"Strong Commitment to a Research Career"

[CKAW]

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Hi guys, I'm doing a last comb through for possible grad programs to apply to and a number of POIs say they are looking for students with a "strong commitment to a research career," or something similar. So, I'm very curious about what exactly this means.

I was drawn to clinical psych in the first place because I sensed it offered a way to bridge the gap between theory and practice. I have since worked with a number of clinicians who conduct research, and researchers who practice as clinicians. When someone says something like that, does that preclude choosing both, in so many words? Would I basically have to decide the course of my life before an interview, and commit to choosing one or the other? Maybe you all can clarify the distinctions.

Thanks, as always.

 

[erg923]

Hi guys, I'm doing a last comb through for possible grad programs to apply to and a number of POIs say they are looking for students with a "strong commitment to a research career," or something similar. So, I'm very curious about what exactly this means.

I was drawn to clinical psych in the first place because I sensed it offered a way to bridge the gap between theory and practice. I have since worked with a number of clinicians who conduct research, and researchers who practice as clinicians. When someone says something like that, does that preclude choosing both, in so many words? Would I basically have to decide the course of my life before an interview, and commit to choosing one or the other? Maybe you all can clarify the distinctions.

Thanks, as always.

First, it's your life. You could attend a program that scowls at those softy clinicians , but if they earned a phd on clinical psychology you can hang a shingle and there not a damn thing they can (or should) do about that.

Second, you would have to ask to be sure obviously, but I would assume that when faculty day this, they are referring to traditional academia and or academic medical center jobs that are highly research oriented.

 

[KillerDiller]

I interpret lines like that as saying "please don't bother to apply if you have little interest in research" rather than "you must become a professor, like me." As long as psychological research is something you value in your education and are willing to devote a substantial amount of time to during training, I think it's worth applying to these programs. Will some POIs be sore at students who don't go into academia? Sure, but if this is a concern you can hopefully assess this during interviews.