Neuroscience or Clinical Psychology

[Tee Ell]

I'm deciding between neuroscience and clinical psychology programs, I have been accepted into one each. I was a psychology undergrad, worked at an inpatient psych center in research for a year and am currently working in a neuroscience position. Overall, I think the neuroscience program is stronger in terms of research rigor (I'd like to work in academia also doing research) evident by grant funding/publications. However, my comfort zone is in clinical psychology, mainly because I'm not comfortable with any neuroscience research techniques (like in vivo, imaging, animal research) and that I like researching clinical populations. I would prefer not to do animal research and I don't mind doing clinical work. Here are some pros and cons:

Psych: Interested in the PIs research, wouldn't have to give up clinical work (although this isn't worst case scenario, I'm just thinking for research, it might be easier getting a clinical population if you are a clinician), I really like psychology and I feel like I excel in the field, probably because I was a psych undergrad., great teaching opportunities, I'd have to make a huge move on a little stipend (which I honestly wouldn't mind, but is it worth it??)

Neuro: Location and stipend are ideal (I have lots of school loans, so this is a huge benefit for me, I'd have to take out more loans for the other program), the program is shorter (5 versus 7 years), the researchers here get great grants in the broad area of research I am interested in, minimal teaching opportunities, the coursework in 1.5 years versus 3-4 years, although I have worked in a neuro. lab before I have very little training with performing techniques for human or molecular research.

Really struggling with this! Thanks!

[COGSCI]

I think it comes down to what you would like to do after. If you want to work as a clinical psychologist, you would definitely need to put in the years of course work in order to acquire those skills.

if you are just interested in research however, 5 year funded neuro program sounds amazing.

in terms of research rigor, I wouldn't say neuro is higher than clinical psyc. It is really about the distinction between professional or research degree.

Also, keep in mind that you can conduct neuro research through your clinical psychology degree and still become and academic researcher, you just need to have a supervisor who is doing that sort of work.

Congrats on getting into two great programs !!

[Tee Ell]

Thanks so much for the answer! Yes, I couldn't agree more that neuro is not better than clinical psych in research, it's just for these two programs in particular, the neuro program is stronger than the psych program in terms of getting better grants (like more RO1s) and publications in more high impact journals. At this point, I think the only real benefit for doing clinical psych is that I feel more confident in my abilities to be a successful clinical psychologist and that being a clinician is often helpful for recruitment of clinical psychiatric populations (also for IRB approval and grant awards too).

Anyone else?? Anyone that has made the switch from psych to neuro for grad school?

[juilletmercredi]

If you truly are 100% uninterested in doing clinical work, the PhD in neuroscience might be a better bet. The funding is better (I would not take out loans to attend a PhD program to cover basic needs or tuition/fees/health insurance), and neuroscience PhDs definitely do research with clinical populations. For IRB approval on grants, all you need is a consultant who is a clinical psychologist or clinical neuropsychologist - that's not difficult to get (nor is it very expensive).

[WillComeTrue]

On 3/16/2016 at 4:57 PM, Tee Ell said:

Thanks so much for the answer! Yes, I couldn't agree more that neuro is not better than clinical psych in research, it's just for these programs in particular, the neuro program is stronger than the psych program in terms of getting better grants (like more RO1s) and publications in more high impact journals. At this point, I think the only real benefit for doing clinical psych is that I feel more confident in my abilities to be a successful clinical psychologist and that being a clinician is often helpful for recruitment of clinical psychiatric populations (also for IRB approval and grant awards too).

Anyone else?? Anyone that has made the switch from psych to neuro for grad school?

I switched from clinical psych to neuro, only because I applied to clinical psych last year and did not get in anywhere (I have BA in bio and MA in experimental psych). I heard back from couple places this year from neuro programs. In my opinion, the research fit would be the most important thing. If both programs have comparable fit, I would go with clinical programs because it opens up many more opportunities after you get your PhD. Many of the professors I met at neuroscience programs actually had their training in clinical psychology, and now they are doing research in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. You can choose to remain in clinical psychology field, neuroscience, or affective sciences. Also, if you decide to go into practice, the transition may be smoother. Honestly, for the funding and extra years for training becomes minor problems if you are looking at the future opportunities once you complete your degrees. Good luck making the decision and congratulations on the successful application cycle:)

Edited March 20, 2016 by WillComeTrue

[Tee Ell]

Hi everyone, thanks for the advice, I ended up choosing the neuroscience program. Oddly I don't feel relief or happiness, I feel like I am mourning a loss. I am incredibly grateful to have had multiple offers and I am happy someone else got the offer instead of me, and I am confident the one that did didn't have any other prospective options. Scared to start a new path for neuro. and to say goodbye to my clinical psychology dreams. I'm sure over time, I will come to terms, I was confident though that my  decision wasn't going to be clearer come April 15th, it was, and probably will be for a while, a 60% neuro vs. 40% clinical psych neck and neck decision. I almost think this feels worse than how I felt last year when I didn't get into grad school  Good luck to everyone else!