overwhelmed- where to apply? what are these schools like?

[newgirl1]

Hi everyone!

I'm a senior psych major looking to apply to grad schools for next year, and I'm completely and utterly overwhelmed. I'm not getting very helpful advice from anyone and I'm about ready to give up and live in a cardboard box for the rest of my life. I would REALLY appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

About me: attending a very well-regarded school, GPA probably about 3.85 (psychology GPA about 3.95 or higher). Will take the GRE's in a month, hope to do pretty well on them since I did well on the SAT's. Currently writing a thesis, hope to have it published by the end of next year but we'll see. Not much clinical experience, but was a teacher (at an actual school with my own classroom) for 2 summers and am hoping to volunteer at the local community health center this year.

Looking for a relatively practice-oriented PhD or PsyD program in the New England area (also looking in the NYC area and at DC and Pennsylvania). Ideally it'd have a child track or some sort of focus on trauma, since those are my interests, but right now location, program quality, and funding are most important to me.

If anyone has any recommendations of specific programs they think would be a good fit, I would LOVE that- I'm basically doing this all on my own, and am very nervous about the whole process. Right now I'm looking at a very rough list of potential places to apply. Here's the list

American University, Antioch, Boston University, Fordham, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, New School, Northeastern, NYU, Regent, Rutgers, Suffolk, Teachers College of Columbia, U Hartford, U Vermont, UMASS, URI, Virginia Consortium, Yeshiva

ANY advice or info on any of these programs, or on any other programs I seem to have missed, would be really wonderful. What are their reputations? Strengths? Weaknesses? Overall atmosphere? Funding? My advisor has been pretty unhelpful and I don't know where to turn.

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[krisrox]

Hi everyone!

I'm a senior psych major looking to apply to grad schools for next year, and I'm completely and utterly overwhelmed. I'm not getting very helpful advice from anyone and I'm about ready to give up and live in a cardboard box for the rest of my life. I would REALLY appreciate any advice anyone can give me.

About me: attending a very well-regarded school, GPA probably about 3.85 (psychology GPA about 3.95 or higher). Will take the GRE's in a month, hope to do pretty well on them since I did well on the SAT's. Currently writing a thesis, hope to have it published by the end of next year but we'll see. Not much clinical experience, but was a teacher (at an actual school with my own classroom) for 2 summers and am hoping to volunteer at the local community health center this year.

Looking for a relatively practice-oriented PhD or PsyD program in the New England area (also looking in the NYC area and at DC and Pennsylvania). Ideally it'd have a child track or some sort of focus on trauma, since those are my interests, but right now location, program quality, and funding are most important to me.

If anyone has any recommendations of specific programs they think would be a good fit, I would LOVE that- I'm basically doing this all on my own, and am very nervous about the whole process. Right now I'm looking at a very rough list of potential places to apply. Here's the list

American University, Antioch, Boston University, Fordham, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, New School, Northeastern, NYU, Regent, Rutgers, Suffolk, Teachers College of Columbia, U Hartford, U Vermont, UMASS, URI, Virginia Consortium, Yeshiva

ANY advice or info on any of these programs, or on any other programs I seem to have missed, would be really wonderful. What are their reputations? Strengths? Weaknesses? Overall atmosphere? Funding? My advisor has been pretty unhelpful and I don't know where to turn.

Keep searching on this forum; it already has many of the answers you're searching for. Do you have any research experience besides a thesis? You probably won't get a serious look if you don't. Also, choosing your schools based on geographic area is risky. You should search based on research interests. See if these programs have a peds track because those profs often tend to do trauma work.

 

[justme08]

I can completely relate to feeling overwhelmed as we're in fairly simliar spots right now. I'd say pick up a book called Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. It's nice because it provides a rough scale of how research oriented a program is, whether or not it's funded, avg GRE and GPAs of that that got in, and a general idea of the research interest, tracks, etc. Also, you will likely need to add the Psych GRE to your todo list as well. I know the Indiana U of P requires it.

 

[edieb]

Keep searching on this forum; it already has many of the answers you're searching for. Do you have any research experience besides a thesis? You probably won't get a serious look if you don't. Also, choosing your schools based on geographic area is risky. You should search based on research interests. See if these programs have a peds track because those profs often tend to do trauma work.

The best thing you could do is buy the graduate school guide put out by the American Psychological Association from this website: apa.org/books. The guide tells you the basics about all accredited graduate schools in the us including how research focused vs. how clinically focused they are, how competitive the school is, and stipends awarded. use the information in this book as a screener to decide which programs to weed out and which to look more into

 

[newgirl1]

Thanks for the replies. Krisrox, I do have some experience working in a few professors' labs during my last three years here- I'm hoping that counts? Justme, I am planning to take the psych GREs in the fall. Glad to see someone else in the same boat- good luck to you! I will look into both those books.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm not looking through the forums- I have actually been looking through them for about an hour now, but I thought it would be helpful to talk myself to people who know what they're doing.

 

[cara susanna]

I interviewed at American. They have a great reputation, but not every student gets funded.

 

[krisrox]

Thanks for the replies. Krisrox, I do have some experience working in a few professors' labs during my last three years here- I'm hoping that counts? Justme, I am planning to take the psych GREs in the fall. Glad to see someone else in the same boat- good luck to you! I will look into both those books.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm not looking through the forums- I have actually been looking through them for about an hour now, but I thought it would be helpful to talk myself to people who know what they're doing.

Sounds like you're off to a great start, then. Keep reading and researching, and you'll do fine!

 

[VeggieDelight]

Are you looking at Clinical or Counseling programs? Some of those schools only have one or the other and some have both. Some also only have either the PhD or PsyD and some have both. I'm not well-informed about the professional schools on your list but the university programs you mentioned are all solid. For instance, BU and Fordham have highly regarded clinical programs and Rutgers' PsyD is regarded as one of the top in the country. It just depends on what you want to do and of course, fit.

You mentioned PA but only included IUP. Have you looked at Penn, Drexel, Temple, Penn State, and Pitt? All are reputable, but you would have to see if the research/practice balance works for you. I know Penn State has a child track, and some others may as well.

A couple more random bits of info: The New School will only accept students from its masters program. You must be accepted to this, matriculate, and then apply to their PhD (admission is not guaranteed). Also, I interviewed at Yeshiva (PhD) and I know it is not funded. I'm guessing it's the same for their PsyD.

 

[deleted176373]

ANY advice or info on any of these programs, or on any other programs I seem to have missed, would be really wonderful. What are their reputations? Strengths? Weaknesses? Overall atmosphere? Funding? My advisor has been pretty unhelpful and I don't know where to turn.

Yes, you missed USUHS (Bethesda MD aka DC area), civilian students get a $29k stipend and full tuition remission. USUHS can be a little confusing since most people think it's military only, it's not, there are 3 slots per year. Dr. Marian Tanofsky-Kraff works with children and Dr. Riggs is a specialist in Trauma.

Mark

PS - I go there, I'm pretty happy.

 

[docma]

I'd look at the Widener program. They have guaranteed APA internship placements built into the program which relieves a significant stress and they seem to have a solid program if you are considering PsyD.

 

[psychmama]

I'd look at the Widener program. They have guaranteed APA internship placements built into the program which relieves a significant stress and they seem to have a solid program if you are considering PsyD.

Good program, but I'm not sure they give much funding. I'd check into this further if you're interested.

 

[Featheredwyngs]

Suffolk doesn't necessarily have funding and Fordham doesn't always have full funding, although it is a competitive program to get into (500+ applicants etc.). Catholic in the DC area is a great program too - but also issues with full funding (by that I mean, tuition waiver + stipend).

Also, I would recommend that you focus and refine your research interests (it will make you a stronger applicant and make it seem less as if you're applying to schools based only on location/program/funding). I'm sure you know this, but you will be applying to a professor in most cases, not a program per se, so fit with the professor and their research area really will need to be on the top of your list.

Right now you're doing a top down search (e.g., searching for good schools/programs and hoping someone there fits your interests) and that's a good place to start, but I also recommend that you do a bottom up search (e.g., find publications in your area of interest and see where the authors/professors are). [And as others have said, limiting yourself geographically will make it a little harder].

 

[KillerDiller]

Suffolk doesn't necessarily have funding

To quantify this more, Suffolk guarantees funding for 1/2 of tuition with several students receiving additional funding (full remission, stipends, etc.) through various fellowships opportunities. Applicants need to apply for these fellowships separately.

Right now you're doing a top down search (e.g., searching for good schools/programs and hoping someone there fits your interests) and that's a good place to start, but I also recommend that you do a bottom up search (e.g., find publications in your area of interest and see where the authors/professors are).

I agree with the suggestion for a more bottom-up approach to searching Ph.D. programs. On top of that, really look at the programs to gain a better understanding of what their training goals are. For example, someone who is happy at BU would be unlikely to be happy at MSPP and visa versa. The focus of training is very different.

 

[ltj999]

I would try to figure out your research and professional goals and use those as a guide to applying more so than location or the school itself.


(Loyola U Maryland has a sweet PsyD program, although not much in the way of funding.. plus I'm kinda bias, hehehe)