MSW to Psy.D.

[RUNYU]

Hi everyone,

I know you are probably tired of the "what do you think?" posts, but I am really curious how I would stand in a Psy.D. application pool.

I am finishing up my MSW degree from NYU and am curious about any efforts I should take to beef up my application for a Psy.D. program. I plan on applying in the next year or two, after some additional experience.

GREs - 1200
V - 470 (I know I know)
Q - 730
Subject - 650
Masters GPA - 3.7
UG GPA - 3.0 (I minored in beer during my first two years)
3 years of clinical experience working extensively with the SMI as well as a more general population.

I have no interest in a Ph.D.. I graduated from Rutgers for undergrad, and am primarily interested in Rutgers and LaSalle due to their Sport Psychology concentrations. Would a specific focus in a field, such as Sport Psychology, help an application at all or essentially not matter?

I know these types of posts can get repetitve and annoying, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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[deleted176373]

Hi everyone,

I know you are probably tired of the "what do you think?" posts, but I am really curious how I would stand in a Psy.D. application pool.

I am finishing up my MSW degree from NYU and am curious about any efforts I should take to beef up my application for a Psy.D. program. I plan on applying in the next year or two, after some additional experience.

GREs - 1200
V - 470 (I know I know)
Q - 730
Subject - 650
Masters GPA - 3.7
UG GPA - 3.0 (I minored in beer during my first two years)
3 years of clinical experience working extensively with the SMI as well as a more general population.

I have no interest in a Ph.D.. I graduated from Rutgers for undergrad, and am primarily interested in Rutgers and LaSalle due to their Sport Psychology concentrations. Would a specific focus in a field, such as Sport Psychology, help an application at all or essentially not matter?

I know these types of posts can get repetitve and annoying, but any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Well you know what you need to do, raise the GRE if you want in at prestigious Psy.D. programs. Otherwise, rack up another $100k in debt. I'll be honest, you don't seem like a strong candidate for a small fully funded clinical program like Rutgers.

I am gonna be blunt, but why would they pick you over the other 470 applicants? This is the question you need to ask yourself and have them answering before they ever put your packet down the first time! You might be able to sneak in through the school psychology program.

Mark

 

[sicologia]

You might be able to sneak in through the school psychology program.

Mark

So Mark, I've got two straight forward questions for you. First, why would the OP want to go to a School Psychology program when he clearly wants to be a Sports Psychologist. Secondly, why must you make such an unfounded statement about someone becoming a school psychologist as a back up to their dreams. Some of us actually set out to become school psychologists. Sorry if this sounds like I'm offended, but you've left a Doctoral School Psychologist student with no other way to feel. Offended!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I am gonna be blunt, but why would they pick you over the other 470 applicants?

Agreed.....your GRE is going to tank your app to Rutgers, they get top quality applicants and such a severe split is going to be a red flag. You need to get that up for a shot at an interview.

470 applicants
27 offers
15 acceptances

That is some stiff competition.

 

[RUNYU]

Thanks for the input, guys. Yeah, I knew I would have to retake the GREs. Its just annoying because I did well on the Quantitative section and I would hate to move my Verbal up while my Quantitative suffers. Also, I'm fully aware about how difficult Rutgers is to get into. Thats more of a dream school to go to (it is my alma mater after all). I am primarily looking to be able to practice Sport Psychology, and there are few programs for the field to begin with. Plus, I will be looking for something in the NJ or PA area, which only limits the schools further.
Thanks for the input, though. You basically confirmed what I already thought...that I will need to take those damn GREs again. I will have ample experience as a therapist/counselor for my application and have proven myself capable of graduate work, so I don't want to ruin my application with my lopsided GRE scores.

 

[deleted176373]

So Mark, I've got two straight forward questions for you. First, why would the OP want to go to a School Psychology program when he clearly wants to be a Sports Psychologist. Secondly, why must you make such an unfounded statement about someone becoming a school psychologist as a back up to their dreams. Some of us actually set out to become school psychologists. Sorry if this sounds like I'm offended, but you've left a Doctoral School Psychologist student with no other way to feel. Offended!

1. Because you can be a school sports psychologist. (Go look at the Rutger's page, I did.)

" Sport Psychology is one area of psychology that is of increasing importance, and thus potential interest, for school, organizational, and clinical psychology practitioners is that of organized sports--particularly interscholastic, collegiate, and professional athletes. GSAPP's sport psychology concentration is one way of equipping students with the knowledge, skills and abilities to function in this area. The purpose of the sport psychology concentration is to educate and train graduate students and others in aspects of the practice of sport psychology."

2. It's not that, their aim was to go to Rutger's or LaSalle. I did not look at LaSalle's web page. To get into Rutger's you need to be VERY competitive to get into the clinical Psy.D. and then specialize in the sports psychology track, or you can do so through the School Psychology track which is much less competitive.

Clinical Psy.D 27/470 vs School Psy.D. 21/78

Which odds would you want with the stats presented?

Be offended if you must, but don't blame me that the bar is set lower in School Psychology programs regarding admissions standards (GRE/GPA). I have never insinuated that those who are in school psychology are lesser people. I will stand by the data that shows that it is easier to get into most school psychology programs than it is the clinical Psy.D at Rutgers.

I am not generalizing about school psychologists, I am generalizing about the realistic chances of obtaining entrance based on scores. Many people accept offers from schools that have lesser admission standards. This does not mean the education is lesser, but rather the supply and demand favors the student. I am sure that most (if not nearly all) school psychologists are bright and talented people, however what does that have to do with the chances that this person has in getting admitted to this program?

I'm actually offended that you don't have the clarity of thought to make this distinction and would rather try to string me up publicly for merely trying to assist someone with an honest assessment and alternative solutions. Might I suggest you seek therapy for your misplaced feelings of inadequacy.

Mark

PS - Now you can be offended.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

*MOD NOTE: Uhm....stay on topic guys. -t*

 

[WannaBeDrMe]

Be prepared to answer why you want to go from social work to psychology.

I'm sure you already have the answer or you wouldn't be making these sorts of preparations but figure out how to verbalize it in a way that other people can understand.

<--- experience w/this question

 

[RUNYU]

Mark,
Thanks for the input. That is actually a really good idea. I had never looked towards the School Psychology program of Rutgers' Psy.D. as an avenue into the Sport Psychology concentration. I really appreciate the honest answers.

And I will certainly need to rehearse some answer for the switch from Social Work to Psychology. In all honesty, however, NYU's MSW program is extremely clinical and its basically psychology with a little Social Work twist. I know of a few students who actually left after one semester because it was too clinical for them and they wanted to work in more traditional social work settings.

Again, thank you for all the answers.

 

[deleted176373]

Mark,
Thanks for the input. That is actually a really good idea. I had never looked towards the School Psychology program of Rutgers' Psy.D. as an avenue into the Sport Psychology concentration. I really appreciate the honest answers.

And I will certainly need to rehearse some answer for the switch from Social Work to Psychology. In all honesty, however, NYU's MSW program is extremely clinical and its basically psychology with a little Social Work twist. I know of a few students who actually left after one semester because it was too clinical for them and they wanted to work in more traditional social work settings.

Again, thank you for all the answers.

No problem, best of luck!

Mark

 

[sicologia]

I'm actually offended that you don't have the clarity of thought to make this distinction and would rather try to string me up publicly for merely trying to assist someone with an honest assessment and alternative solutions. Might I suggest you seek therapy for your misplaced feelings of inadequacy.

Mark

PS - Now you can be offended.

I'm a little surprised you are offended, because I've let this issue go and now you seem to want to resort to hostility. Perhaps, you may need to take your own advice on seeking therapy. Besides, therapy is a fantastic and viable option for many and should not be thrown around in conversation based on the minimal observation and information you have collected. I, too, am simply trying to help the OP by giving him practical information from someone already in a School Psychology PsyD program.

I really don't feel that suggesting that the OP pursue a school psychology doctorate is necessarily the best idea. Sure, it may be easier to gain acceptance according to the data, but most folks pursuing school psychology Psy.D.s are already school psychologists with either Masters and/or Specialist degrees or have an initial interest with working with children and adolescents. If that is the type of sports psychology the OP would like to conduct, so be it, but my guess is that children and adolescents don't hire sports psychologists in 2008. It would be quite a big committment to try and become a school psychologist first with the additional skills and focus of then becoming a sports psychologist which may not be related to doing your practicum and internship in school settings. In addition, if you're at all worried about what an admissions review board may think about your career moves, please consider what they would think about you sneaking in the back door as Markp kindly suggests.

PS. No offense taken.

 

[deleted176373]

Changed my mind... No response really needed.

 

[Jon4PsyD]

Did something recently change regarding the process to becoming a Sport Psychologist? Last I knew, you could become one with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology...? I am sure there are many programs that offer this, there is a specialization in the Master's program I am in for it.

Jon

 

[sicologia]

Last I knew, you could become one with a Master's degree in Sport Psychology...? I am sure there are many programs that offer this, there is a specialization in the Master's program I am in for it.

Jon

You're right. It appears that most of the programs in Sports Psychology are at the Master's level. The one the OP is referring to at Rutgers happens to have a concentration option for students at either the Master's or Doctorate level.