Help!! looking to transfer

[lorim]

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Hi, brand new member here! I'm looking for some info/feedback/advice regarding online psy d programs. I'm currently a doctoral student at a University and honestly...I'm so tired of the process and feel like regardless of what I do they won't let me out anyway...so I'm looking for a program that isn't too rigorous (yes i know how bad that sounds!!) and will accept a good number of the credits I have already done. my university is ridiculously expensive and I don't want to waste any more money if I can avoid it. Obviously I am looking for a decent program but I'm not overly worried about accreditation as I am already a licensed counselor. Any ideas of potential programs that might fit the bill?

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Honestly....you won't find a legitimate option. "Online" doesn't work for clinical psychology. The training is purposefully rigorous, which may or may not work for people. I would suggest if you are a licensed counselor already, that you should probably stick with that, because there isn't an easy way to complete training for a clinical psychology program. Ignoring the hurdles related to securing an internship, post-doc, etc....you still need to make it through the clinical/research requirements, which can be just as stressful and demanding.

 

[erg923]

...so I'm looking for a program that isn't too rigorous (yes i know how bad that sounds!!)

Umm, with all due respect..is the problem the program, or is it you.......

 

[lorim]

wow, way to make a newbie feel welcome!! Just looking for info, not a question of my character! and for the record...it is the program (well my advisor really) or at least that is what my fellow candidates seem to think as well!!

 

[erg923]

Fair enough. Can you further expalin what you meant by "not too rigourous" though?

Personally, I would prefer that those providing me with services that greatly impact my life and well-being (ie., medical or mental health services) be "rigourously" trained.....but perhaps you have different preferences.......

 

[PsyDWannabe]

wow, way to make a newbie feel welcome!! Just looking for info, not a question of my character! and for the record...it is the program (well my advisor really) or at least that is what my fellow candidates seem to think as well!!

I don't think the poster meant any harm, your post was a bit vague. Even I was like, "elaborate, please....". Still, no worries. But anyways, they will not let you go? Are you ABD or did your just lose interest or is there some kind of tension between you and your advisor that has been there for a while and now its just not worth it staying at that school (e.g personality clash)? The ideas that people will offer kind of depends on the specific nature of your problem. You don't haveto divulge your deepest, darkest secrets though, lol. Its pretty much up to you.

Also, aren't you kind of worried putting your school's name out there? Do you not mind being identified? This is a very public forum and anonymity might be a good idea in this case.

 

[buzzworm]

Also, aren't you kind of worried putting your school's name out there? Do you not mind being identified? This is a very public forum and anonymity might be a good idea in this case.

To the original poster: if you do want to erase any identifying info from your first post, you still can - just click the "edit" button at the bottom of that post.

 

[total]

I don't think the poster meant any harm, your post was a bit vague. Even I was like, "elaborate, please....". Still, no worries. But anyways, they will not let you go? Are you ABD or did your just lose interest or is there some kind of tension between you and your advisor that has been there for a while and now its just not worth it staying at that school (e.g personality clash)? The ideas that people will offer kind of depends on the specific nature of your problem. You don't haveto divulge your deepest, darkest secrets though, lol. Its pretty much up to you.

Also, aren't you kind of worried putting your school's name out there? Do you not mind being identified? This is a very public forum and anonymity might be a good idea in this case.

sorry to hear that but I
second PsyDwannabe's thoughts. I would personally prefer not to put school's name out there... I have a friend who is also in the similar boat. is there any way you can negotiate with ur advisor? also welcome to PM me.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Based on the responses thus far, I'd say the following two phrases are probably most in need of clarification before further information can be offered:

1) "...and feel like regardless of what I do they won't let me out anyway"

2) "...I'm looking for a program that isn't too rigorous..."

For the first point, I'd say that a large proportion of your ability to find another (more suitable) program depends on just what the school's reasons would be for not "letting you out," so to speak. If it's a personal issue with your adviser, that's one thing; but if it's based on the program's opinions of your degree of competence and expected ability/inability to successfully and adequately provide clinical psychological services in the future, then it's another issue entirely.

I've heard of students basically being informed by their advisers/chairs of training/etc. that they will be given a master's, after which they'll be expected to leave the program, based largely on their activity preferences (i.e., weren't interested/active enough in research for the program's tastes). I would expect individuals in such a situation wouldn't have a terribly difficult time transferring to a program that better suited their interests.

However, I've also heard of students who were asked to leave after a master's defense, general exam, etc. based on the committee's and department's review of a pattern of seemingly-lackluster performances, which lead to thoughts the the individual simply wasn't suited for practice in clinical psychology.

With respect to rigorousness, there definitely exists variability in the expectations programs have of their students. Based purely on conjecture, I'd wager a guess that funded positions will have (on average) higher expectations than unfunded positions, so you would likely want to start by restricting your search to the latter.

Edit: Forgot to ask--if you aren't worried about accreditation (which can have a huge impact on internship matching rates and eventual licensure), what exactly were your reasons for pursuing your Ph.D. initially, what are they now, and if they've changed, why? Would doctoral study in another field (counseling, neuroscience, social work, etc.) better suit your goals and interests?

 

[jnine]

wow, way to make a newbie feel welcome!! Just looking for info, not a question of my character! and for the record...it is the program (well my advisor really) or at least that is what my fellow candidates seem to think as well!!

s/he said with all due respect! if you say that you get to say whatever you want. It's in the Geneva Conventions, look it up!



(movie line)

 

[lorim]

Thank you all for the responses as well as the advice...I did remove the name of the school...never really thought about that but its a great point...to elaborate further, i am ABD but personality conflicts with my advisor (replacement advisor due to retirement) leaves me feeling disheartened, dissillusioned and feeling that my work will never be approved. Maybe Psyd isn't the route I want...counseling psych is probably a better bet because I really don't want to have to put in the time doing an internship etc. when I already have a thriving practice. At this point I am just tired of it all and want to be done!! (hence "not too rigorous") One of you mentioned looking at Counseling Psych instead and I think its good advice so, does anyone know of an online doctoral counseling psych program that will allow a decent amount of transfer credits and will allow me to finish out my studies iwthout redoing all I have done? I really appreciate all of the response and patience with me as I learn how to navigate this forum!!

 

[ILGirl]

Thank you all for the responses as well as the advice...I did remove the name of the school...never really thought about that but its a great point...to elaborate further, i am ABD but personality conflicts with my advisor (replacement advisor due to retirement) leaves me feeling disheartened, dissillusioned and feeling that my work will never be approved. Maybe Psyd isn't the route I want...counseling psych is probably a better bet because I really don't want to have to put in the time doing an internship etc. when I already have a thriving practice. At this point I am just tired of it all and want to be done!! (hence "not too rigorous") One of you mentioned looking at Counseling Psych instead and I think its good advice so, does anyone know of an online doctoral counseling psych program that will allow a decent amount of transfer credits and will allow me to finish out my studies iwthout redoing all I have done? I really appreciate all of the response and patience with me as I learn how to navigate this forum!!

Ummmm . . . yeah . . . I don't think a doctorate in counseling psychology is the way to go either. They, too, have to do an internship, and while some would argue differently, these programs can be just as rigorous as clinical psychology programs.

Have you explored all of your options at you current school? Is there any way that you can change your dissertation committee?

 

[futureapppsy2]

Thank you all for the responses as well as the advice...I did remove the name of the school...never really thought about that but its a great point...to elaborate further, i am ABD but personality conflicts with my advisor (replacement advisor due to retirement) leaves me feeling disheartened, dissillusioned and feeling that my work will never be approved. Maybe Psyd isn't the route I want...counseling psych is probably a better bet because I really don't want to have to put in the time doing an internship etc. when I already have a thriving practice. At this point I am just tired of it all and want to be done!! (hence "not too rigorous") One of you mentioned looking at Counseling Psych instead and I think its good advice so, does anyone know of an online doctoral counseling psych program that will allow a decent amount of transfer credits and will allow me to finish out my studies iwthout redoing all I have done? I really appreciate all of the response and patience with me as I learn how to navigate this forum!!

By ABD do you mean that you have completed EVERYTHING but dissertation (including internship)? If so, why not just suffer through it, defend, and graduate. It's not an ideal situation to be sure, but you've already done so much work, it would be a shame to throw it away, IMO.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

...does anyone know of an online doctoral counseling psych program that will allow a decent amount of transfer credits and will allow me to finish out my studies iwthout redoing all I have done? I really appreciate all of the response and patience with me as I learn how to navigate this forum!!

I may sound like a broken record, but you will not find a legitimate online doctoral program in psychology. If you are ABD, I'd strongly encourage you to try and gut it out. I'm not sure if your university/program requires a completed internship for the degree, but I believe it will, so you won't be able to avoid doing an internship. Your program may also restrict you to the level of acred. for your internship, so you may still have to jump through that hoop. In short, you probably have the following 3 options:

1. Apply to another program. Some credits will transfer, most will not. You will need to do most of your work over, resubmit your research for approval, complete an internship, and then receive your degree. If you choose to pursue doctoral licensure it is up to you.

2. Stay with your current program and gut it out, and then go on internship and then get your degree.

3. Pull yourself out of your program and continue working at your current level.

 

[erg923]

For the record, "ABD" is used to refer to those who literally only have the diss left to do. It implies that they have done internship, or are curently on internship. Moreover, why in the world have you chosen to get a doctorate in clinical psych when you dont want to do a formal internship (and apparenly have no interest in research either)? Obviously, you dont really value a doctorate since you for some reason feel the predoctoral internship is a repetitive waste of time, rather than a opportunity for skill building/refinement under quality supervsion. But, sure, I guess it could be a waste of time if you dont want to put much effort into it and dont utilize any of its training resources or faculty....thats your choice.

So the question is......What exactly is/was the purpose of your doctorate?

PS: What is with the focus on finishing things up online? Again, what is the purpose of the doctorate for you? Would you really send one of your family memmbers to a phyician who went to medical school online? Do you honestly think the quality of training in an unaccredited "not very rigorous" online program is equivalent to training from a well established clinical/counseling training program? If so, why? If not, do you think this is fair to your future patients?

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I may sound like a broken record, but you will not find a legitimate online doctoral program in psychology. If you are ABD, I'd strongly encourage you to try and gut it out. I'm not sure if your university/program requires a completed internship for the degree, but I believe it will, so you won't be able to avoid doing an internship. Your program may also restrict you to the level of acred. for your internship, so you may still have to jump through that hoop. In short, you probably have the following 3 options:

1. Apply to another program. Some credits will transfer, most will not. You will need to do most of your work over, resubmit your research for approval, complete an internship, and then receive your degree. If you choose to pursue doctoral licensure it is up to you.

2. Stay with your current program and gut it out, and then go on internship and then get your degree.

3. Pull yourself out of your program and continue working at your current level.

I'm in total agreement with T4C here; you'd honestly be better off just withdrawing and sticking with your current degree than you would be getting a psychology doctorate from an online program. Such a Ph.D. most likely wouldn't further your career in any way, and would only end up being a money-sink.

Counseling psych programs, as others have mentioned, generally require internship training, as do school psych programs. If you REALLY want out of the internship, then a non-"treatment" area (cognitive, bio, I/O, social, etc.) would be your best bet.

When it comes to doctoral education, programs generally do NOT like to transfer credits. They want you to be trained primarily in their department via their methods, and they likely also want access to you for as long as possible (that last point is complete conjecture). If nothing else, I have a feeling any program would make you complete at LEAST half of your credit hours with them before you were allowed to graduate, regardless of the field/area.

 

[Schooled]

I think I can understand your situation. I have a friend in a Pharmacology PhD and he says that in is program its modern day slavery. He loves the area and the work, but hates how much control his advisor exerts over his research. It sucks, but it’s a reality. The advisor relationship is reciprocal –you learn from them and benefit from their vast knowledge and experience, give you a PhD, and in return you do whatever the hell they want! I’m exaggerating, but, it’s true, not all advisee-advisor relationships are great.

However, academia is very small. Other universities will probably talk to your current advisor. Transferring from one doctoral program to the next is not unheard of, but it has to be legit reason. Professors move, funding gets cut, you need to move for health/family reasons… it has to be a FANTASTIC reason, or the other university will be wary of someone willing to bail on a doctoral program. I have a friend that tried to transfer from a engineering PhD to another program and found it too difficult. However, he was so unhappy where he was. He ended up going to law school to do patent law.

If you're unhappy where you're at, you defintely don't have to stay there. However, transfering may not be a viable option.