Unhappy in PsyD program- what now??

[Student4Life0]

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Hello everyone,

It's been a while! I used to post here frequently but I have been in the shadows for a while. Hope everyone is doing well. So, I have found myself in a difficult position and I am hoping for some helpful feedback. I just completed my first year in a university based PsyD program. Overall, a decent program with some funding (ok only a tiny bit), and great faculty. However, I am miserable. I don't feel a connection with members of my cohort, and the more time passes, the more I realize that my passions are in research and teaching. I was an adjunct last semester and LOVED the experience. I'm also working on my dissertation proposal for a quantitative study, very excited! However, it's difficult to be in a program that may not cater to my interests. Also, I often feel bored, the coursework is not very challenging. My dissertation topic is an unusual one, and I don't feel that I am in an area of the country where my interests are supported. I'm afraid that I've chosen the wrong degree, and I've become increasingly more and more unhappy.

So, I've decided that I will not drop out until I have secured a placement in another program. I don't want to be left with nothing. However, it may be difficult to apply to programs without my current program knowing of this. Has anyone else found themselves in this predicament? So far, I have only identified 2 schools (one, really. the other is a bit of a stretch) that have professors who match my research interests. One of the programs is a PERFECT match, PhD clinical, funded, a dream come true. However, both of the professors are in the PhD sociology department, but I am hoping there is crossover between the departments. I am interested in one of the profs in the clinical program, so I am hoping that collaboration is possible.

I'm just not sure how to proceed, or if this even seems feasible. Any words of wisdom?

Many thanks

 

[KillerDiller]

Out of curiosity, why restrict yourself to programs in professional psychology? You say you are drawn more towards research and teaching, so I'm curious why you wouldn't choose to apply to the sociology program that has the research match instead of to the clinical program at the same university. I also ask because I think it may be easier to build a case for transferring from an applied program to a research program than from an applied program to another applied program.

 

[mcvcm92]

Out of curiosity, why restrict yourself to programs in professional psychology? You say you are drawn more towards research and teaching, so I'm curious why you wouldn't choose to apply to the sociology program that has the research match instead of to the clinical program at the same university. I also ask because I think it may be easier to build a case for transferring from an applied program to a research program than from an applied program to another applied program.

Well, the OP wants to switch from a Psy.D to a Ph.D program, which I think could be justified by the desire to get involved in more research (especially in the area of the OP's interest). Staying in a program that you don't like is obviously not the best choice to make, but I agree that it might be better to find something to switch to first. If you are interested in teaching, a Ph.D is more helpful than a Psy.D, but it can be done with both I believe. Good luck!

 

[futurepsydoc]

Out of curiosity, why restrict yourself to programs in professional psychology? You say you are drawn more towards research and teaching, so I'm curious why you wouldn't choose to apply to the sociology program that has the research match instead of to the clinical program at the same university. I also ask because I think it may be easier to build a case for transferring from an applied program to a research program than from an applied program to another applied program.

I second KillerDiller's point, why only psychology? Given that you are interested working with the two sociology professors at the other university, is a Ph.D. in sociology out of the running? Do you enjoy clinical work? If so, I could see why psychology might be more advantageous.

Given that you are at a university based program, is there any way that you could develop a dissertation committee with faculty from outside your department who share similar interests? Might be worth checking into that as well, given that transferring programs is difficult.

Last, I empathize with your cohort situation. It is difficult when there is not as much cohesion amongst a cohort. This is especially true when people do not share the same interests as you, as wedge between people seems a bit larger.

Good luck with your decision and pursuits.

 

[Sanman]

Have you looked at community psychology programs? I don't know your specific interests, but it seems like it might be something you are interested in and lend itself to consulting work as well.

 

[wigflip]

OP: I have been in (and am in your situation). I was unsure how to switch to clinical without blowing myself out of the water with my current (research only, non-psych program) in case things didn't work out. I'm still there, still unhappy, and still hopeful that I can switch at some point. A few things to think about:

What is the orientation of the sociology department where you have the prospective research-matching mentors? What I mean to say is that sociology departments really span the gamut between a positivist perspective that resembles psychology, and an interpretivist frame that more closely resembles a cultural studies department. At my school, the clin psych students who take interdisciplinary classes with the anth, comm studies, soc, feminist studies, Chican@ studies, history, film studies geeks typically have trouble keeping up with the theoretical readings. Do you want to read thousands of pages of Foucault, Bourdieu, Marx, and the like? One elective assigned 1,100 (no, I didn't add a zero) pages of reading the first week.

The politics in the above types of programs can be stifling, even if you identify as politically left.

From what I've read on sdn and elsewhere, the employment prospects, both inside and outside of academia, are better for clin psych folks than for people in the above disciplines. If you're seriously considering bailing on clin psych for another academic discipline, start looking at the job listings in The Chronicle of Higher Education, disciplinary job wikis, etc.

Good luck, whatever you decide.