Getting accepted if haven't taken time off

[joetro]

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I am wondering if I can take a poll of people in clinical programs ... how many went straight after undergrad versus taking time off? What about your cohort?

I am planning to go straight through after undergrad, and I'm working on my applications now. My fear is that there is an unwritten rule in some places, or by some professors, that they take students who have taken time off to work in a lab after graduating. I feel like I have significant research experience as an undergrad, but maybe not as much as someone who has been out for 1-2 years in a full-time lab. Is there anything I can do to counterbalance this, or to successfully answer a question/concern like this expressed in an interview?

How did you people in clinical programs who went straight through "make it"?

Thanks for your help.

 

[BrainBall]

I am wondering if I can take a poll of people in clinical programs ... how many went straight after undergrad versus taking time off? What about your cohort?

I am planning to go straight through after undergrad, and I'm working on my applications now. My fear is that there is an unwritten rule in some places, or by some professors, that they take students who have taken time off to work in a lab after graduating. I feel like I have significant research experience as an undergrad, but maybe not as much as someone who has been out for 1-2 years in a full-time lab. Is there anything I can do to counterbalance this, or to successfully answer a question/concern like this expressed in an interview?

How did you people in clinical programs who went straight through "make it"?

Thanks for your help.

In a Ph.D. program, it's likely to find people who after undergrad have done research, worked in a clinical setting, or have gotten their masters and then from those experiences have decided to continue in the field. This may be the reason why there are many people who didn't go straight from undergrad.
I don't feel there is some unwritten rule that you need to take off to do more research
In fact, if your research was significant as an undergrad - that is impressive. As long as you have enough research/experience, you should be fine.

I personally went to graduate school right out of undergrad and I'm glad I did.
As far as what you should answer on an interview - you can say that you don't need to take time off to do research that you would like to start now as a graduate student...
Good luck!

 

[twiggers]

I didn't take time off and got into clinical programs (although I ended choosing a non-clinical psych program in the end). I don't think it's an unwritten rule at all, nor do I think that the question will even come up during the interview (it didn't in any of mine). Emphasize your great experiences (and the fact that you are still participating in them) and you'll be fine!
If they ask why you're jumping in to graduate school....the above poster had a great idea, or you can also say that you feel confident in your ability to start your own research because you're undergraduate experiences were so good.
Always make yourself sound great (I know it's weird to be bragging about your abilities...but that is what grad schools want to hear!)

 

[psychanon]

I took 2 years off and I'm glad I did...I had a great time working a mere 40 hours a week (say goodbye to that in grad school!), and while maybe I could have gotten into just any clinical program straight from undergrad, I'm sure I would never have gotten into the top program that I'm at now. But it's certainly not unheard of to get in to good programs straight out. In my cohort, 3/8 didn't take time off. That's probably higher than average....I think the class above above us had 1 or 2/8 straight out of undergrad. The straight from undergrad folks pretty much always do just fine...people forget who takes time off after a while.

 

[Sanman]

Well, I went straight through. Though I do wish I had taken a year off to only work 40 hrs a week. I can tell you that if you plan well that it certainly can be done. However, due to a lack of time you have to work pretty hard and are at a disadvatage compared to those who have taken years off. If you want to go to a top program, I wouldn't reccommend this. If you are less competitive, then you'll fair better. I can tell you that even though I had a pretty solid cv, I didn't get interviews from the better programs I applied to. Though I have to say that I'm happy where I am.

 

[PsychStudent]

I didn't take time off and got into a school that is very well regarded. That said, there is only one other person in my program (across all years) who went straight through.


Honestly, if you really want to go, definitely apply. You can always reapply if you don't get in the first time. If I had worked for a year, it would have been in psychology anyway, and I figured that was going to be a waste if I was getting paid hardly anything and not getting a degree in the process.

 

[psychgeek]

I went straight through and got into a good program, but I still wish I had taken a year off. I feel like I started my first year of grad school already half-way to burned out, and it would have been nice to relax a little bit more during my last year of undergrad. Grad apps are no fun 👎