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PsyDuck90

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Everything posted by PsyDuck90

  1. This will be dependent on your relationship with the letter writer. Sometimes people will agree to write a letter, but if it's someone who just had you as a student in a class or two, they may not be able to give as rich of a letter about your skills vs someone who you've done research with and worked closely with can really offer more information and speak to a greater depth of skills you have that will be beneficial in grad school. Most people will say "hey, I don't think I know you well enough to write you a letter" but others won't mention it and write you a generic letter.
  2. Typically, what you want to do is bring it up when asking for the letter initially. Instead of just asking for a letter of recommendation, ask if this person can write you a strong letter of recommendation.
  3. You've asked this same question multiple times and you always argue with people, regardless of what answer they give. What exactly are you hoping to achieve with this line of questioning? Do whatever makes you happy. Some people will find it odd for grad students to hang out with undergrads. Some won't. At the end of the day, other people's opinion doesn't matter a whole lot.
  4. I am in a US-based program FYI. This may vary program to program, but my experience with the clinical courses has been a combination of readings/discussions regarding the theory and practice. For instance, we would do role plays or present cases we see (de-identified) on practicum, discussing how we conceptualize the case and what the treatment plan was. In my program we had a specific course on CBT, one on Psychodynamic, and another on third wave treatments, which went into DBT, MBSR, and ACT. We've also had to submit written reports of our conceptualization of cases. If your program has a clinic, you are also likely video taped in your sessions and given specific feedback during supervision. Overall, I feel like my classes prepared me for practicum, which is also where the bulk of my clinical training has taken place, especially with my population of interest.
  5. Professors write recommendation letters all the time. It's part of their job. Also, if they already wrote one for you recently for grad school, it will take them all of a few minutes to adapt it to a scholarship and send it off. I would just send a brief email thanking them for their letters and asking if they would be willing to send an additional letter for this scholarship.
  6. It has a pretty poor reputation. The cohort sizes are insane (one cohort is larger than my entire PsyD program student body). The cost is very expensive and doesn't really make sense for the earning potential of psychologists. Their connection with the Amen clinics, as psychologygeek mentioned above, suggests that they don't adhere to evidence-based practice. Also, the fact they don't even have a 100% APA-accredited internship match rate for any of the recent years, despite having a captive APA-accredited internship is probably the most worrisome aspect. They literally have a place to put students who aren't competitive enough to match elsewhere, yet people are still opting for unaccredited internships? Completing a non-APA accredited internship closes a lot of doors to job opportunities, such as VAs (the largest single employer of psychologists nationwide) and many hospitals. There is literally no upside to completing a non-accredited internship. That is way thats a really important metric to judge programs on.
  7. As @VentureIntoNothingnesssaid above, you should have a general idea of the types of theoretical orientation you are interested in (some programs are more CBT and DBT/ACT focused, while others may be more psychodynamic focused). Objects-relations is a specific type of psychodynamic, and I honestly can't imagine a whole of people really ascribe to it as their primary theoretical orientation in day to day treatment. You should have a general idea of what you want to do (being a therapist is a brand statement), as this will help inform your program selection. However, you are not bound by what you enter in with. I intended on working with PTSD and trauma and am now doing pursuing an entirely different specialization.
  8. There are risks with any option. As a 1st year, you still have plenty of time to make a decision. Maybe speak with an advisor on campus regarding your options. You also have to consider if your immigration status will allow you to stay and work in Canada following graduation (whether that be from undergrad or grad), and if not, what would be the best career path for you in your home country. At minimum, you need to take certain psychology courses. Look up the admission requirements for some of the master's programs you are considering and make sure you take those, regardless of major. People switch career paths all the time. And as Sound of Silence said, a degree in psychology can also be beneficial I'm business. So it's possible to achieve either career path with either major.
  9. There are certain undergrad courses you need to have taken as prerequisites for doctoral psych programs. However, you don't necessarily have to have majored in it. You would have to make a case for why you are a good fit despite having a business degree. If you are thinking about grad school in counseling psych, why are you considering switching to a business degree?
  10. These forums are for both and there are applicants and current students in PhD and PsyD programs. There really aren't vast differences between the clinical career paths from either degree. The whole PhD is for academics and PsyD is for clincial work thing is a myth. The majority of clinical and counseling psychology graduates (whether PhD or PsyD) go into clincial practice. Do you have specific questions that you are hoping to get answered?
  11. Read some of their most recent publications. Ask about the current projects they're working on. Are there any grants in the pipeline? Be prepared to discuss your research interests and how they may mesh well with the work currently being done in the lab. Also, since they're PsyD, you can maybe ask about how much time students typically spend in the lab.
  12. To piggy back off what @Clinapp2017said, even PsyDs require research. Any PsyD program requires an original dissertation at the very least. The majority of university-based PsyDs (think Rutgers, Baylor, etc.) have a similar research expectation as balanced PhD programs. Some even have a mentorship model, with applicants applying to work with specific faculty. In order to be a good evidence-based practitioner, you need to be able to read and understand research. The best way to have a strong grasp of research methodology and stats is by doing. These skills are especially important in neuropsych because you need to be very familiar with psychometrics to be able to evaluate the reliability and validity of different assessments to make sure you are using appropriate tools (not every published assessment is created equal).
  13. One B is not going to derail your chances of getting into a clinical psych PhD. The main thing that they are really going to be looking at is your research productivity (posters, pubs, etc). As long as you meet the minimum GPA requirements, that's usually pretty low on the list.
  14. It's not uncommon for people to go a few rounds and, if the research fit is good, it makes sense to reapply to the same faculty.
  15. I would look up recently published journal articles within your area of interest and see where those researchers are working out of. However, keep in mind that there is usually quite a delay between when the research is done and then published. But you can then look at the faculty bios once you get the names.
  16. For any student, international or domestic, racking up that much debt for a PsyD is honestly not recommended. Also, the worthwhile PsyDs require research as well and require relatively extensive research experience previously. Most of the master's programs that lead to licensure will be about 60 credits. However, licensure varies from state to state, and programs typically align themselves with their state laws. Do you ultimately want to practice in the US or in India? If the latter, I would just make sure that whatever option you choose allows you to work in that capacity in India and then choose the cheapest path. If you plan to go the master's route, I don't really understand why you would complete a master's in India and then another in the US. If you want the master's to make you more competitive for a doctoral program, I would try to focus my efforts on gaining research experience. Especially as an international student, most tuition tends to be even higher than for domestic applicants, so you would really want to get into a program with funding.
  17. I think this is going to vastly depend on the individual project. I am partway through my dissertation and have spent $0 on it, as have most of my cohort. Most libraries will be able to get you the articles you need through inter-library loan services, so that should not be a cost. You can proof/edit your own work with also getting feedback from peers and your dissertation chair. Most universities also have a writing center that is free to students which may assist in proofing/editing. I can't speak to the costs related to trips to specific institutions, compensating specialists/experts, as those are not really the norm in my field of study (clinical psychology). Typically, the dissertation committee is made up of experts in your field, and they are open to providing that expertise as 1 of their roles of sitting on your committee. You can also often apply for small grants to assist with dissertation expenses, such as any special software you may need or paying participants.
  18. I second this. As an advanced grad student, I have enjoyed helping to answer applicant questions over the years on this forum. However, I personally don't have the mental bandwidth to add another thing to check.
  19. I second this. As an advanced grad student, I have enjoyed helping to answer applicant questions over the years on this forum. However, I personally don't have the mental bandwidth to add another thing to check.
  20. I agree with this advice. Also, any of the good PsyDs will have a very similar to nearly identical application process to balanced PhD programs. I'm in my 4th year of a PsyD, and I followed this pattern--2 academic letter writers from my psych masters and 1 clinical supervisor from my post-master's job. Most of those who were admitted to my program were similar.
  21. If your primary goal is to do therapy as a side-gig, I would look into MFT or social work programs. You can get licensed as a master's level therapist and work towards licensure that way.
  22. While California doesn't 100% require completing an APA-accredited doctoral program for licensure, it will make the licensing process infinitely easier because you have to prove the program meets those standards. Doctoral programs are full-time because all of the course work and clinical practicums take up the time of a full time job (arguably more so). Also, you cannot get an APA-accredited internship if you do not go to an APA-accredited program, nor can you even apply to non-accredited internships on APPIC, which is the application process for all formal internship programs. You would be left on your own to piece together an internship. The cheapest route to becoming a licensed clinical psychologist is to make yourself a competitive applicant for all the funded PsyD and PhD programs out there (funding is the norm, not the exception).
  23. If you're interested in straight therapy, you don't really need a PhD. I would look into master's level programs that lead to licensure as either an LPC, LCSW (MSW degree), or MFT depending on the state. Licensure laws vary from state to state, especially for master's level clinicians, so it is best to get trained in the state you are most interested in practicing. An MSW tends to be a more portable degree than an LPC/MFT, and MSWs can bill Medicare, while LPCs cannot. This makes getting a job in a hospital system much easier with an MSW than an LPC. CACREP is becoming more important in more states. However, there are also some great master's programs housed in psychology departments that don't be the requirements for CACREP accreditation because they have clinical or counseling psychologists on staff (CACREP requires that all faculty have a PhD in Counselor Education). Check with the licensure laws in the state(s) you are most interested in living/practicing. Typically, your best bet is state schools. They tend to provide solid training and are often far cheaper than private universities. Most license-eligible programs won't have much in the way of research opportunities (although some do), so they aren't always the best route for a PhD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology. You can always pursue a PhD in Counselor Education or Social Work, but those are purely research/academic degrees, as the licensure in those disciplines is at the master's level. It's not impossible to transition, but it will typically take more work on your part to ensure you get the research experiences necessary to be competitive to PhD programs following the master's.
  24. To best help you, it's helpful to know what your ultimate career goal is. If you want to be a licensed therapist, there are many paths you can take. An MSW, an MA/MS, a PhD, or a PsyD can all lead to licensure. The question is what do you want your day to day to look like? Do you want to do therapy? If so, in what kind of setting? Do you want to also be able to do assessment, such as neuropsychological assessment? What kinds of populations do you want to work with?
  25. APA accreditation is only for PhD/PsyD programs in Clinical or Counseling Psychology (and School Psychology to some extent), as those are the ones that lead to clinical licensure. I don't know about all the schools you've mentioned, but for instance, Princeton does not have a Clinical or Counseling Psychology PhD program. Their psychology PhDs are strictly research focused. A Clinical or Counseling Psychology program has specific courses related to clinical practice and practicum experiences interwoven into the curriculum, which research only PhDs (like Social or Developmental) do not.
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