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1. Really? Cause it seems that somehow everyone finds something, ie. interning at a psychiatric center or volunteering at a crisis line, like at LEAST some type of exposure to counseling Which of these exactly would possibly count as clinical experience?1. It sounds like you have some clinical experience. No one expects you to enter a doctoral program having treated patients or anything on that level.
2. Reputable PsyD programs want applicants with research experience. Don't downplay your research experience; do the opposite.
3. Why not a PhD?
1. Really, what you have for clinical experience is fine. If you invest more time in something, make it research.
2. Don't sell yourself short! You did an independent project. Now go present it or publish it somewhere -- you have time. And do more research this coming year. If you don't like research, and can't stand the thought of doing it, think hard about whether this is actually the field for you. Sometimes our long-held dreams don't quite measure up against reality. Psychology is a scientific discipline and the further you get away from the science, the worse a psychologist you'll be. Consider counseling, social work, or marriage and family therapy as alternatives.
3. It's hard to get into the more reputable PsyD programs too. Shouldn't it be? Even if your parents are paying for it, don't attend a program with mediocre stats. Not only is it a poor investment of your parents' money, but they may not be so thrilled if you end up jobless after a 6-figure investment. Take a gap year or two if you need to. You have your entire life and career ahead of you. Think of your future patients if nothing else. If this is really what you want, work for it.
I think doing purely menial tasks (ie. data coding) is what made me come to dislike research.
I've just been so focused on achieving this goal that the thought of taking a gap year makes it feel like it'd be pushing me further away from ever achieving a degree. As of now, I'd already be 23 by the time I started grad school if I DIDN'T take a gap year, so that worries me too.
Agreed! Feels like all of a sudden I have to start studying/taking the GRE, finding who's going to write my letters of rec, and get started on the apps! And on top of that, as you said, I feel like I should have more on my resume but barely have enough time to do much more! Very likely may just need to take a gap year in order to get into a good program.I'm in the same boat as you OP - I have some clinical experience, but I will also be a senior and there seems little time for much more. I do have a lot of research experience as well so I'm hoping that balances it out when applying. Where are you thinking about applying in terms of PsyD programs?
You might be right! Perhaps you can take on some additional responsibilities this coming year.
It's very common for students in a doctoral program to have had some additional research or work experience between college and grad school. This was true for most of my cohort. If you start in your mid-20s you'll fit right in.
Agreed! Feels like all of a sudden I have to start studying/taking the GRE, finding who's going to write my letters of rec, and get started on the apps! And on top of that, as you said, I feel like I should have more on my resume but barely have enough time to do much more! Very likely may just need to take a gap year in order to get into a good program.
As for PsyD programs, I don't have an exact list yet (and need to look further into my "fit"), but I'm thinking Baylor, Rutgers, and NSU (especially since it's right near my home!), Loyola, GWU, Indiana U of Penn, University of Denver, and Indiana State U (the list will likely be narrowed down). I only want to apply to GOOD PsyD programs so it's still worth it in the end (and still be able to get a job after the degree, lol!)
Agreed. It has really fallen off a cliff over the last ~8-10yrs. There are good mentors sprinkled in there, but tuition is WAAAAY up.I'd take NSU off the list for GOOD psyd programs, especially for neuro related (especially recently), and I would start thinking that a gap year or two could be beneficial.
Agreed. It has really fallen off a cliff over the last ~8-10yrs. There are good mentors sprinkled in there, but tuition is WAAAAY up.
Hi, I'm new to this forum so I'm sorry if I'm not using it correctly!
I'm a junior (well I guess senior now technically) at UCLA and want to apply to PsyD programs in the fall. I'm really interested in developmental psychopathology but am unsure if I even have clinical experience! I spent the last month calling many places looking to volunteer or intern over the summer, but all said no.
My current experience that I don't know if it can count as clinical experience is as follows:
1. Interned for the past year at an "infant development program," and did the following:
2. Camp counselor for past 5 summers at a camp for blind and visually impaired children, where I taught essential life and other skills to them so that they could know how to better navigate through a hearing-centered world
- Learned and practiced multiple approaches to early care and education, with an emphasis on the RIE approach
- Applied theoretical knowledge about early childhood education from concurrent lecture courses to a child care setting under the supervision of an experienced teacher
- Observed and analyzed a focal child’s attachment, motor and social-emotional development in a case study, analyzing means of supporting the child’s development
- Developed and implemented an emergent curriculum project for children based off interests and needs; documented developmental learning as a result of curriculum
- Helped children solve conflicts with others and talked them through how they were feeling whenever they were upset
3. Was my sorority's VIP (Violence Intervention and Prevention) chair for the last 2 years, where I
4. Will be a rho gamma (a girl leading potential new members throughout the sorority recruitment process) in the fall for a week--this will mostly require me to counsel many girls throughout the process who get extremely upset and stressed
- Addressed rape, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence on campus
- Provided support for chapter members
- Facilitate various awareness programs for chapter members and Greek community as a whole
Would it be bad to even have the last 2 on my application because of their relations to Greek life??
Most importantly, is there ANY WAY any of this could count as clinical experience? Becoming a psychologist has been my dream for as long as I can remember
Thanks in advance for your help!
**I also have worked in a research lab for the past 1.5 yrs and presented a poster at the APS conference if that somehow balances out my lack of clinical experience? Though i know there's more of an emphasis on clinical experience for PsyD programs I believe?
I'd take NSU off the list for GOOD psyd programs, especially for neuro related (especially recently), and I would start thinking that a gap year or two could be beneficial.
That's sad to hear! I've heard some good things about their program and was excited at the prospect of being so close to homeAgreed. It has really fallen off a cliff over the last ~8-10yrs. There are good mentors sprinkled in there, but tuition is WAAAAY up.
Good to know, thanks!I'd take GWU off your list as their APA match rate is pretty bad. The program is also very psychodynamic from what I've heard, so just be aware of that for fit. As for NSU, I know 2 neuro post-docs at different R1 AMCs who got their PsyD at NSU. That being said it's much more likely that they were the exception and not the rule. If you want a good PsyD program that's located pretty close to south Florida I'd check out Florida Tech (much smaller cohort, good APA match rate, cheaper tuition and more funding).
That's sad to hear! I've heard some good things about their program and was excited at the prospect of being so close to home
Agreed; that's what I did for my undergrad degreeI see the occasional PhD student that has a decent CV, but have yet to see a PsyD even make the interview cut at my sites. Even still, just far too expensive given their reputation. Sometimes getting a quality education requires a sacrifice of venturing out a little further from home.
Agreed; that's what I did for my undergrad degree
That's why I have such a huge list right now (and will obviously narrow it down in the coming weeks, now that it's summer break and have time to do research on the programs). Thanks for the adviceIt's a good attitude to keep up with grad school, internship, and postdoc. Choose best available and you'll have a lot of doors that open up for you in the long run.
That's why I have such a huge list right now (and will obviously narrow it down in the coming weeks, now that it's summer break and have time to do research on the programs). Thanks for the advice
That's the plan as of recently! Will actually probably now apply to more Phd than PsyD programs. Though looking at forums on this site where people talk about getting rejected from all the schools they applied to is giving me tons of anxiety and doubtOf course, I'd just echo the notion of others to also widen into PhD programs. Both clinically balanced PhD programs and the reputable PsyD programs will require research. Might as well widen the net to include more fully funded programs if you're going to be doing it anyway.
If it were easy, everyone would do it. Those who can't, apply to diploma mills.
As a PsyD grad, I would say that a student from a reputable PsyD program can do very well in their career and the people I know from my program have productive careers. That being said, the cost is something to really look closely at as my debt payments could easily be used to generate wealth for myself as opposed to a bank. Also, keep in mind that for some opportunities in our field having solid research and publication record will be a plus and this is regardless of the degree, but the PhD folk will usually be ahead of the PsyD folks on that.From other forums I know you're very Pro PhD and somewhat anti PsyD - but how do you feel about Baylor and Rutgers as programs? Do you think someone who went to those schools would do well long term, or would you still suggest going the PhD route?
From other forums I know you're very Pro PhD and somewhat anti PsyD - but how do you feel about Baylor and Rutgers as programs? Do you think someone who went to those schools would do well long term, or would you still suggest going the PhD route?
That is very clear, I've always held a handful of PsyDs, particularly Rutgers and Baylor in high regard. Honestly, their curriculum is such that they are essentially just clinically minded PhD programs. The PsyD is really an irrelevant label in their case. I suggest the best training that is fully funded in a majority of the cases. Most of the time that just happens to be a PhD. Rutgers and Baylor are fine as long as they offer full funding.