School Psychology programs (EdS/PhD)

[schoolpsycher]

I'm also starting to get stressed about scheduling interviews and missing work! One of my interviews offered a Monday or a Thursday, and I picked Monday so that I'd only have to miss 2 days of work, but they responded saying there's an overabundance of people that day and asked if it's possible for me to come on Thursday instead. I'd have to miss 2.5 or 3 days of work if I go then (factoring in travel time), so do you think it's okay to respond and say I really need Monday? Or should I just say okay? I don't want to hurt my chances, but I'm a preschool teacher and only get sick days off, so I don't want to use that many days on my first interview. :/

[MN111]

I would explain your situation to them. I'm sure they all understand not wanting to miss a lot of work! Congrats on your interviews!

[iphi]

Has anyone heard from Northern Colorado yet?

 

Nope! Will let you know if/when I do. From the Results Search it looks as though we might have a few more weeks to wait? Most of the entries are marked February. You can call/email the school and ask when they're sending out invites, though!

 

I'm also starting to get stressed about scheduling interviews and missing work! One of my interviews offered a Monday or a Thursday, and I picked Monday so that I'd only have to miss 2 days of work, but they responded saying there's an overabundance of people that day and asked if it's possible for me to come on Thursday instead. I'd have to miss 2.5 or 3 days of work if I go then (factoring in travel time), so do you think it's okay to respond and say I really need Monday? Or should I just say okay? I don't want to hurt my chances, but I'm a preschool teacher and only get sick days off, so I don't want to use that many days on my first interview. :/

 

I agree with MN111. You should write the school back, apologize and explain your situation!

[iphi]

ETA: Nevermind, I just received a phone call from my POI at my top choice! It was not a mistake, I have been recommended for admission!

 

Also, for MN111 and anyone waiting on Northern Colorado, they should be reviewing files Thursday and sending out interview invites around then. Their interview date is February 24.

Edited January 21, 2014 by iphi

[iPsych]

ETA: Nevermind, I just received a phone call from my POI at my top choice! It was not a mistake, I have been recommended for admission!

 

Also, for MN111 and anyone waiting on Northern Colorado, they should be reviewing files Thursday and sending out interview invites around then. Their interview date is February 24.

 

That is SO WONDERFUL!!! Congratulations!!!!! 

[schoolpsycher]

ETA: Nevermind, I just received a phone call from my POI at my top choice! It was not a mistake, I have been recommended for admission!

 

Also, for MN111 and anyone waiting on Northern Colorado, they should be reviewing files Thursday and sending out interview invites around then. Their interview date is February 24.

 

AHHH CONGRATS!!!!

 

Since some of you have started interviews, any more advice? I know PhD's are a little different that EdS interviews, but my first one is approaching in a week-ish and I'm pretty nervous! I just ordered Dr. Branstetter's book.. but I'm just wondering what kind of questions they ask or if anyone has any overall tips?

[iPsych]

Found this link on twitter from a school psychologist that I thought I'd share with you all:

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AhagRFwqxHaZdHUzUUVuOUwtNWpIWWYtOGt6djZwYVE&output=html

 

It's got a ton of resources for school psychologists/educators and there's a section towards the bottom (labeled SchoolPsych) with a bunch of school psych blogs and websites! Hope you enjoy!

[iphi]

Since some of you have started interviews, any more advice? I know PhD's are a little different that EdS interviews, but my first one is approaching in a week-ish and I'm pretty nervous! I just ordered Dr. Branstetter's book.. but I'm just wondering what kind of questions they ask or if anyone has any overall tips?

 

Here is a good site. You can go to the archives and visit all the interview-related posts. Someone uploaded this powerpoint in another thread which I also found to be incredibly useful!

 

Good luck, all! Report back after interviews and let the rest of us know how they go!

[iphi]

More interview resources! I listed a few above, and here are some more:

 

1. What You'll Be Asked on Your Graduate Admissions Interview (follow the links at the bottom to other relevant articles)

 

2. Applying to Graduate School: The Interview Process

 

Speaking of interviews, has anyone had a school refuse to reschedule? I just got my 3rd invitation for Feb 7, and the school first told me I would have to come visit before then if I wanted an in-person interview, and then called me back and told me I would just have to do a skype interview! This school was in my top 3, so I am pretty bummed about it.

[iphi]

Am I the only one who didn't hear back from Northern Colorado today?

I turned in a different SoP for them than for the others (they had a 500 word limit!) so I didn't get to talk about my research experience, etc. and that is making me nervous!

[iphi]

Argh, two weeks ago I called a school which said they were missing my undergrad transcript to confirm that I had sent it in November(!) The lady said, "oh we have it right here, I'm not sure why the department says it is missing." Long story short, the committee sent out interview invites before my file was "complete" (again, their fault) and when I wrote to inquire said that I was on the waitlist for interview because my file was incomplete when the committee met! I feel like this is so unfair, I mean, I had everything in early, and they couldn't keep their stuff straight. Honestly though, every single interaction I have had with this school has been negative, starting from the time I wrote a potential POI and he just replied "No" (that's it)! So maybe I should just cut my losses.

 

Still, the app fee was almost $100 which makes me so angry!

[MN111]

Wow, that's horrible.  I would definitely think long and hard about accepting even an offer for an interview.  If they are that unorganized and rude pre-admission, think what it would be like to be a student there. Sorry for the frustration! (Also, $100 is ridiculous.) Is anyone else going completely broke from all the application fees, transcripts, GRE scores, and travelling to schools? This is costing a lot more than I had planned. 

[MN111]

Does anyone here want to claim the interview invite from Northern Colorado? Congrats!

[jkakziak]

So for one of the schools I applied to, my status still says "incomplete application, materials missing." The due date was Jan 5th and I submitted everything before the deadline. I have called the school twice now to ask for an explanation and both times the woman I spoke to said they were behind and I shouldn't worry. Welp, of course I'm worried. Do I continue to call and risk seeming naggy or should I take her advice and wait it out? Anyone else have similar issues?

[iphi]

Does anyone here want to claim the interview invite from Northern Colorado? Congrats!

 

One of those was me!

[iphi]

So for one of the schools I applied to, my status still says "incomplete application, materials missing." The due date was Jan 5th and I submitted everything before the deadline. I have called the school twice now to ask for an explanation and both times the woman I spoke to said they were behind and I shouldn't worry. Welp, of course I'm worried. Do I continue to call and risk seeming naggy or should I take her advice and wait it out? Anyone else have similar issues?

 

Some schools tell you that they take 2 weeks or so to update the website. I really wouldn't worry yet, especially if the woman you spoke to told you not to. Maybe call back at the one month mark if nothing has changed.

[iPsych]

So for one of the schools I applied to, my status still says "incomplete application, materials missing." The due date was Jan 5th and I submitted everything before the deadline. I have called the school twice now to ask for an explanation and both times the woman I spoke to said they were behind and I shouldn't worry. Welp, of course I'm worried. Do I continue to call and risk seeming naggy or should I take her advice and wait it out? Anyone else have similar issues?

 

Same thing happened to me with one of my schools! After calling twice and getting the same response that you did, I sent an email to graduate admissions office just explaining that I received an email saying that parts of my application were missing and that when I called the graduate office assured me that I should wait two weeks before checking on the status again.  That way, there's a written record that you did try to follow up the second that you noticed a red flag. It may come in handy if in two weeks they still have not found your materials, but I'm sure that it will all get taken care of!!! Hope that helps

[CagedBird]

Hey guys! I'm so happy that I found this thread  I was just contacted by Duquesne University for an interview for their Psy.D. program! Anyone have any interview tips?

[iphi]

Hey guys! I'm so happy that I found this thread  I was just contacted by Duquesne University for an interview for their Psy.D. program! Anyone have any interview tips?

 

 If you go back in this thread you can see the advice and resources given! Check out posts #108 & #109.

[shortstack51]

Sorry if this question has already been answered--I'm just writing in because my fiancee is applying to school psych programs, but she's applying with the intention of getting a job as a school psychologist ASAP, so she's only applying to MS programs (usually about 3 years long, and most states only require a Masters for certification--some just want a BS for even the basic level certification; I'm an English student, so this is my rudimentary understanding from NASP). However, I can't really find any information on grad cafe for people in a similar situation. I've noticed a lot of PhD/PsyD/EdS people hearing back, but so far no MS. My best guess is they do the PhD students first, so she'll be hearing back later? A lot of her application deadlines are pretty spread out as well--one's not even due until May.

 

So I guess I have a few questions: 1) For those of you applying to PhD/PsyD, are you hoping to enter a different career path than school pscyhologist (ie doing research?)? 2) What is an EdS? and 3) Has anyone else heard of people just applying to MS programs? Do you know if anyone has been hearing back about interviews? My fiancee was advised to just apply to MS programs since that's what she'd need to get certified, though one advisor did try to push her towards a PsyD, which didn't seem to be what she wanted.

[MN111]

Shortstack51, 

 

Good questions.  To start, if she wants to get a job straight out of graduate school, she should get her specialist (EdS).  A specialist is a step up from a master's degree but not as high as a doctoral degree.  An EdS takes three years.  I'm not sure where you heard that some states just want a BS for certification.  But no one can become a school psychologist with just an undergraduate degree.  A lot of people pursuing PhD and PsyD are interested as obtaining jo bs in academia.  That is, becoming professors.  Others want to be a school psychologist and then be a professor of school psychology at a college/university.  

 

Generally, PhD do send their invitations out earlier than do EdS.  If she has not received any feedback yet, no need to worry.  There is still time. 

[iphi]

Sorry if this question has already been answered--I'm just writing in because my fiancee is applying to school psych programs, but she's applying with the intention of getting a job as a school psychologist ASAP, so she's only applying to MS programs (usually about 3 years long, and most states only require a Masters for certification--some just want a BS for even the basic level certification; I'm an English student, so this is my rudimentary understanding from NASP). However, I can't really find any information on grad cafe for people in a similar situation. I've noticed a lot of PhD/PsyD/EdS people hearing back, but so far no MS. My best guess is they do the PhD students first, so she'll be hearing back later? A lot of her application deadlines are pretty spread out as well--one's not even due until May.

 

So I guess I have a few questions: 1) For those of you applying to PhD/PsyD, are you hoping to enter a different career path than school pscyhologist (ie doing research?)? 2) What is an EdS? and 3) Has anyone else heard of people just applying to MS programs? Do you know if anyone has been hearing back about interviews? My fiancee was advised to just apply to MS programs since that's what she'd need to get certified, though one advisor did try to push her towards a PsyD, which didn't seem to be what she wanted.

 

There's no certainly no reason for your finacee to get a PsyD. If she wants a doctorate she is much better off with a PhD, as those are funded and PsyDs are not. That being said, it sounds as though there is no reason for her to pursue a doctorate at all.

 

1. I am applying to PhDs and I do want a different career path. I do want to do research, and after graduation I am considering a career at the district level (Director of Pupil Services) or a non-profit or even academia. Also, a PhD (plus the required hours) allows one to practice as a licensed psychologist (i.e. therapy).

2. EdS is an Education Specialist degree. It is, as far as I know, what is required to be a school psychologist in most states. More on that vs an MS below.

3. No, I have not. I would tell your fiancee to read this document very carefully. You can run into problems with just an MS.

Quote: "Certification as a school psychologist typically requires a minimum of a specialist - level degree (i.e., master’s of 60 credits or more)." And "Employment opportunities may be significantly limited to states that accept 'psychometrists' or school psychologists that graduated from programs of less than 60 semester credits."

[shortstack51]

Thank you for the response! That helps clear up a lot of things. For number three, she's applying to programs that help her get certified, so most of them are 3 year programs with summer classes. As far as I know, most of the ones she's applying to are 60 credit programs (UCONN, for instance, has a 66 credit Masters program, as do St John's and UMass), partly because many of them include a 15-20 credit internship. She's been working with a school pscyhologist as an undergrad and he advised her on programs, so hopefully he has steered her well.

 

Edit: As a note, I guess I actually misspoke about what degree she'd be receiving. It wouldn't be an MS--at a lot of the schools she's applying to, it's listed as a "School Psychology M.Ed" degree or an MA in School Psychology. When I step out of the English world, there are suddenly many more types of degrees than I realized...

 

We're both a bit tense about applications, so I wanted to double check with the resident experts on the subject. Thank you again Best of luck to you and congratulations on your acceptance and interviews!

Edited January 26, 2014 by shortstack51

[girbgirl]

Sorry if this question has already been answered--I'm just writing in because my fiancee is applying to school psych programs, but she's applying with the intention of getting a job as a school psychologist ASAP, so she's only applying to MS programs (usually about 3 years long, and most states only require a Masters for certification--some just want a BS for even the basic level certification; I'm an English student, so this is my rudimentary understanding from NASP). However, I can't really find any information on grad cafe for people in a similar situation. I've noticed a lot of PhD/PsyD/EdS people hearing back, but so far no MS. My best guess is they do the PhD students first, so she'll be hearing back later? A lot of her application deadlines are pretty spread out as well--one's not even due until May.

 

So I guess I have a few questions: 1) For those of you applying to PhD/PsyD, are you hoping to enter a different career path than school pscyhologist (ie doing research?)? 2) What is an EdS? and 3) Has anyone else heard of people just applying to MS programs? Do you know if anyone has been hearing back about interviews? My fiancee was advised to just apply to MS programs since that's what she'd need to get certified, though one advisor did try to push her towards a PsyD, which didn't seem to be what she wanted.

 

1. N/A

2. Education Specialist degree

3. I'm only applying to specialist-level programs. As long as the program is a NASP approved specialist-level program, it doesn't seem to matter what the title (e.g., MA or EdS) is. If you're not interested in research then the specialist-level is appropriate.

 

Edit: And I have heard back from one school on January 9th for its specialist-level program, but that does not seem to be the norm.

Edited January 26, 2014 by girbgirl

[PostGradLimbo]

Hi everyone!

 

I'm applying to Ed.S programs as well! I have a couple of interviews coming up. The waiting process is the worst! My top choice is Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. I should know by the end of this month if I got in. Hope everyone is keeping sane