eveline

Thanks for the response. I hope everything works out for you!

To clarify, did you turn down the two offers specifically because you were unsure whether clinical psych was the path for you? Wondering bc I'm all set to start a program this year and have been questioning the long, arduous journey is really worth it for me. I'm uncertain whether I'll look back and have any regrets.

Should also prob mention that my industry jobs were in NYC! Might be slower paced in other locales.

Second what @mattis said. A lot of strategic/analytic HR roles are basically utilizing the IO skill set (talent analytics, compensation analyst, strategic hr business partner, hr operations, etc). A plus is that HR is a department that ANY and every industry has. So w/ that in mind, it's definitely easier to find a job compared to other areas of psychology, like clinical, developmental, etc. Someone with a social psych bg could also probably have a shot at IO; just make sure you gain a good foundation in statistics. But it may be harder to get a foot in the door with a CV that says social psych as opposed to IO. It's just easier for a resume screener to call back someone with an IO degree, a more obviously related degree than social. @TheIndustrialClinician something else I thought of -- You should also make sure you can handle working in a "corporate culture" environment, which is very different from the world of academia and hospitals. In my experience, corporate was more stressful, fast-paced, appearances/presentation were more important, your personality/attitude had to always be "on it", you have to be okay with constant stimuli working in open-office or cubicle spaces. On the other hand, clinical research is slower (though still stressful when getting out posters/pubs with deadlines) and I've always worked in an actual office with not too many people. Again, this is just my personal experience, from working in a few different industry jobs and ~3 research labs/hospitals. The decrease in pace and constant stimuli were factors in my "switch" to clinical.

Getting into IO, at least at the PhD level, is not necessarily easier than clinical. I applied to both types of PhD programs and got into clinical; was not even accepted into the IO MA program in lieu of the doctoral program. Though to add context: my most recent experience and posters/pubs were directly related to the clinical programs I got into. I did have significant experience in HR in the past, but that's a few years ago now. The IO admissions committee was probably confused about my flip flop (HR, clinical, HR again, what is she thinking?), but I wanted to try anyway! To answer your Q #2, real-life work experience is the best way to get an idea of what you want to do. Have you not done any internships or worked in labs by now? If not, why not try to find a full-time corporate HR/IO role, while simultaneously volunteering in a lab or clinic? Also try to reach out to each of these types of psychologists and ask them about their day-to-day. To answer Q #4, IO is definitely the financially more secure and potentially lucrative route to go. That is actually why I decided to apply to an IO program along with clinical... I missed my salary! I quit my HR job years ago to pursue my old dream of getting into clinical, but after one year of no pay as a clinical research intern, and then two years of meager wages as a research assistant.. I realized how fiscally absurd this path is. I feel like I'm managing a circus as an RA, for free. So, yes, I'm still going into a clinical PhD program because I worked hard for it, gave up many things, and already got in. But if I had researched more, talked to more people, I would've thought twice about giving up IO for clinical!

@Kparis0723 I've heard not-so-great things about the TC program; namely that it's really expensive and you're basically paying for the Columbia name. That being said though, if you really want to pursue a PhD, I know several people that have gotten into doctoral programs after getting that specific degree from TC (I'm not certain if they're fully funded, but they are partially funded at the least). If your end goal is licensure, go with Adelphi. It will save you time and money, and note that not ALL PhD holders make more money than someone with just a masters. Some people go through all the schooling and then regret that they didn't just get an MSW. It really depends on what you do with your career. I think you just have to somehow realize what your end goal is-- maybe talk to as many people as you can, professors, clinicians, psychologists, and just ask them about their day and see what you think your future can be.

@JoePianist would you mind PMing me your program as well? My scores were similar to yours. Thanks

Montclair State U in NJ has a new PhD Clinical Psychology program with deadline May 18: https://www.montclair.edu/chss/psychology/graduate-programs/phd-clinical-psychology/ New program = most likely less strict criteria for getting in. The late deadline speaks to that.

Have you tried Magoosh to boost your GRE Q score? As you've probably heard numerous times, these scores are unfortunately "gate keepers." Magoosh is relatively cheap and just watching a couple videos + doing prac problems is usually helpful.

Just read about your dilemma. What did you end up doing? Sounds like a difficult choice, but very good place to be in to have so many options!

I declined an offer from Rowan University (PhD Clinical Psychology) a few weeks ago. I loved many things about it, so it was a super tough decision. Hope it helped someone out!

Have you tried finding paid RA positions? RA positions at a university, or maybe even a Consultant role in the corporate world that could be applicable? A wide range of industries are utilizing stats, big data; a lot of companies seem to be pretty into OB right now. Maybe you could find some kind of related paid role and simultaneously volunteer at a lab with absolutely perfect research fit. You already have debt, will gain more debt by entering a masters program, then when you (hopefully) are accepted into a fully funded PhD program, you'll still be poor (and in debt). Entering this masters program will have a spiraling effect on your quality of life for years to come. I wouldn't "bite the bullet" if I were in your shoes. I would explore all other avenues before committing. Good luck!

I second that it depends on the Masters program. From success stories of people I know who got into funded PhD programs, they went into an experimental psychology masters program. They focused their thesis project to something related to clinical psychology and published. Also, their masters were *funded*. Yes, they do exist! One such program is William & Mary.

If you haven't yet, you should search the available threads on the Student Doctor Network forum. I have heard from several sources that, "Stanford is paid to have their name used, but the program is not Stanford quality." I know two people who were accepted, but chose not to go because they felt they wouldn't receive the same level training that they would from other schools (and their tuition is also ridiculous). I was considering applying myself, but ended up not after hearing these things.

Berkeley has just about the same prestige as Harvard, and you can still always say "I got into Harvard." I actually lived in Cambridge, MA for a short while and around the area, the H Grad School of Education is perceived as the "easiest" H school to get into, compared to the Kennedy School, Law School etc. PhD > Masters If I were you, I would definitely choose Berkeley.

I wonder if there's a way to tactfully and respectfully ask the dept/admissions committee about their thoughts on the senior faculty retiring soon? If they do retire, are their other faculty at the school whose research you like and can at least transfer over to? If the sr members are well known it might be worth it to work with them for at least a couple years IMO. Also I'm in a different field than you; not sure if that matters though.

When I followed up with a school after hearing nothing, I was told me in a pretty ambiguous way that I was wait-listed. Something like: "It's unlikely that we will be able to extend you admission given a long wait list..." It was pretty unclear and weird. I didn't/don't really understand why I wasn't rejected outright? I was never told I was on the wait-list in the first place.

Matlab and R are also very frequently used. Learning one language is hard enough so you can always just start with Python. I've heard it's a good 1st language to learn. This has been a goal of mine as well but unfortunately haven't progressed too much yet! What resources are you planning to use to learn?

Thanks. I heard different things- sometimes in the letter, sometimes even only after someone commits to the program, so I guess this varies by school. I received an acceptance email tonight stating the official letter will follow so I'm hoping to get a nice surprise..

To those who have received Diversity or some other scholarship-- did you hear about it in the initial email/phone call, or did they tell you afterwards like in the formal letter?

This is so tricky! Clearly there are a lot of us who are in this similar mess. I almost wish there was a formal "match" system like internship!

@Sjbionia @HopefullyDr I'm right there with you guys. Wait-listed at my #1 and accepted to a decent but not ideal program. I, too, really don't like making the other school wait. I wish I could know where I am on the wait-list -- is it appropriate to email them (maybe in a week or so, or late March if I haven't heard) to find out more specifically where I rank? Is that too pushy? What scares me is that I know someone currently enrolled in my #1 program who got off wait-list on April 14th . Moreover, my colleague heard from his school that same day too a few years ago. I'm really hoping that does NOT happen!

Thanks! I'll look into these!

I'm sorry you've been rejected this cycle. If you don't need to restudy for GRE, would it be too hectic for you to plan a wedding for this Nov/Dec? Since you already applied, applying again shouldn't be too time-consuming? If you don't need to have a huge, perfect wedding, you'll probably be able to plan something by December. I'm from the Northeast and here (and probably everywhere), the hardest thing to pick tends to be the venue. The "typical" NJ/NYC wedding plan is getting a banquet hall that includes almost everything (like apps/entrees, drinks, utensils, chairs etc), so you just worry about invitations, photographer, and flowers, and clothes pretty much. If something like that's available in your area, I don't think it would be impossible or too stressful to plan a wedding starting now. Also luckily we live in the internet age and there are a wealth of resources available because our culture is so wedding-crazed! Of course I'm throwing this all out there without knowing if 2017 is actually an option for you. I suggest it because I cannot imagine being in the midst of wedding madness AND worrying about interviewing. OR, planning wedding AND be in my first year of doctoral studies. IMO, it would be much better to do everything separate. But everyone's different. One of my best friends planned her wedding in her first year of MD residency at a high-stress hospital working 80+ hours a week (though she had the privilege of not worrying about $$ at all).

Hi everyone! I'm considering becoming a student at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. I ideally want to live without roommates in a studio or 1-bedroom apt, but also not spend a fortune on rent. Cheapest I've seen in Glassboro is $800 which is not horrible. I'm considering other options to see if I can do even better. Does anyone know of safe towns that are a 30-45 minute drive from Rowan (in any direction) that I can look into? I hear Philly is 20 minutes away, so neighboring Philly towns may work! Thanks!