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First, let me start off by saying I did a search on this topic and there was a very relevant thread posted already, but the thread is over 1 year old so I thought it might be appropriate to create a new one for the upcoming round of hopeful applicants.
If you are using the insider's guide 1-7 scale (of practice vs. research) to make your application decisions, you need to take further steps.
For the past few months I have used the book as a very influential guide to get a tentative list of schools I'd be interested in. For example, I have a strong interest in research, but have a desire to become a clinician, so I have considered the schools in the book with a 3-5 rating (which means equal emphasis). However, I have recently discovered that these ratings can be very wrong when compared to the program's website. I have seen extreme cases like Florida State (which is ranked a 6 or 7 by the book - heavily research) who's website openly invites applicants with career goals in practice and/or research. Other schools with a 3 or 4 rating boldly say on their website: "if you are interested in a career of practice, we are not the program for you".
Long story short: The Insider's Guide... can be very useful. But investigating each program individually will tell you what you really need to know. Don't limit your school choices based on The Insider's Guide!!!
If you are using the insider's guide 1-7 scale (of practice vs. research) to make your application decisions, you need to take further steps.
For the past few months I have used the book as a very influential guide to get a tentative list of schools I'd be interested in. For example, I have a strong interest in research, but have a desire to become a clinician, so I have considered the schools in the book with a 3-5 rating (which means equal emphasis). However, I have recently discovered that these ratings can be very wrong when compared to the program's website. I have seen extreme cases like Florida State (which is ranked a 6 or 7 by the book - heavily research) who's website openly invites applicants with career goals in practice and/or research. Other schools with a 3 or 4 rating boldly say on their website: "if you are interested in a career of practice, we are not the program for you".
Long story short: The Insider's Guide... can be very useful. But investigating each program individually will tell you what you really need to know. Don't limit your school choices based on The Insider's Guide!!!