RA dilemna

[carlyhylton]

Ok here's the situation:

I have been working as an undergrad RA in a perception lab for about a year now

During interview and over the course of the year I have not been entirely honest about my research interests

my supervisor and other lab members have always seemed to assume that I have this budding passion for perception research...

and it's not that I'm not interested, it's just that it's not what I want to pursue in grad school.

My interests are in Clinical.

I therefore want to do some volunteer work at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

In the app I would write about my passion for mental health, clinical psych etc. I also need references.

So... I asked my supervisor if I could list him as a reference

and he gave me this weird look and asked me 'why I wanted to volunteer?'

Should I just not apply? Will they ask him about my passion for mental health clinical psych etc?

Am I being extremely dishonest?

On all of my 2.0 networking platforms (twitter, linkedin, about.me etc) I say that I want to be a clinician! He has me on linkedin! The info is out there!

[Bison_PhD]

Should I just not apply? Will they ask him about my passion for mental health clinical psych etc?

Am I being extremely dishonest?

On all of my 2.0 networking platforms (twitter, linkedin, about.me etc) I say that I want to be a clinician! He has me on linkedin! The info is out there!

It's best to just have a talk with him and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that you are interested in clinical psych. It may just be that he is projecting his interest in perception onto you. It is not uncommon for someone to assume that others get excited by the same research that they do. I assume that you will be requesting a letter of req. from him for graduate school and it will not be worth very much if he cannot attest to not only your proficiencies but also your interests. It is much better to let him know now and acclimate to the idea then to spring it on him when you're applying to grad school. Plus, this will be good training in having difficult conversations, a skill you will need as a clinician.

Apply for the position and go for it.

[neuropsych76]

Ok here's the situation:

I have been working as an undergrad RA in a perception lab for about a year now

During interview and over the course of the year I have not been entirely honest about my research interests

my supervisor and other lab members have always seemed to assume that I have this budding passion for perception research...

and it's not that I'm not interested, it's just that it's not what I want to pursue in grad school.

My interests are in Clinical.

I therefore want to do some volunteer work at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

In the app I would write about my passion for mental health, clinical psych etc. I also need references.

So... I asked my supervisor if I could list him as a reference

and he gave me this weird look and asked me 'why I wanted to volunteer?'

Should I just not apply? Will they ask him about my passion for mental health clinical psych etc?

Am I being extremely dishonest?

On all of my 2.0 networking platforms (twitter, linkedin, about.me etc) I say that I want to be a clinician! He has me on linkedin! The info is out there!

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Most professors are open minded enough to understand that interests change and people like to expand their horizons. It's not like your his grad student and your getting a PhD in perception research, you're just working in his lab.

They might contact him and if he is uncertain why you want to apply to the mental health clinic that could be bad for your application. I would talk to him and say something like you like perception research but you are interested in clinical work as well so you want to volunteer to try it out. He should be understanding.

Good luck!

[carlyhylton]

Oh god, I'm scared

but you both are right, I should be honest!

Thanks for the prompt replies!

It's best to just have a talk with him and let him know, in no uncertain terms, that you are interested in clinical psych. It may just be that he is projecting his interest in perception onto you. It is not uncommon for someone to assume that others get excited by the same research that they do. I assume that you will be requesting a letter of req. from him for graduate school and it will not be worth very much if he cannot attest to not only your proficiencies but also your interests. It is much better to let him know now and acclimate to the idea then to spring it on him when you're applying to grad school. Plus, this will be good training in having difficult conversations, a skill you will need as a clinician.

Apply for the position and go for it.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Most professors are open minded enough to understand that interests change and people like to expand their horizons. It's not like your his grad student and your getting a PhD in perception research, you're just working in his lab.

They might contact him and if he is uncertain why you want to apply to the mental health clinic that could be bad for your application. I would talk to him and say something like you like perception research but you are interested in clinical work as well so you want to volunteer to try it out. He should be understanding.

Good luck!

[eklavya]

Oh god, I'm scared

don't be - there's no need. i've seen plenty of people who switch tracks. in my faculty, people have jumped from plant to animal to microbes to cancer and vice versa. it's your passion in research that matters, not the exact sub-field you are working on. if your supervisor knows that you are extremely devout on your work and enjoy it, he shouldn't (and will not, i can guarantee) not recommend you for the field you actually want to work on. it might be a good idea to get some clinical experience before you apply though - something to put on resume, and also to see if you really like the clinical field.

[carlyhylton]

Thank you for the encouragement !

Wish me luck...

don't be - there's no need. i've seen plenty of people who switch tracks. in my faculty, people have jumped from plant to animal to microbes to cancer and vice versa. it's your passion in research that matters, not the exact sub-field you are working on. if your supervisor knows that you are extremely devout on your work and enjoy it, he shouldn't (and will not, i can guarantee) not recommend you for the field you actually want to work on. it might be a good idea to get some clinical experience before you apply though - something to put on resume, and also to see if you really like the clinical field.

[PsychGirl1]

I agree! If you looked at my resume, you'd probably be like 'WTF'... I've had so many different interests, research projects, etc. in things that are seemingly unrelated. In my opinion, it's a good thing- your knowledge of perception may come in handy some day, even in research that is more clinical-based! I've never met any person in academia who was mean about a change of interests. It's not being dishonest, it's figuring out what you're interested in- and they went through the same things themselves (and may still be going through the same thing!).Just let him know that you have really enjoyed working with him and learning about his research area, but that you think you are interested in Clinical Psych instead of perception, and would like to do this internships/volunteer thing as a way to figure out if it's what you're really interested in.

Thank you for the encouragement !

Wish me luck...

[carlyhylton]

Thats a great way to put it Lisa, thanks!

I agree! If you looked at my resume, you'd probably be like 'WTF'... I've had so many different interests, research projects, etc. in things that are seemingly unrelated. In my opinion, it's a good thing- your knowledge of perception may come in handy some day, even in research that is more clinical-based! I've never met any person in academia who was mean about a change of interests. It's not being dishonest, it's figuring out what you're interested in- and they went through the same things themselves (and may still be going through the same thing!).Just let him know that you have really enjoyed working with him and learning about his research area, but that you think you are interested in Clinical Psych instead of perception, and would like to do this internships/volunteer thing as a way to figure out if it's what you're really interested in.