Clinical Psych Application Timeline

[goldenslumbers]

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Just wondering, since I cannot seem to find it anywhere online, when is the best time to apply to graduate programs?

Also, could someone please give me any suggestions on my application? My GPA is a 3.5, I was a neuroscience major with a minor in biomedical research at a premier research university, and I just graduated in March 2013 (just a quarter early). I took a practice GRE, and didn't do as well as I thought I would on quant b/c I have forgotten math, but I'm honestly not too worried about it considering it seems to be a lot easier than the MCAT, so I'm assuming I'll have at least 70% for most schools. I have 6 years of research experience and clinical experience (I was a caseworker for homeless patients), and I have my own non-profit organization for foster children. All this makes me sound like a decent applicant, however, I'm very worried about my research interests not being a good match for clinical psychology schools. I did electrophysiology in an excellent neuroscience lab for 3/4 of my undergrad career, which would get me easily into any neuroscience grad program, but I would rather not kill mice for all of graduate school! How should I approach this in my application? C

 

[anonyrat]

I was a neuroscience major undergrad as well, had only worked with animals, and it was only a positive thing when applying to grad programs specializing in neuropsychology. I wouldn't sweat that aspect too much. Talk about how you're working with & have gained lots of experience working with humans now and find it more fulfilling than working with rats, but are happy you have the solid bio background from studying neuroscience.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I was a neuroscience major undergrad as well, had only worked with animals, and it was only a positive thing when applying to grad programs specializing in neuropsychology. I wouldn't sweat that aspect too much. Talk about how you're working with & have gained lots of experience working with humans now and find it more fulfilling than working with rats, but are happy you have the solid bio background from studying neuroscience.

Agreed. My advisor did similar research as an undergrad, as did many of the other grad students in the lab. Getting that type of basic (neuro)sciences research will probably only be seen as a positive in neuropsychological circles, particularly if you "spin" it right.

 

[thewesternsky]

I agree with the other two comments. In addition, there really is no advantage to applying early. No one does rolling admissions. Just get your application in by the deadline, and make sure the profs you're interested in working with are at least considering taking a student this year. If they are not, save your application fee and apply elsewhere instead.

 

[neuronic]

I too was in an animal behavioral neuroscience lab before being accepted into a clinical neuropsych Ph.D program. Strong GREs will get you interviews. What will be key is how you are able to explain (both in your written essays and during interviews) on why you want to switch from neuroscience to neuropsychology. The answer will need to be consistent across everyone you meet with, because at most institutions the admission decision will be made in consensus. Your non-research experiences should carry some weight and likely attest to your interpersonal skills, which will be one of the most important deciding factors after you get interview offers.

 

[goldenslumbers]

Wow, people are so much more helpful on the non-premed side of this forum. Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions, I'm feeling much better about it now. I am still concerned, however, about matching with professors. If they compare me alongside someone who has very similar research experience to the professor, do you think they'd consider us equally or would they more likely be comfortable with someone used to their research? In other words, how much is your specific research experience weighed in the process? Also, what schools (if you don't mind saying) did you apply to as neuroscience majors for neuropsychology that you found a good fit with? Did any of you contact professors beforehand to see if they would want to accept someone with your background, or is that frowned upon?

Thanks again🙂

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Wow, people are so much more helpful on the non-premed side of this forum. Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions, I'm feeling much better about it now. I am still concerned, however, about matching with professors. If they compare me alongside someone who has very similar research experience to the professor, do you think they'd consider us equally or would they more likely be comfortable with someone used to their research? In other words, how much is your specific research experience weighed in the process? Also, what schools (if you don't mind saying) did you apply to as neuroscience majors for neuropsychology that you found a good fit with? Did any of you contact professors beforehand to see if they would want to accept someone with your background, or is that frowned upon?

Thanks again🙂

I can't speak to the neuroscience bit (I was a neuroscience major my first year, but I ended up transferring eventually, and the program in which I ended up didn't offer it as a field of study), but can give my answers for the bolded portions:

-Just in my own personal experience, I was accepted into a neuropsychology lab while having exactly 0 neuropsychology research experience. I hadclinical and cognitive psych experience, though, and apparently my advisor just happened to get along with me decently well during the interview. Having experience in the exact area you'd like to study could be helpful, but for neuropsychology, I would think having basic neuroscience research would be fine, particularly if you can do a good job of articulating your future interests and how your past experiences have helped you realize that's what you'd like to do. If you can happen to gain some general psych experience as well, more power to you.

-I contacted every POI ahead of time to, at the very least, be sure they were accepting students for the upcoming year

 

[KillerDiller]

Just wondering, since I cannot seem to find it anywhere online, when is the best time to apply to graduate programs? I have recently decided to reject my medical school acceptance and follow in my parent's footsteps as a clinical neuropsychologist. As some of you know, the med school application cycle pretty much begins in June of the year before you plan to attend medical school, even though all the websites state their deadlines to be in late-December. Is this the same with graduate schools? I'm planning on taking my GRE in July and submit applications by october-ish, does that seem ok? Everyone says that they applied to grad schools right before the deadline, but I'm not aware of how many schools secretly have some kind of rolling admissions process, and I don't want to time to ruin my chances of acceptance.

Also, could someone please give me any suggestions on my application? My GPA is a 3.5, I was a neuroscience major with a minor in biomedical research at a premier research university, and I just graduated in March 2013 (just a quarter early). I took a practice GRE, and didn't do as well as I thought I would on quant b/c I have forgotten math, but I'm honestly not too worried about it considering it seems to be a lot easier than the MCAT, so I'm assuming I'll have at least 70% for most schools. I have 6 years of research experience and clinical experience (I was a caseworker for homeless patients), and I have my own non-profit organization for foster children. All this makes me sound like a decent applicant, however, I'm very worried about my research interests not being a good match for clinical psychology schools. I did electrophysiology in an excellent neuroscience lab for 3/4 of my undergrad career, which would get me easily into any neuroscience grad program, but I would rather not kill mice for all of graduate school! How should I approach this in my application? Currently, I'm working in my parents private practice, in which I am administering psychological tests (obviously not IQ, just regular paper tests), helping to run groups, and doing research (2 papers in process of publication). I just feel like I'm all over the place, and I do believe I have what it takes to succeed in clinical neuropsychology with my background, but I just want to know if schools won't want me because my undergraduate research is in a very specialized area of neuroscience.

Thanks so much, and sorry for the post-length. Your comments are very much appreciated.

I don't have anything constructive to add, just wanted to say welcome to someone else who has an Abbey Road reference in their user name.