Clinical Masters as a backup plan?

[cara susanna]

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Edited because of identifiable information. If you want to rehear, PM me 😀

Thanks for the advice so far, guys!

 

[FranklinR]

Is the master's degree funded? If it is funded, I'm thinking there isn't a serious downside. If it isn't... well, then there are two downsides. One is that you'll have to pay. The other is that they may admit a whole lot of people to their master's program and relatively few to their PhD, with the obvious eventual complications.

In either case, when the time rolls around again for you to be applying to PhD programs, I would strongly suggest you apply to multiple programs, just in case. Because too many offers never made anyone sad for long.

As far as an MA/MS being a plus or minus to a PhD application: I have no idea. I really think that nobody knows. Or, rather, everybody knows. Lemme explain. While high GPA and GRE scores are unambiguous bonuses for an application (nobody ever said "No! I won't take her! She got a 780Q, and that's just too high, damn it!"), almost everything else is open to interpretation by whoever is doing the admitting. So some professors (or some programs, or both) see an MA as being almost required as a sign of seriousness and ability to do graduate work. Others may see it as an indicator of not being able to get into a PhD program the first time around.

When I talk to faculty, the fact that I practiced as an MA-level therapist for years has been described as: a. "Great!" b. "Inherently unethical, no matter what the APA and/or state says" and c. "Irrelevant." Which is right? All are, of course, since they're all opinions.

I would really like a comprehensive survey of decision makers (and decisions made).

This is, of course, just my opinion.

 

[cara susanna]

That's the thing--I don't know about funding. There's no info on the website. Their grad students said that a few of the Masters people get funded, so I'm not sure if I would get funded or not. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'd go if it weren't funded.

They admit about 14 people to the Masters program.

 

[Olivia101884]

Franklin, you make an excellent point. Obviously it may come down to an individual's experience. That being said, I have a Masters in Clinical. Like you, Cara, I have a high GPA (3.9 at a top-ranked undergrad) and I have strong GRE scores (1370 General, 750 Psych). I applied to 13 schools and got interviews at 11. In my experience, it has been helpful to have the MA, but again, it is difficult to determine whether or not the MA degree gave me the advantage. I went directly into an MA program upon graduating college at the advice of one of my professors, who said that my age would likely work against me because programs like you to have "life experience." Even at the Ph.D. program where I got my MA, they flat out said they will not accept anyone straight out of undergrad. Do they say this on their website? Of course not, since it would be unethical, but it is well-practiced nonetheless. I will say though that I was able to secure very great research and clinical experiences as a result of my MA program and its various connections (it is a well-known place). Some of my credits will definitely transfer into a Ph.D. program, so perhaps that will be helpful later on.

Franklin's other point about funding was important. I cannot speak for other programs, but my MA was certainly not funded. It is not nearly as expensive as my undergrad, but it is not cheap.

Just my two cents. Good luck!

 

[numbereight]

tough call for many of the reasons others outlined.

i can say this from my expereinces. i didn't get accepted to a decent PhD program so I went for my masters at a university that I would have been happy to attend as a PhD student (they did that application transfer thingy too).

I excelled in the program and had two professors ask if i was interested in attending their phd program. i am pretty sure that with either of their support, i would have gotten in even though it's a competitive program. i dont want to go to school here only because my wife and i want to get the heck out of new jersey 😀

so, moral of this story, to be taken with a grain of salt in the big picture, is if you go for the masters and excel in the program, you'll probably get in to their PhD program.

edit: i should also add something i think is very important - work experience in your area of interest. for example if you want to study or work with children with behavioral d/o's, go work with that population for a year and reapply. some people like breadth, but i think the top programs really like to see focused interest in the area you say you want to study. mabye i only say this because this is what I am lacking, but here are my two pennies. best of luck!

 

[myelin]

I personally would recommend obtaining a MA over a 2-year RA position. This way, you will at least have a degree in those 2 years. It will cost you, but education is an investment.

Initially I looked at schools that had both a terminal MA program and a PhD program. I asked about going in the "backdoor" by completing the MA and then applying to the PhD program as a shoe-in. Just about every professor I spoke with stated that this was possible, but not guaranteed.

If you do go into the MA program, make certain to remain engaged in research outside of the requirements. Paid or not, it will help your application. I've had professors comment on my research experience and how much I had for being at this level. Sadly, ALL of my work was trumped by my GRE score. I won't get started on that though 😎

 

[cspkbehave]

I am in a similar situation. I was rejected by the PsyD(funded) program that was my top pick, but they said they would love to have me in their masters program(not funded). 😕 I am not quite sure what to think of this. I went ahead and accepted the interview, but am wondering if there is a way to either:
1) transfer to the PsyD program after a year
2) reapply the following year to the PsyD
3)Go to another PsyD and reapply the following year and see if credits transfer? (I don't think they would, but I am not sure)
4) Forget this school all together

Any thoughts if this is even possible??????

 

[litilm]

Seems like many of these aren't due until April. Is it one of those things where the sooner you apply the better? Is it already getting too late?

 

[IdacrazyI]

I would suggest applying to a masters program that offers a psyd of phD in the same Uni. That way after you complete your masters degree the credits can transfer to your psyd degree/phD. However if you choose to attain your phd or PsyD from another school then most of the credits will not transfer over. Probably 1/4, if lucky, half will transfer over. (This is what I have been told).

 

[smeevil]

I'm applying for PhDs and PsyDs. So when they ask you why not a MA instead of a PhD or PsyD (especially if you just want to do private practice) what do you say? More rigorous training? You actually are a psychologist. (Better pay but I didn't say that.) You have more options in terms of getting hired places in case you don't do the private practice route. What else?