International student advice- pre Clinical PhD planning

[Amarysso]

Hi there!
I am an international student with an M.A in Mental Health Counseling from a clinically focused program. Seeing as I got little exposure to research opportunities during my masters I am considering applying to a graduate certificate program centered on conducting research and wanted feedback on whether this would look questionable on my resume?

My US visa is soon to expire and finding a research job that would sponsor me (costs $3000-4000 in lawyers fees) is simply unrealistic given my lack of research experience, and that most R.A's are willing to volunteer and work for free in return for the experience.

I am therefore considering a graduate certificate in Psychology that is research based and allows students to conduct their own studies and engage in research with faculty; geared towards preparing for research oriented Phd's. Would this "divergence" be questioned on my resume? And would this experience although "classroom based" give me an edge?


I truly appreciate any feedback!!

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[NeuropsychAJ]

Speaking as an international student from a research oriented Phd, I'm not sure a graduate certificate program would be beneficial unless it led to publications. You would be better off pursuing a research masters (another masters would be expensive and a pain, I know), going back to your home country to conduct research there with the intention of applying after getting some good pubs, or getting a 1 year clinical position with your OPT and finding a research lab for volunteer research experience on the side. I'm sure others with more experience as PIs will be able to offer better advice, though!

 

[Amarysso]

Speaking as an international student from a research oriented Phd, I'm not sure a graduate certificate program would be beneficial unless it led to publications. You would be better off pursuing a research masters (another masters would be expensive and a pain, I know), going back to your home country to conduct research there with the intention of applying after getting some good pubs, or getting a 1 year clinical position with your OPT and finding a research lab for volunteer research experience on the side. I'm sure others with more experience as PIs will be able to offer better advice, though!

Thank you for the insight! I supposed the masters thesis in a masters program will be similar to the research work in the specific graduate certificate program I have in mind, as it is meant to give students as much research exposure as possible. I will call the department and see if students have had their works published in the past and assess my options. Thank you for the feedback!

 

[user8111]

Hi!

I'm an international student as well and successfully applied this year, so it definitely can be done! I don't know how your personal situation looks like, but if you cannot get paid as a research assistant in the US you might want to look at paid positions in other countries (I know of someone who did this in Australia, for example). Otherwise, I'd also suggest volunteering in a lab, preferably with a professor who will support you in going to conferences/publishing. I'd say the quality of your research experience is more important than quantity - did you just do data collection/coding/data entry/recruiting or were you also involved in the design, analysis of data, writing up the results etc.

 

[Amarysso]

Hi!

I'm an international student as well and successfully applied this year, so it definitely can be done! I don't know how your personal situation looks like, but if you cannot get paid as a research assistant in the US you might want to look at paid positions in other countries (I know of someone who did this in Australia, for example). Otherwise, I'd also suggest volunteering in a lab, preferably with a professor who will support you in going to conferences/publishing. I'd say the quality of your research experience is more important than quantity - did you just do data collection/coding/data entry/recruiting or were you also involved in the design, analysis of data, writing up the results etc.

Hi!
I am indeed lacking in substantive/quality research experience, partially because the school I chose to complete my M.A is very clinically focused, and at the time my goals was t become a licensed mental health counselor. My research experience is therefore quite basic and includes briefing participants, data collection, data entry etc. I have found a new research position which will hopefully give me the freedom to go to conferences and be more involved with he design aspect, but with my OPT expiring at the end of October thats not too much time.
Im going to try and see if the lab will be willing to sponsor me once I have spent enough time working there to warrant having the discussion, but i need a back up plan and i figured school may be the best route visa wise.

Do you know of any strong, research oriented M.A's in psychology that would give me exposure to working in a professors lab and work on my own study? I also dont know if i should be looking for an M.A in general psych or experimental psych. Its somewhat confusing.

Thanks for your time and input i greatly appreciate it!!