So I applied to about 5 psyd programs. Got rejected by all of them. 1 interview at the wright insitute, but apparently everyone hates that school on these forums. I'm not sure what I did wrong. My GRE was average, my gpa was good, my volunteering and research was there...i had great letters of rec...what should i do? I have taken all the psych classes I can take, can't afford to take any more. Should I just move on to MSW programs?
My first thought is why didn't you apply to more than 5 programs? Was it location? And why did you exclude clinical psych PhDs if you have research experience? Many PsyDs still require independent research.
If you're applying straight from undergrad, consider these rhetorical questions:
How were your interviews? Did you come across as a mature individual in the interviews who would be able to 'stomach' a client revealing their deepest darkest secrets? Were you warm, friendly, and open? Some programs thrust you into the role of therapist in the first year, so you have to come across showing good judgment, restraint, and compassion...not to mention great listening skills!
What about your personal statement? Did the opening of your PS draw intrigue and make your reader want to know more about you? Could interviewers get a flavor of your personality and what drives your ambition? Did you have others read it and provide feedback to strengthen it or was it your first or second draft? Were there any dreaded typo's?
How average were your GREs? Where they close to the minimum/cut-off scores? GREs are always a cost-effective way to make your application stronger the second time around. You can take an online course (like Kaplan) that has timed practice tests that help you pinpoint your weakest areas.
Wow, you sound really desperate to start ANY program.
For the MSW (similar to any professional degree), you want to go to a program that has a great reputation and minimize loans. The whole 3rd tier thing never works out.
How will getting a PsyD or MSW fulfill your passion and career goals?
Yes, you must consider the additional loans that you will incur while making yourself a more competitive applicant. You also have to decide if these suggestions are too tiresome (they may be for now...), but towards the end of the summer, you can pick up where you left off to focus on applying 2013-14. Some graduate schools may carry some unchanged materials over (like transcripts) if you contact them now to tell them you will reapply. Also, some (not many) DCT/graduate admissions offices will meet with you to discuss why you didn't get an interview.
As a typical psychology SDNer, I'm just gonna say the usual response to posts like these: "Go premed."
If this wasn't a joke, I disagree. Premed is another beast. And medical students are their own animals who are often obviously competitive and highly-focused. It's not a comparable alternate route unless you are focused on medical management (not therapy), super-smart and have very high scores all around (not that I'm saying you are not super smart).
I agree with the posters that have said decide how badly you want this clinical psychology career. And don't be disheartened if you don't get in the first time. Sometimes it's absolutely necessary to do 'trial run' to see if it's right for you. Sounds like you like therapy, so MSWs are a good choice because they are terminal degrees. However, if you can take a tumble or two, pick yourself up, work on your GREs, personal statement, and strengthen your overall package, then you can come back with (positive) vengeance. You only have to swallow your pride and ask your recommenders to resubmit their letters of support - but these requests often lead to constructive discussions & more advice. It 100% shows your determination, so it's never a waste of anyone's time to support someone who's earnestly trying to accomplish their goals. These programs need to see the passion and sometimes you're up against 10 or so other people who just displayed the sort of intense, mature enthusiasm that would make a good clinician.
And awesome for the volunteer work! I'd definitely find volunteer work that would provide you 'clinical' experience, like those in domestic violence or crisis counseling hotlines.
All is not lost. It's just a highly selective process and sometimes others have the right 'story' and just a little more luck than you...for that particular year. Good luck!
