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PsyDuck90

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  1. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from freudleavemymumoutofit in Psychology grad school program   
    You can practice clinically with a masters in counseling, so what is it specifically that you hope to accomplish with the PsyD? Alternatively, why apply for a masters at all if your goal is the doctorate? A masters can be good if you have a lower undergrad GPA and want to show that you are capable of doing grad level work. Others, there isn’t a whole ton of utility for a masters first. 
  2. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from Jim VK in Psychology grad school program   
    You can practice clinically with a masters in counseling, so what is it specifically that you hope to accomplish with the PsyD? Alternatively, why apply for a masters at all if your goal is the doctorate? A masters can be good if you have a lower undergrad GPA and want to show that you are capable of doing grad level work. Others, there isn’t a whole ton of utility for a masters first. 
  3. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from psyched.02 in Do I seem like a competitive application for Counseling and Clinical Psych PhD programs? How can I improve my application? Help me please!   
    Overall, your profile looks solid. The main thing is to make sure you are applying to faculty with a good research match and you explain your research interests clearly in your SOP. Also, just given the high level of competitiveness for clinical/counseling PhDs, make sure you are applying broadly (as in, not just applying to schools in NYC/Chicago/other desirable cities) and to enough programs (just statistically speaking, if a mentor takes only 1 student per year, then that means a low rate of acceptance for that 1 mentor). 
  4. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from alllex in MA in edu psychology or general psychology? I am so debating...   
    Close, PsyD in clinical psychology. I would recommend you figure out what you specifically want to study/do as a career before you spend any money on more education. You can also get research experience without being a current student by searching for research coordinator positions. This way you get paid to do research, which looks just as good (if not better) on PhD applications. Unless your undergrad was in a completely unrelated field or you need to make up for a low GPA, an MA isn't really necessary for PhD admission. 
  5. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from pearlogic99 in How important are areas of concentration?   
    I don’t know any specifically off-hand, but I think a program housed in a university rather than a free standing professional school will have a more robust student accessibility center, which should help you with whatever accommodations you need. Also, the distinction between reputable PsyD programs and balanced science-practitioner based PhD programs is pretty much non-existent so I wouldn’t just focus on PsyDs. Actually, the PhD programs will probably be far more accessible since they are almost always fully funded and therefore if you do have to spread your courses out, you will not be accumulating more debt. 
  6. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from pearlogic99 in How important are areas of concentration?   
    Areas of concentration are mostly found in the for-profit professional schools as a marketing gimmick. As long as the program has access to practicum sites with your populations of interest, you’re good. 
  7. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from pearlogic99 in Required clinical experience for clinical psyc PsyD program acceptance   
    The university-based PsyDs, especially the ones with funding opportunities, are going to care more about research experience then clinical. 
  8. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SoundofSilence in How transferable is the clinical experience and research experience from an MSW program?   
    They typically take positions as research coordinators as full time jobs between undergrad and grad school. Even in my PsyD, most of us had extensive research experience such as being a research coordinator or first author publications prior to starting. 
     
    You would have to talk to your research supervisor about that. Some are more open about students getting on things quickly, while others may have certain amount of time earned before getting onto a poster or paper. It’s really dependent on lab and supervisor. 
  9. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SoundofSilence in How transferable is the clinical experience and research experience from an MSW program?   
    It’s a numbers game. Clinical Psych PhD programs often have a cohort of about 4-7, while med schools take in over 100. There are just literally significantly less spots per program. There were just shy of 4000 applicants in this APPIC match this year. Meanwhile, a little over 33,000 MDs and over 12,000 DOs participated in the residency match this year. 
     
    Make sure to get your name on some posters and maybe even a publication if you can. Applicants for clinical psych PhD programs typically have several years of research experience, with multiple research products, sometimes even 1st author publications. The biggest factor is also research mentor fit. Your research interests need to be a strong fit for the mentor you are applying for. 
  10. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from 8215S in Being a board certified psychologist as a school psychologist   
    This is not true at all. Yeshiva has a pretty well known clinical PsyD program. LIU has one as well. Pretty sure there are a few more. Have you looked at the APA website at all? There’s a search tool where you can see all APA accredited programs by state. Also, any PsyD is still going to require at least some research. You have to do a dissertation, and many also have other research requirements as well. If you truly have no interest in research, then go the masters route. Part of being a doctoral level provider is the greater ability to assess the research that has been done and implementing it into your practice (hence the scholar-practitioner model of PsyD programs). In order to be able to do that effectively, you need to be knowledgeable about the research process and research methodology, stats, etc. 
    Technically, you can get licensed as a psychologist with a school psych doctorate, but you will need to acquire an internship that’s appropriate for clinical/counseling psych through the APPIC match. School psych folks are already often not very competitive for these programs. You would be competing with all of the clinical and counseling psych students in NY and NJ for the practicum sites, so it may be difficult for you to get those non-school clinical hours.  Also, if you are that geographically restricted to just NYC, then you will have a very hard time getting an APA accredited internship because you are then competing against trainees from across the country who all also want to do their internship in an NYC-based training site. 
     
    As an aside, boarding in clinical psychology is an entirely separate process that is done through ABPP and is not a requirement for clinical practice.
    OP, based on the myriad of questions you have posted on this site, I would recommend you do some more research into these various degrees and programs and maybe speak to some practicing clinicians. Find someone doing the type of job you want to have, see what their credentials are, and then offer to buy them coffee or something so you can ask them some questions. I wouldn’t just go off info you’re getting from the admissions rep because they have a financial interest in getting you to pay a large sum of money for a degree that, based on what some of your goals are, is going to add an incredible amount of extra difficulty to get you to where you want to be, which is already a difficult path. 
     
    What exactly is it that you want to do in your career? Because for most people, a masters level license is sufficient. And in this case may be more appropriate than trying to sneak into clinical psych the back way through school psych, which, while not impossible, is not as simple as just that. You also likely wouldn’t have covered much of what will be on the EPPP, the national licensing exam, so you’ll be starting out from behind on that as well. And NY is one of the stricter states to get licensed in as a psychologist. 
  11. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from 8215S in Confused on what school to pick   
    Depending on your goals, the best option out of those listed is the MSW at Hunter. A LCSW has a lot more flexibility than an LMHC, especially since LMHCs are unable to bill Medicare (although there is some legislation to change that floating around). Hospital systems tend to hire LCSWs over LMHCs for clinical work for that reason. Overall, the least amount of debt for grad school is always the  best option. Hunter is the most affordable out of the ones you are considering and has a great reputation, so it’s a win win. Your professor is right in that school psychology programs do not provide the same training as clinical and counseling psychology programs. Some programs, like Kean University’s PsyD are combined school and clinical psych programs. If you just want to ever work with children, you may be able to get the additional skills by opting for more training with the school psychology degree but you will not have a lot of the foundational coursework and practicum experiences to work with adults. You’ll continually be fighting an uphill battle. And that program is NOT cheap.
    A masters won’t necessarily make you competitive for clinical psychology PhD programs unless you are able to accomplish quite a bit of research during that time. However, sometimes counseling psychology programs will accept some work done in a masters program. 
    Most masters programs are not as intensive, so people work while completing them. Doctoral programs are harder to balance with a job. However, many programs provide funding via either being a research, teaching, or graduate assistant. NYC is different from most regions, as the majority of doctoral programs in the area are not fully funded. But the vast majority of clinical psych PhD programs across the country are fully funded with no tuition and a stipend. 
  12. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from The Penguin and Podiatrist in Advice on two programs   
    CUNY Grad Center is also very well respected, and the PhD tends to be more prestigious than an EdD. Also, a program that pays you is pretty much always a big win. 
  13. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from 911806a in PhD Student and Former Professor Attraction   
    Getting involved with your married faculty member is a bad idea for a whole host of reasons. I would probably have as little contact with this person as possible. Academia is a small world and you don’t want to establish the wrong kind of reputation, in addition to the general morality concerns. 
  14. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from hershihs in Dress code for online interview?   
    I think as long as you clearly weren't in pajamas, a ratty old t-shirt, or shirtless, you're probably fine. 
  15. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from t_ruth in HELP! PhD advisor leaving....what to do?   
    I am so sorry, as that is definitely a really bum deal. Even though your faculty isn’t going to be part of your institution anymore, is it possible for them to serve as an outside collaborator on your work? I’ve known people whose dissertation committee chairs left for other universities and they were able to at least serve as a committee member and assist in the process. Before jumping ship, I would speak with your advisor who is leaving as well as the program head to see what exactly can be done to ensure you are still on track. If you haven’t done so already. Also, make sure to get all of it in writing.
  16. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from Street_Vanilla_5936 in Transferring Clincial Psych Ph.D. Programs   
    There really isn’t any transfer process. You would have to apply again as you did the first time. Its possible that you may get some credits transferred but you are more likely to just have to start as a 1st year again. Additionally, it will be challenging to get any interviews if you don’t have the support of your current program. Clinical Psych PhD programs are not short of qualified candidates, so they would be wondering why you are transferring and what is the risk of you leaving their program prior to completion. 
  17. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from PsychBear92 in Major DON'T in the interview proccess?   
    Just be prepared to talk about what your research interests are, career goals, and reasons you are attracted to that program. There may also be chances to interact with other prospective students and also current students. Make sure you are personable and yourself. If you get to the interview stage, it's because you're a qualified candidate. The interview is largely to assess if you're someone they would like to work with for the next 4-6 years. Make sure to have lots of questions prepared for faculty and current students, as a lot of the interview time is spent on them answering your questions. The whole idea is to assess fit for you, the faculty mentor, and the program as a whole. 
  18. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SoundofSilence in PSYD programs with mediocre GPA   
    A few thoughts: given your lower undergrad GPA, I would maybe consider a master's program to show that you can excel at graduate level work. A high master's level GPA can counterbalance the low undergrad GPA. Most PsyDs require a minimum 3.5 GPA. Additionally, what is that you want to do as a day to day? Depending on your goals, you may be able to achieve them with a master's level licensure, such as a mental health counselor or clincial social worker. "Practicing psychology" is a relatively vague term, as there are myriads of ways people can practice psychology, including being academics with no clinical responsibilities. 
  19. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from t_ruth in Career switch in late thirties   
    What degree are you looking into? A masters degree is going to be different from a PhD. Also, a clinical degree is going to be different from a research-only PhD such as social psych or developmental psych. Answers will definitely change depending on what type of degree you're aiming for but for the sake of answering your questions, I will answer based on clinical psych PhDs, which are also the most competitive. 
    Pre-reqs will be program-dependent but they are typically some combination of research methods, statistics, abnormal psych, and lifespan development. You should be looking at programs based on research match of available faculty.
    You need research experience. Whether that is from a formal RA position or volunteering or through work is a little more variable. Faculty want to know you have a grasp on the fundamentals of research, and products (conference posters/presentations and/or publications) to show that you can take initiative on a project. Additionally, many people spend years honing their applications with research directly related to their interest area. Some faculty prefer non-traditional students, so your background may be appealing, especially if your CS experience includes a lot of stats/modeling and the use of programs like R. 
     
  20. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SoundofSilence in gap year student deciding between masters, psyd, or phd - help!!   
    The difference between reputable PsyD programs, such as Rutgers, Kean, and William Paterson compared to balanced PhD programs is negligible. Also, most students entering those programs have similar research experiences to students entering scientist-practitioner model PhD programs. I would keep trying for RA positions-look on listservs, cold email researchers who you are interested in working with, and ask your advisor if they happen to know someone (use your network). If you can't find a paid RA position, would you be able to dedicate some time volunteering in a lab of your interest? Honestly, a master's is usually best for people who maybe didn't have as great of a GPA and need to make up for it. However, there are some, like Wake Forest, which are fully funded and have a strong record of placing graduates into PhD programs. While research experience (especially products like conference posters/presentations and publications) is an important part of the application, so is research fit. You want to be applying to programs that have a strong mentor fit, as you often apply to work with a specific individual or lab. So you also want to spend some time really thinking about what you want your research to focus on and your career goals after graduation, and it's ok if these change over time--its incredibly common. 
  21. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SoundofSilence in Career switch in late thirties   
    What degree are you looking into? A masters degree is going to be different from a PhD. Also, a clinical degree is going to be different from a research-only PhD such as social psych or developmental psych. Answers will definitely change depending on what type of degree you're aiming for but for the sake of answering your questions, I will answer based on clinical psych PhDs, which are also the most competitive. 
    Pre-reqs will be program-dependent but they are typically some combination of research methods, statistics, abnormal psych, and lifespan development. You should be looking at programs based on research match of available faculty.
    You need research experience. Whether that is from a formal RA position or volunteering or through work is a little more variable. Faculty want to know you have a grasp on the fundamentals of research, and products (conference posters/presentations and/or publications) to show that you can take initiative on a project. Additionally, many people spend years honing their applications with research directly related to their interest area. Some faculty prefer non-traditional students, so your background may be appealing, especially if your CS experience includes a lot of stats/modeling and the use of programs like R. 
     
  22. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from chl0e in gap year student deciding between masters, psyd, or phd - help!!   
    The difference between reputable PsyD programs, such as Rutgers, Kean, and William Paterson compared to balanced PhD programs is negligible. Also, most students entering those programs have similar research experiences to students entering scientist-practitioner model PhD programs. I would keep trying for RA positions-look on listservs, cold email researchers who you are interested in working with, and ask your advisor if they happen to know someone (use your network). If you can't find a paid RA position, would you be able to dedicate some time volunteering in a lab of your interest? Honestly, a master's is usually best for people who maybe didn't have as great of a GPA and need to make up for it. However, there are some, like Wake Forest, which are fully funded and have a strong record of placing graduates into PhD programs. While research experience (especially products like conference posters/presentations and publications) is an important part of the application, so is research fit. You want to be applying to programs that have a strong mentor fit, as you often apply to work with a specific individual or lab. So you also want to spend some time really thinking about what you want your research to focus on and your career goals after graduation, and it's ok if these change over time--its incredibly common. 
  23. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SoundofSilence in Equal emphasis PhD clinical psych programs?   
    PhD students on average get the same as,or actually more clinical hours throughout their training compared to PsyD students. If you're using the Insider's Guide book, the programs themselves are the ones providing the rating on their research/clinical emphasis. Typically, programs that bill themselves as a clinical science model (like UC-Berkeley, SUNY-Stony Brook, SUNY-Binghamton, etc.) are going to be interested in preparing academics. PhD programs that are scientist-practitioner are going to usually be equal emphasis. That being said, some labs within a program may be more academic focused than others, so you have to look at the specific faculty you're interested in working with. The small cohort university-based PsyDs will typically also be equal emphasis. The large-cohort for-profit programs typically have a much smaller/non-existant research requirement. 
  24. Like
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from Susieq22 in Major DON'T in the interview proccess?   
    Just be prepared to talk about what your research interests are, career goals, and reasons you are attracted to that program. There may also be chances to interact with other prospective students and also current students. Make sure you are personable and yourself. If you get to the interview stage, it's because you're a qualified candidate. The interview is largely to assess if you're someone they would like to work with for the next 4-6 years. Make sure to have lots of questions prepared for faculty and current students, as a lot of the interview time is spent on them answering your questions. The whole idea is to assess fit for you, the faculty mentor, and the program as a whole. 
  25. Upvote
    PsyDuck90 got a reaction from SocDevMum in Narrowing down Psych Counseling PHD programs.....Where do I even start?   
    Even though you find many areas of research interesting, you need to narrow down something more specific. Following that, you look at which faculty are doing that kind of research. Your statement of purpose, regardless of whether it's a clinical psychology or counseling psychology program, is by and large going to focus on your fit with an individual mentor's program of research. While there are a few minor philosophical differences between counseling psychology and clinical psychology, those differences have shrunk significantly over the years. The end license is identical and the work settings are about the same as well. For instance, you can find a counseling psychologist in an inpatient psychiatric unit and a clinical psychologist in a college counseling center. 
    However, if you don't have significant research experience, including posters or even a publication, you may need to get some more research experience to make your application more competitive. 
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