Applicant4788

Thank you SO much! This information is so helpful. First of all, I had no idea that I could just reach out to Associate Deans to ask questions about the programs. In psych (especially clinical), the number of applications that programs receive is so astronomically high (one R2 school I know of received 750 applications for 9 spots) that they're largely unable to accommodate prospective students' questions prior to applying. The same goes for reaching out to potential mentors in psych ahead of applying - people are split on whether you should/shouldn't reach out, because the volume of applicants is too high for many PIs to respond to these inquiries, so some actually see it as a negative. I'm glad to learn that SW faculty and Associate Deans are open to these kinds of conversations. The GADE guide that you shared is so helpful to get an idea of average enrollment, what programs are out there, and where I will be eligible to apply. I'm also loving the transparency from UT Austin! Regarding the statement of purpose: I've noticed that quite a few programs ask for responses to a question along the lines of "What barriers in your life might prevent you from succeeding in a doctoral program?" Can you shed some light on what a response to this question might be? I can't think of any barriers off the top of my head (except maybe the lack of MSW or experience as a practitioner?), but I'm not sure about whether this is the type of question where you're supposed to come up with barriers and talk about how you will address them. I also appreciate your insight into the MSW/PhD program. I would be interested in completing both degrees, but I am unsure about whether accruing additional student loan debt for the MSW portion would be wise if the MSW itself is not strictly necessary moving forward. Can you also tell me which programs are considered the "top" programs in the field? I found an article quantifying research productivity in each program, but I was wondering whether there are certain programs that are widely considered to be the "best" or "most competitive". Thank you again for all of your help!

What is considered a good percentile score on the Psych GRE? I do know that the test is not required for most applications, especially if you majored in psych in undergrad, so they may not even look at the score very seriously as a reflection of your ability in psych.

That's great to know. Thank you! I currently work at a large university, so I will plan to reach out to some folks in the school of Social Work for additional guidance. It's so interesting to see how many differences there are between these programs and Psych programs!

Thank you! That's some really helpful insight. I haven't looked into Counseling Psych programs, but I will check those out as well. It never hurts to explore more options! For the program that you will be attending, did you apply to work with a specific PI or is it a situation where you are accepted to the program generally and assigned to a PI upon arrival? Also - how much would you say that GRE scores matter for admissions? I'm open to retaking it if my score (168V, 158Q) is not strong enough, but of course would prefer not to endure the extra hassle. Thank you so much. I am very appreciative of your help while I try to work through this. I've spent a ton of time learning how psych PhD admissions processes work, so it's been tough trying to navigate this and understand a whole new system in regards to how I might be evaluated as a candidate for admission to these programs.

Thank you for your reply! A lot of programs I've seen request that applicants have an MSW "*or a Master's degree in a social science field," for which I think my psych Master's should qualify(?). I'm definitely open to a joint MSW/PhD program as well, where that is offered, but I have gotten the impression that they are not particularly common. Do you think that my psychology MA would be seen as a disadvantage in applying to programs which allow applicants with other social science degrees? While I'm still considering some psych PhD programs, my research and professional interests have a stronger social justice orientation, focus on contextual factors, and engagement with vulnerable populations than a vast majority of the research happening in psychology. The research happening in social work/social welfare programs also seems much more in line with the methodologies that I would like to employ in my eventual work (i.e., participatory action research, community-based interventions). When exploring potential PIs at psych PhD programs, I've never been able to find a truly strong match between their research and my interests - it always seems like I'd have to tailor my interests to fit more neatly with theirs. In the short time that I've been exploring potential PIs at social work/social welfare PhD programs, there seems to be a strong match in almost every program - without tailoring my interests - which I'm taking as an indication that I should be strongly considering these in addition to psych programs.

Hi, all. Congratulations on your acceptances to these great programs! I'm hoping that, having gone through this process so recently, some of you would be able to steer me in the right direction. I currently work in the field of clinical psychology research (with a Master's degree), but I am looking into pursuing a PhD in Social Work/Social Welfare. However, I have no idea where to begin to narrow down programs, how matching with a faculty mentor works, how competitive admissions to PhD Social Work/Social Welfare programs are or whether I would be considered a competitive applicant. I've included some questions below that I would love to get some answers to, if you are able. Are there resources that you all used to narrow down which programs you were interested in applying to? Do you apply to work with a specific faculty mentor, or does the program assign you a mentor as they see fit? About how many students apply to these programs each year versus how many are accepted? I do not have experience as a practitioner, but have a strong research background (~5 years of research experience in psychology, grant applications, publications, presentations). Will this be a problem for admission to a PhD program in Social Work/Social Welfare? What do you think made your application stand out? What is the benefit of a joint MSW/PhD program versus a PhD-only program? Thank you all for your help!

Hi! Not attending LIU Brooklyn next year, but I do have a question about their program. Can I send you a private message?

Hi, all I have been exploring the idea of applying to PhD Social Welfare/Social Work programs this fall, for matriculation in Fall of 2020. I have a background in psychology (research-based Master's degree), and I currently work as a lab manager in a clinical psychology lab at a well-known university with high research activity. I am looking at social welfare programs due to an interest in doing community-based and policy-oriented mental health research. I have been looking at career outcomes for PhDs in Social Welfare/Social Work online and can usually only find a brief (and vague) mention of policy-related careers that one can pursue with this type of education. Would any of you be willing to provide me with additional information regarding the types of policy careers one can pursue with a Social Welfare PhD?

Oh my gosh, thank you SO much. I was having the hardest time finding any mention of incorrect scores on the ETS website, which made me nervous about the conflicting information in the books.

Hi, all I am currently studying for the April 6 GRE Psychology Subject test using a few of the available study books (Barron's, Kaplan, Princeton Review). The problem that I've encountered is that the books have conflicting information about the scoring of the test, and the information on the ETS website is not helping me to clear that up. One book says that the score is determined by adding up the number of questions you answered correctly, while another states that you must subtract 1/4 x the number of questions you answered incorrectly from your total number of correct responses. Can you all provide me with more information about how the raw score is calculated, as well as when you took the test?

@punctiliousdog You really should seek counseling if this issue haunts you enough to fixate on over multiple years and assignments.

To the person accepted from the Fordham waitlist: Can you PM me your PI's initials? Thank you!

Thank you so much for your response! In this case, the research fit is so perfect that I cannot see myself accepting another offer if this spot becomes available. I will reach out to them tomorrow to check on my status and to let them know that I am definitely still interested. Being stuck in the waiting game for so long has been tough. I really appreciate your help!

Sorry, I should have clarified. I'm on the waitlist for my top choice and I'm not sure if I should expect to hear an update on my status on a Sunday or if I may have to wait until the 16th to know for sure.

I was wondering if April 15th falling on a Sunday this year changes the deadline to respond to offers at all?

From what I understand, these are both very good programs with strong placement rates for PhDs. However, I don't think that either program offers clinical exposure. If you can, I would recommend visiting or seeing if these programs can get you in contact with current students (maybe students who work with the PIs with whom you are interested in working?). They'll be able to give you a good idea of how the stipend works out with the cost of living in the area and recent students' placements with PhD programs.

Hi! So, this will really depend on which University you attend and how they structure their program - it may be best to ask current students in the program about their schedule. In the Master's program that I attended, we had class four days a week for a maximum of one class (~2 hours) per day. The rest of the time was dedicated towards research or graduate assistantships. What schools are you considering?

Is this program offering funding to you? If so, they should not be allowed to require you to respond before April 15.

I would recommend getting in touch with the director of the graduate program about outcomes/placement data, and with current graduate students about living in Winston-Salem and the feasibility of the cost of living on the stipend that you will be given.

I think since you've not been offered anything by Villanova, and it sounds like you do not meet their admission requirements, you are not in a position to leverage existing offers.

Is anyone willing to claim the Fordham clinical psych post on the results page that says "plan to accept once offer is official"? If yes, can you DM me who your POI is?

I began volunteering in a psych lab at a public university where I was taking psych courses at night. Maybe you would want to establish yourself as a student at the university first before trying to get into the lab without experience? Or look for community mental health organizations that are looking for any kind of volunteers. Crisis hotlines, for example, usually offer training for volunteers.

From one career-changer to another: taking some psychology courses will help you show that your interest is real, and you are dedicated to your goals. A lot of programs get applications from people who are interested in a career change, but haven't taken steps towards showing their dedication to the new field. You can also begin to volunteer with a mental-health related community organization, or volunteer in a psychology lab as a research assistant. Can I ask what your current field is?

Me too, please!

Me too, please!