Sorry, greensky, it's the truth in this field. And yes, I dislike large and irresponsible professional schools in general (not all professional programs are also irresponsible, but some are). They have created an enormous problem for our field and have ruined many careers. Honestly, what does a Psy.D. from one of the professional schools have that a graduate of an MSW program doesn't -- other than a mountain of debt?!
Are they compensated significantly better? Are they more knowledgeable about their field in ways that employers are likely to care about? Are they more able to set up a private practice? Are they better equipped to run/administer a mental health program? Are they better researchers?
I mean... there has got to be something that makes $150k of debt post-UG worthwhile! From my experience, a Psy.D. isn't necessary for most clinical jobs and where it is, I have observed a general preference for a Ph.D. specializing in the specific area of care over a Psy.D. (which is generally perceived as very broadly focused). Don't get me wrong, I think the Psy.D. can be a great degree, but I can hardly bring myself to see it as worth spending what an MD would cost tuition- and opportunity cost-wise in order to get one!
I apologize if you found my level of frankness offensive, but I find it far more offensive that we even have these schools sullying the reputation of our field. It is schools like this that have made our profession a joke among the healthcare professions. Furthermore, it is schools like this that have made the Psy.D. a stigma instead of an honor to hold!
As far as taking the exam more than once goes, that's not my point. The fact of the matter is still that less than half ever get licensed. Yes, you can take it multiple times, but if a school's passing rate is so low that presumably more than half of their students fail at least once, you should really be taking that as a red flag in my opinion!
To me, letting schools with such poor training remain accredited and standing is akin to the AMA letting the lowest quality diploma mill med schools of the early 1900s stand. As I understand, there was a significant shift in healthcare when the AMA basically forced those schools that were not meeting quality control standards to close their doors. If a school is doing so poorly as to have to open its own onsite clinic to provide internship spots for its students b/c no one will be able to obtain an internship and graduate otherwise, that would be an indicator of poor quality of training. Essentially, such schools are relying upon external quality control (that is, their students are being sifted out not by the school itself but by the internship directors) instead of figuring out who is likely to succeed in the first place and not wasting everyone else's time and money.
P.S.
The Starbucks comment actually comes from some articles I've seen on hiring managers basically stating they would not hire someone with a doctoral degree for lower-end positions. For instance, if a mental health agency is hiring "therapists" and has an underlying policy that entry-level MSWs start at $40k/yr salary and entry-level doctoral (PhD/PsyD) holders start at $60k/yr, guess who's probably going to get the job. Unless the person with the doctoral degree has some serious advantages elsewhere in his/her application, it is unlikely a company is going to want to pay the additional $20k/yr -- esp. when many mental health agencies are so strapped for cash as it is! I've seen many agencies run entirely by MSWs and LPCs. If that is the way mental health is headed, then where is a PsyD going to find work? Will he/she have to settle for masters-level pay? If you have a specialty area where you are the expert, you will, in all likelihood, remain marketable, but without such a selling point, how do you intend to find work?
