Illinois Institute of Technology-PhD Clinical Psychology

[Applicant03]

Hi everyone! I'm currently looking into the Illinois Institute of Technology PhD Clinical Psychology program for next year's application round.

It appears to be a very nice program. It looks like there's a pretty decent balance between research and clinical traininig, which is very important to me. Also, being in the Chicago area is a plus regarding practicum placements.

Do any of SDN posters have any comments, insight, etc. on this program? It would be most appreciated! Thanks so much 🙂

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[emily621]

I interviewed there last year and wasn't really all that impressed. They don't fully fund everyone. A close friend is in her first year there, and she doesn't love it either. However, a therapist on a study I used to coordinate went there and loved it.

 

[Applicant03]

Thanks for this Emily. Could you tell me what you were not impressed about, besides not being fully funded?

 

[mvan1]

Im not in their program so I can't comment on it but I'm in that campus a few days a week, it's not in a very nice area. Our guys buddy up for safety and one was robbed at gun point two weeks ago.

 

[ygritte]

I interviewed there a couple years ago and got a good impression. I especially liked Drs. Young and Dr. Sher. The neighborhood wasn't great, but most of the students seemed to live in other areas of Chicago. I think they liked their experiences at IIT, the clinical training seemed especially good. While they do not fully fund all of their students, it seemed everyone got some funding.

 

[Applicant03]

Thanks everyone for your input!

 

[emily621]

Thanks for this Emily. Could you tell me what you were not impressed about, besides not being fully funded?

Well, like others said, the area isn't the greatest. I used to take the Green Line (the one that runs by campus) and have been robbed on it 3 times. But it's Chicago, if you're smart you can avoid things like that. As far as the program itself, it seemed okay, but the funding definitely bothered me. Also, they require that all first year students do a huge amount of Chicago Public School testing, and it takes up a ton of your time. It's part of the funding package you do get, so for that reason it's helpful, but the friend I mentioned has really been worn out by how much of it she's required to do.

 

[emily621]

Also, I think part of what put a bad taste in my mouth about the whole thing was the interview process. They did group interviews. I understand that has little to do with the program itself, but I think it's another reason I came away with a somewhat negative impression.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

A colleague of mine attended IIT, and she appeared to enjoy her training. Their internship match rates are good, and she came out with some nice publications and clinical training. FWIW, I've heard a few people mention the program at conferences, and they all seemed to think it was a quality program.

 

[Applicant03]

Thanks so much everyone. I really appreciate this! I haven't had the best of luck this application round (my 1st). I know it's early, but I figured I would start looking at more programs out there for next year's application process. In some ways, I think I may have limited myself in certain areas (geographically, etc.)....

 

[CharmedDiamond]

I'm interviewing there on Friday, I could let you know what I think if you'd like!

I live in Chicago, and took a test run today to make sure I knew where I was going. It is definitely NOT a safe area. College, next block, ghetto. It's actually next to where the "projects" used to be (I'm not sure what those are really called, that's what they call them around here). The train is notorious for muggings as well, at least in that neck of the woods. Interestingly enough, a lot of the universities in Chicago aren't in the best areas, but this one is definitely the worst.

My friend liked her undergrad there, she did psych. I honestly haven't heard much about it other than that it offers a good balance of clinical and research, but I do have a funky vibe about it. Maybe it's the lack of funding. Maybe it's the fact I wasn't a good fit and still got an interview. I'm awesome, but not THAT awesome

Eek, group interview? This is my first, and that just sounds 😱

 

[paramour]

I dislike (i.e., loathe) group interviews as well, but there are programs that use them to their advantage. Get used to them.

In the meantime, IIT may not be in the best of areas, but as someone earlier in the thread posted, BE SMART! I know someone who attended the university (not the psych program), lived nearby, and never had a problem with safety. I've been there for various reasons, rode the train, walked around, etc., and never had an issue. Perhaps I was damned lucky, but I tend to be mindful of my safety in general having grown up and lived in some bad neighborhoods (including "the projects"). If you like the program, I wouldn't let the location sway you (but maybe that's just me!).

 

[rocketdog83]

I wanted to jump on here to give my experience with the safety issue. I'm currently in IIT's program. I understand being concerned about safety as no one wants to be mugged walking to class. However as someone who's lived in Chicago for 5 years and been walking around IIT for 2 years some of these comments seem to exaggerate the situation.

It is definitely NOT a safe area. College, next block, ghetto.

This characterization is not accurate. The neighborhoods surrounding IIT are of course urban but they are not a den of drugs/crime/gang activity. I park my car a few blocks off campus and do in fact walk there after dark. I have never seen gangs, drug sales or anything violent. I would echo what paramour said about being smart. There are behaviors that help keep you safe and others that put you at increased risk. Anyone living anywhere in a city should be aware.

In the 3 cohorts I am most familiar with I am aware of two muggings. Both of these occurred far away from campus in Lincoln Park.

You could also look at the actual crime report, this has data from 07-09 on page 17

http://www.iit.edu/general_counsel/pdfs/campus_security_report.pdf

 

[Applicant03]

Thanks Rocketdog. How do you like the program? Funding? I definitely plan on applying for next year! I would love to hear someone else's take on it. Thanks so much!

I wanted to jump on here to give my experience with the safety issue. I'm currently in IIT's program. I understand being concerned about safety as no one wants to be mugged walking to class. However as someone who's lived in Chicago for 5 years and been walking around IIT for 2 years some of these comments seem to exaggerate the situation.


This characterization is not accurate. The neighborhoods surrounding IIT are of course urban but they are not a den of drugs/crime/gang activity. I park my car a few blocks off campus and do in fact walk there after dark. I have never seen gangs, drug sales or anything violent. I would echo what paramour said about being smart. There are behaviors that help keep you safe and others that put you at increased risk. Anyone living anywhere in a city should be aware.

In the 3 cohorts I am most familiar with I am aware of two muggings. Both of these occurred far away from campus in Lincoln Park.

You could also look at the actual crime report, this has data from 07-09 on page 17

http://www.iit.edu/general_counsel/pdfs/campus_security_report.pdf

 

[CharmedDiamond]

I wanted to jump on here to give my experience with the safety issue. I'm currently in IIT's program. I understand being concerned about safety as no one wants to be mugged walking to class. However as someone who's lived in Chicago for 5 years and been walking around IIT for 2 years some of these comments seem to exaggerate the situation.


This characterization is not accurate. The neighborhoods surrounding IIT are of course urban but they are not a den of drugs/crime/gang activity. I park my car a few blocks off campus and do in fact walk there after dark. I have never seen gangs, drug sales or anything violent. I would echo what paramour said about being smart. There are behaviors that help keep you safe and others that put you at increased risk. Anyone living anywhere in a city should be aware.

In the 3 cohorts I am most familiar with I am aware of two muggings. Both of these occurred far away from campus in Lincoln Park.

You could also look at the actual crime report, this has data from 07-09 on page 17

http://www.iit.edu/general_counsel/pdfs/campus_security_report.pdf

Maybe we've just had different experiences in that area. I actually did see a drug deal yesterday when I was lost a little off campus, and a man who was really high and just staring at a bush. From what I understand, the area has also gotten better since the projects were closed down, but as someone who has lived in Chicagoland their whole life, the negative image is still there. But it's very true that in Chicago there are behaviors that are more or less likely to get you in trouble. Taking the El at midnight alone is a bad idea pretty much anywhere in Chicago, not just that area. I'll also admit that I suffer from a healthy dose of "suburban paranoia," even though I went to school in the city for undergrad . Would the area stop me from going? Probably not. Would I live anywhere near campus? Heck no.

RocketDog, would mind telling us how you feel about the research there? From what I've been hearing, it has a more of a clinical leaning, but I'd love to hear about it from the inside. Do they have a nice library?

 

[Applicant03]

Hey CharmedDiamond-I just saw this post and your previous post. You're interviewing there? Congrats and best of luck!

Please do let me know how it goes! Any information I can get would be beneficial!! Thanks so much!!

Maybe we've just had different experiences in that area. I actually did see a drug deal yesterday when I was lost a little off campus, and a man who was really high and just staring at a bush. From what I understand, the area has also gotten better since the projects were closed down, but as someone who has lived in Chicagoland their whole life, the negative image is still there. But it's very true that in Chicago there are behaviors that are more or less likely to get you in trouble. Taking the El at midnight alone is a bad idea pretty much anywhere in Chicago, not just that area. I'll also admit that I suffer from a healthy dose of "suburban paranoia," even though I went to school in the city for undergrad . Would the area stop me from going? Probably not. Would I live anywhere near campus? Heck no.

RocketDog, would mind telling us how you feel about the research there? From what I've been hearing, it has a more of a clinical leaning, but I'd love to hear about it from the inside. Do they have a nice library?

 

[paramour]

I think I've seen more drugs and gang activity in suburbia hell than I have in the big cities where they were purported to be all over the place.

 

[rocketdog83]

Yeah I'm not trying to say it's problem-free or that no one ever does drugs. People are doing drugs in every area of Chicago and the suburbs...and the rural areas. I just generally have not felt unsafe there and neither have my classmates.

As for the program, I'm enjoying it quite a bit thus far. As some have noted the weighting of clinical vs research focus is more balanced than at clinical science programs. You are correct it is not fully funded, but nearly everyone gets some funding each year. In your first year 50% of tuition will be covered. You will have to keep this in mind when making a decision about which school to attend. This also means you will be spending 0 hours a week TAing or doing TA activities. I think the faculty pages do a good job describing the interests, some have lab pages where you can see what individual graduate students are working on. What do you mean by "more clinical leaning" ?