Getting rolling on dissertation.

[psydtobe]

---

Members don't see this ad.

is the first emotion i feel....then YAY! I am one of "those" students that would really like to consider getting started on dissertation because i hope to defend and apply for internship in my 3rd year. i have spent time with a 4th year student today and she discussed getting the ball rolling so that i am not overwhelmed. has anyone else done this process? i am at a psyd program and i don't have a specific person i am working under, so i am sort of going this alone (i don't mesh with my faculty advisor AT ALL, but that's another story).

 

[cara susanna]

3rd year? I'm hoping to apply in my 4th year and I already feel really rushed. Can't even imagine.

 

[erg923]

is the first emotion i feel....then YAY! I am one of "those" students that would really like to consider getting started on dissertation because i hope to defend and apply for internship in my 3rd year. i have spent time with a 4th year student today and she discussed getting the ball rolling so that i am not overwhelmed. has anyone else done this process? i am at a psyd program and i don't have a specific person i am working under, so i am sort of going this alone (i don't mesh with my faculty advisor AT ALL, but that's another story).

I would save your money. Applying in the middle of your 3rd year probably isn't gonna work. You just wont be viewed as having enough experience. Sorry.

 

[psydtobe]

Well the only reason I am considering this is several faculty have mentioned that those of us who have entered with MA and work experience may do well. I have 2 years of work experience and plan to focus on practicums that will give more assessment. I am not rejecting your comments, just wondered if that additional info changes anything. I am not totally opposed to waiting as this isn't just a race to me. Sorry for any typos, on my
Phone!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Well the only reason I am considering this is several faculty have mentioned that those of us who have entered with MA and work experience may do well. I have 2 years of work experience and plan to focus on practicums that will give more assessment. I am not rejecting your comments, just wondered if that additional info changes anything. I am not totally opposed to waiting as this isn't just a race to me. Sorry for any typos, on my
Phone!

On the APPIC application, master's-level clinical experience is counted separately from the hours you accumulate during your doctoral training. Thus, while sites will see the hours, they likely won't factor into your application (and thus in your favor) as strongly, given that the focus of the training and supervision for/during those hours was different. With the competitiveness of the internship process as it currently stands, I honestly couldn't see very many third-year applicants having a viable shot at accredited internship spots. That, and just from my own application experiences, many of the sites to which I applied required that you have at least three years of doctoral training before applying.

Not trying to completely dissuade you from your path, but I do want you to be able to make a fully-informed decision.

 

[erg923]

Well the only reason I am considering this is several faculty have mentioned that those of us who have entered with MA and work experience may do well. I have 2 years of work experience and plan to focus on practicums that will give more assessment. I am not rejecting your comments, just wondered if that additional info changes anything. I am not totally opposed to waiting as this isn't just a race to me. Sorry for any typos, on my
Phone!

I would strongly disagree with their assertions, largely due to comments already made by AA above.

 

[psydtobe]

Thanks for your insight. I definitely wanted to hear your opinions as you all have experience! I will move on with doing my best to get going on the dissertation. Moreso to have it completed versus applying for internship early 🙂

 

[erg923]

Well the only reason I am considering this is several faculty have mentioned that those of us who have entered with MA and work experience may do well. I have 2 years of work experience and plan to focus on practicums that will give more assessment. I am not rejecting your comments, just wondered if that additional info changes anything. I am not totally opposed to waiting as this isn't just a race to me. Sorry for any typos, on my
Phone!

If you want our feedback then dont do the above. Your masters-level practicum hours and "work experience" is weighed as just that " relevant experience." It doesn't take the place of doctoral level training hours and experience. Thus, unless you are a hardcore npsych person, you will want a balance of assessment and therapy. You would do yourself a huge disservice if you did 2 assesment only practicums in a row (how would your program even allow that?) and then applied to CMHs, state hospitals, or counseling centers and touted your masters level therapy experiences. Nope, not the same.

 

[psydtobe]

i think you most definitely read my tone wrong. i mentioned the ma degree because the faculty told me that it counted as experience, not that i believe to be superior. i also brought up assessment because that is an area that i do not have as much experience in. my post was short due to be being on my phone. if i felt i was "too good" for the advice i would not have posted. my intention was not to get someone to cosign, it was for real answers.

 

[psydtobe]

On the APPIC application, master's-level clinical experience is counted separately from the hours you accumulate during your doctoral training. Thus, while sites will see the hours, they likely won't factor into your application (and thus in your favor) as strongly, given that the focus of the training and supervision for/during those hours was different. With the competitiveness of the internship process as it currently stands, I honestly couldn't see very many third-year applicants having a viable shot at accredited internship spots. That, and just from my own application experiences, many of the sites to which I applied required that you have at least three years of doctoral training before applying.

Not trying to completely dissuade you from your path, but I do want you to be able to make a fully-informed decision.

your explanation was really helpful. i myself have been concerned with the level of competitiveness and this breakdown is very clear.

 

[Zigman]

I don't disagree that it will likely be difficult to match when applying in your 3rd year. However, I have the same sort of background as the OP (got an MA first) and matched to an APA neuro track, applying in my 3rd year. So, there is hope, but I wouldn't bank on matching the first time when you apply in your third year.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I don't disagree that it will likely be difficult to match when applying in your 3rd year. However, I have the same sort of background as the OP (got an MA first) and matched to an APA neuro track, applying in my 3rd year. So, there is hope, but I wouldn't bank on matching the first time when you apply in your third year.

I know of one person in my program who matched during their third year as well, so it definitely can happen. I just would hate for someone to spend the significant amount of money required for the entire process without at least being informed that the odds are probably stacked against him/her. Especially given the significant increase in competitiveness over the past few years.

It can never hurt to get a head start on your dissertation, though. And having it completed, or even just proposed, before going on internship interviews is seen as a rather huge bonus by many sites it seems.