Question about Chicago psyd programs

[catlover03]

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Hi!
I'm currently finishing my undergraduate psychology degree in psychology from the University of Denver, and have applied to 4 PsyD programs in Chicago, and I am wondering if anyone can help me rank the 4. I was dead set on Adler at Fort, but after the changes in their admission process and some things I've heard, I'm not sure. The 4 programs are:

• Adler University (interview in January)
• National Louis University
  Roosevelt University
• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

I really just need some advice and info from anyone who has attended or heard anything about any of these schools. Any and all information about programs, faculty, admissions/interview process, or just the city in general is helpful.
In a dream world, I want to work for a small private practice that focuses on young adolescents with internalizing psychopathologies.

edit: I am fortunate enough not to have to worry about the cost of grad school, and will not be covering my own tuition

 

[SchoolPsycho]

Hi! Wishing you well on your journey. Start by looking at EPPP pass rates for these programs. If your goal is to be a licensed psychologist, you'll need to pass the EPPP.

Data from 2024 - https://asppb.net/wp-content/uploads/2024_asppb_dr_report.pdf
Adler - 54%
National Louis - 28%
Roosevelt - 91%
Chicago School - 60%

Consider the cost of the program in comparison to these odds. You might also consider that there are many routes to running a small private practice that don't involve a doctoral degree, that may save you time and money in the long run.

 

[WisNeuro]

Roosevelt is the only one I'd consider even close to reputable. So, in this situations I would have my rankings as #1 Roosevelt, and not bother with the rest as a huge waste of tie and money.

 

[cara susanna]

Someone I went to college with attended Adler and HATED it.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

Two of my close friends went to the Chicago school. They are pretty good therapists but they are saddled with terrible debt. One told me that she will still be paying off her loans when her own daughter is in college. Remember, massive debt will influence your level of flexibility after graduation in many ways.

 

[Mama Bear]

28% pass rate is wild

 

[chicandtoughness]

Isn’t NLU one of the Argosy teach out schools? That could explain the low EPPP since all the old data is weighing things down.

I know graduates from Roosevelt, Adler, and Chicago School. Roosevelt is better than the other two by far. Adler used to be okay (the colleague I know graduated in 2015 and she fought hard to get the clinical experience she needed); they used to be small and focused on their cohorts, but they have EXPLODED in size recently. Last year’s cohort was in the triple digits. They definitely have gone full online degree mill à la Saybrook and have tons of programs. There’s no way you’ll get the focused attention you need. Chicago School should be rated a predatory lender at this point with the amount of money they extort. No one needs to pay that much for a degree that will start you out barely hitting 100k.

28% pass rate is wild

Felician in New Jersey has a pass rate of 0% 💀

 

[tn15an]

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is pretty much an auto reject anytime I see it on a CV. One of the worst schools out there

 

[Sanman]

Hi!
I'm currently finishing my undergraduate psychology degree in psychology from the University of Denver, and have applied to 4 PsyD programs in Chicago, and I am wondering if anyone can help me rank the 4. I was dead set on Adler at Fort, but after the changes in their admission process and some things I've heard, I'm not sure. The 4 programs are:

• Adler University (interview in January)
• National Louis University
  Roosevelt University
• The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

I really just need some advice and info from anyone who has attended or heard anything about any of these schools. Any and all information about programs, faculty, admissions/interview process, or just the city in general is helpful.
In a dream world, I want to work for a small private practice that focuses on young adolescents with internalizing psychopathologies.

Small practices don't get to often get to specialize unless they are solo practices. They also don't offer a steady salary. U of Denver is not cheap. I don't believe that any of the schools listed above is cheap either.

So, how much will you need to make in student loan payments each month before you can eat? How many months can you afford to pay without any income coming in?

 

[futureapppsy2]

Someone I went to college with attended Adler and HATED it.

What were their complaints?

 

[ForensicPsychFightClub]

This is all good advice. OP, I will also add that I am concerned that you seem to be applying to a small number of local programs. The recommended number of programs to apply for is around 15. If you are really looking to avoid predatory programs that will bilk you out of six figure sums in exchange for substandard training and a poor ROI, the plain and simple truth is that most people have to move. You might need to break out of the IL area and start looking at how far you are willing to relocate.

So, how will you tell what’s a reputable program if you don’t know anyone who went there? There are a few ways: cohort size, debt load, APPIC match rate, and first-time EPPP pass rate. This linked one is the easiest to follow as you can look at each program. The EPPP is the exam everyone has to take to get licensed as a psychologist. You should be looking for above a 90%, as the EPPP is supposed to be an exam for competency in the practice of psychology. Maaaaaaybe a bit of wiggle room to 80% or above if you think the program is awesome. Anything lower is a big fat red flag.

OP, I’d encourage you to think about whether what you want to do requires a doctorate, and if so, how to make sure you can get that without an oppressive debt load, especially with student loans going the way they have under the current administration. If you are looking to get your doctorate, you should start thinking about the qualifications you have to get admitted and whether you’ll have to bulk those up.

 

[PsychPsychBaby]

I don't know anyone that went to Roosevelt or NLU. The only people I know that went to Adler were not doctoral-level providers, so don't have much to say on that but they seem to be about average for masters-level clinicians. I had one supervisor who went to the Chicago School and to this day is my favorite supervisor I've ever had - and I typically am very wary of for-profit psychology schools (have particularly had very bad experiences with clinicians with the California Professional School system). She graduated with a PsyD and practiced psychology and supervised with incredible kindness, attention to culture, and did not drink the "kool-aid" that many supervisors do in my experience (she attempted to reduce power dynamics, saw supervision as being about the whole person and not just the clinical pieces, etc). So take that anecdotal evidence as you will lol

 

[allantois]

What’s the point of tracking pass rates if the schools are still allowed to maintain accreditation with terrible rates?

 

[WisNeuro]

What’s the point of tracking pass rates if the schools are still allowed to maintenance accreditation with terrible rates?

At least intelligent applicants who choose to be well informed can make use of the information when looking at programs.

 

[chicandtoughness]

What’s the point of tracking pass rates if the schools are still allowed to maintenance accreditation with terrible rates?

💰💸💵🤑

 

[PsyDr]

What’s the point of tracking pass rates if the schools are still allowed to maintain accreditation with terrible rates?

What’s the point of tracking SSRI success rates, if the FDA allows them to be sold with only 30-60% of people reporting significant symptom reduction?

What’s the point of tracking the effectiveness of condoms, if they are still allowed to be sold with an 87% success rate?

 

[cara susanna]

What were their complaints?

Sorry, I honestly don't remember anymore.