Need help deciding on a program for me...

[Mariamz]

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First of all I want to say that I am so glad i found out about student doctor network (from my little brother, who is on his way to med school in the fall!!).

I have applied to masters programs, and have narrowed my options down to two choices, St. Josephs UNiversity, or Pace University. SJU is an MS and Pace is an MA. I could get more research experience at SJU. I think Pce would prepare me more for a PsyD.

I dont know which one would be better fit for me, mainly because i'm not sure if i want to pursue a PhD or a PsyD. 😕 and what are the benefits of a PsyD over a PhD?

I know i definitely want to do clinical work, but am not sure if research is something I would want to continue doing after im done with all my schooling. I have worked on a research project at UPenn, as well as some experience in research during my undergraduate years.

My main concern is my UG GPA. Like many other people on SDN, I switched from bio to psych, which had a a huge impact on my GPA (overall is 3.0, psych is 3.5).

Would it be unrealistic for me to pursue a PhD? I have found I am very interested in clinical health psych, and would want to get a PhD in clinical health. Or would going for a PsyD be a better option for me?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[erg923]

Unfortunately, the modal number of publications for Ph.D. psychologists after grad school remains at zero. So, if you get Ph.D., obviously, nobody is gonna come knocking on your door every 6 months looking for a new pub😉. That is, unless you are university faculty. Then research productivity is expected of course.

Your GPA is marginal at the moment. Actually, there are not very big differences betwen the mean undergrad GPA of Ph.D. vs. Psy.D. applicants, so unfortunately, I think it's really an issue for you for both programs. However, it can be done if you have alot of quals to off-set it, but a masters GPA might be the only thning that can, unless you have 1600 GRE. I can not answer the Psy.D/Ph.D. question for you, no one can really. You can do all the same things with a Ph.D as the Psy.D. In reality, "Scientist-Practioner" was never meant to be a dichotomy, although I realize it often gets framed that way. However, if you can't stand stats and research, you wont be happy in a Ph.D., even the more balanced one. They also have fairy differnet trianing philosophies, where the Ph.D focuses more on underlying theory and the science of psych before taking the clinical aspect on top (ie., psychologists first, clinical psychologist second). Psy.D. (showing my bias here) has more of a "lets just jump in and do it" philosophy.

 

[Mariamz]

Thanks Erg,
So i'm assuming you're in a PsyD program? If so, what made you choose that route? I'm def not a big fan of sats...and actually did horribly in stats in undergrad. the program at St. Joes is A LOT of stats and research courses... based off of what you told me ims tarting to think gong there could backfire if i dont do well in those classes. What do you think?

Can PsyD's do more than just clinical work? I'm asking that because I did some research in mental health policy at UPenn, and the subject is very interesting to me. I would like to also be involved in health policy, and not just do clinical work, and am wondering which degree would be a better fit for that, or if a doctorate degree even matters at all for getting involved in policy??

and last quetion (for right now). I know for PhD having some research experience is always a plus. How significant is research for admission into a PsyD program?

thansk again for everyones feedback!

 

[erg923]

Nope, I'm in a Ph.D. I dont' have a problem with the Psy.D model as it was orginally intended by the Vale Conference. What I do have problems with is how tends to actually gets implemented, (ie.,"lets just jump right in and do.") without much regard for building up to the clinical work by being well versed in the underlying science first. This happens, but certainly not in all cases. Baylor's program is great, as are a few others who really push the scientific scholarship aspect, rather than treating the doctorate as a trade/vocational school.

Yes, Psy.Ds can do more than clinical work. "Health policy" is pretty vague. Mental health policy at what level? County, state,federal? Parities, 3rd party reimbursement issues, access to services? Community mental health, impatient mental health, mandatory commitment issues and legal stuff? Advocate, legislate, create, implement?

I do not know how much research is weighted in Psy.D admissions. My best guess would be you need to have some, but nothing extensive.

 

[Mariamz]

Thanks for the info, Erg.
As of right now i'm really interested in community mental health, and the lack of access to services. I would love to work on this at a federal level! Do you think a PsyD would be a good fit for someone who wants to do clinical work, and be involved in government at the level i describe?
And do you know of other good PsyD programs off the top of your head?

 

[erg923]

I really do not know about that.

Good Psy.Ds programs include Baylor, Rutgers, East Virgina Medical School/Old Dominion Consortium, Rutgers, Illinois Institute of Technology, Pepperdine, Xavier, But Im sure there are others. However, you will have to take stats and methodology in Psy.D programs too, and generally just as many courses of them as in Ph.D. program. You will just practice and use the stats alot more in a Ph.D program. Nonetheless, there are great Ph.d programs that are not pushing a heavy reseach agenda, such as UT Southwestern Medical Center's program, Auburn, and many others. The notion that you will be a lab rat in a Ph.D program and always get more clinical exposure in a Psy.D. program is false. Unless you are at a place like Minnesota, Wisconsin, or UCLA, you have considerable freedom to shun extra research activities in favor of extensive practicums in Ph.D. programs.

 

[Mariamz]

Erg,
Thanks again for all your advice.
I'm still not quite sure which program would be best for me. Like i sad i definitely want to do clinical work, which is making me lean more towards a PsyD program. But it is possible that I could change my mind. I want to get my masters from a program that would keep my options open. So would an experimental MS program like St. Joes be more beneficial, or a general MA program like Pace?

 

[thewesternsky]

Erg,
Thanks again for all your advice.
I'm still not quite sure which program would be best for me. Like i sad i definitely want to do clinical work, which is making me lean more towards a PsyD program. But it is possible that I could change my mind. I want to get my masters from a program that would keep my options open. So would an experimental MS program like St. Joes be more beneficial, or a general MA program like Pace?

Why does wanting to do clinical work make you lean toward a PsyD program?? The majority of people coming out of PhD programs in clinical psychology go into practice rather than academia. Don't rule out PhD programs just because you want to do full-time clinical work someday. I'm not sure where the PsyD=clinical/PhD=research idea comes from, but it's patently false.

Is funding an issue? If so, your best bet might be to apply to both PhD and PsyD programs, as the number of fully-funded PsyD programs is limited and these are very competitive.

I'd recommend getting the research experience (e.g., St. Joseph's). Pace's program sounds like mostly coursework, which you don't necessarily need much more of after your undergrad degree. I could be missing something attractive about Pace's program, though-- If I am, let me know.

Good luck!