Finding the right mentor

[Ackybono]

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From what I gather it seems to be at least as important to find a good professor within a program with whom my clinical interests align as it is to find a program that offers a concentrations/tracks focused on those areas.
Any suggestions on how best to identify a professor I could count on mentoring me if I were to enroll in their program?

 

[olychick65]

When you apply to a program (a PhD program, PsyDs aren't always this way), you apply directly to the mentor you are interested in. If you are accepted, that mentor is agreeing to mentor your research and often your clinical work as well throughout your time in the program. The schools often see applicants as applying to faculty members and not the the program because the mentorship and fit aspect is so important.

So, you can count on a faculty member mentoring you as long as that's the faculty member you applied for. Now, if you changed your mind mindway- that may be a different story.

 

[Ollie123]

I would actually say it is far more important to have a good mentor then to have a track, at least if you are planning to pursue any sort of academic career. Perhaps others can speak more towards the clinical side of things, but I imagine it would be immensely helpful there as well. You can really focus in on a specialization, they will probably be familiar with (or themselves have appointments at) many practica sites you will be interested in, etc. Even if you are clinically-focused, don't underestimate the amount you can learn about clinical work in a good research lab. We're primarily addiction neuroscientists in my lab, but it has still helped me clinically. I imagine a lab that does more "clinical" research would be even more beneficial.

Be careful of programs with "tracks". Some are legitimate and offered by some great programs (e.g. U Miami). Overall though, it seems like they are more commonly used as an "advertising scheme" to draw people into schools with questionable reputations. A track itself won't open any doors for you that getting the same (or more commonly, better) experiences at a school that doesn't have a formal track will.

 

[Ackybono]

I'm sorry. I should have specified I am specifically interested in a PsyD program.