MA & PsyD at same program..Implications?

[Student4Life0]

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Hello all,

I have a quick question. I have heard from many different sources that it could "look bad" to do one's PsyD at the same program that one completed one's MA. Any major truth to that? Could this be limiting when it comes time to apply for internship?

PS...I did not geographically limit myself when applying to schools. I am still going through the interview process, but am starting to weigh my options.

 

[Student4Life0]

I don't know where you've heard this, but most Ph.D. programs are structured such that you get the Master's along the way, so unless someone had a Master's going in, most people do both at the same place.

Doing your BA and Ph.D. at the same place has historically been looked down upon, but I don't think that's as big of a deal as people make it out to be, presuming that there is a reason other than "I don't want to move" for it (i.e., the training was the best fit, etc.).

My situation is a bit different than this. I am finishing up my masters (it was a terminal masters in clinical psychology) at a university. I am considering attending the PsyD program at that same university.

 

[Student4Life0]

Provided the program is a good fit and will offer you a coherent and consistent continued line of clinical and research training, I don't see it as a big deal. I did my undergrad and Ph.D. at the same place (I went straight from undergrad so got the Master's along the way). I didn't plan on this or geographically restrict myself when I applied, but it turned out that out of the offers I received when I applied to grad school, staying where I was was the best research fit and funding situation, so I chose to stay. No one has ever asked me about it or mentioned it, and I recently accepted a pretty competitive research postdoc position, so I don't feel it's hindered me in any way either.

The moral of the story is focus on fit with your training goals above all else.

Ok, thank you. I wanted to make sure that this would not be some sort of "black mark" on my record.