Undergrad Guidance

[Diddy30]

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[WisNeuro]

The best advice you're going to get is to apply to more than one program. Most people apply to double digits. And, it really depends on the program itself. If it's a diploma mill, just show up with a check, and be prepared for a mountain of debt and problems getting a job later on. If it's one of the reputable ones, probably depends on the GRE scores. The research is a very weak component of your CV at the moment. Many people have at least 1 year in a dedicated research lab. 2 months isn't really enough to get the hang of anything substantial.

 

[Diddy30]

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[EmotRegulation]

As you can probably glean from reading the myriad of other posts related to research on this site, a lack of interest in research remains a problem even for a PsyD. You have to do a dissertation project, and will behoove you to do a good one, or you may have trouble matching for internship. The point of participating in research is not to become a researcher, it's to understand the process of research so you can evaluate it in the future--this is (theoretically at least) the point of the practitioner-scholar model.

How will you know what treatments are effective if you don't know how to evaluate research? You may say that you can understand it just fine without participating in it, but I beg to differ. I've been doing research for over 10 years at this point (between grad school and my job) and I learn stuff all the time.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (broadly defined) IS ESSENTIAL BACKGROUND FOR A PRACTICING PSYCHOLOGIST. Period.

 

[Doctor Eliza]

The fact that research isn't suggested as a way to prepare for a doctoral program (even a PsyD) is a red flag that the school you are looking at is a diploma mill. You should be sure to look at things like cohort sizes and internship match to determine whether this is a program worth attending.

Apart from that, if it is a competitive school, you will be fighting the perception that you are looking at a PsyD because you couldn't get into medical school. True or not, everything in your experience seems to be preparing you for a career in medicine, not psychology. Admission committees don't look kindly on applicants who think of them as a fall back. Find some way to spin that, add some new experiences, etc.

 

[WisNeuro]

As others have mentioned, being able to effectively conduct and evaluate research is a crucial component of practicing as a high level doctoral psychologist. Without that, most institutions won't even look at your application for employment. So, while you can do PP all you want, you've eliminated yourself from larger employers (e.g., VA's, AMC's, most universities, etc).

Also, if you're not willing to move for grad school, I assume you aren't willing to move for internship and fellowship? If so, you are giving yourself a long road, with the cards stacked against you. Honestly, I would consider another career, it's just going to be very hard every step of the way with limited geographic flexibility. That is a death sentence later on.

 

[smalltownpsych]

"I hate participating in research" Then don't be a participant. If what you meant to say is that you hate conducting research then I am really confused how you would make an effective clinician. It requires some of the same skill set. Being a doctor is about being an applied scientist, that means research. In a way, I am informally conducting ABA research every day as a practitioner.

 

[erg923]

I hate participating in research (hence the 2 months). I was pre-med; interests I have in clinical psychology are purely clinician based (hence pursuing PsyD). I'm not interested in/don't plan to participate in research in the future, so I don't think I should need to buff that part up.

Then you wont be a very good psychologist. You might make a fine "therapist", but you really wouldnt be a "psychologist."

"Psychology"-academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.

 

[smalltownpsych]

Then you wont be a very good psychologist. You might make a fine "therapist", but you really wouldnt be a "psychologist."

"Psychology"-academic and applied discipline that involves the scientific study of mental functions and behaviors.

I don't even think that eschewing all research would make one a good therapist. Why bother with evidence-based treatments, I'll just go with what I feel works.

 

[erg923]

I don't even think that eschewing all research would make one a good therapist. Why bother with evidence-based treatments, I'll just go with what I feel works.

There are of course good therapists that are quite limited in the scientific competence, but yes, I agree. EBT competent is preferable.

 

[smalltownpsych]

There are of course good therapists that are quite limited in the scientific competence, but yes, I agree. EBT competent is preferable.

I taught a research methods class to a lot of aspiring therapists and I would have apoplectic fits when a student would say they hated research!

 

[mc625510]

I am currently applying to psyD and PhD programs and I can say that every program that I am applying to asks the applicant to talk about their research experience. Not sure about the for profit schools but like everyone says don't even look at those as potential schools