Becoming a better PhD candidate

[jedavis]

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Hi all,

I'm halfway through my junior year of undergrad at a public, not at all prestigious university. I'm a psych major and have my heart set on getting into a clinical psych PhD program when I graduate, but I worry that I'm not competitive enough to get any offers. My GPA is currently pretty low (3.1) due to a rough freshman year, but improving (I got a 3.7 last semester and plan on maintaining or surpassing that). I've already started studying for the GRE. I worked as a TA last semester for a professor that has her PhD in clinical psych and really likes me, so that should be a strong LOR. I also started working in a research lab at the start of this semester that I will continue working in until I graduate (so 2 years altogether, including summer). This is kind of a bigger lab, so I worry that I won't have an opportunity to do any presentations, though research is wrapping up on one of the studies. I'm also joining Psi Chi next semester.

Basically, I'm wondering what would be the best thing to do to make myself stand out more. I was thinking about volunteering in a crisis center line or a hospital, but I wonder if it would be a better choice to try to get involved in another lab?

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[cara susanna]

You're better off getting more research experience. IMO, programs don't care at all about the limited kind of clinical experience most undergrads have.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

You're better off getting more research experience. IMO, programs don't care at all about the limited kind of clinical experience most undergrads have.

I'm not sure if I'd say they don't care at all, as something like crisis line experience could probably help boost your application a bit (and master's level therapy experience can definitely help, depending on the program), but cara's right in that research experience is SIGNIFICANTLY more important.

The more research work you can fit in between now and when you apply, the better. If that means volunteering a few extra hours in another lab above and beyond what you're already, I'd say you should go for it. And don't be shy to ask your supervisor (whether it's a grad student or professor) what you could do to possibly help move a poster presentation along. Just be prepared to handle the work should they give it to you.

Beyond that, try your best to rock the GRE, and that's about all you can do at this point. If things don't work out during the next cycle, look for a full-time (or at least part-time) RA position to help boost your application in anticipation of applying again.

 

[psypipe]

I'm not sure if I'd say they don't care at all, as something like crisis line experience could probably help boost your application a bit (and master's level therapy experience can definitely help, depending on the program), but cara's right in that research experience is SIGNIFICANTLY more important.

The more research work you can fit in between now and when you apply, the better. If that means volunteering a few extra hours in another lab above and beyond what you're already, I'd say you should go for it. And don't be shy to ask your supervisor (whether it's a grad student or professor) what you could do to possibly help move a poster presentation along. Just be prepared to handle the work should they give it to you.

Beyond that, try your best to rock the GRE, and that's about all you can do at this point. If things don't work out during the next cycle, look for a full-time (or at least part-time) RA position to help boost your application in anticipation of applying again.

I'm just wondering if this is just the case for scientist practitioner modeled programs. Logic would tell me that practitioner scholar programs would value both research and clinical experience similarly but I'm not sure.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I'm just wondering if this is just the case for scientist practitioner modeled programs. Logic would tell me that practitioner scholar programs would value both research and clinical experience similarly but I'm not sure.

I'd imagine it probably varies from program to program, but in general, clinical psych programs as a whole value research experience from undergrads more so than clinical experience, as the former translates more readily than the latter to what you'll actually be doing in grad school and beyond.

Regardless of the orientation/philosophy of your program, or the type of degree you'll be getting (Psy.D. or Ph.D.), research is, and rightfully should be, a significant component of all doctoral-level training.

 

[cara susanna]

Even scientist practitioner models. I applied to balanced programs and none of them asked about my clinical experience.

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

Also remember that nowadays it's the norm for people to take a year (or more) off between undergrad and grad school. Not to say that you can't go straight through, but graduate school in clinical is a long road and mentors want to know that you're prepared both intellectually and emotionally for the journey. Namely, that you've got enough research experience to know approximately what you want to study and that you can handle doing research for 4-7 years, as well as the maturity to be able to handle clients and other professional development issues. Taking time off might feel like the worst thing in the world, but it certainly isn't viewed that way by most faculty I know.

Also, in the lab(s) that you're in, ask if you can work on a poster with a grad student or even propose a small study of your own. The more experience you can get the better, and posters/papers give you something to show for that.