dancedementia
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Posts posted by dancedementia
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On 2/13/2016 at 1:16 AM, ClinicalApplicant07 said:
Rejected from 12 schools for clinical psychology
4.0 GPA (undergrad and grad), 155 Q, 161 V, 5 years of research experience, 3 pubs (2 first author), 12 posters, amazing letters of recommendation
I'm going to try again next year but I wish I knew what I did wrong or what they want. I feel like all I've been doing the last 5 years is taking every opportunity I have been given and I don't understand why it isn't paying off. This was my third time applying and I thought it would be my last.
Posts like this terrify the crap out of me. I feel like I am so unprepared going into applications next cycle and I'm honestly panicking trying to figure out how to increase my chances.
I do have a semirelated question though. You mentioned that this was your third time applying - what kind of work were doing in the interim? I know a lot of people say to get a research position but depending on geography, research positions don't necessarily pay the bills (or alternatively, you might not have a good enough background to get a paid position so you have to take on volunteer positions, like I'm doing). What are people's thoughts about working an unrelated full time job and doing research on the side? Does this look shitty or should I really be looking for full-time research positions?!
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Not sure what you're studying, but honestly the code of ethics for ACA and APA both state that you can't have friendly relations with a client even after the therapeutic relationship is over. One could say that being a member of your program's faculty counts as a relationship that extends the bounds of ethical practice. I can understand their stance and your frustration as well. You mentioned that she supervises a practicum site - would you for sure be attending this practicum site? If you will literally have zero exposure to this therapist during the course of your study (e.g. she's not teaching your classes and you're not going to her practicum) then I don't see why you can't appeal.
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Some great folks at Harvard: Stephen Amira and Michael Christie come to mind, although I think they might be affiliated with the medical school and not the psych department
but worth the networking!
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20 hours ago, Love3 said:
What do you want to get your PhD in?
Also I'm a firm believer of living within your means. As a mental health counselor, you'll only be making $40,000 a year, right? So basically once you graduate with this prestigious (expensive) degree, it'll take years to pay off all of your debt.
Counseling Psychology. I'd actually like to work in higher education (college counseling centers, etc). Your second point is the biggest motivator for this decision - I've become extremely frugal over the years, but old debt is haunting me and I feel immense guilt over the cost of this program. Tuition alone is 50k/yr, and I feel my stomach get queasy every time I think about how rough paying that off is going to be. To put it in comparison, the 5-6 options in my home state are about 9k/yr, not to mention cost of living is much cheaper (rent alone is twice as cheap and the buildings are twice as new).
19 hours ago, MarineBluePsy said:I think another question to consider is if you can actually transfer and finish your Master's elsewhere. Not all graduate programs will take credits from other programs and let you pick up where you left off. If that is the case then you may have to start all over or repeat a portion of your training and would that added time in a lower cost area outweigh staying put and finishing on time?
Most of the programs will allow approx 9 hrs of transfer credit, so I would probably need to retake 3-4 classes. The Texas programs allow summer courses though, while my current one doesn't, so I wouldn't be losing too much time. At most, an extra semester.
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I know, I know. This isn't SDN. But these thoughts have been swirling around in my mind for a bit and I figured, who better to ask than like-minded, high-achieving individuals?
I'm currently in a masters program at one of the top schools for mental health counseling and doing really well; it's my second semester (of four). I specifically chose the institution for its faculty, geographic location, practicum sites, and "name brand" - it's easily recognizable and respected. I have clinical placements and part-time jobs at some of the top hospitals in the nation (I'm in Boston - we've got MGH, McLean, B&W, Children's, you name it). I'm doing research with very prominent individuals (does "Gunderson" or "Linehan" ring a bell?)
And yet, I'm constantly second-guessing myself. The biggest issue is that this program costs an INSANE amount of money. We're talking Harvard-with-no-financial-aid insane. I have a lot of debt from a past life where I may have binge-shopped too much and lived a little too grandly, plus undergraduate student loans. I've been a walking zombie the past few weeks since I'm working a full time job, another per diem job, going to school full time, and trying to deal with a minor medical issue (nothing debilitating or serious enough that would take me out of school/work, but still irritating). I need to work these jobs in order to have enough money to pay rent (insanely high), but working the jobs is severely limiting my ability to do research and perform well in classes.
I have severely considered moving back to my home state (Texas) with a much lower cost of living and finishing my masters degree at a lesser-known university. It is by no means terrible, but just think of it as the difference between, say, Harvard University vs. University of Massachusetts. There is a significant decrease in "prestige" there.
I am attending a masters program in order to bump up my GPA and get research experience for a PhD. Do you think that transferring to a lesser-known university, with not-as-well-known faculty, would severely jeopardize my chances of getting into one of my PhD programs of choice (see signature)? Or do you think the significant decrease in student loan debt is justified and worth it?
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On 1/28/2016 at 11:36 AM, psycgrad37 said:
I just found it odd that seemingly everyone that got rejected for the PhD automatically got the offer for Masters with a scholarship.
It's not odd. It's a money grab - masters programs are some of the most profitable programs for colleges since they KNOW people use them as stepping stones to PhDs, as requirements for work, etc. And of course, they aren't fully funded. They assume that because you were interested in them for PhD, surely you would also be interested for a masters. I think there are upsides and downsides to choosing to complete a masters program (I'm in one myself), but it definitely depends on your situation and the college in question. Boston College, for example, actually has a killer masters program; they get lucrative practicum/internship placements every year since they're so well known in the Boston area.
- psycgrad37, JoePianist and grad29
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Thanks for all the help, guys! I really appreciate it
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There's that old adage.... something about how - in PhD programs at least - it's not the prestige of the institution that matters, but the prestige of the professors you're working under (and can co-author publications with!)
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On 1/23/2016 at 8:29 PM, ickmalion said:
However, if you're applying to two programs at the Ph.D. level, it might be interpreted that you aren't completely committed to one or the other.
Yeah, this was my primary concern too. The frustrating thing is that I'm studying a specific topic that one faculty member from each department is also studying (just from different angles). I can't decide which I'd prefer to work with (slash would be okay with working with either)... so was wondering if applying to both programs and specifically citing the POI would smooth out that potential misunderstanding.
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This seems like such a simple question but I can't find an answer - I apologize if it's buried in search results!
Would it "look bad" if I applied for 2 programs at a single school? For example, if I applied for Clinical Psychology AND Counseling Psychology at the same university (they're in different departments, so no overlap of faculty). There's one university that I'm interested in - both their Clinical and Counseling programs are fairly balanced and I can identify a strong POI in both departments. I figured applying for both programs might increase my overall chances of getting into at least ONE of them haha.
However, would the main graduate admissions office see this and flag me as not focused? Would profs in one department know that I had applied to the other department?
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Doing roundtables at NCDA (National Career Development Association) and SVP (Society for Vocational Psychology) conferences this year. Still waiting to hear back from APA and ACP (Asian Conference on Psychology). Obviously did some pretty niche research this year (vocational psych, some I/O psych), which is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to submissions xD
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Awesome. Thanks everyone. I find that the more clinically-oriented professors in my field tend to prefer dates on the right, while research-oriented ones like it on the left. I'll still with the left since that seems to still be the more common format in my field of academia.
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Someone please answer this definitively for me once and for all. It's driving me nuts trying to search all the Internet forum and blogs trying to get a straight answer
I'm an early-career academic (currently in masters program, will be applying to PhD programs in Counseling Psychology next cycle). I have a sizable CV but it's mainly filled with research commitments and unpaid clinical internships.
Do I put my dates on the left or the right?!
Lots of sites say it should definitely be on the right (even UC Berkeley and UW's graduate student career centers say so, specifically referring to academic CVs). But I've also heard firsthand from older professors that dates should always be on the left so one can see a clear "progression" of academic growth and development.
So which is it? I don't want to submit my CV for PhD applications and get laughed out of the consideration pile just because my dates were on the wrong side of the page, haha >___<
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My plan B is the usual - take a year to get more research experience and apply again. I'll also have to hold down a job too, since the debt and the CoL in my city is getting outrageous. The good thing is that I'll have an MA under my belt so I can at least get a decently paying job, whether that's full time research or full time clinical with the other option as part-time.
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In academia-speak, a CV is the whole long list of EVERYTHING you've done (they gave some good examples). A resume is the simple one-pager you use to apply for jobs. Things like presentations or continued education workshops would have a place on a CV but not a resume, for example.
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Teaching hospitals, esp those affiliated with medical schools. Always hiring clinical research coordinators!
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8 hours ago, SkyLy said:
Just to add my two cents...I would advise staying away from MSW programs based on things I have recently heard about the field. In fact, I know a couple of people who are in loads of debt and are struggling to find a good job due to over-saturation. In the end, many people who graduate with an MSW find themselves stuck in jobs that they could have obtained with a Bachelor's degree.
I would argue this depends based on geography. Here in Boston the hospitals loooove MSWs so you can easily get a job,
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(xposted from SDN, but the folks here tend to be more supportive so I figured it wouldn't hurt haha!)I'm currently in a masters level Counseling program and trying to land a university counseling center internship. I hear horror stories about how it is super competitive and have posted several times asking for advice (thanks to those who have answered). I now have some GREAT job opportunities and wanted to know - given my desire to work at an UCC starting fall 2016 - which one(s) I should accept:
- Mental Health Technician at an eating disorders clinic for adolescents
- Mental Health Technician at a BPD clinic for adult women
- Resident Advisor for an English learning / International college (that is, the college population is made up entirely of international students who attend the college purely to study English)
The RA position would definitely allow me the most direct contact with college-age individuals, but it is a pretty big commitment. The MHT positions would give me more clinical practice (even if it's just milieu, at least I'm working in a clinical setting). Which would you choose and why?
P.S. Future plans = PhD in Counseling Psychology
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13 hours ago, khunconan said:
Not sure if I got it correctly. So you are in the 2nd bachelor's and master's programs right now and you will definitely get an excellent grade from both? If so, why not? I can't see any disadvantage of graduating with 4.0 undergrad GPA and 3.9 master's GPA. Some program may look at your most recent undergrad GPA. Some may average the old and the new. Either way is definitely good for you.
Sounds great in theory, haha. My 2nd bachelor's institution (small branch campus of state university) is definitely a huuuuge step removed from my 1st bachelor's though (Ivy League). Doesn't it just look fishy that I have a 4.0 in my 2nd bachelor's, as if I purposefully went to an easy school to get better grades? (This wasn't the case - I picked that school because of financial obligations). Maybe I'm reading too much into it.
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So as a curveball. I was actually enrolled in a second bachelors program (in Psychology) before I got accepted to the masters program. I am technically still enrolled in the 2nd bachelor's, it's just on hold. I have the option of taking like 3 more classes and finishing it up. I have a 4.0 in the 2nd bachelor's right now. Do you think it would be worth it to complete that 2nd bachelor's so that my cumulative undergrad GPA is bumped up? I feel like if they can see my trajectory of 1st bachelor 2.9 -> 2nd bachelor 4.0 it might be more illustrative that I was able to get my act together.
Or do you think 2nd bachelor's are totally stupid and not worth doing? Haha.
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Currently in a Mental Health Counseling master's program. GPA is 3.9.
My undergraduate degree was a disasters. GPA was 2.9.
When applying to PhD programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, will that 2.9 be a horrible glaring mark on my application, or will the 3.9 masters GPA be enough to reassure them that I got my head screwed back on properly and am ready/prepared to work?
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On 11/1/2015, 8:30:06, kim0mook said:
First, I recently received my master's and I am now trying to become licensed in the state of Minnesota to practice as a Licensed Counselor. I was wondering if the name value of your institution that you were licensed through mattered or not? (I went to a professional school, and I am regretting it a bit. This was due to my laziness I wouldn't have to take the GRE).
Second: I see these post master's counseling certification programs offered by many schools. I was wondering if these programs were worth it, and if the name value of the school would help you when you are looking for jobs? I am considering this, because of the name value of my Master's institution. Also hopefully, if I were to complete a couple of certification classes, I was considering the possibility of applying to a PsyD or PhD program in the future.
1. You don't get "licensed through" an institution. You get licensed by the state. The state couldn't care less whether you went to a small public school or a fancy Ivy League school so long as you meet all of the education requirements. Additionally, most people who will be coming to see you as a therapist could give two shits about which school you went to as long as you're licensed. I've seen therapists who have graduated anywhere from Columbia University to Arkansas State University, and they've all been great. Your school does not matter in terms of licensure.
2. No. Why are you getting certified when you already have a masters degree in counseling.....? Those post-masters counseling certification programs are most likely for people who are switching fields within psychology and counseling (i.e. trying to go from school to clinical, or from I/O to counseling, etc.) It will not help you to get into a PsyD/PhD program. If you want the PhD program, go find a good school with research opportunities and do some research.
Financial Debt after Psychology degrees
in Psychology Forum
Posted
Do these figures include pre-doctoral debt? For example, I know a lot of people do unfunded masters as a way of upping their chances for PhD programs, so that might be where some of the debt is coming from. I was the poster who previously mentioned that I would have been $140k in the hole if I had completed my unfunded masters. I actually quit the program and am only $60k in now, but still....