scpy2010

I can answer a couple of those... Yes, a School Psychology PhD can enable you to have a private practice other than assessment (counseling and therapy services included), you just have to be licensed by the state you are working in. I'm sure that you can also become certified as a child psychologist, although I'm not positive on this one. A PhD in almost all fields of psychology will open many doors for you - private practice, academia, etc. It might vary depending on the state, but I'm sure it is possible. The PsyD track, from what I gather, is considered a lesser degree than the PhD. I'm not sure if there are qualms within the community, however, you need to be careful of where you obtain one. Make sure you are at a fully accredited and, preferably, not "for profit" school (i.e. Agrosy). From what we have discussed in one of my classes this semester I would avoid the PsyD track. Honestly, working within the schools and having a PhD in School Psychology does not raise your pay level very much. Usually it's less than 5K extra per year, but again that varies on the state. The majority of people who go for their PhD are actually not doing so to work only in the schools but also have a private practice and/or teach at universities. I hope this helps... I chose a MA/CAS track because I have little interest in private practice and want to focus my career on working with children in the schools. Good luck with everything - I was in your shoes at this time last year, so I know how frustrating it can be!

Hey Matt - I am a current graduate student in a MA/CAS School Psychology program and here are my recommendations: 1) Go to a program that is NASP approved. Trust me, it will make certification easier! http://www.nasponline.org/certification/documents/NASP-Approved%20Programs-922010.pdf 2) If you are not really interested in private practice at this time go for the MA/Specialty Programs. You must have a PhD in order to do private practice, but you can always go back and get that later if you so wish. 3) Yes, getting a MA is less focused on research and more on practice. However, some programs (like mine) still require a thesis. Others don't (even NASP approved ones.. they keep the thesis "optional"). So if you're not interested in doing the research/writing a thesis be sure to check for that requirement on the program's website. 4) There are different specialty degrees - CAS, CAGS, and EdS. A CAS is "Certificate of Advanced Study," a CAGS is "Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study," and an EdS is an "education specialist." They are alike in many ways but the EdS focuses more on the educational aspect of School Psychology than the CAS and CAGS. Different programs offer different specialty degrees and the program website will tell you what it offers. 5) The MA/Specialty Degree programs are as follows: 2 years classroom (including practicum during the 2nd year, and possibly a thesis depending on where you go) and a 1 year full-time internship. During the 2 years of classroom you will earn at least 60 credits (many programs, to accomplish this, require summer school as well) which fulfills the requirements for the Masters Degree. The internship fulfills the requirement for the specialty degree. 6) School psychology is NOT all about assessment. Yes, assessment is a part of school psychology. However, the model has shifted from the testing-only model of the late 20th century to a more "early intervention" model. There is counseling involved (remember, school psychologists are simply psychologists who work in a school!) but more so directly with the student than with their families as well. Hope this helps out a bit.

Hey guys - I'm a School Psychology graduate student now and hopefully I can clarify some things for you. Private Practice - You MUST have a PhD and be licensed in the state you are practicing in. States vary in regards to their requirements to become a licensed practitioner. Those with a Masters/Specialty degree (CAS, CAGS, EdS, etc.) can not, under most state's laws, work in private practice. A few states allow you to be supervised by a licensed practitioner who has a PhD, but those are few and far between. Typically, if you go for a MA/Specialty Degree you are going for practice in a school setting only (unless you wish to obtain your PhD later on). School Psychologist - You must have a Masters degree AND a specialty degree (i.e. CAS, CAGS, EdS - these all basically mean you completed a 1 year full-time internship in addition to the minimum 60 credit hours required for the Masters degree) and be licensed by the state in which you work. Accreditation - I would highly recommend only attending programs that have full (not conditional) NASP approval. Although it is not impossible to become certified without it, as NASP is the largest professional organization (and, basically, 'governing body') of School Psychologists it will make your life much easier if your program has full approval from them. There is a link above that goes to a very long .pdf document provided by NASP in which each approved program is listed by state. Personally, this is how I chose the programs to apply to. I looked at the states I would want to live in, checked out the programs online, and applied to 5 of my top choices. APA only offers accreditation to PhD programs (there is this ongoing debate about who gets to call themselves "psychologists") but, for practice in schools the biggest accreditation you want to look for is NASP. Here is a link to the FAQ section on NASP's website, which addresses questions such as education and certification levels needed, etc. http://www.nasponline.org/about_sp/careerfaq.aspx I hope this helped out some of your confusion! Good luck and "enjoy" the application process!

I was accepted with a part-time assistantship to East Carolina University, just got the call this morning!

Yeah, I don't have much hope for this application season - of my 5 programs I applied to I have been officially rejected from 1, know that 2 others have already had interviews and I still haven't heard anything (unofficial rejections?), am on 1 waitlist, and there's complete silence from the other program (which happens to be my top choice). My nails are no longer in existence and I think that I may take to pulling out hair next.. =/

Logically I can assume that I got rejected across the board - interviews should be this month for the programs I applied for and I still haven't heard a peep out of 4 (of the 5) places I applied to. Frustrating, to say the least.

You can happily join me - I'm in the same boat. I have heard from only 1 school (rejection), have seen on these forums that another had their interview day almost a month ago, and complete silence from the others.

So if I haven't heard anything at this point does that mean I am basically screwed? One rejection letter down but not a word from any other place I applied. I keep telling myself that "no news is good news" (i.e.: no more rejection letters), however, I am slowly turning over to "no news is agonizing and bad." So far I have beat the temptation to call places and check up on what they are doing (only 1 of them is listed in the results search).. help?

Who has heard from where? It seems to be pretty quiet on the school psyc front, and the other topic was predominantly PhD programs. I'm just curious as to what these darn masters programs are up to.

.... this week, maybe? *chews nails*

*sigh... 1st rejection today. Please, oh please, let March bring good news!

Just got my 1st rejection letter - from the program that was supposed to be my "backup." Not sure if this is a good thing or some evil foreshadowing. Will burn letter when I get home.

sorry, does not exist right now.

Who has heard from what school psychology programs? Could be either PhD or Masters... I am just curious

can you do this if you don't have a UMD ID?

Thanks.. last night I saw on another forum that people have posted hearing from Winthrop and JMU. Still no word on my end.. anxiety just went up a few notches.

2 full semesters of withdrawls and a D in one of my major courses. GPA: 3.30/4.0 (major GPA = 3.25) GRE: 1090 (500 Verbal, 590 Math) and 4.0 AW internships: zero (does volunteer mentoring count?) publications: zero (1 unpublished research manuscript) I am hoping that my (medical) excuse for the withdrawls will be acceptable but I hated writing that in my statement - I wanted to address the issue but didn't like sounding like I was 'making excuses." =/

I applied to Maryland, James Madison, East Carolina, Towson, and Winthrop... so far I have heard that Maryland already had interviews and sent out acceptance letters (*coughs) and I am still waiting to hear anything back from the other four.

play date

congrats on your interview! where is it at?

Thanks for the info - I am guessing that these schools do NOT offer this option as I have scoured the websites and can't find any indication that they do... =/

I keep seeing things on the "Search Results" section about a person's status being changed on the website. What is this, and how do you check it? I have gone back to the websites for the programs I applied to and logged in but all it tells me is "confirmed" (letting me know the graduate office received it). If anybody has any clue how to do this I would really appreciate it!

I have yet to receive a formal rejection, however, one of the programs I applied to have already had interviews and sent out acception emails. If I haven't heard anything at all does them does that pretty much mean I will be getting a rejection from them soon?

I am really hoping for March as well - I thought it would be February but I was either incorrect or not a single program I applied to is interested in me. For once, I hope that it is the "I was incorrect" option!

I'm with you on that one, good luck!