Help!!!

[PhDanxiety]

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Hello everyone! I am preparing my applications for Ph.D. programs in clinical psychology and am experiencing the inevitable self doubt and anxiety that comes with it. I was hoping that some of you may help me to gauge my chances of acceptance or possibly share some wisdom about admittance into a program. I chose to attend a master's program before trying for a doctorate because I wanted the extra clinical and research experience, as well as a better focus or understanding of my interests in the field. I am very committed to obtaining a Ph.D. and pursuing a career in both clinical and academic settings, but have doubts about my chances at acceptance. My undergraduate psychology GPA was a 3.98 and my master's is 3.86, however my overall undergraduate GPA was a 3.34. Also, I have completed two independent research projects (thesis) and am currently working as a graduate research assistant. I haven't published anything and was a little naive about research experience in undergrad, passing an opportunity to present at a conference. I also did not prepare for the GREs my first time around, scoring only an 1100. I have two years of clinical experience now and have chosen to apply to programs in which I have definite similarity in interests with the faculty. I am fortunate in that I have two mentors who will speak highly of me and recommend me.

Is there any hope for an applicant like me? Also, I have read many books about the application process and have talked with many faculty and professionals, but still don't know one thing. What does the applicant pool look like in comparison to me?

Help!!!

 

[PsiKo]

Your chances are your chances. You're going to submit your applications regardless, right? No use in overthinking it at this point. It just has to play out. There's a tendency for people to get so heavily invested in pursuing a career in psychology (Lord knows why!?) that the stakes seem so overwhelming. Try and maintain perspective.

One of the X factors that no one can answer is the total tally of applications filed this season. Who know what the competition is going to be like in '06-'07. If your numbers aren't superlative, a smaller applicant pool this year may position you better than you think. (This is a possible confound in comparing your numbers to others who've applied in previous years.) Of course the opposite may hold true as well, and more crazy and misguided people will be applying than ever. If this is the case, your GRE scores could be a liability especially at the more competitive programs. If, however, you're including PsyD programs in the mix, I would think your chances of getting in are pretty solid.

If you're set on getting into a PhD program, there's reason to take heart. I read in one of the graduate school handbooks that while the likelihood of getting to any one (PhD) program is pretty low, the likelihood of getting in somewhere is actually fairly high, assuming, of course, that you apply to enough schools (~10-12) to maximize your odds.

Lastly, one of the few topics I've rarely seen discussed here is how to prepare for the interview -- and for the variety of interview formats. Top-of-the-class GPAs and GREs won't count for much if you botch the interview. OTOH, a self-assured and winning personality might make all the difference for the applicant with less than stellar numbers.

 

[PhDanxiety]

I am certainly one of those crazy misguided people set on a clinical program 🙂 I heard a similar tid bit of information about applying to numerous schools, which I am doing (16). I think that you made a good point about the interviews. I definitly wasn't prepared when I completed interviews for master's programs and was surprised at how intense one of them turned out to be. It would definitely help to be somewhat ready for anything that may come your way. Any advice about the interview process (if I get there!)?

 

[phd2006]

Lastly, one of the few topics I've rarely seen discussed here is how to prepare for the interview -- and for the variety of interview formats. Top-of-the-class GPAs and GREs won't count for much if you botch the interview. OTOH, a self-assured and winning personality might make all the difference for the applicant with less than stellar numbers.

I agree, this is the true 'make or break' step. Some one once told me, that by the time you are invited for an interview (whether it is school, internship, employment, etc.), the decision has already been made that you are qualified on paper. Yes, you need to know content so the interviewers can determine your level of skill (we can all make ourselves glow on paper, but does that translate to the real world?) and your confidence in your skills. Questions/interviews may seem hard, but it is an attempt to separate how you appear on paper from reality.

IMO, the true main goal of an interview is about how you will fit into the existing system and how you interact with others. The interviewers want to know are they going to want to work with you, mentor you, supervise you on a personal level? How will you get along with other students/employees they are already involved with? How well you do on this portion of the interview, may be the determining factor to how heavily things such as gpa, gre, etc., are weighted.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I've been on both sides of the interviewing process, and it is definately about determining how well you would fit in, and how well the school fits you. I've come across applicants who really made me wonder how the hell they made it to the interview, and others who seemed like they were born to follow this path.

Last year during a lunch break I had an interviewee tell me an anti-semetic joke, he then followed it up with a joke about black people, THEN he told me how he was a lock for a spot because he had 'a perfect' application. I was seriously scratching my head at that one. I didn't interview him, but needless to say....he wasn't offered a spot. On the other hand, I interviewed some people who were already doing great PhD level research/work, and the transition would be a relatively easy one.

I remember when I interviewed, I actually had one professor tell me (bluntly) that one of the reasons for the 1 on 1 in-depth faculty interviews is to weed out the crazies; he wasn't kidding.

Make sure to do your HW about who you are interviewing with, have a number of questions to ask about the program (interviewers hate when an applicant doesn't put effort into the process), and don't be afraid to talk. I've talked to some people, and it was like pulling teeth....which isn't a way to make a good impression at an interview.

-p

 

[joetro]

Not sure how helpful this comment willl be, but I think it's worth saying that once you get to the interview stage, everyone along with you is well qualified. I'm not quite sure how they make distinictions at an interview point, but I imagine that it must be very hard for some faculty to choose between a number of really good choices.