What to do with one year off between college and grad

[LR88]

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I am a rising college senior majoring in psychology. I hope to get my PsyD, but I feel a little overwhelmed and unsure at this point what I really want to do. Because of this, I want to take some time to figure things out by taking a year off after I graduate. Right now, I am volunteering under a professor in my school's psych dept. doing research on Asperger's. For the last two summers, I worked at a camp program for children with developmental disorders. I'm most interested in child and adolescent populations.

I'm curious what people have done who took a year or two off before going for their Psy.D. I know some options include working as a research assistant (but I'm not genuinely interested in research), being a psychiatric aid in a hospital, doing Teach for America, and serving as a wraparound. I would like to get more clinical experience, do something I feel genuinely interested in, and have an experience that would make me a strong candidate for grad schools.

I'd love any suggestions or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!!

 

[PsyGirl262]

By far the best option is to get a full-time job as a research assistant. This is much easier said than done, and may require you to relocate, but it will be your best bet for getting into any program. If this is not an option, just do what you can to stay involved in research or get clinical experience. That being said, if your CV is strong enough from undergrad and previous experiences, then it doesn't really matter so much how you spend this year, as long as you are clear in your goals and able to explain your decisions in your interviews.

Also, research grad programs. I think a lot of people, myself included, started out thinking we wanted to go into a PsyD program, only to do some math and research and find that it is possible to get into a PhD program that is relatively balanced and where you will be paid to go to school rather than graduating with insurmountable student loan debt from a PsyD program. Some PsyD programs require research anyway (Indiana State, for example, has a dissertation requirement, but no Master's thesis).

The grad school application process alone will keep you busy between July and April of the year you apply, so the earlier you start your research and clarify your own interests and goals, the better. Best of luck =)

 

[psyed4clinPhD]

I have taken a year off before I apply to PhD programs this coming Fall (2010). I did an internship, volunteered to work with a professor in their research lab, volunteered in a hospital (I want to work with kids), and also have a part-time job getting clinical experience. It has truly been a crazy year, but I am hoping it will improve my chances. Good luck on deciding what to do 🙂

 

[TenaciousGirl]

I am a rising college senior majoring in psychology. I hope to get my PsyD, but I feel a little overwhelmed and unsure at this point what I really want to do. Because of this, I want to take some time to figure things out by taking a year off after I graduate. Right now, I am volunteering under a professor in my school's psych dept. doing research on Asperger's. For the last two summers, I worked at a camp program for children with developmental disorders. I'm most interested in child and adolescent populations.

I'm curious what people have done who took a year or two off before going for their Psy.D. I know some options include working as a research assistant (but I'm not genuinely interested in research), being a psychiatric aid in a hospital, doing Teach for America, and serving as a wraparound. I would like to get more clinical experience, do something I feel genuinely interested in, and have an experience that would make me a strong candidate for grad schools.

I'd love any suggestions or personal experiences. Thanks in advance!!

It sounds like you're doing great things! I graduated from undergrad a semester early and I stayed in school to take a few prereqs because I wanted to go to grad school in a different area from what I got my B.A. in. Anywho, During that semester "off" before applying (and ever since) I have been working as a behavioral therapist for school aged children with a diagnosis of autism. Through my job I was able to assist in a research project, too. During my junior year of undergrad I worked at a children's hospital for a year. If you have a hospital located near you, see if you can do a volunteer or work experience program under a psychologist or psychiatrist. I have a relative who participated in teach for america and she loved it. It sounds like you're getting some great opportunities, keep it up and good luck to you.