PhD/PsyD Straight to PsyD versus a Master degree en route to PhD

[Lostinsunshine]

Hi, guys, need some tips here.

I am pretty sure that I want a doctoral degree in either counseling or clinical psychology since my career goal is providing comprehensive clinical interventions and teaching at a university/college as an adjunct faculty. I am not a big fan of research, but I don't hate it.
Therefore, I am not sure which road is better, and I've listed some pros and cons of each option.

Straight to PsyD:

• Less time on schooling
• Substantial practical experience with diversified populations
• More debt upon graduation
• No prestigious name attached on C.V.

A master degree first then go to PhD:

• Spend 2~3 years more at school
• Less debt upon graduation
• More time exploring my research and clinical interests
• Opportunities for networking with people at prestigious universities

As an international applicant, the prestige thing is somewhat important because:
1. I would perhaps go back to my home country one day, and people there only recognize big names.
2. My parents will fund my graduate school, and they value big names.
3. This may contribute to other aspects of my life.

The great news is that PsyD programs are no so expensive to me comparing to folks who entirely rely on themselves. My parents' budget for my graduate school is around 100K. Anything over than that I have to pay for myself. Still, this is no doubt a great aid.
Currently, I got interview invitations from two university-based PsyD programs. Hopefully, I will have several offers from both PsyD programs and master programs at the end of this cycle. Also, I am flying to the U.S. in Feb to conduct some field trips.

Sorry for the long post. Any insights would be helpful!

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[deleted343839]

I'm not sure where you got the idea that you needed a master's before applying to PhD programs. That option is generally reserved for people who have little or no academic background in psychology, or those who have a weak undergraduate record.

You also have a misconception that a PsyD program would provide you with more "practical experience." High-quality PsyD programs will give you about as much hands-on clinical exposure as PhD programs.

In short, by all means apply for strong PsyD programs that have a good track record of placing their graduates in APA-accredited internship programs, but do not rule out PhD programs that fit your interests. Good luck!

 

[Lostinsunshine]

I'm not sure where you got the idea that you needed a master's before applying to PhD programs. That option is generally reserved for people who have little or no academic background in psychology, or those who have a weak undergraduate record.

You also have a misconception that a PsyD program would provide you with more "practical experience." High-quality PsyD programs will give you about as much hands-on clinical exposure as PhD programs.

In short, by all means apply for strong PsyD programs that have a good track record of placing their graduates in APA-accredited internship programs, but do not rule out PhD programs that fit your interests. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply!
I applied to two PhD programs and got rejected. I guess most counseling PhD programs do prefer candidates with a master degree.

 

[erg923]

Thanks for the reply!
I applied to two PhD programs and got rejected. I guess most counseling PhD programs do prefer candidates with a master degree.

No. I dont think that's true. And there is not evidence to support it either.

 

[WisNeuro]

We had a sister counseling PhD program side by side with our clinical program, I don't remember any of them coming in with masters.

 

[ClinicalABA]

Hi, guys, need some tips here.

...Straight to PsyD:...

• No prestigious name attached on C.V.

Going this route, with a goal of a clinical postition/adjunct, It's probably more important to not a have a poorly though of name (e.g., "pay to play", accept everyone program) on your CV than it is to have a "prestigious" name. While there are some "prestigious" Psy.D. programs, those tend to be more like Ph.D. programs, with very small cohorts and a strong research emphasis.

...A master degree first then go to PhD:

• Opportunities for networking with people at prestigious universities

This may be more important if you are looking for a research focused career than for a clinical and teach-on-the-side position.

As an international applicant, the prestige thing is somewhat important because:
1. I would perhaps go back to my home country one day, and people there only recognize big names.
2. My parents will fund my graduate school, and they value big names.
3. This may contribute to other aspects of my life.

Prestige of a program is a funny and, ultimately, not very important thing given your goals. "Prestige" in clinical psych- for what it's worth- tends to be focused on individual researchers, vs. programs as a whole. You might have a very prestigious individual in one area of research/practice at a program that is relatively weak in another area. You also need to get to work on your parents and their view of "prestigious" programs. It's highly unlikely that, from afar, they consider programs like, say for example, Western Michigan or Southern Mississippi, to be prestigious. However, depending on what you want to study these schools would serve you much better than, say, Harvard or MIT. It just doesn't work the same way in graduate school that it does (or at least people think it does) in undergrad. If I need a strong child diagnostician with a good foundation in developmental disabilities and behavior therapy, I might go looking to a specific "directional" school vs. that "big name" university, as that is where the most "prestigious" faculty (and best trained graduates) come from. In much of the clinical psych doctoral training world (particularly at University-Based Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs) you are applying to work with a specific professor, rather than the program as a whole.

In summary-

Some programs are crap (hang out around here and you'll see the same names pop-up regularly). These programs are more likely to be non-university-based Psyd.D. programs. Avoid these at all costs. Don't waste your parents money and good will.

Some programs are really good in some areas, as. These are a good goal (and investment) if you are reasonably of your area of study. Be aware that these programs may or may not offer good training in other areas beyond courses required to meet APA accreditation standards (and you should not be considering non-APA Accredited). programs).

 

[Justanothergrad]

Thanks for the reply!
I applied to two PhD programs and got rejected. I guess most counseling PhD programs do prefer candidates with a master degree.

Nope. It is likely due more to fit, competitiveness with that round of applicants, etc. Counseling accepts more with masters than clinical, but it's not a preference for MA in general. I see it as a greater appreciation of non-traditional career routes.