Problem Need Advice

[teddyax]

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Here is my situation I am currently a senior and I applied to 10 clinical programs. I was accepted at two one professional school that I refuse to attend and NOVA which I am debating. I have been wait-listed at the school I want to go to that offers full funding.

My options as I see them are either

A. Go ahead take out $150,000+ in loans and go to NOVA (this one is not very appealing)

B. Wait it out for the school that is offering funding and hope that I move from the wait list to an acceptance. If I don't I will have to get a Job and reapply next year.

C. Stay in school one more year take a second major in statts and strengthen my application to reapply, but if i get into the school that offers funding I can graduate in the summer and go there.

I have to decide soon regestration is sometime next week!!!

Each of these has its pros and cons.....I am having a hard time deciding what to do.

Any Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

 

[Psyclops]

Taking another major in stats is an interesting idea, I've not heard of anyone going that route before. It certainly wouldn't hurt, especially if you learned some higher level statistics like structural equation modeling. The big question is, could you do better by working in a lab somewhere? If you give us some more infor people would be happy to help out.

There are a couple of things to think about. You really only have 6months from the end of this school year until applications are due again. So it may be the best idea to take two years. Don't despare, it seems most are doing something like this these days, and the reason schools like it so much is that it really helps aplicants figure out their own interests. But if you did do the stats thing, would you be able to continue to do work in psych labs, building up expereince and getting letters of recs? And if you were to get a job, what kind would you get? Where are you located, what school are you at, etc..

Also, are your interests focused yet? Do you have a specifica area you want to work on? Do you know professors you want to work with? This matters less if you are going for the PsyD (I think, others can chime in there) but read some of the boards about PsyD programs and which are really good and which are not.

My personal opinion is take a year or two off, build yourself, your interests and experience, and then make a run at funded programs, you'll be doing yourself a disservice if you do not.

 

[Ratch1980]

Definitely take time off and get research experience. That is the best way to strengthen your application. Some schools are hesitant to take people who are directly out of undergrad. And it will be key if you are able to get some publications.

Also, won't staying another year at school mean more debt anyway?

 

[perfektspace]

I would say that another year in school and a double major in stats wouldn't help you much unless the area you are going into is directly related to statistical techniques/development.You have to take stats your first few semesters anyways as a grad. As said before, you essentially have to get research experience to be competitive for clin. psych PhD. Otherwise your just a transcript with a name and no distinguishing characteristics. It's par for the course to take, at least, a year or two before applying so don't feel like you are behind. Be wary of programs that don't offer funding. If you don't already know, find out your place in line at the school you are waitlisted. I hope you get in.

 

[teddyax]

Some of you asked for a little more information.

I think that I will stay in school an extra year. This will not cause me to go into debt because I have about 30k in reserve, since I go to a state school it would only cost me about 12k for tuition and living expenses. I am only 4 math courses and 3 Statts courses away from my second major. During this time I could work as an RA in someone's lab here at school over the Summer and into the Fall. I also need to work on my GRE scores to bring them up about 80-120 points currently they are 1100 (I know this is low and I should have brought them up before I applied).

I have yet to call the school to determine my rank on the wait list because I received the letter Saturday. I will call first thing on Monday.

Thanks again to everyone who posted.

 

[Psyclops]

Good luck to you. I don't think that it is a bad choice to stay in, the stats major will help you no matter what. See if you an get a poster or two presetned or submitted for presetation by the time next year comes around. You are going to need to bring those GRes up, no way around those, but won't be a big deal. They are changing the format this fall. Just a heads up. Also, make this sumer count!