Which master's programs will help me get into a Psyd/phd program later on?

[melon1129]

Hi,

I'm planning on applying to mainly Psy D programs some Ph D because I'm really interested in working with patients and don't really want to conduct research or go into academia....

i'm going to apply to a few master's programs for a back plan and was wondering if I should apply to a general program or a counseling program?? And, if one or the other will help my chances more later on for a clinical Psy D/Ph D program😕

thanks!

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[deleted176373]

Seriously, unless your GPA sucks hole in a major way, a masters for the majority of Psy.D. programs is a waste of time... it's even a waste of time for many Ph.D. programs as well... unless you partied like Michael Phelps in college and additionally graduated summa cum bottom of your class.

Mark

 

[krisrox]

Seriously, unless your GPA sucks hole in a major way, a masters for the majority of Psy.D. programs is a waste of time... it's even a waste of time for many Ph.D. programs as well... unless you partied like Michael Phelps in college and additionally graduated summa cum bottom of your class.

Mark

Hahahahah! And I was starting to wonder what happened to that sarcastic sense of humor that was oh-so-prevalent before you finish your masters thesis...

 

[deleted176373]

Hahahahah! And I was starting to wonder what happened to that sarcastic sense of humor that was oh-so-prevalent before you finish your masters thesis...

It's still there... I've just been too busy to really let it rip on the boards lately.

Mark

 

[melon1129]

ok thanks 4 the advice

 

[aagman01]

To be a bit less sarcastic ---

If you grades were weak or you have had very few research experiences in the past, a masters degree may be helpful (just make sure you get involved in research!). Otherwise, I concur with the others and recommend going straight for the doctorate.

With that said, if your only desire is to practice you do not necessarily have to complete a doctorate. Most clinicians who see clients are masters level trained, anyways. And pay can be quite comparable (depending on where one works).

My advice is to examine masters and doctoral programs and see what is the best fit for you! 🙂

ok thanks 4 the advice

 

[hamsterpants]

.......

 

[DrTLin]

The first commenter asked a really tough question. The best answer I could give is that you go to your local library, ask about their interlibrary loan services (ILLs) (which you can do online), and request every graduate student book there is on careers. You can go to www.barnesandnoble.com or www.borders.com and type into the search engine "graduate schools and psychology." You should get many books on the topics to request through ILL. This way you can view many reference books on the topic for FREE! 😀

Once you do that you will be able to better assess what is right for you. I too am interested in a Psy.D program. However, I am currently a Master's student in psychology for three reasons:

1.) if your GRE scores do not come out well, your Master's degree or Master degree courses may overshadow them.

2.) if you didn't do well in undergraduate stats, yet do well in graduate level stats, your UG stats grade can be overshadowed. You may ask "how can you pass a higher level stats class if you didn't pass the lower level?" Graduate statistics classes are usually more involved in applying stats to the field of psychology, rather than learning how to calculate them and learning formulas.

3.) Some students have complained about their mediocre understanding of psychology. They didn't realize that more knowledge of the field, more knowledge of English or writing, and math skills would be needed to get a good score on the GRE. Getting into a Master's program (which usually doesn't require GRE scores) can help you refine your math, psych, and English skills as well as your writing skills. This may give you an upper hand when you finally decide to take the GRE.

Also, don't forget that in Master's programs you have to write a thesis (long work) and do practicum or internships. This can look really good to doctoral programs.

I wish you luck😀

 

[melon1129]

well, my overall gpa is a 3.49 and psy gpa is 3.79. I made 1080 on the GRE retaking it next mo and have been studying everyday. My practice test indicate I'll make around 1200...I've done research for 2 yrs going on 3yrs (the thing is they weren't really in areas I'm interested in). Recently started volunteering at the crisis center...

I def want to pursue a doctorate degree, so I was think abt applying to master's b/c i'm already taking a yr off and do not want to have to take an additional yr off if I do not get in for some reason....I feel like I have strong experience, but worried b/c it's so competitive and my overall gpa isn't as high and not for sure abt my GRE score yet...

Therefore, wouldn't a master's help obtain my final goal since in some programs you pick up your master's along the way???

Thanks!

 

[melon1129]

Once you do that you will be able to better assess what is right for you. I too am interested in a Psy.D program. However, I am currently a Master's student in psychology for three reasons:

j/w what type of a master's program are you in? if you don't mind sharing...

also thanks for the advice!

 

[DrTLin]

j/w what type of a master's program are you in? if you don't mind sharing...

also thanks for the advice!

A M.A in counseling psychology. It is really focused more on therapy and becoming a counselor as opposed to dealing with much science. I haven't encountered science-oriented classes yet, mainly everything is focused on becoming a good counselor. It is the closest thing to a Psy.D program. But so too can be a counseling psych program offering a M.S.

 

[erg923]

A M.A in counseling psychology. It is really focused more on therapy and becoming a counselor as opposed to dealing with much science. I haven't encountered science-oriented classes yet,

Yes, because this is what needs to be taken out of psychology...the science.🙄

I really love having a therapst who just jumps in and does whatever, instead of those guys that try to understand why they are doing what they are doing, and who use pesky science to back up and inform their clinical work.

 

[DrTLin]

Yes, because this is what needs to be taken out of psychology...the science.🙄

I really love having a therapst who just jumps in and does whatever, instead of those guys that try to understand why they are doing what they are doing, and who use pesky science to back up and inform their clinical work.

I do too! That is why I appreciate some Master's and PsyD programs, although they too sometimes focus on science. However, for the most part, PsyD programs are "therapy-oriented" and focused on teaching students how to truly help and not necessarily do research and utilize science as fully as PhD programs.

When you are too science-oriented, you become too technical and your level of feeling, reciprocity, and compassion decreases.

 

[erg923]

Pick up on the sarcasm dude...im laying it on pretty thick.

 

[melon1129]

Pick up on the sarcasm dude...im laying it on pretty thick.

erg 923 you're being a lil mean...no need for that! We're just all trying to learn from each other here, not hate on each other 😀

 

[twilson]

I don't believe Erg was being mean..the sarcasm popped right out at me and I agree that therapists need to be able to "to understand why they are doing what they are doing" and to use "science to back up and inform their clinical work"..

 

[erg923]

erg 923 you're being a lil mean...no need for that! We're just all trying to learn from each other here, not hate on each other 😀

Paul Meehl famously wrote in his 1972 classic Why I dont Attend Case Conferences that those who make dumb arguments/points should be expected to be slapped down by their peers. This is the way it is medicine, business, law school, etc. I see no reason why should "baby" our peers in this profession. A little slapping down of a dumb argument is not "mean."...its how we learn.

 

[melon1129]

ok, maybe i misinterpreted the remarks, just seemed like pointing out your sarcasm was trying to be mean.....but anyways, back to the topic anyone else have any opinions on whether master's programs are a good idea as a back up?😕

 

[KillerDiller]

If you only want to do therapy there isn't much of a reason to pursue a doctorate. Certainly you wouldn't want to obtain a PhD if you dislike research. Getting a PsyD would allow you to do things like psychological testing--but it sounds like that may also be outside the bounds of your interests? Ultimately, the point of the doctoratal degree is to increase knowledge and understanding of science, so keep that in mind as you make your decision.

Another point is that, unfortunately for your situation, the masters programs that tend to help you get into doctoral programs are the experimental programs.

I just also wanted to highlight this quote from the other poster.

When you are too science-oriented, you become too technical and your level of feeling, reciprocity, and compassion decreases.

This is such a false dichotomy. Whether or not someone enjoys scientific pursuits has nothing to do with the amount of empathy and compassion they can feel.

 

[deleted176373]

Pick up on the sarcasm dude...im laying it on pretty thick.

LOL, The force is strong in this one.

 

[melon1129]

If you only want to do therapy there isn't much of a reason to pursue a doctorate. Certainly you wouldn't want to obtain a PhD if you dislike research. Getting a PsyD would allow you to do things like psychological testing--but it sounds like that may also be outside the bounds of your interests? Ultimately, the point of the doctoratal degree is to increase knowledge and understanding of science, so keep that in mind as you make your decision.

Well I want to pursue a doctorate degree b/c I would also like to provide supervision for students that are in doctoral programs (from what I understand you need your doctorate to be able to supervise)...I would like to provide psychological testing and believe it is important in therapy and necessary...Also, I think increasing my knowledge and understanding of the science aspect of psychology will make me a better psychologist and just to keep my options open 🙂

and, who knows I might want teach a few classes later on in my career???

 

[KillerDiller]

Well I want to pursue a doctorate degree b/c I would also like to provide supervision for students that are in doctoral programs (from what I understand you need your doctorate to be able to supervise)...I would like to provide psychological testing and believe it is important in therapy and necessary...Also, I think increasing my knowledge and understanding of the science aspect of psychology will make me a better psychologist and just to keep my options open 🙂

and, who knows I might want teach a few classes later on in my career???

Sounds like you have weighed your options and know what you're getting into then. Sorry if responses seemed curt. This board gets a lot of people who want the title of doctor, but who don't want to do research, testing, theory, etc. Usually these posters have not done their homework on the various degree options, but clearly you have.

As far as back-up masters programs, I've heard that getting a clinical masters first is a mixed bag. It gives you more clinical experience, but not too much research experience, which is what tends to get you noticed by doctoral programs across the board. Also, if you get your clinical masters first, you can expect to be asked why you didn't simply stop there (it's viewed by most as a terminal degree). General and experimental masters are considered more as stepping stones to the PhD, but they don't provide much clinical experience and don't have the option to become licensed if you decide to stop at that level.

Hopefully you can simply skip that step completely and get into a decently funded doctoral program off the bat.

 

[melon1129]

Sounds like you have weighed your options and know what you're getting into then. Sorry if responses seemed curt. This board gets a lot of people who want the title of doctor, but who don't want to do research, testing, theory, etc. Usually these posters have not done their homework on the various degree options, but clearly you have.

As far as back-up masters programs, I've heard that getting a clinical masters first is a mixed bag. It gives you more clinical experience, but not too much research experience, which is what tends to get you noticed by doctoral programs across the board. Also, if you get your clinical masters first, you can expect to be asked why you didn't simply stop there (it's viewed by most as a terminal degree). General and experimental masters are considered more as stepping stones to the PhD, but they don't provide much clinical experience and don't have the option to become licensed if you decide to stop at that level.

Hopefully you can simply skip that step completely and get into a decently funded doctoral program off the bat.

Ok, thanks for the advice! 🙂

 

[blueyelie2]

I have been lurking around this forum for quite a while and this is my first post because...well... I really need some help.

I am currently in the CSOPP (yes, I know... not the greatest of places) getting my MA in Psychology online. I got in a bit of a pickle with this because I did not have the money at the time to afford a move anywhere but I wanted to continue my education. I aspire to get my PsyD because I am more focused on the clinical and treatment aspect of psychology rather than research and academia.

But before I go on a tanget, I just started with my MA probably a week ago and I can tell this school is...well... just read the threads on it. I have decided I don't want to go here for my PsyD and I'm looking at some other schools preferably in the Illinois/Chicago area. But in all honesty I am using the next two years while I get my MA and start an internship/research assistant deal to save money to move just about anyplace I get accepted that is a good university.

Now I know there are many threads on here that talk about good programs, mainly explaining why the PhD is better (and all in all, I am open for the PhD but I really enjoy the idea of treatment and therapy to be a direct help to a person), but I am looking to further myself with a PsyD in the end.

I got my BS in Psych in Florida, I was a TA for a year, research assistant for a year, and I have yet to take my GRE (taking those in April...and quick questions, are you supposed to take the Psych one or the general one?) and I honestly open to any ideas for prestigious or decent universities as long as there is a Clinical program. Any input is appreciated, or even links to all over the place... whichever you would like to do.

I just, ever since I started this MA at CSOPP I feel almost jipped. I honestly feel like this is a joke some of the stuff I am doing and I am trying to take ALLLL I can from it and really utilize my time for this 2 years for some intense planning. As before, I am most interested in University of Illinois so if anyone has some extra info on that much Thanks!

 

[futurepsydoc]

Paul Meehl famously wrote in his 1972 classic Why I dont Attend Case Conferences that those who make dumb arguments/points should be expected to be slapped down by their peers. This is the way it is medicine, business, law school, etc. I see no reason why should "baby" our peers in this profession. A little slapping down of a dumb argument is not "mean."...its how we learn.

Great reference Erg. His writing on the topic was scathing, amusing, and on target. Meehl's work on acturial versus clinical prediction is overlooked by those who just "jump right in" and forget about the science. For the record, I thought your sarcasm was front and center. Mark's yoda like description hit the nail on the head.

To address the original poster. First, apply to Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs in addition to MA/MS prgrams. Don't sell yourself short. You might not have to tack on an additional 2-3 years. Depending on your new GRE Scores (good luck) you sound like you are decent shape. Your grades are good. Yet, I will be honest in telling you that the quality of your Undegaduate University will factor into how graduate programs view those grades. A 3.5 at Harvard is vastly differnt than a 3.5 at a small state/private university and those are different than a 3.5 at a community college. The 2-3 years of research experience is quite solid. Though, You will need to have posters or something to go along with that to indicate your productivity. LORs will be critical in this regard as well.

Second, I would look at general psychology MA programs as well as practice oriented ones (e.g. counseling, MFT). Here is why: A broader and deeper understanding of the field lends itself well to doctoral study in either Psy.D. or Ph.D. programs. If you are using the MA/MS a stepping stone degree only, general-experimental programs might be a better bet. On the other hand, if you are hesitant about doctoral work and the commitment it entails, I would opt for a degree in counseling because you will have more job prospects after graduating. A terminal general psych masters won't do a whole lot.

Thats my .02, best of luck with your decision.

 

[melon1129]

To address the original poster. First, apply to Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs in addition to MA/MS prgrams. Don't sell yourself short. You might not have to tack on an additional 2-3 years. Depending on your new GRE Scores (good luck) you sound like you are decent shape. Your grades are good. Yet, I will be honest in telling you that the quality of your Undegaduate University will factor into how graduate programs view those grades. A 3.5 at Harvard is vastly differnt than a 3.5 at a small state/private university and those are different than a 3.5 at a community college. The 2-3 years of research experience is quite solid. Though, You will need to have posters or something to go along with that to indicate your productivity. LORs will be critical in this regard as well.

Second, I would look at general psychology MA programs as well as practice oriented ones (e.g. counseling, MFT). Here is why: A broader and deeper understanding of the field lends itself well to doctoral study in either Psy.D. or Ph.D. programs. If you are using the MA/MS a stepping stone degree only, general-experimental programs might be a better bet. On the other hand, if you are hesitant about doctoral work and the commitment it entails, I would opt for a degree in counseling because you will have more job prospects after graduating. A terminal general psych masters won't do a whole lot.

Thats my .02, best of luck with your decision.

I do have publications thank goodness...I'm third author on two posters and second author on one poster and first author on a poster presentation I'm working on right now. I'm also working on a paper with two undergraduate students and my professor, which I should be second author on. I know I will have great LOR b/c I've worked with these professors for a long time now.....So, thanks for the advice and encouragement! I'm def going for the doctorate and might just throw in 2-3 master's programs just to ease my mind while I wait...😀

 

[chartero]

This might be an option:

PGSP offers an innovative and highly structured part-time 1 or 2-year Master of Science [in Psychology, by distance learning...]

The Distance Learning Master of Science can be undertaken as a terminal degree program, or as a bridge to the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Graduates of the program who have demonstrated academic competence will automatically be admitted to our Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology as second year students.

M.S. in Psychology (distance learning) (Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University)

The M.S. is by distance; the Ph.D. is not. And this is bridging into the PGSP Ph.D., not the PGSP-Stanford Consortium Psy.D.

 

[melon1129]

This might be an option:



M.S. in Psychology (distance learning) (Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University)

The M.S. is by distance; the Ph.D. is not. And this is bridging into the PGSP Ph.D., not the PGSP-Stanford Consortium Psy.D.

wow thanks a lot I'm def going to look into that! 👍

 

[blindblonde]

Sounds like you have weighed your options and know what you're getting into then. Sorry if responses seemed curt. This board gets a lot of people who want the title of doctor, but who don't want to do research, testing, theory, etc. Usually these posters have not done their homework on the various degree options, but clearly you have.

As far as back-up masters programs, I've heard that getting a clinical masters first is a mixed bag. It gives you more clinical experience, but not too much research experience, which is what tends to get you noticed by doctoral programs across the board. Also, if you get your clinical masters first, you can expect to be asked why you didn't simply stop there (it's viewed by most as a terminal degree). General and experimental masters are considered more as stepping stones to the PhD, but they don't provide much clinical experience and don't have the option to become licensed if you decide to stop at that level.

Hopefully you can simply skip that step completely and get into a decently funded doctoral program off the bat.

I agree with KillerDiller. I went to a great experimental MA program, and I received excellent research experience and stat training--which are skills that you can apply to any psychology sub-discipline. You may not get the therapy training right away, but you have the research experience necessary to do good research. Actually, having limited therapy experience may not hurt you. Some places are picky about their therapy training, and do not like to have students "un-learn" techniques they learned in their master's training. Or you could be like me, who went to an experimental MA program and decided to drop the clinical path entirely...you never know. 🙂

As for shaving time off later on...it depends. Some of my friends did get credit for their thesis and some courses, but on average, it only shaves off a year. Basically, if you do a two-year master's, you still will have to do at least four when you get to a Ph.D. program. Sometimes, you still have to do the full five years. It really depends on the master's program and the Ph.D. program's evaluation of your master's program.

Hope that helps!

 

[melon1129]

I agree with KillerDiller. I went to a great experimental MA program, and I received excellent research experience and stat training--which are skills that you can apply to any psychology sub-discipline. You may not get the therapy training right away, but you have the research experience necessary to do good research. Actually, having limited therapy experience may not hurt you. Some places are picky about their therapy training, and do not like to have students "un-learn" techniques they learned in their master's training. Or you could be like me, who went to an experimental MA program and decided to drop the clinical path entirely...you never know. 🙂

As for shaving time off later on...it depends. Some of my friends did get credit for their thesis and some courses, but on average, it only shaves off a year. Basically, if you do a two-year master's, you still will have to do at least four when you get to a Ph.D. program. Sometimes, you still have to do the full five years. It really depends on the master's program and the Ph.D. program's evaluation of your master's program.

Hope that helps!

Thanks!