Looking for input

[littlebear]

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I'm currently an MSW student. I'll be finishing my program May 09. My goal was to become an LCSW. However, at my internship (an acute psychiatric hospital), I'm more interested in what the PsyDs do than the LCSWs. The LCSWs don't really do any of the therapy. They do mostly psychosocial assessments and admin stuff, and the PsyDs do mostly testing and some psychotherapy. Correct me if I'm wrong, LCSWs can't do the psych testing and evals? I'm really interested in doing the testing and evals so I'm considering the PsyD after I finish my MSW.

My UG major was Psych. Unfortunately, my overall UG is low (2.8), although there is an upward trend in my grades (my last 60 hours is around a 3.5). I'm not really sure what my Psych GPA is (probably hovering around 3.0). My MSW GPA is high (3.98), but from what I understand grad student GPA is universally high.

Also, I'm not sure if I have sufficient research experience. I'm a graduate assistant to one of my profs, and he had me find periodicals and journals and write short lit reviews. I'm not sure if thats something I would want to mention on a CV. Also as an UG, I worked in a "marriage" lab. My duties were to schedule T2 appointments for participants and also code tons and tons of videos. Thats about the extent of my research experience.

I think the best thing going for me is the clinical experience I'm getting via my MSW internships. I do more than shadow. I do group, individual, and family therapy at an acute psychiatric. Of course I usually have an LPC or an LMSW supervising me, but I'm heading the show. Is that of any value for PsyD programs?

Finally, my GRE is around 1100. I don't remember the individual Q and V scores off the top of my head. That being said, I took my GRE once and without much studying. I think I really put an effort into studying, I can achieve 1200 or 1300, but who knows.

Providing my GRE is higher, would I be a competitive candidate for higher end PsyD programs? I'm looking at Baylor and other programs where their APA match rate is at or close to 100%. If not, what do you suggest I work on?

I guess what I'm asking for is for someone to size me up as an applicant. I'd really appreciate some insight. I'm not quite sure what I want to do at this point.

 

[littlebear]

I'm also thinking about upping my UG gpa through post bac. Any input on that? Most of what I can find are med school related. I've found some pros and cons on formal and informal in regards to med school, but I'm wondering how the formal/informal post bac affect the Phd/PsyD programs at all.

 

[deleted176373]

My UG major was Psych. Unfortunately, my overall UG is low (2.8), although there is an upward trend in my grades (my last 60 hours is around a 3.5). I'm not really sure what my Psych GPA is (probably hovering around 3.0). My MSW GPA is high (3.98), but from what I understand grad student GPA is universally high.

Of course I usually have an LPC or an LMSW supervising me, but I'm heading the show. Is that of any value for PsyD programs?

Finally, my GRE is around 1100. I don't remember the individual Q and V scores off the top of my head. That being said, I took my GRE once and without much studying. I think I really put an effort into studying, I can achieve 1200 or 1300, but who knows.

Providing my GRE is higher, would I be a competitive candidate for higher end PsyD programs? I'm looking at Baylor and other programs where their APA match rate is at or close to 100%. If not, what do you suggest I work on?

I guess what I'm asking for is for someone to size me up as an applicant. I'd really appreciate some insight. I'm not quite sure what I want to do at this point.

I am not going to say that you are or not competitive for Baylor or Rutgers, because I have seen stranger things happen and it appears that your clinical experience will come into play. I will say this, a 1300 GRE certainly is good enough to get an interview at Baylor, since I got one. I get the feeling that you want to be somewhere north of 1200 for consideration and closer to 1300 if possible. I also had a 4.0 UG GPA, but it was from UTSA and likely dismissed as grade inflation.

You would want your UG GPA to be higher, but you can't change that, however your graduate work shows that you can do graduate level work... I think that this is really a bit of a wash... I think that given the combination of graduate and undergrad work your GRE will be the deciding factor for the first cut... after that... It all depends on the rest of the package.

GRE and GPA are just gross sorting instruments and used as such. Once past that, it's all about you and what you present.

Mark

 

[deleted176373]

I'm also thinking about upping my UG gpa through post bac. Any input on that? Most of what I can find are med school related. I've found some pros and cons on formal and informal in regards to med school, but I'm wondering how the formal/informal post bac affect the Phd/PsyD programs at all.

If you are above a 3.25 (some schools only want last two years), I wouldn't put much effort into that. I would focus on a VERY high GRE score and some killer research experience... a first authorship in a high impact journal is worth more than your GPA (IMO). Proving your a solid and productive researcher is where it is at for Ph.D. programs and for Psy.D. I would get really great clinical experience to make my point.

Mark