Working in lab vs TA advice needed

[hopefulphdstudent]

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Hello All,

I am a first time clinical phD applicant. I have not heard from my schools and I am assuming I am rejected because I have not interviewed. I am applying for the same program this upcoming December and in the mean time want to build my resume.

I was offered a paid position to TA for a class during the summer at my undergrad univeristy. Also, I was offered a position to volunteer in a lab under the POI that I applied to work under. Which wpuld be a better opportunity to choose for the summer? Unfortunately, I am unable to do both because time conflicts.

In addition, I would like to strengthen my aplication for the next time i'm applying. What more can I do? Continue to obtain research experience and retake the GRE?

Thanks!

 

[Harry3990]

research position for sure. This will stand out more to admissions committees. Additionally, if you are considering reapplying to work as a graduate student under the same POI that you might volunteer with, this would be a great opportunity for you to demonstrate why they should admit you to their lab next year (e.g., show a good work ethic, go above and beyond, contribute to discussions). If you showed you want to prioritize research productivity as well by taking initiative and completing an abstract submission for a poster or presentation at a conference, this would also be a good use of your time while volunteering (if this is an option).

I would imagine that most people will agree with this, but definitely wait to see what others suggest as well.

 

[smalltownpsych]

Research. We need to have a neon banner somewhere that flashes research, research, research over and over again. "Attention all undergrads who want to be a psychologist...you need to do research". I didn't actually find out the fundamental importance of research until I was three years in to my psych major in undergrad so it's not like I'm criticizing the students. They should have a chapter in intro to psych titled "if you want to be a psychologist do research". I taught that class and the text said that you could avoid all that icky research by going the PsyD route and that the only real difference between a psychologist and a counselor was assessment.

 

[Indiana_Jane]

Research!! Absolutely 100% I took a year + off to work in a lab under a professor I had in UG ( who gave me unbelievable opportunities and helped me grow immensely) and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Don't get discouraged; look at the time as a period to help you learn more & become even more prepared for grad school! I've gained more from my unpaid, RA position that any paid work - by far!!!

 

[CheetahGirl]

I agree...take the research position. Also, when taking the research position, let them know up front that you would like to contribute to as many publications and presentations as you can. Ask if you can help out there, follow the study constructs, and originate your own ideas from them to generate some first-authored stuff.

In hindsight, at first, I did not know how my first 'real' research mentor/PI (who was an MD) out of undergrad helped me so much (but he kept encouraging us to come up with our own ideas, create abstracts to submit, present those ideas at conferences, and write them up into manuscript form). I thought he was just riding our a**es to do more work...but boy, did he do me a solid. I just recently went on post-doc interview, and was discussing all of what we did then (it happened to be translational research, which carries basic science ideas with animal models through to clinical research and implementation with human subjects).

Try to make that research position go a long way, i.e., get your name on as much as you're allowed, and forge relationships with those individuals so that you can continue collaborating with them on their outcome data, even after you've left the position.

Incidentally, it is 10+years later, and if I wanted, I could call both my original PIs and collaborate on clinical research if I wanted to contribute to their work now that I am a clinical psychologist (of course, there are logistics involved, but those working relationships and trust in my abilities are established). My second research job (with a PhD clinical psychologist) is the position that I held that enabled me to get publications and many more presentations on my CV. At that point, I knew what I was doing. The research in the first job was based on surgical interventions (so it doesn't always have to be in psychology but may be best if you want to go further into psychology), but the second research job was purely clinical psychology research.

I have learned that I am not the norm because I had a lot of research experience going into my clinical psych phd program. So don't think you need to have years and years of research experience before you start but make whatever research job you accept as productive as you can.

Oh, and you'll get plenty of teaching experience once in grad school (if that is what interests you as well).

Good luck!

 

[hopefulphdstudent]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I was hesitant because the TA position pays very well but it looks like research experience will be more beneficial for me in the future. It sounds like graduate schools really prioritize research and I can always obtain a teaching experience later on. I will take the advice that is given here and choose to volunteer in the lab over the summer especially because my research interests aligns with the professor and I am interested in applying for his lab again as a potential graduate student.