How to best build my application? (Counseling PhD or PsyD)

[billybob2]

Hello all! I need some advice regarding my application/building my application. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated! I have a degree in Health Science with a minor in Psychology. A 3.89 overall and a 4.0 in Psychology, and high GRE scores...I have some research in my undergraduate time and I volunteer at a domestic violence center, but I want more research experience. Buuut I am worried about Psychology being a minor not my major. I want to get into a Counseling Ph.D. or a PsyD. Do I need a master's to make myself competitive? For more research on my resume, I am in between getting that through a master's or volunteering/working in a lab and skipping the master's.

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[Justanothergrad]

I wouldn't be concerned about if you have a major or minor in psych, particularly given some of the important (and related) learning done in a health science degree. There may be some areas you are less knowledgeable, but that doesn't matter as much. What you mean by 'research experience' is what will ultimately matter for competitiveness. Being in a lab is not sufficient. Almost every applicant to me has worked in a lab. I look at those who have transitioned that lab work into some sort of product (poster, etc). Those who have not are not as competitive and may need a masters. There are a number of reasons that people don't produce products (posters at any level) as an undergrad. One is that they started late, another is that they didn't know they needed it, and a very important third is that they are not at a stage where they can do so. This is why I value it so highly.

I would base your choice only on which more effectively helps you get products. Don't just do 'a masters' to do a masters. Not all of them will ensure you get products, and the bar is higher after a masters for you having more and higher quality products (e.g., manuscript submission, multiple posters including at higher tier conferences). Same with volunteering in a lab. If you work in a lab in a gap year fashion, make sure you are part of products to come out of it and make that conversation a clear and early discussion with the lab PI.

 

[billybob2]

I wouldn't be concerned about if you have a major or minor in psych, particularly given some of the important (and related) learning done in a health science degree. There may be some areas you are less knowledgeable, but that doesn't matter as much. What you mean by 'research experience' is what will ultimately matter for competitiveness. Being in a lab is not sufficient. Almost every applicant to me has worked in a lab. I look at those who have transitioned that lab work into some sort of product (poster, etc). Those who have not are not as competitive and may need a masters. There are a number of reasons that people don't produce products (posters at any level) as an undergrad. One is that they started late, another is that they didn't know they needed it, and a very important third is that they are not at a stage where they can do so. This is why I value it so highly.

I would base your choice only on which more effectively helps you get products. Don't just do 'a masters' to do a masters. Not all of them will ensure you get products, and the bar is higher after a masters for you having more and higher quality products (e.g., manuscript submission, multiple posters including at higher tier conferences). Same with volunteering in a lab. If you work in a lab in a gap year fashion, make sure you are part of products to come out of it and make that conversation a clear and early discussion with the lab PI.

Hello! Thank you so much for the response. I did switch from Health Science to Psychology (that is why it is a minor not a major) late in the undergrad game so I know I need to produce more tangible product to show an admissions board. Would you suggest talking to the master's programs and the labs I am looking into and just be direct that I need some kind of product out of the situation? The master's program I have been considering, is a thesis track...does that not necessarily guarantee the kind of posters you would look for on an admissions board?

Thank you so so much for the advice!!

 

[summerbabe]

The master's program I have been considering, is a thesis track...does that not necessarily guarantee the kind of posters you would look for on an admissions board?

It’s promising but no guarantee. A lot honestly depends on your faculty advisor/mentor.

Some are more driven to produce research because it takes a lot of time. Some are better at picking projects that conferences and journals will be excited about accepting and some will have more projects that never go anywhere despite lots of effort.

A thesis just has to pass that university’s internal policies and may pass peer review muster so you could be stuck with learning some good skills but without any tangible CV items.

If you’re looking at a program, figure out the research mentorship model for the program and try to get a sense of how productive your mentor might be. And the same for lab PI and clarify whether you can be involved in writing and analysis after you learn the ropes.

 

[R. Matey]

If you’re looking at a program, figure out the research mentorship model for the program and try to get a sense of how productive your mentor might be. And the same for lab PI and clarify whether you can be involved in writing and analysis after you learn the ropes.

+1

Alternatively, you could try working as a research assistant at the local AMC and then apply to counseling programs. If you're choosing counseling psych, you should have a research interest related to counseling psych (e.g.: contextual factors, supervision, process-outcome, vocation) or find a faculty within a counseling psych program that research topic that interests you.

 

[Justanothergrad]

Hello! Thank you so much for the response. I did switch from Health Science to Psychology (that is why it is a minor not a major) late in the undergrad game so I know I need to produce more tangible product to show an admissions board. Would you suggest talking to the master's programs and the labs I am looking into and just be direct that I need some kind of product out of the situation? The master's program I have been considering, is a thesis track...does that not necessarily guarantee the kind of posters you would look for on an admissions board?

Thank you so so much for the advice!!

Thesis may or may not result in posters. And it may or may not happen in time for you to get a lot out of the thesis by the time you apply. Moreover, the thesis may or may not reflect the purpose of the masters you are wanting. In your case, you want an explicit outcome (doctoral prep) and so I would only focus on programs with that goalI would be looking for more direct research involvement outside of the thesis experience as well while in a masters (i.e., research credits to work under a professor). Not all programs (even thesis) will have this emphasis, so I would make sure to look for outcomes associated with doctoral program matriculation and preparation.

As for the lab, yes. I would say something akin to:
"I'm interesting in your lab because of <<insert reasons X, Y, and Z, which will be well thought out reflections of the how it intersects with your goals or bridges your interests>> and I am hoping the experiences I could gain in your lab would help prepare me for my application to doctoral programs, which I hope to apply at <<Insert approximate date; e.g., Fall 2022>>. I am aware that lab involvement is important, and that involvement on production of posters is even more highly valued for graduate admissions. If I were accepted to your lab, what could I do to earn the ability to be involved with, and credited for, some sort of research product- such as a poster? I want to be competitive for doctoral applications and I think your lab will help me achieve that; I will do whatever I need to earn that level of involvement"