Prospective Doctorate Student

[psycho12]

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Hi 🙂
I am going from UCI to Pepperdine for my masters in psych. I did not major in psych, and did not even discover it unitl my last year, but once I did I feel in love with it! I realized that this is exactly what I want to do in my future. Anyways, I have a low gpa and I want to know some things I should do throughout my master's program to get accepted into a top of the line doctorate program.

1) Which psych programs are the very best in the U.S.?

2) What specifically should I do to get into them?

3) I also will take less classes so I can work at getting a great GPA.

Right now I am applying for a clinical internship through an outreach program that will give me great clinical experience and I intend to get a research job through Pepperdine. What else?
Thank you so much for your help, I am new to this area, but I really want to know everything.

 

[cara susanna]

Assuming you're talking about PhD programs here. If PsyD, please disregard because I'm not that knowledgeable about their admissions.

With clinical psych PhD, the question isn't really ranking overall but what is ranked highly in your area of interest, and what provides the kind of training you desire. You'll want to define your research interests and figure out what schools have people in that area, and how much research vs. clinical training you would like to receive. There are some very highly-ranked faculty in certain areas at some not-so-big-name programs, and vice-versa, so don't go by national rankings.

As for how to get into them: research, research, research!

 

[WannaBeDrMe]

Hi 🙂
I am going from UCI to Pepperdine for my masters in psych. I did not major in psych, and did not even discover it unitl my last year, but once I did I feel in love with it! I realized that this is exactly what I want to do in my future. Anyways, I have a low gpa and I want to know some things I should do throughout my master's program to get accepted into a top of the line doctorate program.

1) Which psych programs are the very best in the U.S.?

2) What specifically should I do to get into them?

3) I also will take less classes so I can work at getting a great GPA.

Right now I am applying for a clinical internship through an outreach program that will give me great clinical experience and I intend to get a research job through Pepperdine. What else?
Thank you so much for your help, I am new to this area, but I really want to know everything.

The best will vary based upon what's a good fit for you. Research interests/efforts will be different at each location. The key to selecting a good program is MATCH!! How well do your research interests match with the faculty who are taking students.

You should first begin by growing as a student and learning your strengths/weaknesses and discovering what area you want to study further at the doctoral level of your training.

You have a great start. I think the best place to look for more specific answers will be your grad advisor. They will have appropriate resources and networking opportunities to help you as you progress through your program.

Good luck.

 

[psycho12]

Thank you both SO much for your answers. I think I got that I should look for what matches my interests and research a lot : ) I really appreciate the advice.
Thanks!

 

[BacktoSchoolMFT]

first congratulations to a fellow anteater! zot zot zot! c/o 2007

and hello to a fellow Wave, which campus are u attending?