Work Experience Relevance

[hygytsw]

To start off, I am currently not a competitive Clinical Psych doctoral candidate (which was tough to swallow but I'm there). I double majored in psychology and government in my undergraduate, earned a sub-par GPA (3.3) and have no research experience outside of coursework. After spending a year working in advertising (an interest I had through college) I came to my senses and realized most of what was preventing me from pursuing psychology graduate work was a hefty dose of imposter syndrome. 

My GRE scores are so-so (151 Q, 163 V, 5 AW), I'll probably retake in the next few weeks and focus my application process on masters programs that will hopefully strengthen the research portion of my future doctoral applications. I've had very little luck finding volunteer opportunities (or professors willing to take volunteers) for research in my area and at this point it's simply going to be missing from my application.

However I'm wondering whether my past two years working as a nursing assistant at a forensic mental health facility will help or even matter on my applications. When I moved away from advertising I spoke with a clinical psychologist who suggested clinical work was vital to any phd application. It made sense to me at the time and the clinical forensic work matches with my undergraduate thesis and research interests. While working at the institute I've shadowed psychologists, sat in on intakes, assessments, and helped lead treatment process groups, which I feel is relevant to the applications. But I'm getting more skeptical about the value of this experience as I read these threads.

I'm disappointed as I've found multiple doctoral programs with professors that match my research interests to a T, and I'm so tempted to apply despite my lack of research experience in the hopes that my statement of purpose and NA experience might help me. So I guess my question is whether or not my "clinical experience" will be helpful on MA and Phd applications, and if I should apply to the doctoral programs that I've found to be a really great match or wait until after I get a MA so as not to hurt my chances by applying to the same places twice?

 

Thanks, sorry this is long 

 

[_kita]

3 hours ago, hygytsw said:

So I guess my question is whether or not my "clinical experience" will be helpful on MA and Phd applications, and if I should apply to the doctoral programs that I've found to be a really great match or wait until after I get a MA so as not to hurt my chances by applying to the same places twice?

As a big fan of experience, your clinical experience is awesome and will help you as a candidate.

However, phd programs need to see more quantitative/research skills. I suggest going for a research driven masters program and then apply. That will demonstrate your ability to handle graduate level coursework and give you the skills your missing as a candidate currently.

[hygytsw]

4 hours ago, _kita said:

I suggest going for a research driven masters program and then apply.

Thanks for the advice, I'm wondering how to best distinguish this? I'm assuming focusing on clinical psychology masters although those seem to be few and far between- would a MSW give me any (seems like maybe no) or an SSP?

[_kita]

You need to look at the program curriculum and mission statement. Most MSWs are practice based, so have limited research. I don't know enough about SSPs to comment. You'll really have to look at the programs critically to decide which ones are practice v. research.

For myself, I went with the Masters of Health Science in Mental Health at Johns Hopkins. It was a strong public health based research masters with a thesis that allowed the candidate to do a research study (often through a research center), systematic lit review, or policy evaluation. I did a systematic lit review examining mental health evaulation methods. So a mix between the last two. Many of my cohort members were applying to MD, PhD, government, or research jobs after it.

Edited October 7, 2017 by _kita

[hygytsw]

Thanks for all your advice, JH's program and Northwestern's seem like great fits (although with my GPA probably huge reaches). Question that you may or may not be able to answer: Would a MA in Behavioral Analysis (that requires a thesis or research project) be a good fit for someone looking to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology (forensic emphasis)? It seems like a good fit in terms of gaining research experience while staying in close to clinical but I can't tell if I'd be smarter to stick with clinical or health science degrees.

Sorry to keep layering on the questions- my advisor was rather vague about MA programs, mainly suggested I get an RA position for a couple years and then go straight to doctoral programs, so this is a little bit of an unknown area for me.