University of South Florida

[CubanPrincess]

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I am just curious as to whether or not anyone has heard anything specific about USF? That is my top choice for graduate school, since it is the only one within a two hour drive for me with a PhD program, and it will be very difficult for my fiance to relocate. Any thoughts or opinions would be great!

 

[2012PhD]

Ask professors in your program about the school's reputation.

If you go to their website, programs are required to produce full disclosure information. There is a link to this on the webpage. You should look at their funding, attrition, apa internship match rate, class size, etc. The program has good outcome statistics overall. Like most clinical programs, they accept only 9 students out of over 200 applicants so you need to apply to a good number of programs.

 

[2012PhD]

I am just curious as to whether or not anyone has heard anything specific about USF? That is my top choice for graduate school, since it is the only one within a two hour drive for me with a PhD program, and it will be very difficult for my fiance to relocate. Any thoughts or opinions would be great!

I forgot to add that graduate school in clinical psychology isn't a good fit for a princess 🙂

 

[PsychBrownBag]

I'm no expert on their program, but their reputation is very strong amongst the folks I know and they have a number of highly productive faculty members. The only person I know who went there as a graduate student always seemed very happy too.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Not to completely derail the thread, but I will offer one piece of advice--be sure that your compatibility with the program goes well beyond geographical location (e.g., your research and clinical interests, goals, and experiences match up well with one or more POIs). Otherwise, you may have an exceedingly difficult time selling your "fit" to them.

Overall, though, I believe USF has a good reputation, although as with any program, it can largely depend on the area of interest. I second the suggestion to ask professors at your current school what they've heard, especially given that they're located in the same state, and thus may have a good bit of "insider" knowledge.

 

[Emerica]

UF has counseling and clinical PhD programs and is 1.5 hrs away. You really need to apply to multiple schools as I hear the process is a crapshoot.

 

[MrQuack]

I think before you get any further into this idea cubanprincess we need some facts...

1. Did you clear a 1200 on the GRE or at least a 600 on the verbal?

2. Can you get 3 solid letters? Not just from professors from whom you've taken their class.

3. You Must have either a senior thesis type project in the works or completed OR have worked rather directly in a lab which dealt DIRECTLY with an area of interest to your PIO.

Maybe 5 years ago this would have been overkill, but trust me, things have amped up in just the last few years. I really do not think anyone can disagree with this as I see it when more and more qualified applicants come in each year for interviews.

Clinical Psych is not for the soft hearted. It is more competitive than any other field in psych period.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I think before you get any further into this idea cubanprincess we need some facts...

1. Did you clear a 1200 on the GRE or at least a 600 on the verbal?

2. Can you get 3 solid letters? Not just from professors from whom you've taken their class.

3. You Must have either a senior thesis type project in the works or completed OR have worked rather directly in a lab which dealt DIRECTLY with an area of interest to your PIO.

Maybe 5 years ago this would have been overkill, but trust me, things have amped up in just the last few years. I really do not think anyone can disagree with this as I see it when more and more qualified applicants come in each year for interviews.

Clinical Psych is not for the soft hearted. It is more competitive than any other field in psych period.

Re: the bolded part.

Not necessarily. It *definitely* helps, but it's people have gotten in without it. A friend of mine wanted to do work/research with children who have experienced abuse. She was admitted to relevant labs at fairly competitive clinical PhD programs during two cycles--time 1 (three years ago), she only had research in adolescent substance use, and time 2 (one year ago), she had experience doing research with adult victims of interpersonal violence, but still no research specific to child abuse victims.It's certainly a great advantage to have relative research experience, but people have overcome this.

 

[MrQuack]

Re: the bolded part.

Not necessarily. It *definitely* helps, but it's people have gotten in without it. A friend of mine wanted to do work/research with children who have experienced abuse. She was admitted to relevant labs at fairly competitive clinical PhD programs during two cycles--time 1 (three years ago), she only had research in adolescent substance use, and time 2 (one year ago), she had experience doing research with adult victims of interpersonal violence, but still no research specific to child abuse victims.It's certainly a great advantage to have relative research experience, but people have overcome this.

Indeed. But did your friend have a great deal of involvement in these projects similar to a thesis?

Regardless you're definitely right. Nothing is hard and fast. It's surprising when you get into programs at which you thought you blew the interview and don't get into programs where the students and faculty literally tell you that you will probably get in.

 

[CubanPrincess]

I am taking the GRE's in about a month, and usually do well on tests. I have a very good rapport with all of my psychology teachers, and I am very confident I can get strong letters from them. I am applying to more than one school, wayyy more than one, but this is my first pick, so I figured it can't hurt to get personal feedback, instead of what is simply listed on their website.

 

[2012PhD]

I am taking the GRE's in about a month, and usually do well on tests. I have a very good rapport with all of my psychology teachers, and I am very confident I can get strong letters from them. I am applying to more than one school, wayyy more than one, but this is my first pick, so I figured it can't hurt to get personal feedback, instead of what is simply listed on their website.

That is a good start.

Most competitive applicants also have 1-2 years of solid research experience (e.g. presentations at conferences, publications) before getting in and are pretty focused about what they would like to do.

 

[CubanPrincess]

That is a good start.

Most competitive applicants also have 1-2 years of solid research experience (e.g. presentations at conferences, publications) before getting in and are pretty focused about what they would like to do.

I have been trying. Unforunately, and I am not trying to make excuses for myself because I know I have a limited chance of getting accepted, my school has done 0 to assist us. I am trying to do everything myself with no guidance. Thats the way the cards fell, and I am trying the best I can.

 

[2012PhD]

I have been trying. Unforunately, and I am not trying to make excuses for myself because I know I have a limited chance of getting accepted, my school has done 0 to assist us. I am trying to do everything myself with no guidance. Thats the way the cards fell, and I am trying the best I can.

nobody is blaming you. Most undergraduate programs don't do much to assist students. Unfortunately, admissions committees will not care about the fact that you couldn't locate a research position. They will be puzzled by the fact that someone with no research experience is applying to research oriented clinical programs that are funded like USF. YOu will also not be able to answer basic questions that they will ask you if they invite you for an interview. I don't think you will make the first cut at any clinical program unless its a professional crappy school. Your best bet is to try to volunteer outside your university--any medical school or other school in the area. You may also just have to graduate and pursue a research assistant position for 1-2 years and then apply. How do you even know that you want to devote 6 years of graduate school to clinical research if you have never done research before?

 

[MrQuack]

I have been trying. Unforunately, and I am not trying to make excuses for myself because I know I have a limited chance of getting accepted, my school has done 0 to assist us. I am trying to do everything myself with no guidance. Thats the way the cards fell, and I am trying the best I can.

"Do not try, do. There is no try." - Yoda

I know this sucks, but don't just flee from the prospect. You can try to apply, but know it's going to cost you around 1.2k plus air fare (15 applications).

Most people who come to this point just go off into psy.D programs or other fields in psych with little thought. Try not to go that way. Clinical has many rewarding options that are difficult to come by in other tracks, aside from maybe counseling psych, but you would still need to "pump up" to get accepted to counseling programs.