PsyDuck90

Just FYI, the UPenn brand name won't necessarily lead to greater income potential. Any mental health clinics/hospitals/etc will pay masters level clinicians the same rate regardless of where their degree is from. Insurance doesn't reimburse rates based on institution (only difference is masters vs doctoral level), and the reality is that most clients don't pay attention to where their therapist went to school, even when looking at private practice. Honestly, most clients don't know the difference between a counselor, clinical social worker, psychologist, and psychiatrist. Average income for master's level clinicians isn't super high (they are notoriously underpaid), so the less debt you get into for the degree, the better financial position you'll be in down the line. Private pay private practice clients are few and far between, and insurance reimbursement rates are not great.

I was 28 when I started, and I was also not the oldest in my cohort. There are 8 of us, and there are 2 people older than me. Don't worry about being the old fart! I think my age and experience prior to grad school has helped me in a lot of ways.

Do you have any research experience? Research experience, with products such as conference posters and publications will help to show skills in statistics. Also, can you retake some stats courses, maybe at a community college, to show that you have basic stats knowledge?

I'm not personally in this situation, but I've known people to have newborns during their graduate studies (masters and doctorate). It's difficult, but not impossible. Having family support is definitely a major plus.

Do you have any posters or anything from the labs where you/are were an RA? Getting your name on a few posters/pubs will be important. I had a 1st author publication, 3 years in a lab, 2 posters, a BA and MA in psych, and a few years of real world clinical experience when applying to programs with strong research fits a few years ago, and I literally only got 1 interview (and subsequent offer). It is very competitive, and I had asked a few people for feedback when I wasn't granted interviews, and they all said I needed more research experience. The amount of research products people are coming in with nowadays is kind of insane.

If you were considering this route, you'd be better off doing the MA at a state university with significantly cheaper tuition. While you can totally make a living as a research coordinator/project manager, the amount of debt you would amass just isn't worth it. I looked at their tuition and my hair stood on end. I'm not sure that amount of debt for a master's is worth that much at all. There are much cheaper MA options that can help you boost your research experience and make you competitive for PhD programs that won't cost you $100k for 2 years.

Alliant has a generally poor reputation for their extremely high tuition rates, poor EPPP pass rates, large class sizes, and not not so great APA-accredited internship match rates.

The biggest thing is research I think. Try to get more research experience and your name on a poster/pub within psych. Research positions should be opening up soon. There's been a few places where links to job postings have been mentioned on this forum. While you have the 2 pubs, they're in social work. Although related, you want to try to get posters/pubs specifically in psych.

Yes, I would thank the PI for their offer and inform them that you are holding it for the time being while you make your decision. There is a reason why there is a relatively universal April 15th deadline.

One of the biggest flaws with CACREP accreditation is that it requires that all faculty within the program have a PhD in Counselor Education. If you look at the faculty list at NYU, it looks like they are all psychologists. My university has a masters in counseling program, and they are not eligible for CACREP accreditation because the faculty are all psychologists and it is housed in the psychology department. However, the program meets the licensing standards of the state. I say all this to say that I would look beyond CACREP accreditation and look at the available clinical placements in the program and licensure rates. I would also look at cost. The average LPC does not make enough to justify six figured of student loan debt. Also, licensure requirements differ state to state. Programs typically align with the requirements of their state, so make sure if you think you may want to relocate after graduation that the program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the other states you may be considering.

Yeah, it's definitely not an easy conversation. Once you know for certain that you're moving, just use the sharing of that good news as a way to discuss what the next 2+ years will look like for the two of you. I would maybe emphasize that you do not want him to make any decisions he is uncomfortable with and that you are in no way pressuring him to move with you. Otherwise, you should be fine.

I would just be open and honest. Maybe broach the topic by sharing that you got accepted and will be moving to Atlanta at X time, and you would like to know his thoughts on the status of the relationship going forward. You would like for him to move with you, but you understand that is a big ask. Would he prefer trying long distance first? And so on. Did you discuss anything like this before applying? Maybe he's also been thinking about it since he knew there was a possibility grad school would require a move on your part.

As someone in my 3rd year, I cannot agree with this more. Your whole life will more or less be grad school for the next 5+ years. Take this time to read any non-academic books you've been interested in, binge a show, travel, spend time with loved ones,, do nothing. You will have some down time in grad school, but not much. So before you start juggling all the multiple responsibilities, take some time to enjoy the stage of your life you're in at the current moment.

William Paterson is more CBT focused and Kean is more ACT focused. Kean is also a combined school-clinical program. Do you have an interest in working with children/school settings? You are required to do some school psych related courses, so depending on your level of interest, that can be a pro or a con. Did you get funding for either one? That would be a big deciding factor. Both skew a bit heavier on research as far as PsyDs go.

I would get there and feel it out. I preferred bring my laptop over using the desktops on the lab. It just made things easier when doing stuff at the lab and continuing them at home. But, there should probably be resources on campus. I wouldn't buy anything yet, and start and see how your current system works for you. I have a Surface pro, which I really like and feel like it gives me the best of both worlds (tablet and pc).

I would still wait before formally accepting it. The program shouldn't be pulling the offer before sending you financial aid information or anything like that.

Same. We are doctoral students until we pass comps and then doctoral candidates after passing comps.

Which will leave you with less debt? Counselors don't make a ton, so you you want a ton of debt. Also, the licensing requirements for counselors differ from state to state, so programs typically conform to the state they are in. I would think about what states you would want to potentially live and practice in and double check which of these 2 (if not both) will meet eligibility for licensure in those states.

Typically yes, but I would just wait it out for another few days and maybe if you don't hear back by Monday or so, send an email to the point of contact for program admissions to follow up.

The simpler, the better: Thank you so much for your time, consideration, and generous offer. However, after much consideration, I've decided to accept an offer for a different program. Thank you again, and I hope my release of this offer will be a benefit to another deserving candidate.

Honestly, I'd keep it to the standard 2 weeks. I told my job soon after I got the acceptance because I wanted to be nice and help with the transition for my replacement. My supervisor wrote 1 of my letters because my job was very relevant to my intended studies. I got screwed over by HR and was not able to use any of my PTO as vacation time (which is also not paid out upon leaving) because I had given my notice in March for mid-July. This was a small social services non-profit. You don't owe your company anything. They will look out for their best interests first and foremost. As should you.

Just be straight to the point. Acceptance: Thank you so much for the opportunity. I am excited to accept the offer for x university and look forward to working with you (if directly to PI). Decline: Thank you so much for the offer. However, after much consideration, I've decided to accept an offer for a different program. Or something along those lines.

Yeah, I think so. I don't identify with psychodynamisism at all, so others may speak to it better than I can, but yeah, there's seems to be the idea of making the person sweat and the most uncomfortable they can without crossing any actually boundaries to see how the individual responds. I and my cohort-mates have had some weird externship interviews on occasion because of this.

If I remember correctly, they're a bit more psychodynamic leaning. That's a common psychodynamic interviewing tactic-seeing how people react when uncomfortable and under pressure.

I would reach out to the program director or DCT. My program will usually have incoming students connect with current students about housing, especially if a current student is looking for a roommate or something. We've had a few instances where 1 person was leaving for internship and an incoming student took their room in the apartment.