How many (school psych) programs should I apply to?

[lookitssara]

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I'm applying to Ed.S. and Ph.D. programs in school psych this fall. I have my list down to about 7 (4 and 3 each respectively), and their acceptance rates range from 8-20%. I know school psych programs are easier to get into than clinical programs, but it seems everyone here is applying to SO many more programs than me that I thought I'd get some advice on how many I need to apply to (side note: I got into Michigan State's PhD program last year, rejected from UVAs). I'm also going to apply to some child-clinical programs, but more because I'll be disappointed in myself if I don't try, not because I think I'll get in somewhere.

GPA: 3.95 overall/4.0 psych
GRE: 620V/710Q/4.5A/650Psych
Research: Almost 2 years working on various projects, doing lit reviews, analyzing data sets, grant-funded prevention project implementation, qualitative interviewing and coding (all only tangentially related to children if at all)
Vita stuff: 3rd author on paper under review, 1st or 2nd on technical report, a couple small presentations to community stakeholders and undergrad research fairs
Children: 10 years of childcare (including being a camp counselor), lots of educational stuff/tutoring with them
Adolescents: nothing since high school (where I mentored- not sure if I'll mention this in my SOP)
Clinical: Not a thing. Hope to start doing ABA tutoring for an autistic child a few hours a week.

I love all the schools on my list (I think) - I just need to get into one! The worst thing would be to have to wait another year to reapply, so I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[JP West]

Your stats look pretty good for school psyc phd programs, as long as you can clearly express (in SOP and interviews) why you are choosing the school psyc. path.

Also, gaining admission to a phd school psyc program is a great indicator that other programs of the same caliber, and maybe better, will accept you. I would suggest aiming high and applying to several more phd SP programs that you are really interested in. Don't sell yourself short, you have solid research experience for a school psyc applicant.