School Rep or Degree Title?

[x411x]

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I have a pretty important decision to make here in the next couple weeks, and I would appreciate any words of wisdom you all may have. I am in the process of choosing between two doctoral programs; the Psy.D program at Pepperdine or the Ph.D program at PGSP.

I am well-aware of the differences between the PsyD and the PhD, and I am aware of the importance of each schools reputation. I'm going to be devoting 4-5 years towards this degree and I just want to make the "right" decision (whatever that means). I want to have the most options available to me in the future.

Ultimately I would love to teach and practice.

Both Pepperdine's program and PGSP's program will appropriately prepare their students for a career in a clinical setting. As far as a career in teaching, I don't know which will open the most doors for me.

The fact of the matter is that the PhD is still more highly regarded than the PsyD (at least for now), however I think Pepperdine has a better reputation than PGSP.

So . . . which would you choose??

 

[thewesternsky]

Is PGSP APA accredited yet? If not, I might go with Pepperdine.

 

[deleted176373]

Is PGSP APA accredited yet? If not, I might go with Pepperdine.

Ya, that's a tough one. PGSP and Pepperdine are pretty close from an APPIC match rate. There is some stigma with Psy.D. vs Ph.D. and with PGSP vs Pepperdine. PGSP does have some unique faculty who are strong on assessment (Roger Green). It's going to come down to which program you are going to be happier at. I don't think there is going to be much difference in costs although you might be more likely to get a scholarship at one over the other.

Unfortunately neither program may be optimal for an academic career. As a matter of fact I don't think that it would be easy to get a tenure track position from either program. This is something I would discuss with the faculty at each program before deciding on one. Ask them if they have anyone who is currently in a tenure track teaching position that you can talk to. This is not saying that you can't but it might be more difficult.

Do you have one that you "feel" is a better match for your academic needs?

Mark

PS - From APA Website

Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PhD)
Palo Alto, CA 94303-4233
March 17, 1988
Accredited
Next site visit scheduled 2011

 

[BorntoRun]

I have a pretty important decision to make here in the next couple weeks, and I would appreciate any words of wisdom you all may have. I am in the process of choosing between two doctoral programs; the Psy.D program at Pepperdine or the Ph.D program at PGSP.

Honestly, I think you'll have folks 'biased' against you (and in favor of you, too) no matter which route you go. My personal impression is that the Ph.D. vs. Psy.D. bias is more pervasive, so you would do better to go for a Ph.D. from a less prestigious school than a Psy.D. from a more prestigious one.

Do you have the option to talk to one of your mentors in the field? I think that would be a worthy opinion to seek, as they'll have a better 'real world' perspective on the benefits and drawbacks of each.

 

[JockNerd]

So . . . which would you choose??

Isn't Pepperdine funded? Prob solved, if so. 🙂

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Isn't Pepperdine funded? Prob solved, if so. 🙂

I thought so....?

 

[empathiosis]

Isn't Pepperdine funded? Prob solved, if so. 🙂

This assumes that funding is an issue for the OP. But nothing in her post suggests that it is.

 

[JockNerd]

This assumes that funding is an issue for the OP. But nothing in her post suggests that it is.

The question, though, was

So . . . which would you choose??

Which is what my post was answering.

 

[JR in SB]

Do you already have a master's degree? Pepperdine is post-master's.


But yeah, that having been said, I would definitely go with Pepperdine over PGSP's ph.d. program......136 applicants, 120 admissions offered, 44 incoming....not the kind of program I would like to find myself in.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I never looked at PGSP (it wasn't APA-approved when I was looking), but I did look at Pep. I didn't have a MS, but I was considering an MA/MS as a backup and would have definitely put it on my list if I re-applied to programs later.

 

[73BARMYPgsp]

I never looked at PGSP (it wasn't APA-approved when I was looking), but I did look at Pep. I didn't have a MS, but I was considering an MA/MS as a backup and would have definitely put it on my list if I re-applied to programs later.

Make sure you distinguish PGSP PsyD from the PhD here. The PhD program has been accredited for a long time. When you were looking at PsyD programs, is was not yet. The Op is making a decision between Pepperdine PsyD and PGSP PhD.