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@SchoolPsychBrit Hey! The program I'm in is also APA accredited and NASP approved. I have been told that you do get the same licensure at the end but if I want to branch out from just working in schools it may become more challenging because clinical and counseling psychology students are more competitive. They are also a bit more competitive for internships too. But my program has a very high APPIC internship match rate so I'm hoping that I won't need to worry too much about that. I hope that there won't be such a stigma against being from a school psychology program since the training is mainly for children and the younger population.

@SoundofSilence I've thought about this too and listed out the pros and the cons. They are about the same but the main reason why I'm choosing to the PsyD is because they offer assistantships, which can minimize debt. It's true that the MSW is quicker since it's only 2 years and you can earn money while working 3 years towards becoming an LCSW. I would finally be free. But I'm thinking of the future and the flexibility that I would have career wise. Both offer lots of flexibility but I think my interests align a bit more with the PsyD. As for getting independence, I can try to do that even sometime in between my PsyD if I just want to separate from my parent. I'll try making meaningful connections and I hope that things will work out. At least in NYC, the School Psychology PsyD is more likely to get me a higher salary and the job is in demand. If I become an LCSW, I'll also be earning about 10-15 thousand less than a school psychologist roughly, but that isn't a big deal to me because both career paths have very good salary prospects. Knowing how I am, if I get an MSW then I will either go for the LCSW afterwards or a Clinical Psychology PhD. My interests may still be rooted in mental health and I'll want to become an expert in the field or a doctor. So either way, I'd probably end up going the doctorate route. I hope that this is the right decision and I wanted to thank you again SoundofSilence for being so honest and responsive. It helps to know that there are people who understand and are there to offer support. Thank you!!

@SoundofSilence @psychowannabee Thank you so much! I really can't thank you both enough for being so transparent with me. It's true that doing research will be a lot to juggle with classes and part-time work and I don't want to burn out. I'll do what I'm capable of doing and I'll try to make the best out of this program. It does have a strong clinical component to it and it is very competitive for internships despite being a School Psychology PsyD. Plus the main reason I even considered this program was because of the assistantships they offer which can cover a large number of credits' tuition plus a stipend. Many of the schools even a PhD program in Counseling Psychology that I looked at wasn't offering something like that. Even if I don't get the assistantship during my first year I can cover it with my current job and gain one more year working there so I don't lose anything. The next year and the years after that I would be very competitive for it because students in my program are very liked. I wouldn't be going through the admission cycle again to go for an MSW. I can do it right now because like I mentioned before I was admitted to a well-known MSW program that is cheap in tuition too. I want as many career opportunities as possible and both the PsyD and MSW can give that to me in their own way. But in the long-term I think the PsyD program would be best because if I turn out to like it or even finish it and carve my own niche like you mentioned. I'm talking with a few more students in the PsyD program now and have before who are helping me answer a lot of questions about their experience in it. It's true that my parent put me in a difficult position that could potentially hurt my career, but I need to make the best of it and make smarter decisions. If I choose to not go to grad school now after already taking a gap year after finishing my undergrad, I'll live an even unhappier life because she'll always tell me how much time I've wasted and how stupid I was to give up such good schools, as cruel as it is. Leaving after 2 years in the PsyD program is the very last resort. I would only hate that if I'm actually hating the program so much, which I don't really see it because I work with school psychologists and have seen a lot of the testing that they do. If I finish this program I can finally be free and live my own life with a more than stable income and a job always in demand no matter where I live. I wanted to do therapy, a little bit of assessment, maybe research, and maybe even work full time as a professor in the long term. I could see myself working with adolescents and young adults, maybe kids. Having an LCSW after getting my MSW from a social work program can let me become a supervisor which is also rewarding. I still have a little bit of time to change my decision to the MSW program in the clinical track I was admitted to which has a little more focus on mental health since that's where my interest lies. So based on what I've said and what you all know what should I do? I'm not asking for anyone to make the decision for me, but any insight to help me make my own decision is great help! Thank you so much everyone.

@SoundofSilence I did speak to one of the faculty at the School Psychology PsyD program who seemed a little more transparent compared to the rest and many others I've spoken to at different schools. I did bring up the same concern about leaving a doctoral program to go to another one but he suggested that sometimes people's interests change and that's fine. But he emphasized that whatever research I can do in a doctoral program would hold more value than a masters. It is true that I would need to be doing research on the side of my classes and part-time job. I'll try to get a job that involves research now that I got my foot into the door of a psychology related job with my current job. I wish that I could take a year or two to do research but because of my parent who wanted me to go to grad school right away after undergrad and after already taking a gap year after graduation, she wouldn't allow me to postpone any longer. While I do work, I live in NYC where the cost of living is very high. I could live with a roommate but even that would cost a lot more than how much I'm paying for rent living with my parent. The School Psychology PsyD program I'm in does offer assistantships that can cover anywhere from 15-18 credits plus a stipend. I applied to a few and now I'm still waiting. Worst case scenario if I don't get one because they already chose their students then I need to fund my education with a part-time job probably 20 hours a week. The tuition for one year would be around $30,000. It's so much and I know this decision is taking the hard way and expensive route but my hands are tied. Applying for an experimental masters would delay me another year since application season is over and I would need to apply all over again leading to one more "gap year". Chances are I may even like the program I'm in and things work out. But if I don't like school psychology whatsoever then I need to gather any necessary research experience that would make me appealing to Clinical Psychology PhD programs. Should I have chosen the MSW program instead? The only programs I applied to that are still taking students are the MSW program in a well-known school in NYC where I got into the clinical track. The tuition for the 2 years is also cheap at only $30,000. But I've heard that being a social worker can lead to a high chance of burnout, which any field honestly can. I can become an LCSW but my goal now is to become a doctor. I could go from the MSW to the Clinical Psych PhD but I don't know how much research in social work even if it is mental health related would be valued. This is a difficult situation and any advice would help. Any thoughts?

@SoundofSilence Hey there! For me, I'm not able to take a gap year and my only choices are to do either the MHC, MSW, or PsyD. After two years with the PsyD in School Psychology I'd have my masters to practice as a school counselor. As much as I'd want to work at a research lab for two years and then pursue my PhD I unfortunately don't have that option. I was told that doctoral programs actually prefer not to pick students with masters degrees. My plan is that I can choose the School Psychology PsyD program which does have a strong clinical component to it, but for whatever reason if I end up not liking school psychology then I can use the research I'd gain from that doctoral program which would be more valued than any MSW or MHC program, to transfer into a clinical psychology PhD program, where I may need to start from the beginning. I don't have to best options but considering this situation whaat do you think is the best of the two? What does anyone else also think?

Would the research experience you'd gain from the first two years of a school psychology PsyD program be better and more credible than an MSW or MHC program? If you decided to transfer to a clinical psychology PhD program, what would be valued more since graduate schools for the most part prefer that students don't have a masters but extensive research experience?

@PsyDuck90 Wouldn't the research experience I'd gain from the School Psychology PsyD program be better even in the first two years compared to the MSW or MHC? It is a doctoral program and if I decide a year or two into the program that school psychology doesn't fit my interests I can always transfer to a clinical PhD program. It would have enough research experience and from a doctoral program too which would make it seem more credible to clinical programs. Of course, if I do end up liking school psychology, I'll gladly stay in that program. Would this be a better step than going down the MSW or MHC route which doctoral programs actually don't prefer? Any thoughts overall?

I think I can find a good fit for a research mentor but it's all of the preparation involved in getting there where I fall a bit short. Would I be able to be part of a publication during my masters if I pursue an MSW? My plan was to go directly from my masters to a PhD, but it seems like I may need more time? How do students who work in research for one year or two get admitted into clinical psychology programs?

Hunter's MSW program does have research courses to take during the second year and I can also do research with faculty. It's funny how a PhD program in clinical psychology is just as hard to get into as medical school. It makes me wonder why more people don't pursue psychiatry then over a PhD. I assume it all depends on what their focus is. But isn't this an over generalization? Not all PhD programs are equal in their difficulty to being admitted. Of course it is still very difficult but it isn't all the same for every school right?

@SchoolPsychBrit Thanks so much for sharing! I definitely want to work outside of a school setting, which is my I was thinking of the PhD in clinical psych. But the program, is good and it'll take less time to complete the the clinical program. Are all of concerns about being limited in the future as a psychologist career because of me? Is everything I'm doing wort the risk? Thank you so much!

@PsyDuck90 I'm well aware of the APA website, it's how I learned about applying to St. John's School Psychology PsyD in the first place as well as many other programs. I wasn't interested in Yeshiva because of the distance so I never investigated too much into their programs. I'm not against research but I prefer a program that focuses more on practical work which is why the PsyD or scholar-practitioner model appealed to. The scientific model isn't terrible either because it's a good balance of both. I thought that with a clinical psychology degree I would be more well-rounded in helping all age groups and having the opportunity to work in a college full-time when I'm older. I'd be open to doing research if I'm interested in a particular subject. According to the School Psychology PsyD program director, the match rates are 100% for regular internships, and 99% for APPIC internships. They only have a handful of students attempt APPIC internships and they usually match their first choice, and it's only in really rare cases that they end up without an internship. Believe me when I say that I have spoken to many people about what I should and where I should go. It's true that a lot of administrators could be biased. I feel as thought everyone is a little biased towards something if it related to their own life experiences or careers. I even work alongside clinical and school psychologists, all who have recommended this program. The reason I'm so confused still is for many of the reasons you mentioned and the training I'd be getting in a school psychology program. I like that you can work on research, assessment, interventions, and therapy in a clinical program. In school psych it's main focus is on assessments, report writing, and a little therapy. But then I think to myself considering that I only have 1 semester of research experience on if I'll even get into PhD programs. If I don't choose St. John's PsyD program in school psych then I'll be choosing Hunter College's MSW program in social work. I can get research experience from there by working with a faculty member and learn how to work with clients. I could then go for the PhD in clinical psych by applying in my second year. Is it worth the sacrifice? Throughout this entire graduate application process ever since I graduated last year, my interests and goals have changed. I thought I only wanted the masters, but considering time, my living arrangements, and my how I want to have a career where I have more opportunities, I began to consider the doctorate. Now I have to choose what sounds the best for my career and my current living situation.

Hey! Thanks so much for helping me as well in my post! I wanted to ask what are you wanting to do your doctorate in? I might pursue an MSW program at Hunter and then either the LCSW or a clinical psychology PhD. It's that or a school psychology PsyD at St. John's university. I would need to become a licensed psychologist to be able to do the same things a clinical psychologist would.

Hi, I'm thinking about completing a PsyD School Psychology program at St. John's. I want to work in a private practice or hospital and I was told by professors in the program that I could do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do if I become a licensed psychologist in my state. Is that true? I'm not particularly interested in research but there aren't any clinical psychology PsyD programs that are APA accredited in New York. Please help.

So I'm deciding between attending St. John's School Psychology PsyD program or Hunter's MSW program in the Clinical Track. I think that I may pursue clinical psychology in the future so that's why I was having trouble deciding. Would the experience I'd gain in mental health, clinical work, and research help my application for when I'm applying to aclinical psychology Phd?

If I decided to do an MSW in social work at Hunter College in the clinical track and then go for a Clinical or Counseling Psychology PhD afterwards would that be better than going from an Mental Health Counseling Program to a Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology PhD? I mentioned how I can transfer the credits from Fordham's mental health counseling program to their Counseling Psychology PhD. I can also apply to their Clinical Psychology PhD program. Would doing my masters there instead of a different school boost my chances? Hunter's MSW is the cheaper program with a tuition of only $30,000. Meanwhile, the tuition for Fordham is roughly $97,000. I'd be able to do an assistantship for 6 hours a week and I'd have to take 12-15 credits for $4-5k tuition remission, but overall that would still leave $57,000 to pay off. I can also choose St. John's Mental Health Counseling program where it's CACREP accredited and it has an optional CASAC training. The tuition is $88,000 and I'm only getting $12,000 in total for financial support from them which would make the tuition $76,000. I can also do an assistantship here to cover the rest of the tuition. So what should I do? I was considering the School Psychology PsyD program I was admitted to at St. John's, which is 5 years and I could get a full tuition remission assistantship possibly but now I'm thinking that going for Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology may be better. Please help. Thank you all.