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[RedheadAblaze]

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I have spent hours upon hours researching all sorts of details for when after I graduate with my B.A. in Psychology and every time I feel like I have come to some decisions, I get turned around and end up starting over. Before I jump in, just a little background about me:

-About to receive a B.A. in Psychology from Argosy University (yes, yes, boo hiss…)
-3.2 GPA
-Active duty military preparing to get out in September
-Stationed in Hawaii
-ZERO clinical or research hours
-Strong interest in counseling, but want to pursue research as well
-Haven't taken my GREs yet

I am not a super competitive candidate for any school. My GPA is not where I would like it to be (my own fault) and I haven't been able to find any research opportunities. In order to stick with the program for its entirety, I had to do it completely online, which really affected my relationships with my professors. I have one Argosy professor that I can probably get a letter of recommendation from, pending completion of this class, and an instructor and mentor from a military-related class. The only things that can set me apart from most candidates would be my life experiences and the maturity that accompanied them.

I'm leaning toward getting a PhD in the long run, to ensure career flexibility. Although I don't want it to be my primary focus, I would be interested in conducting research on alternate lifestyles, namely GLBT, kink, fetish, etc.

All that being said, should I opt for a terminal Master's degree to increase my competitiveness when applying for a PhD down the road? I know that some PhD programs are willing to lower their standards for candidates to a point, but I think I may have surpassed that point. I have found a couple of PhD programs that have professors with similar interests (Emery University in Chicago and Palo Alto University in California.) Think they would lower their standards that much if I have similar interests? (Even my own tired brain is taking that sentence the wrong way.) Another option I was considering was taking 1-2 years off to try squeezing into internships and/or research. Once I'm out of the military I'll have all the flexibility in the world, money aside.

Another problem that I have run into is how do I decide what type of concentration I want to do (CBT, psychodynamic, etc.) I have only learned about what each one is, but I have never seen them in action and I don't know which one would best suit me and the skills I haven't learned yet. Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks!

Sorry this was so discombobulated, but my brain is on the brink of explosion.

 

[erg923]

If you are confident the phd is for you and necessary for your carer interests and goals, then yes, you would have to to get some research experience and bump up the GPA. Terminal Masters is an option for this, yes

 

[CobraMedic]

I would suggest trying to find a research job AND pursuing a terminal masters degree from a brick and mortar university that allows you it sit for a national exam to practice at a masters level (LMHC, LPC, LMFT) and will involve a practicum and some research. That way if you are not successful at getting into a doctoral program you can practice at the masters level. Getting some research experience, improving your GPA and great GRE scores and finding a good research match will be your best shot. It is likely that none of these things will be able to happen before your exit from the Military. As for Emery University in Chicago, I cannot offer an opinion, a google search yielded no results for that school so I am unfamilar with it. It would be wise to check into the APA accreditation status of this school.

 

[InNae]

-About to receive a B.A. in Psychology from Argosy University (yes, yes, boo hiss…)
-3.2 GPA
-Active duty military preparing to get out in September
-Stationed in Hawaii
-ZERO clinical or research hours
-Strong interest in counseling, but want to pursue research as well
-Haven't taken my GREs yet

Bluntly, you are correct that your GPA, online program, and lack of research experience are not competitive. In my opinion, your best route to dealing with these issues are to (a) prepare and do extremely well on your GREs and (2) complete a research-focused masters degree. Right or wrong, it is completely true that doctoral admissions people will disregard an online degree, and the 3.2 is too low regardless of institution. The only way for admissions people to gauge your academic preparation is to have a common metric (GRE), and evidence of your performance in a brick and mortar academic environment (masters from a good program). A "terminal" masters is not what you want, if by "terminal" you're referring to the masters programs that prepare people to be masters-level therapists. You want a masters program that will provide solid coursework in which you can prove your academic ability as well as opportunities and requirements for research experience and a thesis. [on preview of other posts: you sound like you mostly will want to practice, but if you have any inkling that you would like to apply to research-oriented or "balanced" programs, be aware that many admissions committees assume that applicants with practice-based masters degrees want to be clinicians, and they face an uphill battle for admissions. If you mostly want clinical, no worries about that 🙂]

I have one Argosy professor that I can probably get a letter of recommendation from, pending completion of this class, and an instructor and mentor from a military-related class. The only things that can set me apart from most candidates would be my life experiences and the maturity that accompanied them.

Use these letters to get into a strong MA or MS program. Discuss the content with the writers, and explain that, especially for the non-psych writer, you would appreciate it if the letter could detail your demonstrated motivation, perseverance, and ability.

I'm leaning toward getting a PhD in the long run, to ensure career flexibility. Although I don't want it to be my primary focus, I would be interested in conducting research on alternate lifestyles, namely GLBT, kink, fetish, etc.

Do you mean that research is not your long-term primary focus, or that you have a research interest that is more primary than research on alternative lifestyles? Although some masters degrees aren't that specific in terms of fit, some are, and certainly it makes sense to apply to masters programs that offer access to research opportunities that are of interest to you. There are increasing numbers of researchers focusing on various LGBT topics, but those obviously won't necessarily be the same people who study kink, fetish, etc (given the latter aren't specific to sexual orientation or gender identity). If you haven't already, start searching the literature to see where the researchers are.

[edit to add: I think the OP realizes this already, but just to be clear to other readers, being LGBT and/or having most kinks/fetishes is NOT disorder, meaning clinical psychology doesn't and shouldn't have a lot to say about most of it. Researchers into these topics generally are interested in, for example, the relation between LGBT status and other variables, or how to help IF certain sexual interests become a source of distress to the person who has them].

I know that some PhD programs are willing to lower their standards for candidates to a point, but I think I may have surpassed that point. I have found a couple of PhD programs that have professors with similar interests (Emery University in Chicago and Palo Alto University in California.) Think they would lower their standards that much if I have similar interests? (Even my own tired brain is taking that sentence the wrong way.)

No, no. Please don't sell yourself short like that (nor waste your time and money applying in hopes that they will "lower their standards"). Remember that in addition to "lowering standards", they would also have to have a reason to take you above all the qualified applicants. In my opinion, your goal should be to make yourself as competitive as you can.

Another option I was considering was taking 1-2 years off to try squeezing into internships and/or research.

Masters program with an empirical thesis requirement. Apply next fall for programs beginning Fall 2015. Meanwhile spend the rest of your time before you leave the military reading the literature, studying for the GRE, and setting up research (and perhaps also clinical, but less of it) experience that you can begin in October 2014.

Another problem that I have run into is how do I decide what type of concentration I want to do (CBT, psychodynamic, etc.) I have only learned about what each one is, but I have never seen them in action and I don't know which one would best suit me and the skills I haven't learned yet. Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks!

In my opinion, a good way to think about this (and not everyone will agree 🙂), is that it's important to seek training in the orientation(s) that has the most empirical support given the problems/disorders you plan to treat. In other words, please be careful with thinking about which would "best suit [you]", because it should be about which treatment/orientation will best serve the client/patient. Read more and perhaps try to interview some clinicians. Not sure where in Hawaii you are, but some of the VAs have very large psychology services that have clinicians with training in several orientations with whom you might talk. There are also doctoral programs that offer training in multiple orientations.

Your situation is theoretically doable, but you have some work to do to demonstrate your ability and interests. Good luck to you!

 

[RedheadAblaze]

Thank you for the awesome response! I know that I screwed myself over pretty good, but it's not completely hopeless. I plan on getting a GRE tutor and really hitting the material hard as soon as this class ends.

I am located on Oahu, so research choices are already slim pickings. Worse yet, both schools have said that they only take students from their own programs =\ I will find a way!

And you were right in your assessment that I want to focus on counseling but also would like to do the occasional research. Who knows, after a few years in grad school, I might prefer it.