

I would suggest applying to at least 12 programs. Admissions to doctoral program is highly competitive.

I will be going on internship (i.e., APA-Accredited) this summer. I feel confident that my program (i.e., APA-Accredited) has prepared me for the demands of internship. The practica I participated in, as well as the applied coursework, really helped me grow as a clinician and forge my identity as a therapist (i.e., CBT)

In terms of funding we received, I received some financial aid from the university. However, it was quite minimal. I came into the program with pretty extensive background in research. As a result, I was able to work for a faculty member on a large research project thought. This income helped offset the costs.

As far as choosing a program, I agree with PsychStudent05 said about research the programs that interest you. Focus on the internship match rates and funding, but also look at the orientation of the faculty/program (e.g., CBT versus psychodynamic) and consider this in relation to your own goal. Look at the threads on this forum discussing applications and programs, buy the insiders guide to doctoral programs in clinical/counseling psychology, and talk with your undergraduate adviser.

Good Luck!!!

Congrats on your internship! Do you mind me asking how you went about working on a research project? I have been told it's frowned upon when PsyD students want to do research in their program.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Congrats on your internship! Do you mind me asking how you went about working on a research project? I have been told it's frowned upon when PsyD students want to do research in their program.

Absolutely not. Being able to understand and use research is a cornerstone of doctoral training. Any program that does not support research is most likely malignant and not the kind of program a person should attend if they want a quality education.

 

[Dirkwww]

Absolutely not. Being able to understand and use research is a cornerstone of doctoral training. Any program that does not support research is most likely malignant and not the kind of program a person should attend if they want a quality education.

Good to know given i have a lot of research experience and want to get PsyD, i was worried it would look bad

 

[PsychStudent05]

Good to know given i have a lot of research experience and want to get PsyD, i was worried it would look bad

Completely had the same sentiment.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Good to know given i have a lot of research experience and want to get PsyD, i was worried it would look bad

I do think it is possible to come across as too research-focused to PsyD and balanced PhD programs. However, you would definitely have to be at the upper margins of research productivity.

 

[futurepsydoc]

Congrats on your internship! Do you mind me asking how you went about working on a research project? I have been told it's frowned upon when PsyD students want to do research in their program.

It is not frowned upon. I agree completely with T4C on this issue (see below).

Absolutely not. Being able to understand and use research is a cornerstone of doctoral training. Any program that does not support research is most likely malignant and not the kind of program a person should attend if they want a quality education.

The importance of research should never be minimized. Programs that espouse this perspective should be viewed skeptically to say the least. The science of psychology underlies clinical practice.

In my case, I was actively involved in two research labs throughout my doctoral training. The nature of my involvement was largely clinical, as both labs were conducting treatment outcome research. I always encouraged to pursue this work, as it allowed me to pursue what I believe was an integration of science and practice that is ideal for my goals.

 

[ClinPsychEnthus]

Congrats on your internship! Do you mind me asking how you went about working on a research project? I have been told it's frowned upon when PsyD students want to do research in their program.

I do research and receive a stipend in my Psy.D. program, and my program highly values research. There are several labs conducting ongoing studies and applying for new grants as studies complete etc. I would say that some programs really value, even if they don't mandate, research.

 

[PsychStudent05]

I do research and receive a stipend in my Psy.D. program, and my program highly values research. There are several labs conducting ongoing studies and applying for new grants as studies complete etc. I would say that some programs really value, even if they don't mandate, research.

Thank you very much for alleviating my worries regarding doing research during my time in grad school. Do you mind me asking what school you are attending?

I know that practice is where my heart lies (why a PsyD was the best choice for me) but I truly value research and would definitely like to contribute to my program's ongoing work.