Re-applying to other clinical psych PhD programs

[jane_smith2018]

Hi all,

I know this has been written about a few times before, but I know that everything is also taken in context. A bit about my current situation…

I am currently a first year doctoral student in an APA accredited, fully funded program. So that part is great. The part that is not so great is that I am completely miserable in the area the program is located in, and my advisor has turned out to be a total nightmare to work with. I know I will get the whole “why did you apply to a program in an area of the country you did not want to go to”, and this can be best answered by these feelings have only cropped up after having lived here for 6 months. It was not something I felt when visiting during interview weekend. The biggest issue of all is my advisor. They are brand new faculty and my labmate and I are their first students. Unfortunately, my labmate feels the exact same way as I do (although it is nice to have someone to commiserate with). I don’t necessarily want to go into details of the situation for sake of confidentiality, but we are both feeling extremely discouraged and defeated, and the idea of applying to other schools has crossed our minds more than once. I have met with my DCT to voice my concerns, but no real plan has been made, as I feel I should at least stick it out for my first year. I have a 4.0 in the program, plenty of friends, and am really enjoying the coursework. I have no regrets or reservations about choosing this career path, but am having HUGE regrets about choosing this school/advisor. This was the only program I got into last cycle, however it was my very first time applying and I had interviews at much more competitive schools than the one I am currently at.

My question to all of you is what should I do? Would it be academic suicide to leave after the first year and risk my luck applying again? Would other schools deem me a needy snowflake? Should I try to switch labs within my department first?

Really looking for some honest advice on what will be best for my professional career and mental well-being.

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[PsyDuck90]

If you have the option of switching to a different lab, I would try that first. That seems like the least disruptive option as of now.

 

[psych.meout]

If you have the option of switching to a different lab, I would try that first. That seems like the least disruptive option as of now.

I'll second this. I'm guessing that your mentor is not tenured yet if they are new faculty, so they may be more amenable to remediation efforts from the program than someone who is already insulated by tenure. If there's no successful remediation in your current lab, I'd try transferring to a different lab before trying to switch programs.

I wouldn't say it's "academic suicide" to apply to other programs, just that it will be an uphill battle. Programs will be justifiably skeptical of you. How do they know you won't have a similar change of heart in their program and leave if things get tough. Furthermore, I'd be wary of framing things as being solely the fault of your mentor. Other programs are mindful enough to realize they're only getting your side of the story and would be concerned that they might not be getting the full facts, which could make them skeptical of how you will interact with other faculty in their program and/or how you would deal with difficult patients and supervisors in clinical training.

 

[mishpug]

If you have the option of switching to a different lab, I would try that first. That seems like the least disruptive option as of now.

I agree with the previous posters. If your DCT is aware of your concerns, perhaps moving to a different lab within your program is an option. I know that some programs want you to stay in your lab for at least a year, but often movement is possible after the first year or so. Additionally, I don't know the details of what the issues are with your advisor but I wonder if you could meet with them and express your needs? I imagine that someone who is advising their first students is facing a steep learning curve and might benefit from/be receptive to constructive feedback.

I am sorry that this lab/mentor has not been a good fit for you, but it sounds like there are a lot of strengths in that you have lots of friends, are succeeding in the program, and enjoy the courses. Finding a resolution within your current program is likely to be far better than the alternatives.

 

[foreverbull]

I knew folks who weren't thrilled about their advisor and formally switched advisors in the program, but not usually until their 3rd year or beyond. Switching advisors in the first year might raise eyebrows, but could be allowed. I'd check your handbook to see the procedures.
That is one option, but I'd talk to your advisor first about your difficulties to let him know that you're struggling, perhaps. It really depends on the situation, though.

Leaving your program should be a very last resort because here's no guarantee you'd be accepted anywhere else and yes, you have to find a very diplomatic way of discussing why you left your program after just one year. Some of my colleagues considered leaving in the first year of grad school but they didn't and were glad they stuck it out. A few others left the program and decided a PhD wasn't worth the sacrifice, dropping down to the master's program. Unfortunately, some advisors are tough and difficult to work with. You have to decide if it's so difficult that you prefer to risk not having a PhD at all than to stay there.

 

[blakjak12]

Do you think there is any chance your current situation would get any better in regard to adjusting to the area and/or your advisor? I am not at all trying to be dismissive, as that really sucks. A lot of people (myself included) give the advice not to limit yourself geographically, so choosing a program located in a non-ideal place to live can make a lot of sense. Totally anecdotal, but my grad school situation was somewhat similar (in regard to the location part), and I after I gave it a year or two to settle in and get used to it, I really had a great experience for the most part afterwards. Otherwise, I also would echo what others said about first trying to work this out with your advisor/DCT/program before looking into other options.