Possibility of deferring an acceptance?

[CJ90]

Hello all,

 

I'm looking for some informed advice. I applied to several social psych PhD progams (received one offer) and a couple of clinical psych programs (one interview but no offer). Throughout the process it became clear that my passion lies in clinical psych, although I still very much enjoy social research. Consequently, I'm leaning toward re-applying next year with more of a focus on clinical programs. But I also know there's a very real possibility that I could end up with no offers next year, at which point I'll regret turning down the one offer that I did receive.

 

Does anyone know how willing Canadian schools are to grant a deferral of an acceptance? At this point I'm looking for any information that could help make my decision easier!

[PsychGirl1]

Just reapply. The difference between social and clinical psych is fairly big, and will determine your graduate experience as well as your career options. If you're not entirely sure you want to go social, don't do it. Take the year to get some clinical experience and figure out if it's what you want to do and reapply. Taking that risk is better than ending up in a program and a career path that is not the right fit.

[misskira]

Another possibility is to accept and begin the program, then reapply to others if you find out the program really isn't for you.  Is there one at the school you may be attending, and are they likely to allow you to apply and transfer to the other program? That's if you think you could be happy there.  If not, then of course it wouldn't be wise to accept anyways.

[misskira]

Just reapply. The difference between social and clinical psych is fairly big, and will determine your graduate experience as well as your career options. If you're not entirely sure you want to go social, don't do it. Take the year to get some clinical experience and figure out if it's what you want to do and reapply. Taking that risk is better than ending up in a program and a career path that is not the right fit.

That's good advice.  I should have added that I don't know much about psych, so I don't know what career differences there may be.

[CJ90]

Thanks for the responses. I do enjoy social research, but I feel clinical is the best option for me. I guess I'm afraid of turning down a perfectly good offer, only to be left with none next year (I know how competitive clinical programs are). I guess there may not be an easy answer here.

[PsychGirl1]

Clinical Psych programs are a bit more competitive to get into (generalizing) and are structed differently. Usually you do 2 years of practicuum, and then you're required to do a year-long internship. However, over the years, you spend a lot of time working to get enough clinical hours to be competitive for internship. You also take very different courses, and your research has a different kind of focus (ex. it may be the same issue, but clinical psych will generally approach it from more of an intervention/treatment/etiology framework). It's much more of a balance between research, coursework, and clinical work- your graduate experience will be very different from being in a social psych program. Also, you likely will not have the chance to take clinical courses or do clinical work during your first year of the program to see if you're interested, so I don't see how you'll be any more informed in a year to make the decision.

 

Just my two cents :-D

[PsychGirl1]

Ah- you posted while I was typing :-D

 

Honestly, I've said this before- you're going to retire what, when you're 75? Taking one or two more years to get into the program and career path you want is nothing in the grand scheme of things, and if it gets you where you want to go, then it's really the best decision. A little bit more research, a little bit more clinical experience, a little higher GRE scores... all those things may make a difference the next time you apply :-). Good luck!

[lewin]

If you know for certain that you want to be a clinician, don't start a social psychology graduate program. It'll be wasted time on your part and wasted resources from that program. And it takes a spot from somebody who is actually interested in social. That is, you called it "a perfectly good offer" but it's actually not good because it's not what you want to do.

 

 

On the other hand, you might start the program and really like it. So like you said, it's not an easy answer.

[CJ90]

Clinical Psych programs are a bit more competitive to get into (generalizing) and are structed differently. Usually you do 2 years of practicuum, and then you're required to do a year-long internship. However, over the years, you spend a lot of time working to get enough clinical hours to be competitive for internship. You also take very different courses, and your research has a different kind of focus (ex. it may be the same issue, but clinical psych will generally approach it from more of an intervention/treatment/etiology framework). It's much more of a balance between research, coursework, and clinical work- your graduate experience will be very different from being in a social psych program. Also, you likely will not have the chance to take clinical courses or do clinical work during your first year of the program to see if you're interested, so I don't see how you'll be any more informed in a year to make the decision.

 

Just my two cents :-D

Thanks for the good luck wish . In the bolded, are you saying that first year clinical courses are similar to first year social, so I should consider taking the offer and applying for a transfer after first year (rather than sitting the year out entirely?). 

 

I thought about how I wouldn't want to take someone else's spot that really has a passion for social, but my POI did tell me that she wasn't going to offer the acceptance to another candidate if I don't take it.

[lewin]

 Also, you likely will not have the chance to take clinical courses or do clinical work during your first year of the [social] program to see if you're interested, so I don't see how you'll be any more informed in a year to make the decision.

 

I think this is what she meant--that they're not similar at all.

 

In my grad courses, I've taken an elective or two with the clinical students but otherwise there seems to be very little overlap in our coursework (if I can generalize from my experience to others). I think we're not even allowed to take the clinical courses. Maybe a stats course or two might transfer but I wouldn't count on anything else in your first year as a social student carrying over. 

[CJ90]

I think this is what she meant--that they're not similar at all.

 

In my grad courses, I've taken an elective or two with the clinical students but otherwise there seems to be very little overlap in our coursework (if I can generalize from my experience to others). I think we're not even allowed to take the clinical courses. Maybe a stats course or two might transfer but I wouldn't count on anything else in your first year as a social student carrying over. 

Thanks . I'm going to inquire about the possibility of having my acceptance extended to the clinical program - unlikely I'm sure, but I really don't stand to lose anything by asking since I'm planning on turning down the social offer anyway.

[PsychGirl1]

I think this is what she meant--that they're not similar at all.

 

In my grad courses, I've taken an elective or two with the clinical students but otherwise there seems to be very little overlap in our coursework (if I can generalize from my experience to others). I think we're not even allowed to take the clinical courses. Maybe a stats course or two might transfer but I wouldn't count on anything else in your first year as a social student carrying over. 

 

Oops yes- that is what I meant. Non-clinical students rarely (if ever, really) have the chance to take any clinical courses or have any sort of clinical experiences.