How long was your journey to become a Psychologist?

[psych844]

So was it a simple journey? HS, then 4yrs of Uni, and then Phd? or did you have to wait many years to get into a Phd program? or did you decide on this career a bit later in life?

Curious to hear some stories of your guys journey's.

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[WisNeuro]

4 years UG, B.Ss in psych, lots of hard sciences (calc, few bio classes, chem, anat/phsio, etc). One year off to take a paid lab manager position, 5 years grad, 1 year internship, 2 year postdoc

 

[deleted343839]

4 years undergrad, 2 years working post-BA, 6 years grad school, 1 year internship, a year of postdoc then left postdoc early to take a faculty job.

I didn't decide to go for a Ph.D. in psychology until after I finished my BA. In college I took pre-med courses to give myself options, but by the time I graduated I was pretty sure that med school was not for me. Today I hold my physician colleagues in very high regard, but working alongside them has only validated that choice. 🙂

 

[cara susanna]

High school, 4 years undergrad, 5 years grad school, 1 year internship, and will be doing a 2 year post doc. And I'm not even a psychologist yet...

 

[psych844]

4 years UG, B.Ss in psych, lots of hard sciences (calc, few bio classes, chem, anat/phsio, etc). One year off to take a paid lab manager position, 5 years grad, 1 year internship, 2 year postdoc

Yeah, I'm in the B.A, and there are benefits and disadvantages. At my Uni, the BSs crowd is guaranteed a thesis, which is a must for Canadian Phd programs, but they have to take at least one math course, (not including stats 1/stats 2), about 4 biology courses, 4 chemistry/org, and all of perception/cognition/learning/conditioning, on top of the regular stuff..Research & Ethics, Psychometrics, Child Development, Biological foundations of behavioretc The B.A crowd..we have to take stats 1/stats 2, none of the other math or science stuff, and we get to choose one of cognition/perception or learning/conditioning. But we are not guranteed a thesis, we have to get a certain GPA, and build relationships with the profs (volunteer at their lab) to have hope of doing one.

 

[BuckeyeLove]

5 years B.S. [had a lot of fun 😉 ] with 4 years graduate, 1 year internship, wrapping up one year postdoc, starting PP with former supervisor as well as a state gig this fall. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat. So many great times, friends and family developed over these years.

 

[Marissa4usa]

HS, 2 years of traveling, 4 years college, 2 years masters, 2 years as RA. I just finished my 2nd year in a PhD program and I plan to do 5+1. Furthermore, I'm hopeful I can skip the post-doc but we'll see.

 

[PsyDr]

came into university as a sophomore (thanks dual credit courses), 4 part years (part time) university + started own business, one year to manage and sell business, 4 years grad school, one year internship, two year HCG neuropsych fellowship, two years supervised practice in forensics, then 2 years of psychopharm training.

 

[psychrat]

Too long. High school, four years of college, two years work experience in clinical research, three years for research MA, 6 years phd program since I did not match for internship first time around, now going on internship!

 

[eremitestar]

Mine was also pretty long. HS, 4-year BA, 2-year MA, five years of PhD research/coursework, just finishing up 1 year of internship, 1-year postdoc lined up for next year. Hopefully I'll be a full-fledged psychologist by some time next summer!

 

[psych844]

came into university as a sophomore (thanks dual credit courses), 4 part years (part time) university + started own business, one year to manage and sell business, 4 years grad school, one year internship, two year HCG neuropsych fellowship, two years supervised practice in forensics, then 2 years of psychopharm training.

I think you "win" so far.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Undergrad, a number of years in consulting/tech (boom! bust!), spent a yr in healthcare (evil side), then back to grad school for 5+1, MS pharma, 2yr rehab/nuero fellowship. It was definitely an interesting ride.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I took the scenic route through most of my education. Transferred between 3 undergrad programs with a year of full-time and some part-time work thrown in there, worked full-time again for another year after graduating, took the extended 6+1 grad school path, and finished up (thus far) with a 2-year neuro fellowship. We'll see if a psychopharm masters (more for personal education than actual practice) gets thrown in there at some point; hard to justify that price tag just for the sake of intellectual fulfillment, though.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

We'll see if a psychopharm masters (more for personal education than actual practice) gets thrown in there at some point; hard to justify that price tag just for the sake of intellectual fulfillment, though.

I did it to improve my clinical knowledge and help my research pursuits. Cost is definitely a consideration. I'm not sure the cost these days, but maybe you can get an employer to pay for it?

 

[smalltownpsych]

I decided to go back to school at about age 29 with goal of becoming a psychologist. This was in 1995. My first career was in transportation where I had worked as a warehouse laborer and worked my way up to a management position. After a layoff and realizing that I would have to start at the bottom again with a painful back from all the heavy lifting, I changed course, decided to go back to school and work in sales. I had some undergrad credits already so spent a year going to community college to finish general ed requirements. Then I entered a university and got my BA in psych after three more years.

I wasn't sure what the next step was so took a year off as I attempted to figure it out. Back then I could not find much help on the internet and as the first to graduate college in my very dysfunctional family, I had significant maladaptive beliefs and fears to overcome. At that point, I had almost given up. I found out about a local MA program that seemed suitable and so I enrolled and completed that in about 2 years while working full-time in a sales position. I missed application cycle so spent a year continuing to work and begin application process. In 2003, I was accepted by a university-based PsyD program and in 2010, after completing an APA-accredited internship and then getting my supervised post-doc hours, I attained my license to practice psychology.

 

[Pragma]

3.5 years UG, took a year to work before applying to PhD programs, 5 years (4 grad school + 1 internship), 2 years neuro postdoc.

The fun part is adding up all of the unpaid/lowly paid clinical hours you did once grad school started.

 

[Quiche]

HS, 4 years college, 2 years working full time post BA, 4 years ph.d. program, and heading into my one internship this year! Just internship and a 1-2 year post-doc left 🙂

 

[G Costanza]

4 years of HS
4.5 years for double major BA in History and Psych
1 year as an auto mechanic
1 year in marketing
2 years working inpatient
2.5 years getting an MA in psych while working at a carwash
5 years for a PhD and still working at the carwash for the first 3
Starting as a UCC permanent staff psychologist in August!

Thinking about going back for an MS in psychopharm at some point.

 

[cara susanna]

4 years of HS
4.5 years for double major BA in History and Psych
1 year as an auto mechanic
1 year in marketing
2 years working inpatient
2.5 years getting an MA in psych while working at a carwash
5 years for a PhD and still working at the carwash for the first 3
Starting as a UCC permanent staff psychologist in August!

Thinking about going back for an MS in psychopharm at some point.

Congrats on the job, Mr. Costanza. I bet this will truly be the summer of George!

 

[Chalupacabra]

Realized halfway through my senior year of undergrad that my major was not particularly bankable and not something I wanted to do the rest of my years. Started working at a mentoring program for EBD kids through a local non-profit, fell in love with the work and went back to school part time and continued working there and my local chapter of The ARC. Two years later I got into a CAS program and just got my national school psych certification, now heading back to get my doctorate in the Fall. Aiming to be done (classes, internship and postdoc) in six years. Fingers crossed.

 

[undertoad]

Four years undergrad (double major in literature and creative writing). Four years working as administrative assistant, pining for an MFA program that was out of reach financially (and wouldn't have been a good investment of student loan debt). Then six years of military service to get my head on straight. Now I'm back in undergraduate school, wrapping up a B.S. in psychology, with the intention of applying to PhD programs next winter.

 

[undertoad]

Realized halfway through my senior year of undergrad that my major was not particularly bankable and not something I wanted to do the rest of my years. Started working at a mentoring program for EBD kids through a local non-profit, fell in love with the work and went back to school part time and continued working there and my local chapter of The ARC. Two years later I got into a CAS program and just got my national school psych certification, now heading back to get my doctorate in the Fall. Aiming to be done (classes, internship and postdoc) in six years. Fingers crossed.

Did you like working with The Arc? I'm starting a job as a direct service professional with an organization that serves the same populations, but I'm still in the initial training stages, so I don't have that much experience with it yet.

 

[psych844]

My story. I wasn't really enjoying University after high-school and had many issues (mostly at home). I did a lot of odd jobs, worked at a coffee shop for couple years, travelled a bit, then about five years back (at about 25) decided to study political science, mostly because I live in a city where that kind of degree made sense, and worried that psych would be too depressing to study. Then last year I decided to do a second degree in Psych. I have the 2015-2016 year to do, and will probably have to come back for another year (thesis). At this point I'm leaving my options open..may stop at the Masters level, but def will only consider good programs. (thesis programs, to leave the option of Phd open). If I was able to get into a fully funded Phd program, it make the choice much easier.

 

[Kimbee]

It seems like most people take time off between college and getting their PhD. Do you think getting into a good program is more competitive than med school admissions? There's less PhD spots, but there's no set in stone hard science pre-reqs. I wonder if psychs continiue to gain presecriptive privledges, doctorate programs will add the psychofarm classes into their curriculum?

 

[cara susanna]

It seems like most people take time off between college and getting their PhD. Do you think getting into a good program is more competitive than med school admissions? There's less PhD spots, but there's no set in stone hard science pre-reqs. I wonder if psychs continiue to gain presecriptive privledges, doctorate programs will add the psychofarm classes into their curriculum?

I believe that statistically, it is more competitive. But so is veterinarian school.

 

[Chalupacabra]

Did you like working with The Arc? I'm starting a job as a direct service professional with an organization that serves the same populations, but I'm still in the initial training stages, so I don't have that much experience with it yet.

I had a really great experience. I worked in the Education Department so I was doing a lot of work with academically focused skills which was right up my alley, and my supervisor gave me a lot of freedom to suggest behavioral interventions as well. I was actually helping design PBIS interventions for some students before I knew what they were technically called and a lot of the stuff that I studied ended up feeling much more concrete since I had some applied experiences with it.

That said, I had some acquaintances who worked in residential placements and had much more negative experiences - they did a lot of restraining individuals, which is pretty physically and emotionally draining for everyone involved. I'd try and ask around and see what people's day to day work is like.

 

[undertoad]

I had a really great experience. I worked in the Education Department so I was doing a lot of work with academically focused skills which was right up my alley, and my supervisor gave me a lot of freedom to suggest behavioral interventions as well. I was actually helping design PBIS interventions for some students before I knew what they were technically called and a lot of the stuff that I studied ended up feeling much more concrete since I had some applied experiences with it.

That said, I had some acquaintances who worked in residential placements and had much more negative experiences - they did a lot of restraining individuals, which is pretty physically and emotionally draining for everyone involved. I'd try and ask around and see what people's day to day work is like.

I'm glad you had a good experience. I'm in a residential placement, but they have a lot of skilled providers on staff and seem to have a really good handle on dealing with challenging behaviors. Overall, I'm getting a pretty positive vibe.

 

[Renaissance_Man]

I decided to go back to school at about age 29 with goal of becoming a psychologist. This was in 1995. My first career was in transportation where I had worked as a warehouse laborer and worked my way up to a management position. After a layoff and realizing that I would have to start at the bottom again with a painful back from all the heavy lifting, I changed course, decided to go back to school and work in sales. I had some undergrad credits already so spent a year going to community college to finish general ed requirements. Then I entered a university and got my BA in psych after three more years.

I wasn't sure what the next step was so took a year off as I attempted to figure it out. Back then I could not find much help on the internet and as the first to graduate college in my very dysfunctional family, I had significant maladaptive beliefs and fears to overcome. At that point, I had almost given up. I found out about a local MA program that seemed suitable and so I enrolled and completed that in about 2 years while working full-time in a sales position. I missed application cycle so spent a year continuing to work and begin application process. In 2003, I was accepted by a university-based PsyD program and in 2010, after completing an APA-accredited internship and then getting my supervised post-doc hours, I attained my license to practice psychology.

That's very interesting. I find myself in the same age as you did about going back to school. I am in school, but I am looking towards the long road ahead. I don't mean to change topics here, but I can't help it. Was it worth it? I am asking myself this question if it will be worth it, career wise and financially, once I am done with school.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

That's very interesting. I find myself in the same age as you did about going back to school. I am in school, but I am looking towards the long road ahead. I don't mean to change topics here, but I can't help it. Was it worth it? I am asking myself this question if it will be worth it, career wise and financially, once I am done with school.

I can't answer for smalltown, obviously, but I can say that due to my...rather protracted path, I was only a handful of years younger than they were when I started grad school, and I would definitely say it's been worthwhile.

That being said, the "smart money" is probably in medicine in terms of a higher floor and easier time finding employment. But from my side of things, I just wouldn't enjoy doing what physicians typically do. I also feel that our training provides us with a unique and useful perspective, particularly in a medical setting (undervalued as it is and we allow it to be). I'm happy with my income currently, and when I decide that's no longer the case, I'll likely just branch out into some other area or field.

 

[smalltownpsych]

That's very interesting. I find myself in the same age as you did about going back to school. I am in school, but I am looking towards the long road ahead. I don't mean to change topics here, but I can't help it. Was it worth it? I am asking myself this question if it will be worth it, career wise and financially, once I am done with school.

It is completely worth it for me and my wife agrees and that's important because we started dating at the very beginning of this process. It really does help that I finally have a good income. The truth is that I get to do something I love and get paid fairly well. I have enjoyed other jobs in the past but I usually got bored and frustrated in a few months and the income wasn't even close. I have been a licensed psychologist for 5 years now and every day is still a new challenge. Sure I could make more as a psychiatrist, but I actually believe some of our skill set gives us an edge. I plan on working until I am 70 and since I don't have to move quick or think quick and am in good mental and physical health, that should be doable. That gives me about a 25 year career with about 20 to prepare for retirement which should be just enough. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have started young and what that perspective would be like, but I don't spend too much time dwelling on should've, could've, or would've. A saying I like is that comparison is the thief of joy. That really means for to compare to others when I compare myself to where I was, I feel pretty good about where I am in my life.

 

[Ollie123]

HS > 4 year BA > 2 year coordinator gig > 7 years grad school (definitely took my time with things) > 1 year internship. About to start a hybrid post-doc/faculty position. I'd say it was a fairly linear path once I finished college and I don't really consider the 2 years enough to make me a non-traditional grad student as it seems like the modal route is to take at least some time off (at least at research-heavy programs). I have a lot of interests and it did take me a long time to settle on psychology in undergrad (was originally on a path for either corporate law or finance, had a brief stint in computer science/engineering, then switched to psychology). I'm not big on regret in general and don't think I've ever really regretted pursuing this path though I do regret the fact that its impossible to simultaneously do the other 25 careers I think I'd enjoy just as much.

Either way, I'm on the path towards a flexible and emotionally satisfying career. I won't be earning the salary I would have in finance, but more than enough for a very comfortable life, with my starting salary (once I transition to full faculty) likely being around the combined salaries of my parents at the end of their careers - and we were not "poor" by any stretch of the imagination growing up. So factor in my wife's income and we'll be doing quite well.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I'd say it was a fairly linear path once I finished college and I don't really consider the 2 years enough to make me a non-traditional grad student as it seems like the modal route is to take at least some time off (at least at research-heavy programs)

You and your fancy stat terms!!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

The truth is that I get to do something I love and get paid fairly well. I have enjoyed other jobs in the past but I usually got bored and frustrated in a few months and the income wasn't even close.

100% agree (except the income part, I took a sig. cut). The amount of flexibility is what really sold me on my decision, as I'll probably have at least 3-4 different wrinkles during my career (academia, private practice, consulting, etc).

I have been a licensed psychologist for 5 years now and every day is still a new challenge. Sure I could make more as a psychiatrist, but I actually believe some of our skill set gives us an edge. I plan on working until I am 70 and since I don't have to move quick or think quick and am in good mental and physical health, that should be doable.

I'm also at the 5yr mark and I've built a comfortable career and income. The money difference from psychiatry is much less if I went into private practice (as a neuropsychologist), though for now I'm fine with trading some extra income to mentor, research, and be immersed in an academically stimulating environment. I'll forever be a student, so being able to take free seminars and classes across disciplines has been great.

 

[undertoad]

That's very interesting. I find myself in the same age as you did about going back to school. I am in school, but I am looking towards the long road ahead. I don't mean to change topics here, but I can't help it. Was it worth it? I am asking myself this question if it will be worth it, career wise and financially, once I am done with school.

If I start grad school when I want to, I'll be about 40 years old by the time I'm done. I think it will be worth it. I just left a fairly well paid, promising career to go back to school full time and start the application process for grad school. However, I'm also in a really good position to "reinvent" myself (debt free, no kids, employed spouse), and that made the choice way easier. It was still a tough decision to make. Giving up a career (and, really, your identity as an established professional) in your 30s to go back to school for six years still seems a little crazy. At the end of the day, I know I wouldn't have been happy continuing my old job, no matter how successful I might have been. And, I know I've given up some years of earning potential, but I feel it's a reasonable price to pay for pursuing a profession I will enjoy.

 

[EmotRegulation]

HS, 4 years of college majoring in theatre (directing major), then 5 years off. During that time, waited tables, did administrative assistant stuff for a financial guy, tried to do some theatre, eventually got a job working at a university where I got free classes as a staff perk. Took some psychology thinking that therapy might be kind of like directing (you know, instead of helping people figure out how to "become" a character, helping people figure out how to "become" the person they want to be) and loved the blend of creativity and intellectual rigor. Took a few classes a semester over a few years then applied to grad school. Did 6 years of grad school, 1 year internship, and straight into a faculty job. Got licensed in my 2nd year.

 

[justcallmepsych4life]

I had two years of undergrad (a lot of AP/dual enrollment classes, plus I took 21 credit hours every semester). Now I'm in the third year of a doc program with one year left of classes and one year of internship left.

 

[singasongofjoy]

HS, 4yr undergrad, 1 year americorps, 2 yrs masters program, 2 yrs working, 4 yrs doctoral plus 1 yr internship, 1.5 yr postdoc before getting my license and being hired into my first “real” grown-up psychologist job.

 

[singasongofjoy]

Did you like working with The Arc? I'm starting a job as a direct service professional with an organization that serves the same populations, but I'm still in the initial training stages, so I don't have that much experience with it yet.

I’ve also worked as a direct care proceder w Arc. It really is all over the place as far as what the day to day is like depending on who you are working wotj and how good the other organizations/ your training and supervisory support are. I thoroughly enjoyed it, primarily for the variety I had (different people on different days)

 

[Dr. Switzer]

This thread is pretty cool to see and will be helpful for people who are just starting down the road to grad school. I did 4 years undergrad, 5 years grad, 1 year internship, 2 years postdoc, before transitioning into tenure track position in an AMC.

 

[calimich]

I took a meandering path...

4 yrs hs, 4 yrs undergrad (BS psychobio), 2 yrs licensed stockbroker, 6 yrs hs science teacher (algebra, bio, anat/phys, psych), 2 yrs u.s peace corps volunteer (environmental education), 5 yrs phd program, 1 yr internship, 1 yr postdoc

currently in my 2nd year as tt faculty, plan to start private practice this summer

 

[DailyJoy]

4 years HS, 6.5 years dual B.A. + ran two businesses + worked as a theater set designer/store clerk/bank teller (jobs changed throughout the years), 3.5 years RA/Project manager for Psyc research, and now grad school. Looking to finish in 5+1 and do a 2 year post-doc if all goes according to plan.

 

[Meteora]

4 years of undergrad and general debauchery where I was unsure about life goals, 3 years getting my Masters and research/clinical experience while growing up, and now a semester into a 5 year PhD program.

First in my family to go to college. Some days I still wake up and can't believe I'm actually here.

 

[emily621]

Four years undergrad (major in psychology), 5 years working in psychology research labs, during which I applied to clinical programs 3 times. First time, 1 interview and no offer; second time, 3 interviews, 1 offer that I turned down; third time, 5 interviews, 3 offers. Five years in a clinical program, now on internship and interviewing for post docs.

 

[foreverbull]

6 years undergrad in psychology and anthropology (took a year or two off in the middle and worked on the east coast), 2 years master's in counseling (also started master's in anthropology but stopped after I made the decision to finish counseling), 5 years doctorate, a few months off to find a postdoc, 14 month postdoc, now licensed and in private practice. I took the scenic route and almost ended up an anthropologist because I loved it almost as much as psychology!

 

[Kadhir]

3.5 years undergrad, 2 years full-time RA, 6+1 grad school+internship (I know, gross, but not too regretful). 2-3 year post-doc currently, as I'm (faking) researcher-clinician and have the option.

 

[dynamicdog]

4 years of undergrad not in psychology. Worked in non-profit development for 3 years. About a year post undergrad decided I might be interested in clinical psychology so started taking the needed psychology courses at night, which took ~3.5 years. After 3 years of non-profit work, got a paid RA position and worked there for 2 years while finishing post bac classes. Grad school was 6 + 1 (internship) then a little over a year at a non-formal post doc (needed for my state of licensure). so. many. years.

 

[WordDoc]

4 years of undergrad in psychology --> 3 years off to save money and do some volunteer work in a related field --> 5 years of grad school (including internship) --> 1 year of postdoc --> licensed a few months after completion of postdoc.

Very grateful I decided to take some time off between undergrad and grad school. I don't know that I would've been capable of succeeding in such a rigorous program at age 21.

 

[SLB-CO]

4 years undergrad (psychology and sociology) --> 2 years f/t clinician (CAC) + p/t RA while I figured out what I wanted to do (originally had planned on MSW and didn't think of PhD possibilities until late in undergrad, but had three small mentored research projects during undergrad that helped make my app appealing beyond the RA experience) --> 5 + 1 (internship) --> tenure-track faculty position + informal post-doc hours (built outside supervision and time to provide services in the community into my start-up/contract). There are certainly pros and cons to doing post-doc hours while on faculty. The right position came along for me, so I snagged it.

 

[Parabolas]

4 years undergrad (psychology) + 2 years working on an inpatient unit + 4 years grad school + 1 year internship (where I am now) + 1-2 years postdoc (hopefully!) = 12-13 years

 

[affectiveH3art]

2 years community college, worked 10 various jobs (Starbucks to nightclubs), nursing school, ultrasound school, phlebotomy school, worked as a patient/morgue transporter, in gastroenterology surgery (surgical tech), dental anesthesiologist, THEN finished undergrad while working in 3 neuroscience labs, had a kiddo right before grad school then attended grad school and had another kiddo in my 1st year. 5 years in and just applied for internship. Whew! And to think I left a lot out of my journey in becoming a psychologist.


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