Trying to switch to Clinical Psych after leaving counseling Master's program

[Akwa]

Hi all,

First, thanks for reading. I appreciate anyone taking the time to consider someone else's dilemmas.

So about me: I graduated in Spring 2018 with a Bachelor's in Letters (more or less world lit/history/philosophy all rolled up) and a minor in Psychology. I had taken several years off in the middle to deal with some mental health problems I was having, and I graduated with departmental distinction and a 3.67 at age 26. I was accepted into a counseling program across the country with the hopes of becoming a psychologist, in large part owing to my various experiences as a psychiatric patient.

About two weeks into my counseling program, I felt like the rug had been pulled out from beneath me. The level of scholarship was really not on par with what I had come to expect in a graduate program. The program itself was also geared towards producing master's level practitioners, something that I really did not want become. There was no option to write a thesis or work as an RA or TA, two things I did in undergrad and loved, but hadn't realize I wanted in grad school. My plan had always been to use this degree to secure a spot in a Counseling Psych PhD program, but I was extremely unhappy and didn't feel like I was growing or learning. I gave it one more shot for the second semester, but I finally bailed after two weeks.

Now I'm stuck, and I need advice. I haven't given up on my dream to become a psychologist, but I'm uncertain of the route I should take given my background. Like I said, I worked as an undergrad RA for two semesters in a cognitive science research lab, and I was also a TA for two semesters for a personality psych course. I have taken the GRE, and I scored 161 verbal and 150 quant, which I know is not great. I also worked as a peer counselor in my university's counseling center for a year.

The advice I've gotten is to perhaps get more research experience. Does anyone with more knowledge than me care to echo this? I'm also a bit worried because I am 27 with very little professional experience. I've read on this site that it is possible to work as a full-time research assistant in preparation for clinical psychology. Would it make sense to pursue this? 

Thanks again for reading. Any insight is invaluable to me. Thank you again. 

-Legros.

 

[PsyDuck90]

Yes, the advice you got about pursuing full-time RA positions is accurate. Research experience, with posters and publications, is one of the biggest factors in getting into a PhD program. 

[Neverland]

My advice would be going for a part-time RA and a part-time clinical work if that's possible. Some Coun Psych Ph.D. programs value clinical experience or a master degree. But if you can work as an RA in labs where you want to pursue your Ph.D. degree in the future, then forget about what I said.