My Credentials >> acceptance

[BamaPsych]

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Hi everyone,

new to the boards but so glad I found them - I have found a lot of answers to questions I've had while researching graduate programs over the last 5 months.

I was hoping to get a question answered that may be considered annoying by some of the more veteran members who have probably seen it over and over, but any constructive opinions would be very helpful.

Basically, I'm hoping to apply to both 1.) Equal emphasis (research and practice) Clinical or Counseling PhD programs or 2.) Very competitive, prestigious PsyD programs, and wondering if I would be a competitive applicant with the following:
-Cumulative GPA of 3.73
-Combined GRE of about 1250
-2 Semesters of experience in a research and practice clinic treating underprivelged children with aggression (I interview parents and their children, the children come in for therapy with the office Psychologist).
-A long list of several honors/appointments/leadership positions not all related to psychology

From a standpoint of personal accomplishments, will these be sufficient to be a competitive applicant? I also plan on competing 2 more volunteer jobs before applying (one research, one clinical) at a local psychiatric hospital and with a professor here at school, but since I have yet to complete those I didn't want to include them into my credentials.

Thanks for your time in advance.

 

[erg923]

It all sounds right on target and you will def be a competitive applicant for solid mid level Ph.D. programs. Might wanna get some more research experience, but sounds like you're on top of things. Good luck

 

[deleted176373]

Hi everyone,

Basically, I'm hoping to apply to both 1.) Equal emphasis (research and practice) Clinical or Counseling PhD programs or 2.) Very competitive, prestigious PsyD programs

Thanks for your time in advance.

You may be competitive at some prestigious Psy.D. programs (Baylor, Rutgers) but you would be surprised how competitive those programs really are. I believe that many clinical and counseling Ph.D. programs are easier targets than those two particular Psy.D. programs. A higher GRE would have helped, but as long as both scores are above 500, you should be fine because it's not all about the GRE, so many other factors are more important.

Good Luck,

Mark

 

[clinpsychjack]

I agree with Mark on the GRE thing--so many other factors are important. I'm not really sure how people can apply to multiple types of programs--Clinical Ph.D., Psy.D, Couseling Ph.D.--because to me they're all so different. What is your area of research interest? Research match is SO important in grad school, unless of course you're going the Psy.D. route....but since you're applying to all types of programs I'd say it's still important. For the Ph.D. programs, look for schools with balance but also with a professor who would be a great research match based on your previous experiences and interests.

 

[BamaPsych]

I'm not really sure how people can apply to multiple types of programs--Clinical Ph.D., Psy.D, Couseling Ph.D.--because to me they're all so different. What is your area of research interest? Research match is SO important in grad school, unless of course you're going the Psy.D. route....but since you're applying to all types of programs I'd say it's still important. For the Ph.D. programs, look for schools with balance but also with a professor who would be a great research match based on your previous experiences and interests.

I can definitely see where you are coming from on the first point - about the programs being so differente. But I have put a lot of time and effort into researching psychology programs and the ones I plan on applying to aren't as different as you'd imagine. For example, the equal-emphasis PhD programs I'm applying to stress training to become researchers, teachers, or practitioners - unlike the PhD programs that specifically say the primary emphasis is to train researchers. And comparing counseling and clinical psychology, every source I have read says the differences in these fields are continually getting smaller and smaller - please correct me if I'm wrong. The basic difference I see between the two is clinical tends to deal with more mentally ill patients while counseling is more about career, assesment, etc., but they both have training in each area. I would prefer to earn a respectable PsyD but I know the prestigious schools like Baylor and Rutgers are very competitive, so I have also considered the equal emphasis PhD route. I am not really a fan of attending a PsyD program with no dissertation component and a prospective $120k in debt 😛

As far as my research experience vs my research interests - mine don't really match up. I hate to "blame" it on geographic location, but to be perfectly honest a lot of the issues I'd like to study aren't available here in the great state of Alabama. I'm hoping my experiences will demonstrate my abilities while my interests will be what matches me with a professor into a program.

 

[deleted176373]

For example, the equal-emphasis PhD programs I'm applying to stress training to become researchers, teachers, or practitioners - unlike the PhD programs that specifically say the primary emphasis is to train researchers. And comparing counseling and clinical psychology, every source I have read says the differences in these fields are continually getting smaller and smaller - please correct me if I'm wrong.

I would prefer to earn a respectable PsyD but I know the prestigious schools like Baylor and Rutgers are very competitive, so I have also considered the equal emphasis PhD route. I am not really a fan of attending a PsyD program with no dissertation component and a prospective $120k in debt 😛

This really was very close to my objectives (my stats were not too much different either), and why I applied to and interviewed at Baylor, ASU Counseling Ph.D., Texas A&M Counseling Ph.D, USUHS Clinical Ph.D. and others. I was fortunate to be accepted at both USUHS and Texas A&M. USUHS is a very balanced program but will only accept people who plan to be serious civilian researchers or military bound clinicians. If you have any desire to go military at all, you should look into USUHS. Program is ranked a 4 according to the insiders guide but really it's closer to a 5 with a bit more emphasis on research than a truly balanced program but not in a negative way.

If I had to do it again, and I were in your shoes, I would be looking very closely at several well known counseling Ph.D. programs, one or two balanced clinical Ph.D. programs, and 2 well respected Psy.D. programs with funding.

Mark

 

[BamaPsych]

Thanks Mark

 

[clinpsychjack]

I guess from my perspective they just seem really different, as most people I know in Psy.D. programs don't want their career to have anything to do with research. They may read and appreciate the literature, but don't enjoy doing research. Also, and I guess this depends on your area of research interest, but my impression regarding the difference between couseling and clinical programs is that clinical is more focused on helping populations with more severe deficits and symptoms, whereas counseling psychologists are (in general) more focused on helping those without psychopathology. For example, I am interested in severe mental illness (in terms of research and in helping the population as a practitioner and in advocacy), and I wouldn't be able to do the things I want to do with a counseling Ph.D. Not to say that Counseling Ph.D.s don't ever encounter the SMI population, but they're trained to treat/research those without severe psychopathology. I'm going into a balanced program in the fall, and graduates of the program have gone onto various careers in research/academia, practice, both research and practice, and advocacy and program evaluation. Even though I was looking for a balance, I still had no interest in Psy.D. or Counseling/School Ph.D. programs. For me, a scientist-practitioner Clinical Ph.D. program has always been the ideal fit.

Again, I guess it depends on your area of interest. Good luck to you!

 

[erg923]

I guess from my perspective they just seem really different, as most people I know in Psy.D. programs don't want their career to have anything to do with research. They may read and appreciate the literature, but don't enjoy doing research. Also, and I guess this depends on your area of research interest, but my impression regarding the difference between couseling and clinical programs is that clinical is more focused on helping populations with more severe deficits and symptoms, whereas counseling psychologists are (in general) more focused on helping those without psychopathology. For example, I am interested in severe mental illness (in terms of research and in helping the population as a practitioner and in advocacy), and I wouldn't be able to do the things I want to do with a counseling Ph.D. Not to say that Counseling Ph.D.s don't ever encounter the SMI population, but they're trained to treat/research those without severe psychopathology. I'm going into a balanced program in the fall, and graduates of the program have gone onto various careers in research/academia, practice, both research and practice, and advocacy and program evaluation. Even though I was looking for a balance, I still had no interest in Psy.D. or Counseling/School Ph.D. programs. For me, a scientist-practitioner Clinical Ph.D. program has always been the ideal fit.

Again, I guess it depends on your area of interest. Good luck to you!

In theory you are correct about counseling Ph.D programs, but in reality, this is becoming an antiquated notion. They are trained in research, therapy, and all the same psychometric assessments as clinical. The theoretical base of training may still hold (generally a "worried well" population), but in reality, counseling psychologists can get the same practicums, internships, and experiences as clinical folks if they want them. After your program, through internships and post-docs, you can really make your career very much like that of a stereotypical clinical psychologist.