WAMC: What Are My Chances

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I currently hold a cumulative GPA of a 3.4, as of now. Two more semesters to go, with this past one being a 3.55. I am an older student (25) who works full time as a teaching assistant for children with ASD, for the past several years I have been working with the developmentally disabled, in the school setting. I am trained in ABA and in the past, for my higher functioning population, I could throw a BIP together like no other . I also volunteer at a gay youth center and ran a high-schools GSA for a year. I am hoping that when the time comes to apply for a Psy D. program, my work experience will help me somewhat. As stated previously I do have two more semesters to go, and will be done in the upcoming fall. I fell in love with testing/ assessments and this is something I really want to pursue, but this anxiety, or anxious feelings I have gotten is totally spoiling my high of doing pretty well considering I work/go to school full time. The three schools I have come across are the Chicago school, Yeshiva and Pace (whom seems to be asking a lot in comparison to Yeshiva and Chicago). Any input would be greatly appreciated!! Even thoughts of the programs or personal experiences, Seriously anything, I am prepping for my GRE's as well..which is an entirely different story , LOL. Thanks again for the input.
 
Happy New Year SDN ;-)

I am a non-traditional student who returned to school in 2008, after a somewhat, ahem, questionable record with school. From 2003 - 2007 I was in school on and off, consistently maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher, but on a transcript littered with W's (and F's that had disappeared due to grade forgiveness). Simply put, I was depressed, clueless and had no idea what I wanted from school and was just attending because it was the "right thing to do."

In 2008 a few events occured that pushed me back into a community college, specifically towards Psychology. I struggled with the math and science pre-reqs, receiving an B and two C's. After that I maintained A's in all of my courses and transferred to a private research university this past semester with a 3.7 GPA.

From early 2009 - present I have accumulated volunteer experience teaching immigrants English, mentoring teenage girls, and volunteering with a rape hotline. My paid work experience is almost exclusively restaurant, bar, and casino oriented, the exception being my most recent position as a research assistant for a local non-profit consulting firm. At the university I was fortunate enought to be offered an opportunity to work with a widely-published (though recently graduated) professor in her lab for the next three semesters. I plan on becoming certified as a rape-crisis counselor next semester, producing an Honor's thesis the semester of graduation, and taking the GRE's in the summer of 2011 (shooting for a 1400, fingers crossed).

If I maintain A's I will graduate with a 3.8 GPA, with a major in Psycholgy and a minor in Management (I am considering I/O as a backup plan). My current plan is to apply for clinical PhD programs in the states and master's programs in Europe and Australia. First preferrence is the PhD programs in the states, but how viable is this with my current stats, even if I hit my targeted GRE scores? What are my chances, how can I improve them? The application to overseas master's is to broaden my international experience and hopefully make myself a more competitive applicant for a PhD program after receipt of a master's. How does this look in the eyes of admission's officers? Also, is there a way to find out how international master's are viewed here in the US?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
 
Are there any lurkers out there that have taken the USUHS route? Specifically anyone that came from active duty military? I've submitted an application and I know some of their processes are different compared to the typical civilian programs. Thanks and best of luck to all!
 
I have a 2.6 gpa from a UC in Philosophy of Mind....my philosophy gpa was 3.6 but since I decided to go premed that brought me down to an abysmally low 2.6.

I'm thinking of taking night classes at the Harvard Extension school and getting a masters in psychology.

Is this a good path to getting into a reputable PhD program in clinical psych?

What should I do if that's not the case? I need help from this point forward, figured ya'll might know what to do.
 
JD Penguin said:
I have a 2.6 gpa from a UC in Philosophy of Mind....my philosophy gpa was 3.6 but since I decided to go premed that brought me down to an abysmally low 2.6.

I'm thinking of taking night classes at the Harvard Extension school and getting a masters in psychology.

Is this a good path to getting into a reputable PhD program in clinical psych?

What should I do if that's not the case? I need help from this point forward, figured ya'll might know what to do.
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Likely the best thing would be to apply to a quality Master's program (one that has ample opportunity to do research and that requires a research thesis). That would help mitigate the low undergrad GPA (assuming you did well) and give you research experience you will need to apply to Ph.D. programs.
 
JD Penguin said:
I have a 2.6 gpa from a UC in Philosophy of Mind....my philosophy gpa was 3.6 but since I decided to go premed that brought me down to an abysmally low 2.6.

I'm thinking of taking night classes at the Harvard Extension school and getting a masters in psychology.

Is this a good path to getting into a reputable PhD program in clinical psych?

What should I do if that's not the case? I need help from this point forward, figured ya'll might know what to do.
Click to expand...


I think this is a decent plan. I was even thinking of that program myself, as I graduated from college in 1999 and feel like I need fresh coursework and more recent relevant letters of recommendation if I am to pursue a Clinical Psych PhD (which I may or may not do.) In my case, I don't really need to boost my GPA.

I have been taking science classes at the Extension School (and have taken several other courses, including psych courses, non-credit, when I worked at Harvard and could take classes for free) and find the classes to be excellent. The Clinical Psychology concentration for the ALM is new this year, but they have been offering the Psychology concentration for years. This is a high-quality masters program which requires fieldwork and a serious research thesis (it will take around a year to do the thesis work.) HES has a good track record of grads getting into good doctoral programs.

For those who don't know about the Harvard Extension School... don't be put off or misled by the phrase "night classes". It's Harvard's continuing education arm and has a great reputation. The classes are rigorous and while it's "open enrollment," you need to meet certain standards for admission into the degree programs (I believe for the Clinical Psych masters, you need to take the subject area "proseminar" which is like an intro to graduate research methods, a clinical course, and a statistics course, and receive a B or better in each, and then you can enroll in the degree program. You have to keep up a B average to remain enrolled, and the program is a normal degree program which involves serious research and even fieldwork placements. The idea is that it gives everyone a chance (anyone can enroll in an individual course) but after that you must prove yourself.

Quite frankly, there are not a lot of terminal Psychology masters programs (as opposed to "counseling" programs) at good schools... they seem to be very hard to come by (and no wonder, since you cannot be licensed as a psychologist without a doctorate.) This program actually looks better than a lot of the other ones I have seen.

You might also look into PsyD programs, which are much easier to get into than Clinical Psych PhD programs, but you'll still need to boost your GPA to be admitted.
 
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Hello all! I'm new to this forum and I nearly jumped for joy when I saw this thread. Anyway, let me tell you about my credentials and the schools I'm applying to for Fall 2012.

First off, I am a junior and 1/2 (I will graduate next winter) and I am a psychology major wanting to become a clinical psychologist with a Psy.D and I want to specialize in personality disorders.

Okay here it goes:

Current School: U. of Cincinnati
Residence: Ohio (all my life)
I am a minority, I'm African American/Black.
Current Cumulative GPA: 3.67
Current Psychology GPA: 3.85
(The rest of my classes should be quite easy since I got all of the difficult ones out of the way last semester. I'm anticipating A's for the remainder of my undergrad career.)
GRE Scores: I have not taken the GRE yet, but I plan to in April. However, I purchased Kaplan's $500 GRE course and I've taken four computer adapted practice GRE exams and I've been ranging around 1050-1150. 580-600ish for verbal, 480-550 for quantitative (I suck at math 😛)
-I still have 3 more months to study and the rest of the Kaplan course to get through -hopefully my scores will improve.
Classes taken: Abnormal Psych, Senses & Perception, Intro&Intermediate Stats, Research Design, Personality Psychology, Psychobiology
Research Experience: I have been working under a world renowned personality psychologist as a research assistant for two consecutive quarters, and I plan to work with him until I graduate.
Clinical Experience:
-I just started an internship at a Mental Health Services clinic and I will be shadowing (of course, not in an actual session) and studying under the CEO who is also a psychologist and therapist.
-I also just started volunteering at a support group clearing house where I get the opportunity to sit in on round-table discussions with psychologists around the area.
-I will be a "Buddy" in the support group clearing house's Buddy program that assigns a friend to people with psychological disorders who recently were released from the hospital/psychiatric treatment facility. I basically will help them ease back into things.
-I'm volunteering as a crisis counselor for a Suicide Hotline.
Letters of Recommendations: So far I have at least three solid letters, all from psychologists (one of them is from England and published a popular textbook on Personality Psychology)

The Psy.D schools that I will be applying to: (In order of personal ranking)
1. Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
2. Wright State University School of Professional Psychology (SOPP)(Dayton, OH)
3. Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, FL)
3. Nova Southeastern University SOPP (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
4. Massachusetts SOPP (Boston, MA)
5. Chicago SOPP (Chicago, IL)
6. University of Hartford (Hartford, CT)
7. University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN)
8. Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL)

I know this is a lot of information but I like to be thorough lol. Please let me know what you think!
 
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You seem to be in pretty good shape. Get those GRE's up! Hopefully you can get some more meaningful research experiences and independent projects under your belt.

As another little tip, you might want to edit this post to create a little more anonymity for yourself. This is the internet; it's open to everyone. You gave your first name, your school and the name of the prof you're working under. These bits allow you to be identified.
 
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Hello!

I am a senior psychology major. I am applying to clinical programs hoping to to do research pertaining to gender and women's studies.

GPA: 3.84
GRE: 1240 (V-630, Q-610, A-5.0)

I did one semester of student research with a faculty member pertaining to gender issues. I also completed a research project and presented a poster on my findings to faculty members as part of an advanced research course.

I have also worked in female-focused community centers for the past two years.

I have three letters of recommendation, one from the head of our undergraduate psychology department, one from the faculty member that I did research with, and another from the head of the women's studies department.

I know my GRE scores are low and my experience with research minimal, however I applied at schools with faculty members who are currently researching women's issues, hoping that they would think I was a good fit.

I applied to:

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Penn State
University of Washington
University of Georgia
University of Vermont
Indiana University
University of Rhode Island
Georgia State University
University of Missouri-St. Louis
 
You applied to a lot of competitive programs. I think at this stage in the game, it may be fairly difficult for you to compete with applicants who have much more research experience. I may be wrong, but I feel like there are a lot of applicants who also have an interest in women's/gender studies.

(As a side note - I think many applicants fail to recognize the importance of match specificity. If you are interested in the study of depression in women or in the psychological aspects of breast cancer patients, then you will have more success if this is related to your POIs compared to merely expressing an interest in general women's studies).

I think you're on the right track though. You may want to try to boost your GREs a bit and get more research relevant to your interests.

Overall, you just never know. Depending on the strength of your personal statement and match w/faculty, you still have a chance.
 
Hi SDN,
I'm wondering what I should be focusing on going into my last 3 semesters of college. I will be applying to more practice oriented PhD programs in clinical psych. I have no desire to attend a research dominated program. Here is a breakdown of my current situation.

Info: White, Male, Handsome :laugh:, Confident in working with faculty 👍

GPA: 3.52 (Psych GPA slightly higher)
GRE: Preparing, expecting ~1200
Research: 1 year Research Assistant, in sleep/substance abuse related study, NIDA funded.
Publications: 2nd Author on Sleep Abstract in conference journal.
Presentations: I will be presenting the poster (from the previous abstract) at 1 National Conference, 2 Local School Presentations
Clinical Experience: 1 upcoming semester working with Teen Felons in a school, Peer adviser for psychology department.
Teaching: 1 semester TA for clinical psych class. 1 semester TA for 5th grade elementary class.
Letters: All current psychologists, from my TA experience, from my research experience, and from professional experience.
Other: Psi Chi President, Asian Study Abroad, Politically Active on Campus, Traveled to southern US to complete Habitat for Humanity project. Honors Program...

How can I strengthen this?
 
After receiving a poor grade last quarter (C) in a research methods class I have become more realistic about my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. I had been hovering around a 3.3 - 3.4 all last year for overall gpa, and still have a 3.3 currently but that C dropped my psych GPA from a little above my average to a 3.07. I still have a full year of all psych classes to take (about 10 total) and know I will get my GPA back up to a reasonable level. I understand I wont be getting into a Ph.D. program first, if at all in the next three years but need some sort of advice on where to go after my undergrad.

I am 25 now, I had dropped out of high school before finishing my junior year, worked for a few years and went back to school earned my high school equivalency degree at 21, started at a community college at 22 and have nearly finished a double major (Anthro / Psych). I want nothing more than to be a practicing psychologist, it is the reason I went back to school, the only reason. Since then I was in a bad car accident (neck fracture) and developed a neurological disorder (possibly MS) which have both complicated my education in ways most undergrads could not imagine.

Due to overall weakness academically how do I go about pursuing a career in clinical psychology? The past 3 1/2 years and debt cant be for nothing, and I wont rest until I make it. A majority of my studies thus far relate to medical anthropology and behavioral neuroscience / abnormal. After this school year I will have finished a full year of behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, methods in behavioral neuroscience, and all of the normal psych requisites for graduation. I also know I will have at least three LOR that will be at the very least above average as I have formed close friendships and levels of mutual respect with many teachers at my university.

Is there any way into this field for me? Should I give up on the Ph.D. though and apply to just masters? Would applying be a waste of money given all of the 3.8's+ out there? The though of a psy.D was always depressing to me but I have heard a few people say there are a couple decent programs out there. Any information is helpful, thank all of you!
 
Lol a PsyD would be depressing? I'm not sure why you're even so confident that you'd get into a PsyD program.
 
sobotkg said:
After receiving a poor grade last quarter (C) in a research methods class I have become more realistic about my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. I had been hovering around a 3.3 - 3.4 all last year for overall gpa, and still have a 3.3 currently but that C dropped my psych GPA from a little above my average to a 3.07. I still have a full year of all psych classes to take (about 10 total) and know I will get my GPA back up to a reasonable level. I understand I wont be getting into a Ph.D. program first, if at all in the next three years but need some sort of advice on where to go after my undergrad.

I am 25 now, I had dropped out of high school before finishing my junior year, worked for a few years and went back to school earned my high school equivalency degree at 21, started at a community college at 22 and have nearly finished a double major (Anthro / Psych). I want nothing more than to be a practicing psychologist, it is the reason I went back to school, the only reason. Since then I was in a bad car accident (neck fracture) and developed a neurological disorder (possibly MS) which have both complicated my education in ways most undergrads could not imagine.

Due to overall weakness academically how do I go about pursuing a career in clinical psychology? The past 3 1/2 years and debt cant be for nothing, and I wont rest until I make it. A majority of my studies thus far relate to medical anthropology and behavioral neuroscience / abnormal. After this school year I will have finished a full year of behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, methods in behavioral neuroscience, and all of the normal psych requisites for graduation. I also know I will have at least three LOR that will be at the very least above average as I have formed close friendships and levels of mutual respect with many teachers at my university.

Is there any way into this field for me? Should I give up on the Ph.D. though and apply to just masters? Would applying be a waste of money given all of the 3.8's+ out there? The though of a psy.D was always depressing to me but I have heard a few people say there are a couple decent programs out there. Any information is helpful, thank all of you!
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The Psy.D comment about it being depressing is pretty funny considering you said all you want to do is practice. For practicing purposes, a psy.d and phd are pretty much the same now.

That said, the GPA is only one part of your application. For psych phd programs and that low of a GPA you need a 1300+ on the GRE. LOR's shouldn't just be above average, they should be good/great since everyone else's will be. You didn't say what your studies entailed but you will need a lot of research experience also.

It's good to be motivated but I think the masters might be a good route for you. Or even the Psy.D even though it might be depressing for you 😛
 
sobotkg said:
After receiving a poor grade last quarter (C) in a research methods class I have become more realistic about my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. I had been hovering around a 3.3 - 3.4 all last year for overall gpa, and still have a 3.3 currently but that C dropped my psych GPA from a little above my average to a 3.07. I still have a full year of all psych classes to take (about 10 total) and know I will get my GPA back up to a reasonable level. I understand I wont be getting into a Ph.D. program first, if at all in the next three years but need some sort of advice on where to go after my undergrad.

I am 25 now, I had dropped out of high school before finishing my junior year, worked for a few years and went back to school earned my high school equivalency degree at 21, started at a community college at 22 and have nearly finished a double major (Anthro / Psych). I want nothing more than to be a practicing psychologist, it is the reason I went back to school, the only reason. Since then I was in a bad car accident (neck fracture) and developed a neurological disorder (possibly MS) which have both complicated my education in ways most undergrads could not imagine.

Due to overall weakness academically how do I go about pursuing a career in clinical psychology? The past 3 1/2 years and debt cant be for nothing, and I wont rest until I make it. A majority of my studies thus far relate to medical anthropology and behavioral neuroscience / abnormal. After this school year I will have finished a full year of behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, methods in behavioral neuroscience, and all of the normal psych requisites for graduation. I also know I will have at least three LOR that will be at the very least above average as I have formed close friendships and levels of mutual respect with many teachers at my university.

Is there any way into this field for me? Should I give up on the Ph.D. though and apply to just masters? Would applying be a waste of money given all of the 3.8's+ out there? The though of a psy.D was always depressing to me but I have heard a few people say there are a couple decent programs out there. Any information is helpful, thank all of you!
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I would be concerned about your ability to complete a doctoral program (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) were you to get in, given your academic difficulties in undergrad. Grad school is pretty rigorous and most programs do not allow you to get C's in your coursework and remain in the program. Beyond coursework, it's also academically challenging to complete the research projects that will be required, even if you go to a program that skews toward the practice end of things.

And, as others have said, your GPA is a limitation but it also takes so much more to be a competitive applicant (research experience, good letters, etc.).
 
I would recommend looking elsewhere because you have a number of factors weakening your application. I also agree with the prior poster about the pervasive misconception that the PsyD and PhD degrees are split by Research v. Practice. As a PsyD who actively participates in research and avoids therapy at all costs....there are many shades of grey with both degrees.
 
sobotkg said:
After receiving a poor grade last quarter (C) in a research methods class I have become more realistic about my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. I had been hovering around a 3.3 - 3.4 all last year for overall gpa, and still have a 3.3 currently but that C dropped my psych GPA from a little above my average to a 3.07. I still have a full year of all psych classes to take (about 10 total) and know I will get my GPA back up to a reasonable level. I understand I wont be getting into a Ph.D. program first, if at all in the next three years but need some sort of advice on where to go after my undergrad.

I am 25 now, I had dropped out of high school before finishing my junior year, worked for a few years and went back to school earned my high school equivalency degree at 21, started at a community college at 22 and have nearly finished a double major (Anthro / Psych). I want nothing more than to be a practicing psychologist, it is the reason I went back to school, the only reason. Since then I was in a bad car accident (neck fracture) and developed a neurological disorder (possibly MS) which have both complicated my education in ways most undergrads could not imagine.

Due to overall weakness academically how do I go about pursuing a career in clinical psychology? The past 3 1/2 years and debt cant be for nothing, and I wont rest until I make it. A majority of my studies thus far relate to medical anthropology and behavioral neuroscience / abnormal. After this school year I will have finished a full year of behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, methods in behavioral neuroscience, and all of the normal psych requisites for graduation. I also know I will have at least three LOR that will be at the very least above average as I have formed close friendships and levels of mutual respect with many teachers at my university.

Is there any way into this field for me? Should I give up on the Ph.D. though and apply to just masters? Would applying be a waste of money given all of the 3.8's+ out there? The though of a psy.D was always depressing to me but I have heard a few people say there are a couple decent programs out there. Any information is helpful, thank all of you!
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Well, you sound highly motivated, which is great, but have some huge barriers to overcome. Your neurological disorder, if related to your recent decline, may mitigate your gpa some. That said, I agree that you will need to come up strong in other key areas if you want to be considered for any graduate program, but particularly clinical PhD. It is nice to have good relationships with professors, but you will need to gain some research experience and demonstrate some profeciency (a conference poster/presentation, publication, book chapter, senior thesis, something). You also need to prep well for the GRE. If this does turn out to be too far of a reach and your goal is to provide therapy, then I might suggest looking into some non-doctorate alternatives, like LPC or LCSW programs. I won't go as far to say that the PsyD is depressing as a degree, but some of the predatory, for-profit "training programs" that prey upon aspiring therapists certainly are. There is no reason (none) to put yourself into further crippling debt if there are other options that will fulfill your career goals. :luck:
 
sobotkg said:
After receiving a poor grade last quarter (C) in a research methods class I have become more realistic about my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. I had been hovering around a 3.3 - 3.4 all last year for overall gpa, and still have a 3.3 currently but that C dropped my psych GPA from a little above my average to a 3.07. I still have a full year of all psych classes to take (about 10 total) and know I will get my GPA back up to a reasonable level. I understand I wont be getting into a Ph.D. program first, if at all in the next three years but need some sort of advice on where to go after my undergrad.

I am 25 now, I had dropped out of high school before finishing my junior year, worked for a few years and went back to school earned my high school equivalency degree at 21, started at a community college at 22 and have nearly finished a double major (Anthro / Psych). I want nothing more than to be a practicing psychologist, it is the reason I went back to school, the only reason. Since then I was in a bad car accident (neck fracture) and developed a neurological disorder (possibly MS) which have both complicated my education in ways most undergrads could not imagine.

Due to overall weakness academically how do I go about pursuing a career in clinical psychology? The past 3 1/2 years and debt cant be for nothing, and I wont rest until I make it. A majority of my studies thus far relate to medical anthropology and behavioral neuroscience / abnormal. After this school year I will have finished a full year of behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, methods in behavioral neuroscience, and all of the normal psych requisites for graduation. I also know I will have at least three LOR that will be at the very least above average as I have formed close friendships and levels of mutual respect with many teachers at my university.

Is there any way into this field for me? Should I give up on the Ph.D. though and apply to just masters? Would applying be a waste of money given all of the 3.8's+ out there? The though of a psy.D was always depressing to me but I have heard a few people say there are a couple decent programs out there. Any information is helpful, thank all of you!
Click to expand...

It looks like you're taking a pretty heavy courseload, also, which might be doing your GPA a disservice. Psychopharmacology and Behavioral Neuroscience tend to be challenging, conceptually, and its likely that you're not going to do as well as someone taking Developmental Psychology and Sociology courses. Take this as a grain of salt as its just my experience: But neuroscience exams at my undergrad usually had averages in the low 70's, compared to the mid-80's for a lot of the softer science classes.

Granted, I don't know what things are like at your university but things might pick up if you lighten your load a little bit... though I'm sure graduate school is going to be more challenging than anything you take as an undergraduate, regardless.
 
I apologize if something like this has been posted before, but I did try the search function and found nothing, so here goes.

My background: I am a graduate hopeful with a B.A. in Psychology. It was not my first major, but I fell in love with it from the first class. It was during my senior year in undergrad that I decided to aspire to become a clinical psychologist. Unfortunately, my school was not the type to offer tons of research opportunities, nor did I think to apply for the few available. On top of that, my initial college years were spent dealing with depression, which also depressed my GPA. The last 18 months of my college career was spent retaking classes and setting a furious pace, after which I ended with a 3.18. I know, I know...

I graduated in 2008; since then I have spent my time in the work force, where I find myself today. I moved from the suburbs of Chicago to St. Petersburg, FL in 2009 to be closer to my fiancee. I still wish to be a clinical psychologist, but Florida as a whole is distressingly devoid of master's programs in psychology (I want to complete a master's program to shore up my weak undergrad GPA and to gain some research experience). The closest brick-and-mortar school with a master's program in actual PSYCHOLOGY is an hour and a half away in Orlando, FL. The only psychologically-based program close to me is an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. Moving is out of the question (she is TOTALLY against it).

Here is the question (finally): Can I enter a program like this, rock it out, gain some extra research experience on the side, and reasonably expect to be competitive when it finally comes to applying to clinical psychology Ph.D programs in the future?

P.S. - Took the GRE because the program requires it. Got a 1410 (V: 730 Q: 680). Analytical writing scores not yet received.
 
Okay, So I will refine (greatly) what I meant. I meant, the thought (past tense) was depressing. Not only was it a poor choice of words it was misleading and without explanation. All I knew about psyD's previously was schools like argosy.

I am keenly aware of my inability to get into a good psyD program due to their competitive admission and in NO WAY meant to attack anybodies degree's or future plans. I have no idea why I worded it like that and only became aware of the mistake this morning after receiving a private message in regards to it. I would consider myself extremely lucky to get into any program. The second part to that comment was that I have in my head, fixated and obsessed with phD programs and the thought of no longer looking at those schools I had been researching was disappointing for me. I do like the applied clinical side more but I was also looking forward to the research.

That been said, I do apologize again for the wording and possible hurt feelings or misunderstandings that may have occurred. As for a couple responses, I feel they may have been more... optimistic or encouraging had I not attacked a core, important part of clinical psychology. As far as my limitations go, I understand better than anybody what they are. So I understand what you are saying, It is why I posted.

The comment about my ability to complete graduate level work is the only one I feel compelled to really reply to. I feel that comment was reactionary and without merit. You have no idea what abilities I do or dont have, what classes or topics are my strengths, or what led to that low grade. In fact, half of my professors admitted to getting a C in their undergrad, one even had a few. I had two scary, painful, and life changing medical situations, the neck fracture which I have recovered from almost entirely and the neurological disorder which may or may not be a one time event. These events which are now in my past should have no bearing on my ability to complete graduate level work. As far as the C goes, it was my first C and it happened partly due to an unavoidable situation that effected that class and one exam that I did poorly on. I do not have an overall lower trend in grades, in fact it is the opposite. The farther away I get from the episodes the better my grades are. Aall of my other classes in the past year have been either A's or A-'s. In my defense I would argue I am more prepared than some of my peers who go out of their way to take easy classes that ensure 4.0's while I am constantly pushing myself, even overloading my schedule to take more (difficult) classes to prepare for graduate school.

I would like to wrap up my ..... large response in a more humble way, the way I meant to approach the board in the first place. I am sorry for the misunderstanding.
 
sobotkg said:
Okay, So I will refine (greatly) what I meant. I meant, the thought (past tense) was depressing. Not only was it a poor choice of words it was misleading and without explanation. All I knew about psyD's previously was schools like argosy.

I am keenly aware of my inability to get into a good psyD program due to their competitive admission and in NO WAY meant to attack anybodies degree's or future plans. I have no idea why I worded it like that and only became aware of the mistake this morning after receiving a private message in regards to it. I would consider myself extremely lucky to get into any program. The second part to that comment was that I have in my head, fixated and obsessed with phD programs and the thought of no longer looking at those schools I had been researching was disappointing for me. I do like the applied clinical side more but I was also looking forward to the research.

That been said, I do apologize again for the wording and possible hurt feelings or misunderstandings that may have occurred. As for a couple responses, I feel they may have been more... optimistic or encouraging had I not attacked a core, important part of clinical psychology. As far as my limitations go, I understand better than anybody what they are. So I understand what you are saying, It is why I posted.

The comment about my ability to complete graduate level work is the only one I feel compelled to really reply to. I feel that comment was reactionary and without merit. You have no idea what abilities I do or dont have, what classes or topics are my strengths, or what led to that low grade. In fact, half of my professors admitted to getting a C in their undergrad, one even had a few. I had two scary, painful, and life changing medical situations, the neck fracture which I have recovered from almost entirely and the neurological disorder which may or may not be a one time event. These events which are now in my past should have no bearing on my ability to complete graduate level work. As far as the C goes, it was my first C and it happened partly due to an unavoidable situation that effected that class and one exam that I did poorly on. I do not have an overall lower trend in grades, in fact it is the opposite. The farther away I get from the episodes the better my grades are. Aall of my other classes in the past year have been either A's or A-'s. In my defense I would argue I am more prepared than some of my peers who go out of their way to take easy classes that ensure 4.0's while I am constantly pushing myself, even overloading my schedule to take more (difficult) classes to prepare for graduate school.

I would like to wrap up my ..... large response in a more humble way, the way I meant to approach the board in the first place. I am sorry for the misunderstanding.
Click to expand...

Nope, not reactionary. I'm almost done with a Ph.D. program, so it wouldn't personally bother me if someone bashed Psy.D. programs, even though I may not agree with what they said.

In any case, I made my comment based on the numbers and difficulties you reported. A 3.3 is not a bad GPA in general, but in terms of being a competitive applicant for a Ph.D. program, it's low. You said yourself that you are weak academically. I was just pointing out that a doctoral program is going to be rigorous and this could pose a barrier to completion. You also didn't give any reason for why you got a C in research methods, and given the nature of the class, that could be looked at as a weakness in being able to complete required research in grad school by an admissions committee.

In any case, a high GPA is not the only thing you need to be competitive. Even if your GPA were higher, you would have essentially zero chance of admittance to a doctoral program without at least a couple years of research experience and excellent letters from psychologists who know you in that context (not just class professors).
 
FuturePhD2 said:
Nope, not reactionary. I'm almost done with a Ph.D. program, so it wouldn't personally bother me if someone bashed Psy.D. programs, even though I may not agree with what they said.

In any case, I made my comment based on the numbers and difficulties you reported. A 3.3 is not a bad GPA in general, but in terms of being a competitive applicant for a Ph.D. program, it's low. You said yourself that you are weak academically. I was just pointing out that a doctoral program is going to be rigorous and this could pose a barrier to completion. You also didn't give any reason for why you got a C in research methods, and given the nature of the class, that could be looked at as a weakness in being able to complete required research in grad school by an admissions committee.

In any case, a high GPA is not the only thing you need to be competitive. Even if your GPA were higher, you would have essentially zero chance of admittance to a doctoral program without at least a couple years of research experience and excellent letters from psychologists who know you in that context (not just class professors).
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I meant weak academically (on paper) relative to other applicants. I realize most of those things will hold me back. I will have one year of research when I leave, probably a 3.3 - 3.4, hopefully a respectable GRE but given everything I have posted I know I wont be what most boards are looking for or expect in an applicant. What do you suggest if anything?
 
sobotkg said:
I meant weak academically (on paper) relative to other applicants. I realize most of those things will hold me back. I will have one year of research when I leave, probably a 3.3 - 3.4, hopefully a respectable GRE but given everything I have posted I know I wont be what most boards are looking for or expect in an applicant. What do you suggest if anything?
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I would suggest applying to a Master's program that has a required research component (usually a Master's thesis). Then you can get some more research experience and hopefully some pubs or conference presentations. You will also have demonstrated that you can handle graduate coursework, assuming you do well.

It is more and more becoming the trend that people take time in between undergrad and applying to a doctoral program. Some people do Master's programs as stepping stones to get more research experience and some spend a couple years working as research assistants to get that experience. So you also have to keep in mind the pool of applicants that you're competing with. It's the research experience that usually sets people apart.
 
FuturePhD2 said:
I would suggest applying to a Master's program that has a required research component (usually a Master's thesis). Then you can get some more research experience and hopefully some pubs or conference presentations. You will also have demonstrated that you can handle graduate coursework, assuming you do well.

It is more and more becoming the trend that people take time in between undergrad and applying to a doctoral program. Some people do Master's programs as stepping stones to get more research experience and some spend a couple years working as research assistants to get that experience. So you also have to keep in mind the pool of applicants that you're competing with. It's the research experience that usually sets people apart.
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Thank you for the information! It makes more sense and realistic than a lot of what I have been hearing lately.
 
I am applying to 9 counseling psychology PhD programs and one PsyD clinical program, and had considered myself a very strong candidate...but I am no longer certain. In fact, I'm rather concerned as I've already been turned down from one program...one I thought was well matched to my strengths.

My undergraduate work was not in psychology, though my major was in the social sciences and indirectly related to my research interests. I would like some insight from those who may have experience or knowledge of applicants with non-psych majors who were accepted into highly competitive programs. I do have 2 years of post-bacc work including research, been the president of a smattering of honor societies...etc...ad nauseum.

A quick break down:
-Over a decade of experience in the medical field (via the military)
-Well above average GPA both cumulative and in psychology (30 hours of psychology courses)
-GRE scores adequate for the programs to which I'm applying
-2 years of research as an RA, conducting an independent study, and as part of a research team (3 students and 2 advisors)
-Published as co-author
-120 hours of clinical experience with the population I would like to work with as a psychologist
-150 hours of volunteering with a non-prof art program for underserved communities
-3 very strong LOR's
-1 semester experience as a GTA including a certification course for new instructors
-Presented studies at several conferences

Will my major overshadow the psychology related work I've done when it comes down to choosing me over 250 of my highly qualified co-applicants? Is there any basis for my concern?

I thank you in advance for your opinions/insight/calming words of wisdom...

AB 🙂
 
(Sorry im reposting this, but I really wanted to get others' input.)

Hello all! I'm new to this forum and I nearly jumped for joy when I saw this thread. Anyway, let me tell you about my credentials and the schools I'm applying to for Fall 2012.

First off, I am a junior and 1/2 (I will graduate next winter) and I am a psychology major wanting to become a clinical psychologist with a Psy.D and I want to specialize in personality disorders.

Okay here it goes:

Current School: U. of Cincinnati
Residence: Ohio (all my life)
I am a minority, I'm African American/Black.
Current Cumulative GPA: 3.67
Current Psychology GPA: 3.85
(The rest of my classes should be quite easy since I got all of the difficult ones out of the way last semester. I'm anticipating A's for the remainder of my undergrad career.)
GRE Scores: I have not taken the GRE yet, but I plan to in April. However, I purchased Kaplan's $500 GRE course and I've taken four computer adapted practice GRE exams and I've been ranging around 1050-1150. 580-600ish for verbal, 480-550 for quantitative (I suck at math 😛)
-I still have 3 more months to study and the rest of the Kaplan course to get through -hopefully my scores will improve.
Classes taken: Abnormal Psych, Senses & Perception, Intro&Intermediate Stats, Research Design, Personality Psychology, Psychobiology
Research Experience: I have been working under a world renowned personality psychologist as a research assistant for two consecutive quarters, and I plan to work with him until I graduate.
Clinical Experience:
-I just started an internship at a Mental Health Services clinic and I will be shadowing (of course, not in an actual session) and studying under the CEO who is also a psychologist and therapist.
-I also just started volunteering at a support group clearing house where I get the opportunity to sit in on round-table discussions with psychologists around the area.
-I will be a "Buddy" in the support group clearing house's Buddy program that assigns a friend to people with psychological disorders who recently were released from the hospital/psychiatric treatment facility. I basically will help them ease back into things.
-I'm volunteering as a crisis counselor for a Suicide Hotline.
Letters of Recommendations: So far I have at least three solid letters, all from psychologists (one of them is from England and published a popular textbook on Personality Psychology)

The Psy.D schools that I will be applying to: (In order of personal ranking)
1. Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
2. Wright State University School of Professional Psychology (SOPP)(Dayton, OH)
3. Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, FL)
3. Nova Southeastern University SOPP (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
4. Massachusetts SOPP (Boston, MA)
5. Chicago SOPP (Chicago, IL)
6. University of Hartford (Hartford, CT)
7. University of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, IN)
8. Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL)

I know this is a lot of information but I like to be thorough lol. Please let me know what you think!
 
sobotkg said:
After receiving a poor grade last quarter (C) in a research methods class I have become more realistic about my chances of getting into a Ph.D. program. I had been hovering around a 3.3 - 3.4 all last year for overall gpa, and still have a 3.3 currently but that C dropped my psych GPA from a little above my average to a 3.07. I still have a full year of all psych classes to take (about 10 total) and know I will get my GPA back up to a reasonable level. I understand I wont be getting into a Ph.D. program first, if at all in the next three years but need some sort of advice on where to go after my undergrad.

I am 25 now, I had dropped out of high school before finishing my junior year, worked for a few years and went back to school earned my high school equivalency degree at 21, started at a community college at 22 and have nearly finished a double major (Anthro / Psych). I want nothing more than to be a practicing psychologist, it is the reason I went back to school, the only reason. Since then I was in a bad car accident (neck fracture) and developed a neurological disorder (possibly MS) which have both complicated my education in ways most undergrads could not imagine.

Due to overall weakness academically how do I go about pursuing a career in clinical psychology? The past 3 1/2 years and debt cant be for nothing, and I wont rest until I make it. A majority of my studies thus far relate to medical anthropology and behavioral neuroscience / abnormal. After this school year I will have finished a full year of behavioral neuroscience, psychopharmacology, methods in behavioral neuroscience, and all of the normal psych requisites for graduation. I also know I will have at least three LOR that will be at the very least above average as I have formed close friendships and levels of mutual respect with many teachers at my university.

Is there any way into this field for me? Should I give up on the Ph.D. though and apply to just masters? Would applying be a waste of money given all of the 3.8's+ out there? The though of a psy.D was always depressing to me but I have heard a few people say there are a couple decent programs out there. Any information is helpful, thank all of you!
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts; ...I don't quite understand why a Psy.D. degree/program would make you feel depressed...especially, I don't understand b/c a Psy.d. program would be beneficial for becoming a practicing psychologist if that is what you really desire to do...
 
Phipps said:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts; ...I don't quite understand why a Psy.D. degree/program would make you feel depressed...especially, I don't understand b/c a Psy.d. program would be beneficial for becoming a practicing psychologist if that is what you really desire to do...
Click to expand...

Sobotkg already clarified that comment.
 
fullmetal1381 said:
I apologize if something like this has been posted before, but I did try the search function and found nothing, so here goes.

My background: I am a graduate hopeful with a B.A. in Psychology. It was not my first major, but I fell in love with it from the first class. It was during my senior year in undergrad that I decided to aspire to become a clinical psychologist. Unfortunately, my school was not the type to offer tons of research opportunities, nor did I think to apply for the few available. On top of that, my initial college years were spent dealing with depression, which also depressed my GPA. The last 18 months of my college career was spent retaking classes and setting a furious pace, after which I ended with a 3.18. I know, I know...

I graduated in 2008; since then I have spent my time in the work force, where I find myself today. I moved from the suburbs of Chicago to St. Petersburg, FL in 2009 to be closer to my fiancee. I still wish to be a clinical psychologist, but Florida as a whole is distressingly devoid of master's programs in psychology (I want to complete a master's program to shore up my weak undergrad GPA and to gain some research experience). The closest brick-and-mortar school with a master's program in actual PSYCHOLOGY is an hour and a half away in Orlando, FL. The only psychologically-based program close to me is an M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of South Florida. Moving is out of the question (she is TOTALLY against it).

Here is the question (finally): Can I enter a program like this, rock it out, gain some extra research experience on the side, and reasonably expect to be competitive when it finally comes to applying to clinical psychology Ph.D programs in the future?

P.S. - Took the GRE because the program requires it. Got a 1410 (V: 730 Q: 680). Analytical writing scores not yet received.
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The ABA program at USF is really good. Miltenberger is there. I've heard great things, and that degree should set you up well for working with autism researchers or other behavior therapy researchers at clinical programs. Just, after that, you will need to kind of stick with the behavior analysis / behavior therapy route.
 
AgapeBlue said:
I am applying to 9 counseling psychology PhD programs and one PsyD clinical program, and had considered myself a very strong candidate...but I am no longer certain. In fact, I'm rather concerned as I've already been turned down from one program...one I thought was well matched to my strengths.

My undergraduate work was not in psychology, though my major was in the social sciences and indirectly related to my research interests. I would like some insight from those who may have experience or knowledge of applicants with non-psych majors who were accepted into highly competitive programs. I do have 2 years of post-bacc work including research, been the president of a smattering of honor societies...etc...ad nauseum.

A quick break down:
-Over a decade of experience in the medical field (via the military)
-Well above average GPA both cumulative and in psychology (30 hours of psychology courses)
-GRE scores adequate for the programs to which I'm applying
-2 years of research as an RA, conducting an independent study, and as part of a research team (3 students and 2 advisors)
-Published as co-author
-120 hours of clinical experience with the population I would like to work with as a psychologist
-150 hours of volunteering with a non-prof art program for underserved communities
-3 very strong LOR's
-1 semester experience as a GTA including a certification course for new instructors
-Presented studies at several conferences

Will my major overshadow the psychology related work I've done when it comes down to choosing me over 250 of my highly qualified co-applicants? Is there any basis for my concern?

I thank you in advance for your opinions/insight/calming words of wisdom...

AB 🙂
Click to expand...

Just one person's humble opinion here, take it as you will. It looks like you have enough psych related work and research to warrant consideration at many counseling psych programs, provided your research is at least somewhat relevant to psych and the specific psychology classes you've taken covered all the bases for minimum requirements of the programs you've applied to (for those that specify areas they require/prefer you to have taken classes in). You mention your GREs are adequate, but hopefully they're close to the average accepted student scores of these schools rather than just somewhere above the minimum requirement. If so, as long as your personal statement explains your choice of major and does a great job justifying your program choice and career goals, you should expect consideration from at least some of these schools. I suspect at least a few may just be unwilling to consider a non-psych major even if they claim to be open to it on their site. Also, I'm assuming you fit in well with the philosophy of the programs you chose.
Hang in there, I'm sure your luck will improve soon! 🙂
 
StrangeVision said:
Just one person's humble opinion here, take it as you will. It looks like you have enough psych related work and research to warrant consideration at many counseling psych programs, provided your research is at least somewhat relevant to psych and the specific psychology classes you've taken covered all the bases for minimum requirements of the programs you've applied to (for those that specify areas they require/prefer you to have taken classes in). You mention your GREs are adequate, but hopefully they're close to the average accepted student scores of these schools rather than just somewhere above the minimum requirement. If so, as long as your personal statement explains your choice of major and does a great job justifying your program choice and career goals, you should expect consideration from at least some of these schools. I suspect at least a few may just be unwilling to consider a non-psych major even if they claim to be open to it on their site. Also, I'm assuming you fit in well with the philosophy of the programs you chose.
Hang in there, I'm sure your luck will improve soon! 🙂
Click to expand...

Thank you for taking the time to respond. 🙂

Because my UG work is related to cultural studies and diversity issues, I initially thought this would be an advantage in counseling psychology. I meticulously researched the programs I applied to, ensuring my research experience would tie in with faculty research interests, and (thought) I chose programs that would appreciate the rather unorthodox route I took to psychology.

Thus far, one program has failed to appreciate my colorful past :laugh:

My GRE scores certainly didn't set any records, but I exceed the average scores of successful applicants of previous years for all but 2 schools (I am hoping my research experience and awards will distract them).

I am a wee bit anxious...but who isn't, right? Only time will tell...

AB 🙂
 
I have applied to four different Psychology Ph.D. programs and three Masters program... Just wanted to know what you think my chances are.

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Counseling Ph.D.)--UPDATE: Rejected.
University of Maryland-College Park (Counseling Ph.D.)
Bowling Green State University (Clinical Ph.D.)
University of Toledo (Clinical Ph.D.)--UPDATE: Interviewed, but no word on decision so far.
University of St. Thomas (Counseling Masters)
Villanova University (M.S. in Psych)
University of North Carolina-Charlotte (M.A. in Clinical/Community Psych)


Undergrad GPA: 3.92
B.A. in Psychology from the a small private liberal arts college (graduating in a total of 3 years with Honors)
GRE:
Verbal: 550
Quant: 670
AW: 4.5

-Honors Thesis/Research Project
-Student Assistant to the Chair of the Psychology Department
-President of Psi Chi chapter at my school
-President of another club and vice-president of another club
-Co-author of a research paper being presented at a conference this fall
-Internship at an inner-city state funded Mental Health facility last summer
 
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AgapeBlue said:
Thank you for taking the time to respond. 🙂

Because my UG work is related to cultural studies and diversity issues, I initially thought this would be an advantage in counseling psychology. I meticulously researched the programs I applied to, ensuring my research experience would tie in with faculty research interests, and (thought) I chose programs that would appreciate the rather unorthodox route I took to psychology.

🙂
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Generally speaking, counseling psychology programs are not as concerned with someone having an undergraduate degree in psychology as the clinical psychology programs tend to be. . . . With the information you provided, I think you will get some hits. . . . But, there is the X factor. One can be perfect on paper for a school, and yet inexplicably not get an invite. Last year, I was rejected by a master's level program and accepted into a funded PhD program. Go figure.

Good luck!
 
Hi! I'm new here. I'm in an interesting situation as I have to stay in my state due to having a daughter on chemotherapy and her treatment must continue here with her team. I recognize that this limits me severely. And I know that my chances os acceptance are greatly reduced due to this. My stats:

BA in Psychology May 2011
GPA 3.97 Psych 4.0
GRE V 560
GRE Q 570
AW 4.5

Clinical:
I work in neurosurgery assisting surgeons. Specialize in Functional & Restorative neurosurgery (think epilepsy, Parkinson's etc utilizing fMRI, PET and Deep Brain Stimulation) and have had 100s of patients
Parent Advocate for school districts for children with mental health challenges requiring special accommodations (IEPs, 504s etc)
Co-Facilitate support group for county for caregivers of those with MH challenges (with NAMI)

Research:
Almost 2 yrs at Case Western in Biomedical Research for TBI and electrophysiology of the brain in rat models for treatments for clincial populations
No pubs or presentations at this time but will present a couple in April

Grad courses:
PTSD

Specializations (hopefully):
Neuropsychology for TBI/PTSD

I'm applying to Kent for a PhD and CSU's Master's programs. Yes, that's it! I know, not the best way to go about getting into Grad school. I'm an older student and in a couple of years I'll be able to apply to more universities once my daughter's chemo treatments are further along and she's an adult.

I've been in contact with a Prof who is taking students and he has stated he'll watch for my app. I received an email yesterday from the Admission Coordinator advising me "most invites have gone out but they are not completely done" and he didn't "want me to think there was no chance for an interview at this time". I take it I'm not first on the list but I'm not out either?

Thanks so much for your time and thoughts. Best of luck to everyone going through this process!
 
Hi Neuroal,
Kent State is a good option. They have a strong assessment track and it is do-able to drive back and forth from CLE...my husband got his PhD that way. Case Western is the other obvious choice for training. I personally would NOT choose to do the MA at CSU...it is a great program and terrific training, but you will only get stuck repeating this Masters later if your goal is a clinical PhD. Better to wait a year and try to get into the PhD directly. If you could improve your GREs a bit, that would help you in your applications. Best wishes!
 
I'm not panicking. Yet. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.
I'm finishing up my BA in Psych at a SUNY (State U. of NY) school. I'll have a 3.5 GPA, 3.7-ish Psych GPA. I failed out of school 10 years ago (Mom died; while she was dying, I spend many vacations driving her to chemo, etc). Since being re-admitted four years ago, I have managed to nearly quadruple my GPA. I got a 1310 on the GREs- 660Q, 650V. 710 on the Psych GRE. I have TA experience under my belt. I'm conducting my own research as part of the honors program here, with a thesis defense scheduled for the spring. Submitted my abstract to one conference, was rejected. Might submit it to another one, although at this point the pessimist in me is wondering if I should bother. I applied to 8 ClinPsych PhD programs, 1 Counseling Psych program (Texas Tech), and 1 PsyD (Indiana State). I've gotten thanks-but-no-thanks e-mails from Nebraska-Lincoln and OSU. North Texas has sent invited everyone they're planning on inviting at this point (me being not one of those people). Haven't heard from Sam Houston, Texas Tech, or Wyoming yet, and I've seen that other people have, so I'm guessing I'm not going to those places, either. At this point I'm waiting to hear from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Indiana State's PsyD program.
What does everyone think?
 
Thank you Life. It was nice of you to share your experience here in OH. Can I be honest? I'm afraid to not do anything (as far as schooling) for a year and reapply to Kent and Case next year. I can easily work FT at Case in eth Biomedical Research lab but that seems to be a little too little work to prepare for grad school. That probably sounds ridiculous.

The advisor I have at CSU shared that most of his students that transferred to Kent, Case or other Universities, have not lost much of their work in the transfer and completed their PhDs in 3 years after the transfer. I may be better prepared to transfer out of state as well in a couple of years if needed.

Decisions, decisions! Wouldn't it be nice if I'm just accepted to Kent this year and I don't have to worry about it? Oh well!
 
ILGirl said:
Generally speaking, counseling psychology programs are not as concerned with someone having an undergraduate degree in psychology as the clinical psychology programs tend to be. . . . With the information you provided, I think you will get some hits. . . . But, there is the X factor. One can be perfect on paper for a school, and yet inexplicably not get an invite. Last year, I was rejected by a master's level program and accepted into a funded PhD program. Go figure.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks ILGirl!

Congratulations on being accepted into the PhD program! Well done 😀

I am still waiting to hear from seven more schools, with only one outright rejection so far. I remain hopeful!

AB🙂
 
sl0822 said:
So it was my first year applying to Clinical programs, I only applied to about four, and did not get any interviews.

I plan to reapply next year, but I am wondering what changes I should make for this year. I am already a research assistant in a great place, though the research is more cognitive neuroscience than clinical psychology. I am planning to write a paper, and do a poster for a conference. Also study and retake the GREs. Other than that, is there anything I should be doing to gain more clinical experience? Maybe volunteer at a hospital?

My GPA is not the greatest -- lower end of 3.0, but I don't think I have time to take classes, not the money.

Basically any type of advice would be great. I am just hoping to get in one place next year. I also plan to apply to 10-15 schools...despite how expensive it will be.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

With that GPA, you probably won't. That's just being realistic, unfortunately. You might get into some of the diploma mill free-standing PsyDs, but you will not get into a reputable APA-accredited Ph.D. program.
 
My stats:

Undergrad GPA: 3.83
BS in Psychology (Grad Prep) and Sociology (Criminal Justice)
Masters GPA: 3.67
MS in Experimental Psychology, concentration Neuroscience
GRE: 1190 (v-540, q-650, w-5.5)
Researched cognitive deficits in people with Parkinson's disease, as well as therapeutic interventions in an animal model of PD

Employed as a Clinical Research Assistant for a very large, and well known, medical facility on their Mood Disorders Unit (collect data on depressive, bipolar, and anxiety disorders) as well as coordinate neuroimaging and drug research projects

No publications yet--a few in the works. Multiple poster presentations at National Conferences

LOR from Clinical Director and former Experimental Director at my graduate institute, as well as MD (supervisor) at my current job

Ideally looking for a PhD in Clinical Psychology, concentration Neuropsycholology

First time applying to PhD programs in 2008/09: was invited to 2 interviews out of 10 schools (1-waitlisted with eventual rejection and 2-accepted but ultimately declined due to lack of APA accreditation)

Second time applying in 2010/11: have yet to be invited to any interviews from the 13 programs I applied to. Not 100% hopeless, but losing optimism rather quickly.

Thought this year I would have better chances since I had 2 more years of experience as an RA. Suggest taking GRE again? Taking some non-degree seeking grad courses (more stats classes)? Get the pub's out?

Open to any and all suggestions!!
 
Please look into the APA internship application match rates for each school before applying and accepting offers from PsyD and PHD programs. There is currently a HUGE shortage of internships in psychology, and you will need to complete a 1 year internship to graduate. Here is the link to match data for each program. It should be close to 100% or I wouldn't go to the program.

http://www.appic.org/match/5_2_2_mat...tatistics.html

Also consider the fact that clinical psychologists only make about 30,000 after graduating, and 60-80,000 later on in their career (depending on location). There is also a shortage of post-doctoral positions so people are sometimes stuck without being able to get the hours they need for licensure. I wouldn't go to a program that isn't fully funded because I know too many people who owe 1,000-1600 per month in loans and are unable to make the payments due to unemployment or positions that pay 20,000. You are way better off with a college degree than a clinical psychology degree if you don't go to a funded, top program (unless your parents are super rich)--and possibly even if you do ( except you will be 10 years older 🙂!
 
Hello there. First of all, I apologize if this post is misplaced. If it is, please redirect me to the proper thread.

So here's my story. I have applied to 8 Clinical Psychology PhD programs and 4 MA programs. Of course, I would like to gain entrance to one one the PhD programs, but it is mid-February and have gotten 1 rejection and not a peep from anyone else. Needless to say, I hope one of the MA programs says yes.

I'd like to post my stats/experiences to get some feedback on how to proceed to increase my chances of admission to a PhD program down the road (by the route of after getting my Masters). Any suggestions??

GRE:
V-590
Q-650
A-5.0
Psych- 700

GPA:
Overall: 3.21
Psychology: 3.53
Last 2 years: 3.62

Experiences:
-Undergrad RA for 1.5 years (3 semesters and a summer) in a Psych lab
-Post-bac RA: 7 months in Clinical Psych lab (so far); 3 months Psych lab (personality/social area); 9 months Child Psychiatry lab (grunt work only), also started a non-Psych RA position this January
-Publications: 0
-Presentations: 1 undergraduate symposium (nothing official. I was too green then to really make the most of that opportunity)
-Counselor at residential facility for 1.5 years (direct experience with clinical populations)
-Phone counselor at a stress line for 8 months


Specific feedback as to how to set myself apart from the pack would be most appreciated. I know I have a lot of experiences and well-developed interests, but I haven't been able to figure out how to be a "productive" researcher at this stage.

Thanks.
 
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clinpsyphdapp said:
Hello there. First of all, I apologize if this post is misplaced. If it is, please redirect me to the proper thread.

So here's my story. I have applied to 8 Clinical Psychology PhD programs and 4 MA programs. Of course, I would like to gain entrance to one one the PhD programs, but it is mid-February and have gotten 1 rejection and not a peep from anyone else. Needless to say, I hope one of the MA programs says yes.

I'd like to post my stats/experiences to get some feedback on how to proceed to increase my chances of admission to a PhD program down the road (by the route of after getting my Masters). Any suggestions??

GRE:
V-590
Q-650
A-5.0
Psych- 700

GPA:
Overall: 3.21
Psychology: 3.53
Last 2 years: 3.62

Experiences:
-Undergrad RA for 1.5 years (3 semesters and a summer) in a Psych lab
-Post-bac RA: 7 months in Clinical Psych lab (so far); 3 months Psych lab (personality/social area); 9 months Child Psychiatry lab (grunt work only), also started a non-Psych RA position this January
-Publications: 0
-Presentations: 1 undergraduate symposium (nothing official. I was too green then to really make the most of that opportunity)
-Counselor at residential facility for 1.5 years (direct experience with clinical populations)
-Phone counselor at a stress line for 8 months


Specific feedback as to how to set myself apart from the pack would be most appreciated. I know I have a lot of experiences and well-developed interests, but I haven't been able to figure out how to be a "productive" researcher at this stage.

Thanks.
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You look pretty good. There are a few things to address here, though.

1. GPA- Your overall is low. You have a great upward trend and good scores to offset it, but some schools may cut you just for this. Hate to say it, but it's true. Did you address it at all in your SOP?

2. Research experience- your work in labs is good, but only one presentation at an undergrad conference is nothing special. Try to take charge of more projects and get a couple more and maybe a pub under your belt.

3. There are a lot of other more personal factors that go into things. How were your letters? How about your SOP? What is your area of research and do your interests fit well with a faculty member? Some things to think about...
 
clinpsyphdapp said:
Hello there. First of all, I apologize if this post is misplaced. If it is, please redirect me to the proper thread.

So here's my story. I have applied to 8 Clinical Psychology PhD programs and 4 MA programs. Of course, I would like to gain entrance to one one the PhD programs, but it is mid-February and have gotten 1 rejection and not a peep from anyone else. Needless to say, I hope one of the MA programs says yes.

I'd like to post my stats/experiences to get some feedback on how to proceed to increase my chances of admission to a PhD program down the road (by the route of after getting my Masters). Any suggestions??

GRE:
V-590
Q-650
A-5.0
Psych- 700

GPA:
Overall: 3.21
Psychology: 3.53
Last 2 years: 3.62

Experiences:
-Undergrad RA for 1.5 years (3 semesters and a summer) in a Psych lab
-Post-bac RA: 7 months in Clinical Psych lab (so far); 3 months Psych lab (personality/social area); 9 months Child Psychiatry lab (grunt work only), also started a non-Psych RA position this January
-Publications: 0
-Presentations: 1 undergraduate symposium (nothing official. I was too green then to really make the most of that opportunity)
-Counselor at residential facility for 1.5 years (direct experience with clinical populations)
-Phone counselor at a stress line for 8 months


Specific feedback as to how to set myself apart from the pack would be most appreciated. I know I have a lot of experiences and well-developed interests, but I haven't been able to figure out how to be a "productive" researcher at this stage.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Point blank, your GPA is problematic. It's going to get you weeded out at a lot of schools. Definitely go the MA route if you don't get into a PhD program for this cycle so that you can improve your GPA - having at least a 3.5 would help your case a lot. Your other stats look pretty good.
 
What are my chances?

3.35 Undergrad GPA, Top Ten University

3.80 Psych GPA

GRE: V: 670, Q: 740, P: 740
Took 5 years off---3 doing Teach for America, 2 doing heavy research

Have LORs from an extremely famous social psychologist, moderately known Clinical Psychologist, and up-and-coming clinical person. LORs are really solid.

7-8 presentations, mostly first or second author.

2 publications---chapter, 2nd author; empirical article, 1st author....several more under review with me as 2nd or 1st author, so hoping my the time I apply in the Fall, these numbers will be higher.
 
reluctantPhd01 said:
What are my chances?

3.35 Undergrad GPA, Top Ten University

3.80 Psych GPA

GRE: V: 670, Q: 740, P: 740
Took 5 years off---3 doing Teach for America, 2 doing heavy research

Have LORs from an extremely famous social psychologist, moderately known Clinical Psychologist, and up-and-coming clinical person. LORs are really solid.

7-8 presentations, mostly first or second author.

2 publications---chapter, 2nd author; empirical article, 1st author....several more under review with me as 2nd or 1st author, so hoping my the time I apply in the Fall, these numbers will be higher.
Click to expand...


Your research experience sounds AMAZING! Unfortunately, you may get screened for your low GPA at some schools. You're in pretty good shape, though, as long as you have a focused area of interest and good letters.
 
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