What info would you like to see on program websites?

[ClinicalTrainee]

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I've been talking to some faculty members recently about the type of information posted on department websites. Specifically the information that APA accredited programs are required to post (IR C-20 data), which are program completion rates, lprogram costs, icensure rates, internship acceptance rates, and attrition rates. Most programs have other things too (GRE scores, GPA, etc).

What information do you wish you would have had about programs you are applying to (or programs you are already enrolled in)? In an ideal world, if additional information were required for programs to post on their websites, what would best help you make decisions about where to apply and/or attend?

I, for example, would be interested in knowing how many students have (a) tuition waivers and (b) stipends (and at what percentage). That is, explicit descriptions of how many students have funding, and how long students get funding (do students get funding until they graduate, do programs only guarantee funding for 4 years, etc.).

 

[Jezebel09]

I, for example, would be interested in knowing how many students have (a) tuition waivers and (b) stipends (and at what percentage). That is, explicit descriptions of how many students have funding, and how long students get funding (do students get funding until they graduate, do programs only guarantee funding for 4 years, etc.).

I agree with your choices. Additionally, along those lines: for those students who do secure funding, how long does it typically take?

I would also greatly appreciate it if the faculty would keep their web pages up to date. I read some posts on here that said that faculty were now doing research that was completely different from what they have listed on their web pages, and they would not have known they were a good fit for that indiividual without contacting him or her. (Well, I don't think faculty members want ALL of us contacting each and every one of them to verify their interests. Their inboxes would be flooded.)

I would like faculty members' CVs posted on the website.

It should be required that all programs list which faculty members are taking students, and they should be required to update that information as soon as they know that they will no longer be able to take students.

They should also be required to break their APA/APPIC match rates apart. I want to know how many of their students matched with APA-approved internship programs. I think they sometimes are able to make their match rates look better by combining APA/APPIC match rates into one.

They should also be required to state how they inform their potential students of their status. I am constantly surprised to hear about students on this forum who are unaware that they have been waitlisted. They don't know this until they contact their POI.

 

[nycegurl]

It should be required that all programs list which faculty members are taking students, and they should be required to update that information as soon as they know that they will no longer be able to take students.

I definitely agree with this one!

Maybe they could also include how students/faculty are matched? Since I've heard (somewhere on the forum...can't remember where) about applicants making a list of who they want to work with. And at my school (at least in the social psych program) it all depends on which professor is on rotation to receive a new student.

 

[deadmau5]

It should be required that all programs list which faculty members are taking students, and they should be required to update that information as soon as they know that they will no longer be able to take students.

Totally agree.

And websites updated like you also said... even if someone else has to do it, please keep it updated. Esp. prof's interests, whether they are taking students, etc.

A couple schools I applied to didn't list their disclosure data. That would have been nice too. This should be mandatory.

 

[JockNerd]

FYI, the posted internship match data is often highly discrepant with APPIC's systematically collected data:

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/tep/2/2/117.pdf

I don't get why posting the prof's student-taking status is important. It would be a hassle for the department, the prof may not NEED to take a student but might be willing to take a really solid applicant, and contacting the prof to find out this info is a good way to get your name in their head.

 

[Jezebel09]

FYI, the posted internship match data is often highly discrepant with APPIC's systematically collected data:

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/tep/2/2/117.pdf

I don't get why posting the prof's student-taking status is important. It would be a hassle for the department, the prof may not NEED to take a student but might be willing to take a really solid applicant, and contacting the prof to find out this info is a good way to get your name in their head.

Because a number of students utilizing this forum have reported that they did contact professors and were told by the professors that they were taking a student. Then, funding fell through, but the applicants of course were not given this new information, so they ended up wasting their money applying to these programs.

I don't see how it is a hassle. It wouldn't take very long to post that information at all. . . . A professor who might take a student is not the same thing as a professor who will not be taking on students. I think once a professor knows definitely that s/he won't be taking on any new students, it would be a good thing to post that to the department's website. IMHO

 

[futureapppsy2]

Totally agree.

And websites updated like you also said... even if someone else has to do it, please keep it updated. Esp. prof's interests, whether they are taking students, etc.

A couple schools I applied to didn't list their disclosure data. That would have been nice too. This should be mandatory.

Ditto on all this.

 

[JockNerd]

Because a number of students utilizing this forum have reported that they did contact professors and were told by the professors that they were taking a student. Then, funding fell through, but the applicants of course were not given this new information, so they ended up wasting their money applying to these programs.

I don't see how it is a hassle. It wouldn't take very long to post that information at all. . . . A professor who might take a student is not the same thing as a professor who will not be taking on students. I think once a professor knows definitely that s/he won't be taking on any new students, it would be a good thing to post that to the department's website. IMHO

I think at most places funding is never 100% secured until well into the new year, so I don't think anyone has the full picture on external RA funding before most applications are due. I agree that it's a waste for the applicant, but I'm not sure it's avoidable given the super early deadlines for most programs.

 

[Wapote84]

I think at most places funding is never 100% secured until well into the new year, so I don't think anyone has the full picture on external RA funding before most applications are due. I agree that it's a waste for the applicant, but I'm not sure it's avoidable given the super early deadlines for most programs.

I see where you're coming from, but when you're applying to 15+ programs, its a good idea to know for sure whether or not someone is taking a student. Granted, for the vast majority of my programs of interest I contacted my POIs, but I didn't for every one of them. I do understand that sometimes departments are unaware of budgets and such, but I think programs are aware of whom will be taking new students and whom has a full load in their lab. I think it would be helpful.


And if it's not realistic enough due to the early deadlines... push them up! I don't know why they must be so early in the first place. If you're not entering until August, why should we apply in December and make decisions in April? If schools keep pushing the dates earlier and earlier, schools will have people on waitlists a year in advance to hear the news!

 

[LM02]

I think it would be nice to see what kind of jobs alumni from each department have. Internships report this on the APPIC website, and I think it's a nice touch. It doesn't even need to be too detailed, but it would be nice to have a quick and dirty rundown of how many graduates end up in tenure track faculty positions, other faculty positions (eg, soft money, non tenure track), clinical practice, consultation, etc.

 

[Buzzwordsoldier]

May sound silly, but it'd be neat to have a "WAMC" calculator...

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

May sound silly, but it'd be neat to have a "WAMC" calculator...

This may sound even sillier, but what is WAMC?

 

[deadmau5]

I think at most places funding is never 100% secured until well into the new year, so I don't think anyone has the full picture on external RA funding before most applications are due. I agree that it's a waste for the applicant, but I'm not sure it's avoidable given the super early deadlines for most programs.

So then make the deadlines later. I know departments need their time, but why are we applying 9 months in advance if there are so many uncertainties. (Sorry, just ranting, lol).

 

[thewesternsky]

WAMC = What Are My Chances (of Admission)

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

FYI, the posted internship match data is often highly discrepant with APPIC's systematically collected data:

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/tep/2/2/117.pdf

Great article.

The example of (U of Miss?) was exactly how every school should look, since it seems that Uni's present the data a number of different ways. Being able to show where students go (even a "first job out") would be awesome, though I'm not sure how feasible it would be. I know the APPIC data of where interns went was a factor in my ranking.

 

[MinxC]

I completely agree with more up to date prof. info. I recently interviewed at a well regarded university, only to find that my POI is a total flake. This individual has not written a grant since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. Thus, compared to students in other labs, the stipand for working in his/her lab is MUCH less. Additionally, a current grad student told me that many of this individual's students are, quote, STRUGGLING, due to lack of mentorship. This was diplomatically confirmed by three current students. Meanwhile, Dr. ______ has a "lab", but it is completely empty & in actuality collects dust. None the less, the "lab" has a shiny website with all the bells and whistles. I understand that a university is not going to state DR. ___________ prefers golfing, travel and fine wine to academia. But let's try to dispel the smoke and mirrors. Maybe an objectively stated description of current lab projects, grants and placements of previous students would be helpful.

Additionally, given the costs of interviewing and the likelihood of having date conflicts, I would like to know ~ how many applicants are invited to interview and ~ how many applicants will be accepted. This info doesn't have to be posted, but it could be included in the interview invite.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I understand that a university is not going to state DR. ___________ prefers golfing, travel and fine wine to academia. But let's try to dispel the smoke and mirrors. Maybe an objectively stated description of current lab projects, grants and placements of previous students would be helpful.

Additionally, given the costs of interviewing and the likelihood of having date conflicts, I would like to know ~ how many applicants are invited to interview and ~ how many applicants will be accepted. This info doesn't have to be posted, but it could be included in the interview invite.

Too bad an education is needed, because that sounds like fun!

 

[LM02]

Being able to show where students go (even a "first job out") would be awesome, though I'm not sure how feasible it would be. I know the APPIC data of where interns went was a factor in my ranking.

programs are required to submit this info for APA reaccreditation, so I don't think it would be so hard to report.

 

[MinxC]

Too bad an education is needed, because that sounds like fun!

I agree! ...If said university were willing to rubber stamp my dissertation and send me on my way to a fabulous internship, they I would sign up for pretend "lab work" in a heartbeat. I just had a sinking feeling that I would be making blind stabs in the dark when it came time to write my thesis. At that point, said prof had better share his fine wine.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

programs are required to submit this info for APA reaccreditation, so I don't think it would be so hard to report.

Hmm...interesting. I just thought they had to track for licensure, and not actual jobs. One of the challenges with licensure outcomes is the lag in the process, though I guess it matters less for more established programs. Honestly I didn't really consider this statistic as much as I did internship placement rate and the types of internships achieved.

 

[sioren]

I'd be interested in seeing acceptance and interview rates by reported gender and ethnicity as well as more information about those who were rejected.