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Hey everyone, I have read every "PsyD vs. PhD" post and every professional school debate on this website. I have mostly found very helpful information, yet still have a desperate dilemma and cannot seem to find the information I need anywhere on this forum. Any and all opinions are WELCOME. MORE than welcome.
Here is my situation: I was accepted to and am trying to decide between two PsyD programs here in Chicago: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Roosevelt University. Both are APA accredited. I was also accepted to Adler's PsyD program but eliminated it for various reasons. So it's between The Chicago School and Roosevelt University. First of all, I understand people's concerns over professional schools, but based on the information I've learned, as I understand it The Chicago School seems to have a reputation and background that is superior in quality to many other professional schools across the country (i.e. many Argosy schools) and is sometimes unfairly lumped with "all" professional schools. I also understand people's various opinions about the PsyD versus PhD, but I am confident that I would like to pursue my PsyD. It took me several years to decide this, and I am certain that I want a practitioner-focused education and not one based in research. I understand there are many clinically-oriented PhD programs out there, but I am limited to the Chicago area. When I was still considering the PhD, I didn't apply to any PhD programs in Chicago because they are too research-oriented and I do not want a research-heavy program (regardless of the opinion that several years of research in graduate school is worth the overall long-term career benefits of having a PhD in clinical psychology). I did however find one clinically-oriented PhD program in clinical psychology in the area, but it happens to be one of the most competitive in the country (Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine) and unfortunately I am not qualified for this school, at least at this point in my education (they require a year of experience in a clinical setting whereas I only have two months. They also require the Psychology Subject test as most PhD programs do, but I had only taken the General GRE for the schools I applied to and didn't feel prepared to take the Subject test before the application deadline. Not to mention how extremely competitive it would be to get into this program, even if I more than met the qualifications). I see the value in taking time to work on your applications for a few years, gaining clinical/research experience, etc until being qualified for such a competitive clinically-oriented PhD program as opposed to attending a professional school for a PsyD. However, I have been preparing in one way or another for PsyD applications for several years now, and can't imagine waiting one more year. I have worked hard on preparing for my applications over a long period of time and am ready to start my education now.
It would be so, so very helpful if I could gather some advice on which school to attend. There is little to no info or opinions on Roosevelt University's PsyD program on studentdoctor, at least in my searches. I've found plenty of information/opinions on The Chicago School's PsyD program, but no information which compares this school to Roosevelt University's PsyD program. I welcome any and all opinions comparing these two schools. Both positive and negative information would help. Please no requests to ditch both schools and attend a PhD program instead. If I really find myself to be unhappy at whichever school I attend this fall, I will re-apply to Northwestern's clinically oriented PhD program next year after I feel I meet the qualifications. But for now, I'm picking TCS or Roosevelt, so I need your help! Quick stats- Roosevelt is significantly cheaper (~$40,000) but I do not want to make the decision between schools solely based on this because if TCS is still a better choice, then I would go there. Other info: APA match rates are pretty good and comparable at both schools. Some differences: Roosevelt accepts a maximum of 20 new students (TCS ~100 students). Some professional school students feel that having a larger cohort and larger faculty gives them more resources, more connections, more opportunities for networking, more diversified training, etc. Also, I would get the opportunity to teach my own undergraduate classes at Roosevelt whereas I wouldn't have this opportunity at TCS (only TA positions).
My main issue is over the fact that Roosevelt is a university and not a stand-alone professional school (although some would debate that Roosevelt still counts as a professional school because they are not funded). Considering the fact that Roosevelt and TCS are pretty comparable in terms of match rates, licensure, quality of training, I am strongly considering Roosevelt because it is part of a larger university and a PsyD from a university seems to be more respectable in the field than a stand-alone professional school. Does anyone have opinions on this? I have read many opinions that encourage people to get their PsyD from a university over a professional school, but is Roosevelt considered a university by most? Or because it is unfunded, would people lump it with the professional schools? I know the quality of education and training as well as internship/licensure rates are most important, but since between these two schools the stats are so similar, I am looking to other criteria such as reputation for future employment. Here is another issue: not many people have heard of Roosevelt University, whereas TCS has a pretty strong national reputation. So does this "trump" the fact that Roosevelt is a university and TCS is not? Is it better to attend a stand-alone professional school with a strong national reputation, or a so-called "real" university with not much of a reputation at all?
I am truly desperate for opinions as the APA deadline is fast approaching. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
Here is my situation: I was accepted to and am trying to decide between two PsyD programs here in Chicago: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and Roosevelt University. Both are APA accredited. I was also accepted to Adler's PsyD program but eliminated it for various reasons. So it's between The Chicago School and Roosevelt University. First of all, I understand people's concerns over professional schools, but based on the information I've learned, as I understand it The Chicago School seems to have a reputation and background that is superior in quality to many other professional schools across the country (i.e. many Argosy schools) and is sometimes unfairly lumped with "all" professional schools. I also understand people's various opinions about the PsyD versus PhD, but I am confident that I would like to pursue my PsyD. It took me several years to decide this, and I am certain that I want a practitioner-focused education and not one based in research. I understand there are many clinically-oriented PhD programs out there, but I am limited to the Chicago area. When I was still considering the PhD, I didn't apply to any PhD programs in Chicago because they are too research-oriented and I do not want a research-heavy program (regardless of the opinion that several years of research in graduate school is worth the overall long-term career benefits of having a PhD in clinical psychology). I did however find one clinically-oriented PhD program in clinical psychology in the area, but it happens to be one of the most competitive in the country (Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine) and unfortunately I am not qualified for this school, at least at this point in my education (they require a year of experience in a clinical setting whereas I only have two months. They also require the Psychology Subject test as most PhD programs do, but I had only taken the General GRE for the schools I applied to and didn't feel prepared to take the Subject test before the application deadline. Not to mention how extremely competitive it would be to get into this program, even if I more than met the qualifications). I see the value in taking time to work on your applications for a few years, gaining clinical/research experience, etc until being qualified for such a competitive clinically-oriented PhD program as opposed to attending a professional school for a PsyD. However, I have been preparing in one way or another for PsyD applications for several years now, and can't imagine waiting one more year. I have worked hard on preparing for my applications over a long period of time and am ready to start my education now.
It would be so, so very helpful if I could gather some advice on which school to attend. There is little to no info or opinions on Roosevelt University's PsyD program on studentdoctor, at least in my searches. I've found plenty of information/opinions on The Chicago School's PsyD program, but no information which compares this school to Roosevelt University's PsyD program. I welcome any and all opinions comparing these two schools. Both positive and negative information would help. Please no requests to ditch both schools and attend a PhD program instead. If I really find myself to be unhappy at whichever school I attend this fall, I will re-apply to Northwestern's clinically oriented PhD program next year after I feel I meet the qualifications. But for now, I'm picking TCS or Roosevelt, so I need your help! Quick stats- Roosevelt is significantly cheaper (~$40,000) but I do not want to make the decision between schools solely based on this because if TCS is still a better choice, then I would go there. Other info: APA match rates are pretty good and comparable at both schools. Some differences: Roosevelt accepts a maximum of 20 new students (TCS ~100 students). Some professional school students feel that having a larger cohort and larger faculty gives them more resources, more connections, more opportunities for networking, more diversified training, etc. Also, I would get the opportunity to teach my own undergraduate classes at Roosevelt whereas I wouldn't have this opportunity at TCS (only TA positions).
My main issue is over the fact that Roosevelt is a university and not a stand-alone professional school (although some would debate that Roosevelt still counts as a professional school because they are not funded). Considering the fact that Roosevelt and TCS are pretty comparable in terms of match rates, licensure, quality of training, I am strongly considering Roosevelt because it is part of a larger university and a PsyD from a university seems to be more respectable in the field than a stand-alone professional school. Does anyone have opinions on this? I have read many opinions that encourage people to get their PsyD from a university over a professional school, but is Roosevelt considered a university by most? Or because it is unfunded, would people lump it with the professional schools? I know the quality of education and training as well as internship/licensure rates are most important, but since between these two schools the stats are so similar, I am looking to other criteria such as reputation for future employment. Here is another issue: not many people have heard of Roosevelt University, whereas TCS has a pretty strong national reputation. So does this "trump" the fact that Roosevelt is a university and TCS is not? Is it better to attend a stand-alone professional school with a strong national reputation, or a so-called "real" university with not much of a reputation at all?
I am truly desperate for opinions as the APA deadline is fast approaching. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!
