The reputation of two clinical psychology master programs

[wong928]

I have received the clinical psychology MA program admission offers from the Mississippi State University and Minnesota State University at Mankato for the class of this Fall. Anyone has heard of their reputations and program outcomes? I decided to use the program as a step-stone to increase my competitiveness (mainly through accumulating research experiences and to have a handful of publications if possible) for entering doctoral program in clinical psychology. I also have strong interests in pursuing neuropsychology track in my further training. However, it seems that both programs have limited coverage on neuropsychology contents. Anyway, anyone would be knowledgeable of the above mentioned programs? I am an international student so I am really not well acquainted with their geographic conditions and local ratings.

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[EmotRegulation]

I don't know a lot about Minnesota State, but I have heard that Mississippi State is planning to start a doctoral program, potentially in the next two years, so that's a decent option if you plan to continue on in your training. Mankato is about an hour and a half outside of Minneapolis (a great city!) whereas Mississippi State is a couple of hours away from Jackson and Birmingham....but the two programs are in quite different places culturally/climate wise even though they are both in smallish towns.

 

[cara susanna]

A lot of people in my program (Clinical PhD) got their Masters at Mankato. They've all done very well in the program.

 

[coldsweat]

I recommend Minnesota State University at Mankato's clinical psychology master's program as well. While some master's programs are vague about the placements of their graduates (maybe because of poor outcomes), MSU Mankato lists the specific doctoral programs that their students have been accepted into, which is concrete evidence that they prepare you well for admission into a doctoral program.

 

[wong928]

A lot of people in my program (Clinical PhD) got their Masters at Mankato. They've all done very well in the program.

Does that mean the program at Mankato is often viewed favourably among the dotoral admission committee? Say from your experiences getting along with your classmate who got their Masters at Mankato, do you think they are well trained and are really prepared for doctoral training? If you don't mind me asking about how competitive is the admission to your PhD program?

 

[studentjp]

Hey there!

I am a current clinical master student at Mississippi State University with neuropsychology interests. For me, Mississippi State was a great move. Unlike many places I've been, I can honestly say the faculty make the program. They are very involved with students in their mentoring, getting them research and clinical opportunities, and overall development. Since I've been here I've had no shortage of extra manuscripts to get on. There is also open collaboration here. Some also collaborate with the experimental faculty (such as myself). If you want imaging experience, there is one clinical faculty member actively working getting access to the fMRI on campus and there are cognitive faculty who frequently do imaging research. Sometimes they need a grad student to help out. As for participants, my wife got 600 in a week from our research pool to build a new measure.

As for clinical experience, you start getting clinical experience in your second semester (with assessment only, therapy beginning your second year). The clinic has a steady flow of clients at this time. There is plan to move to a nicer building on campus soon (in the fall I want to say?) The clinic is also a great source of data collection. Two faculty members are gearing up for a randomized controlled trial study of PTSD using two competing therapies.

In the past students have also gone other places for clinical experiences via practica. Myself, I went to Madonna Hospital (Lincoln, Nebraska), one of the largest rehabilitation hospitals in the country. They have 7 psychologists, 4 of which are neuropsychologists. I loved it there. If you end up wanting to go there too, they offer cheap housing for students.

People who have graduated (that I know of, mind you) have gone to PhDs at University of Alabama, Auburn, West Virginia University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of South Alabama. The success rate for those who apply is high.

If you have any specific questions, I'm more than happy to help.

 

[cara susanna]

Does that mean the program at Mankato is often viewed favourably among the dotoral admission committee? Say from your experiences getting along with your classmate who got their Masters at Mankato, do you think they are well trained and are really prepared for doctoral training? If you don't mind me asking about how competitive is the admission to your PhD program?

Yes, I would say it's viewed favorably. My colleagues who went there seem very well-trained and prepared.

Um... about 10% of people are admitted from the pool of applicants (a lot of people turn down offers here because the location is not that great)

 

[wong928]

Yes, I would say it's viewed favorably. My colleagues who went there seem very well-trained and prepared.

Um... about 10% of people are admitted from the pool of applicants (a lot of people turn down offers here because the location is not that great)

Then how would people rate the location of Minnesota and Mississippi?

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Then how would people rate the location of Minnesota and Mississippi?

I'd imagine it depends on how much you like the freezing cold vs. sweltering heat and humidity, and also on southern vs. north-midwestern/great lakes culture.

I've never been to MN, so I can't comment on that. I've also never lived in Mississippi, but I've visited and been through the state plenty of times. MS State looks to be in the middle of nowhere-ish, but it's equidistant between Jackson and Birmingham, the latter of which in particular can be an entertaining spot. It's also about a 4 to 4.5-hour drive to New Orleans and Atlanta, which would be doable for the occasional weekend trip. Beyond that, I'd imagine the cost of living would be about as low as you can get. Just be ready for the crappy roads that are ever-present in that state.

 

[cara susanna]

Mankato isn't the greatest area, from what I've heard. But it's fairly close to Minneapolis. I'm from the upper Midwest and currently in an upper Midwestern state that's even colder and more remote than Minnesota, so I'm a bad person to ask.

 

[woodstock219]

Then how would people rate the location of Minnesota and Mississippi?

I actually grew up in Mississippi, and had a brother who got both his Bachelors and Masters at MSU (although it was in engineering). The pros to Starkville are that it is a deep south town (meaning good food, southern hospitality, and not a lot of "crazy college town" atmosphere) that, as stated above, is close enough to a pair of large metropolitan areas that you could find things to do if you wished. On the other hand, it is also the ONLY thing in Starkville. That, for some, might be the big downside because there are simply not that many things to do if you are looking for an exciting night out on the town.

I cannot speak to the academics of MSU, becasue I graduated from another school in MS and then moved to Missouri for my Masters. However, if you'd like, I do have friends still in Starkville who I might be able to connect you to if you'd like, as well as a professor connection or two who might be able to provide some insight into the program (although from an outside perspective).

Feel free to PM me with any questions you've got, and I'll do my best to answer them.