Thoughts on Summer Opportunities

[Scire]

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Currently I'm in the first year of a two year teaching program. I plan on going after a PsyD once I have completed my second year at the school and am looking for the best possible way to spend my time over the summer before my second year of teaching begins.

I've tried to find research opportunities and have contacted all the colleges in the area, although (understandably) they are only using their own students as research assistants. I am also attempting to volunteer at a crisis center as a Crisis Counselor on the phone. In addition to this volunteer work and studying for the GRE and subject test, I would really love some advice for other productive ways I could spend my summer which could make me a more attractive candidate while also giving valuable experience to help me achieve my goals.

Any thoughts would be really appreciated!

 

[WisNeuro]

Why not spend the summer researching clinical Ph.Ds with funding?

 

[mickeymouse93]

How on Earth does your response answer her question?

 

[mickeymouse93]

She will need to be EXTREMELY competitive for those "funded clinical PhD" programs. Some 4.0's with published articles get rejected from those programs solely because they can only take 8-15 students per year. In fact, this is why several students are opting towards the PsyD route - less hassle, time, and rejection.

 

[KillerDiller]

She will need to be EXTREMELY competitive for those "funded clinical PhD" programs. Some 4.0's with published articles get rejected from those programs solely because they can only take 8-15 students per year. In fact, this is why several students are opting towards the PsyD route - less hassle, time, and rejection.

Yes, heaven forbid that it should be competitive to enter the highest level of a profession.

OP: that wasn't directed at you. Your plan for the summer sounds solid. Perhaps try contacting some local hospitals to see if there are volunteer research opportunities there. And, in all seriousness, do devote some time to coming up with a list of programs to apply to that have solid outcomes and a workable financial package. This website may also be helpful http://psychologygradschool.weebly.com/ .

 

[WisNeuro]

How on Earth does your response answer her question?

How does it not? Less hassle should not be the "go to" here, how about look for the best training you can get? Rather than looking for the easiest route to go and watering down the profession into irrelevance, maybe we should advocate tightening standards and training guidelines.

 

[mickeymouse93]

How does it not? Less hassle should not be the "go to" here, how about look for the best training you can get? Rather than looking for the easiest route to go and watering down the profession into irrelevance, maybe we should advocate tightening standards and training guidelines.

Maybe so, but she needs responses that help guide her gain experience ever so vital in order to get into those funded programs.

 

[WisNeuro]

Maybe so, but she needs responses that help guide her gain experience ever so vital in order to get into those funded programs.

That was implied in the "research clinical PhD's" comment. But, she's doing the right things, the crisis line is a good move. A little bit of research experience will be vital at some point or the other, although just doing it over the summer probably won't cut it, really need a solid year's worth. But, no need to publish, it's nice, but not necessary. Plenty of people, myself included, get into research one grad programs with no publications under our belts.

 

[mickeymouse93]

That was implied in the "research clinical PhD's" comment. But, she's doing the right things, the crisis line is a good move. A little bit of research experience will be vital at some point or the other, although just doing it over the summer probably won't cut it, really need a solid year's worth. But, no need to publish, it's nice, but not necessary. Plenty of people, myself included, get into research one grad programs with no publications under our belts.

Did you have outstanding GPA/GRE/LORs?

 

[WisNeuro]

GPA was around 3.8, Letters of rec were probably pretty good, GRE scores were above average. Besides the point though. There is more to becoming a Doctor than merely the desire to become one.

 

[bcliff]

I agree - This idea that anyone who wants to become a psychologist, should become a psychologist is one of the most troubling issues facing the field of clinical psychology. I blame a lot of this on the lack of a concrete, pre-psychology curriculum (meaning that pretty much anyone can apply with little forethought/planning), and misinformation being given to undergraduate students about career outlooks for clinical psychology graduates (internship imbalance, length of time to becoming licensed, lack of geographic stability, etc.), and the # of of FSPS programs with low standards/requirements for admission.

The current internship crisis is largely to blame because of a lack of control & limitation on the # of clinical psychology students admitted each year, and while it sucks that there are many students who are hurt by this imbalance, at least there's SOME sort of control over the # of students graduating with APA accredited internships, which helps prevent total over saturation of the field.

I think that the field should be doing everything in its power to move this bottle neck from internship to grad school admissions. The first step in doing this is emphasizing the idea that becoming a clinical psychologist is (and should be) a long and hard process and that people who are only interested in specific aspects of it (i.e. therapy) have a plethora of other options (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) at their disposal. As a patient, I would be more likely to trust an LCSW from a solid state school than a psychologist from an FSPS.