California schools

[neuronerd1]

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Hi all,

I am living on the east coast and hoping to move to southern California for grad school. It seems like the programs offered there are either amazing and free but extremely hard to get into or super easy to get in, expensive, and not so great. Are there any schools in the middle of this continuum. Does anyone have any advice/knowledge about programs in this area. (PhD or PsyD, neuropsych focus)

Thanks!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Pepperdine? It is a PsyD and quite competitive, but probably easier than the UC schools.

-t

 

[docma]

California has an oversupply of graduate program, especially PsyD programs, and an undersupply of internships. Unless you have a compelling reason to come to SoCal that requires study here, you will a much better array of opportunities elsewhere, especially if you want funding.

 

[Endnote]

I think there are good opportunities if you're into neuro. Any school worth going to is going to be highly competitive, so that's pretty much unavoidable (would you want to go to a school that wasn't competitive?). Check out the UCLA and UCSD/SDSU programs. I strongly advise looking at programs all across the country and not limiting your search to SoCal. Good luck with your applications.

 

[hayley44]

do UC schools (UCLA, SDSU/UCSD, UCBerkeley) give preference to california residents over non-california residents?

 

[KillerDiller]

do UC schools (UCLA, SDSU/UCSD, UCBerkeley) give preference to california residents over non-california residents?

I assume they do not. Graduate school does not operate like undergrad in this manner, the schools want to accept the best applicants who best match the department, end of story. Also, those schools are fully funded, so tuition is waived no matter where the students claim residence.

 

[terrybug]

I think there used to be a few California schools that were less well-known and had fewer applicants but nowadays so many people want to move from the east coast or midwest out to CA that every CA school can afford to be very choosy. 1 or 2 of the UC's in less desirable areas might be a little easier.
I think the same story goes for schools in and around NYC. The brightest students want to live somewhere nice so they raise the admissions bar.
Also, big name professors want to enjoy life as well, so they come out to a school like UC Irvine, which wasn't much of a school even 10-20 years ago, and all the students who want to work with them follow.

 

[neuronerd1]

Thank you for the responses. It is good to know that California graduate schools do not favor residents over non-residents.

Pepperdine requires that applicants already have a masters 🙁otherwise I would definitely apply there.

I am applying to programs all over the US, I would just prefer to move to SoCali because that is where my boyfriend is moving for school.

Any more recommendations (besides UCLA, SDSU/UCSD, USC, and UCSB)?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Thank you for the responses. It is good to know that California graduate schools do not favor residents over non-residents.

Pepperdine requires that applicants already have a masters 🙁otherwise I would definitely apply there.

I am applying to programs all over the US, I would just prefer to move to SoCali because that is where my boyfriend is moving for school.

Any more recommendations (besides UCLA, SDSU/UCSD, USC, and UCSB)?

Not to be tangential, but I'd seriously consider not limiting yourself to one geographic area, ESPECIALLY CA because it is so competitive. If you don't have a ring on your finger or a marriage license on file, you should apply nationally.

-t

 

[ResearchGirlie]

I assume they do not. Graduate school does not operate like undergrad in this manner, the schools want to accept the best applicants who best match the department, end of story. Also, those schools are fully funded, so tuition is waived no matter where the students claim residence.

Grad schools want to get the best of the best, but I don't think it's as easy as saying your state status doesn't factor in at all. I'm at a big California school, and am from out of state. My out of state tuition is covered by the department, and costs the department at least 3x what it costs to fund an in-state student. There are a lot of very competitive CA applicants, so I think it could make a bit of difference. Just because you don't have to pay tuition doesn't mean that department doesn't have to!

All that being said, don't let your status stop you from applying to a school. Just be sure to keep it in mind and expand your options. Schools in desirable places to live often get the most applicants.

 

[joetro]

I'm at a big UC school too. Of the first-years, I'd say a bit more than half went to undergrad in California. Also, some are from CA but went to college elsewhere. So I think there is an emphasis on getting people from inside the state. This may be a reflection of where people apply from - i.e. maybe a ton of in-state people apply, but it's a prominent program so I'd also many out-of-state people also apply. However, the out of state tuition only applies for the first year - then you have to apply for residency and the school will only cover in-state tuition/fees.

I wouldn't worry too much about the in/out of state thing. You can't control it. And, also I was accepted to several public schools where I'm out of state but not accepted to my in-state school (twice).

 

[KillerDiller]

I just can't imagine that with all the ways schools have to compare applicants that where they live is on the radar. Perhaps the reason many people in those programs are from California is because they were exposed to greater networking opportunities and because, as suggested, more people who are from the area apply.

Also, I'm not sure the department actually has to pay the university for their students' tuition. I was under the impression that the tuition waivers mean the university as a whole takes the hit. I could be wrong, though. Does anybody know for sure? Knowing that would go a long way toward answering this question.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it if you are applying as an out-of-state applicant. The program should also be interested in obtaining a diverse array of students.