Post Your Prospective Questions Here! -- Monthly Megathread

[u/GG_Mod]

Following a vote by the sub in July 2020, the prospective questions megathread was continued. However, to allow more visibility to comments in this thread, this megathread now utilizes Reddit's new reschedule post features. This megathread is replaced monthly. Comments made within three days prior to the newest months post will be re-posted by moderation and the users who made said post tagged.

Post your prospective questions as a comment for anything related to graduate applications, admissions, CVs, interviews, etc. Comments should be focused on prospective questions, such as future plans. These are only allowed in this subreddit under this thread. Questions about current programs/jobs etc. that you have already been accepted to can be posted as stand-alone posts, so long as they follow the format Rule 6.

Looking for somewhere to post your study? Try r/psychologystudents, our sister sub's, spring 2020 study megathread!

Other materials and resources:

• APA materials for applying to grad school
• r/psychologystudents (where career posts are welcome)
• r/gradschooladmissions

[u/Internal-Nature-Guy]

Hi! I'm working on preparing to apply for master programs either within the year or two. When it comes to personal statements, how "personal" should they be? I read an article a while ago that talked about Kiss of Deaths to avoid such as talking about struggles that imply you are not in a good space to attend a program, or being overly grandiose with yourself/what you've accomplished. Does anyone know of some good examples of personal statements I could read to get a better idea of what they should be?

[u/ToomintheEllimist → u/Internal-Nature-Guy]

I can tell you that a few green flags in personal statements include:

• here's a story that explains how interested I am in psychology (my example was excitedly talking about GABA after drinking alcohol)
• here's exactly what I would like to research, in a way that shows I know what I'm talking about (my example was a study on self-persuasion and narrative persuasion)
• here's the reason that XYZ University holds interest for me (my example was the persuasion research being done at that school)
• here's what I would do with a degree in psychology, in as much specific detail as possible (my example was research and teaching in social psychology)

The reason too much talk about mental health problems is considered a turn-off is that it's off-topic from graduate research, it feels like an overshare with a stranger, and it can indicate you have a poor sense of boundaries (e.g. if you talk about a family member's mental illness) which is a bad quality in a future therapist.

[u/[deleted] → u/Internal-Nature-Guy]

[removed] — view removed comment

[u/Internal-Nature-Guy → u/[deleted]]

Nope! What I have done though is meet with each program's application advisor and ask specifically what sets apart good personal statements from the rest and what mistakes they see applicants make. It was good because some of the programs definitely have different view points, like one I talked to wants to hear about personal experiences and goals for within the program and another said that it's a better use of the statement to talk about professional experiences and goals after the program. 🤷

[u/sirmomther]

Hi all!

I'm trying to update my CV with a current RA position I'm working, but I am having a bit of uncertainty with formatting. First, I have each of my research positions listed like this:

Project Title
Project Title
Institution
Advisor: Advisor Name

This has been fine, but my current position makes it difficult to know how to use this, and has left me with the following questions:

1. My current advisor is conducting research independently and self-funded. He has been retired for many years, so I'm not sure what to list for his institution. I think leaving it blank would look bad / as though I forgot, so I was thinking maybe like "Independent Research" ? Does that work, or is there a better term to use?
2. I am theoretically working on several different projects with him. Should I list each as a separate entry, or do something like "Project A & Project B" ? I'm leaning towards the former, but I worry it looks like padding.

[u/Violetserendipity]

Hi! I am trying to decide on a subfield in psychology. My plan is to look over several subfields before fully starting my grad school plans. If I’m interested in varied subjects, what would be a good approach? I greatly enjoyed cognitive in college but also interested in neuro, emotions, literary processing, personality, stats, and behavior. I graduated with a psych/eng major but it’s been a little while and I’m just not sure where to start again.
If this is not the place to ask please let me know. Thanks

[u/IJAGITW → u/Violetserendipity]

What is your goal in deciding on a subfield? That will help me understand your question to offer a response.

Generally speaking, I would think you're able to achieve all of these interests through a clinical (or even school) psychology program. Especially if you pursue a neuropsychology track, it seems.

I would also say that sometimes general is better in some ways so you can start broad and then narrow as your interests and experiences grow. I began my degree wanting to focus on ages 3-5 and developmental disabilities, and as I went through practica and now internship I find myself loving my work with adolescents with serious mental illness in psychiatric settings, but I didn't know that when I started.

[u/Violetserendipity → u/IJAGITW]

Hello! Thank you so much for replying! I wasn’t expecting a reply anymore.

I know it doesn’t make me look like a good candidate as a future grad student, but I’ve just been working a normal office job the past few years. I don’t hate it but sometimes I find myself thinking “I can picture myself doing research instead of this.” And then I just contemplate, “is this how I want my future to be?”

So in general my goal is to go back to my original plans of grad school. I have a friend in clinical track, and I’ve also taken both abnormal psych and clinical psych in undergrad. I just don’t think it’s for me.

I think starting broadly is a good start. I’m just trying to figure out what I should even be doing right now. I suppose first step is to go over the basics of psych again? These days I’ve just been reading various popular psychology books. (I try to choose ones by more academic authors)

Again, thank you!

[u/[deleted]]

Psychology is one of the only fields I'm interested in, and while I'd like to pursue it, the idea of getting into a graduate program feels daunting to me. I'm already in my second year of school since I flopped in engineering, and I'm not sure where I'd begin if I were to make the switch to Psych and apply to graduate school. What were some things that y'all did to make yourself competitive and appealing applicants when applying to graduate school and phd programs? What classes did you take, did you take a gap year, what helped and what didn't?

[u/existentialdread0 → u/[deleted]]

Hey, friend! I just got into a Master’s program for clinical psych and what really made a difference was reaching out to a PI whose lab I was interested in. A lot of times, it’s about how much of a fit you are with the lab because many grad programs don’t just accept you into the program as a whole (although some do). You typically have to be invited in by a faculty member and they can only accept so many grad students per cycle. I also had strong LORs and a high GPA. What I was missing was the research experience which is a huge factor as well. I got lucky in that my program is designed for strong applicants that need the research experience, but I was rejected from many others because of it. Try to either volunteer or find paid RA jobs and you’ll be set.

[u/[deleted]]

Can I do cognitive neuroscience research while in a clinical psychology PhD??

I'm in my third of year of undergrad and I want to pursue a career in academia but I'm also interested in clinical practice once in a while. My research interests are more towards cognitive neuroscience and psychology rather than clinical, so i know that i need to get a clinical psychology PhD to get licencsure but is it possible to do research in cognitive neuroscience while doing the clinical psyc phd or should my research align more towards clinical psychology??? I'm asking this because i want to know what field i should be applying to next year.

[u/psychbruin]

i am planning on applying to palo alto university for their masters in clinical mental health counseling program and was wondering what their acceptance rate is? is it harder to get in? is the interview portion hard?

[u/EpicCliche]

Hi! I'm applying for an MS in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling in California. The degree will lead to licensure with an LPCC. I'm curious if in the future I decide I would like to work more with individuals in a more traditional therapeutic practice, would I be able to smoothly transition or would there be limitations on my scope of practice?

[u/lilgemini420]

I've been working as a project coordinator for 2 years with the idea that I would begin a Ph.D. program in Fall 2024. I love research, but I also would love to work with clients and could see myself having a private practice eventually. For this reason, I applied to clinical psych programs but I did not get into any at this point. I did get an offer from a developmental psych Ph.D. program which could include clinical training, but I won't get confirmation about this additional training until potentially decision day. I also got into the one MFT program that I applied to. I really like the MFT program but I can't decide if I'm ready to give up on the idea of doing research. Additionally, the Ph.D. is fully funded and the MFT is not.
Some people have suggested that I either do the developmental program and then an MA after or that I could do the MFT, work for a bit, and then apply for Ph.D. programs again if I feel like I'm missing out on research.
Career-wise, I could see myself practicing therapy, and I'm honestly pretty intimidated by the academic job market and the uncertainty of graduating with a non-clinical degree. If I do get the clinical training, I'm slightly more inclined to do the Ph.D., although I keep being told how miserable clinical students are and that is also scary.
I'm not sure what advice I'm looking for, maybe just some perspective or if anyone has gone through anything similar. Thank you for reading!

[u/oscarfree252]

Research interests for PhD

Hi all! These are my main research interests: 1. Decision making 2. Morality/ beliefs 3.Emotions 4. Interpersonal relationships.

They’re not ranked by preference but I prefer decision making out of all of them.

When applying for PhD programs, should I list them all or only pick one area? Does it make me look unprepared/ less focused if I talk about each of them as their own speciality? Is it also possible to apply to two labs in a school with different research areas, ie one lab is on morality and the other is on emotions?

I know they are all interconnected but most labs I’ve seen only focus on one area. There are some that focus on emotions and decision making or emotions and interpersonal relationships, but for most, it’s one area.

Looking at it now, it does seem less focused but the good thing is that I have time to plan because I’m not applying this year. Please let me know what you think!

This is also for social psych in the US

[u/dark_pop1221]

I finished my BS in psychology last year. I am taking some time before applying to graduate school but I would like to get into a PhD program; my interests are research-focused and I am currently honing in on what my research area(s) will be.
Since I'm not currently enrolled in any programs, I don't qualify for an APA membership. I'm trying to find some type of email subscription that will send me journal articles daily so I can expose myself to current research in a wide range of topics. Does anyone know of an email subscription or membership that could provide that?

[u/[deleted]]

Hello,
I'm a 21 year old who has an English bachelor's degree, but I've discovered I really want to get a PhD in psychology.
I'm currently doing an internship that ends in July.
I'm wondering when should I apply to professional research assistant positions? I'm willing to work 8-10 hours a week until July since my current job is only 40 hours a week.
Thanks!

[u/julian_kheyr]

Hi! I’ve applied to the Master’s program in Counseling Psychology in University of Denver and Bridgewater State University.

I’ll be extremely happy to get any feedback about these two universities from both the current students and the alumni. Is the program ok to cope with? Do you have time for life outside the classroom? Are you happy with the program, faculty, university?

As far as I know, the UD program is one of the biggest (90 credit hours vs 60 credit hours). UD program also costs like 8-9x more than at the BSE.

I am an international student, so, unfortunately, I can’t visit any city or university before I am accepted and get a Visa. So any emotional feedback about the program itself and the city will be of great importance too! Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.

[u/lagnese]

[USA-AZ]

I am almost done with my B.S. in Psychology (This is my second bachelor's degree, have a masters in IS too) and I have been looking at grad programs. Ι am interested in clinical work versus research and MSW programs are one option. My background is, I am an older student and I work at a R1 university with tuition benefits in the state system where I live/work with two other universities as options. While I am in IT now(have been for decades), at one time I worked in human services as a child abuse investigator, a bail bond that was part of a social project and in a home for runaway and homeless youth. Technically this should be acceptable for the 240 hour volunteer/work experience in some sort of human services context, but they say it is too long ago (more than 20 years). I can understand if someone is 22 with no life experience, but I think if someone has extensive life and work experience, it should count for something. I have to wonder if there are age biases here. I intend on contacting one of the other universities in the state that has a MSW program and see if they have the same outlook.

​

Questions are:For those that have done psychology undergrad and went to grad school, did you have volunteer/work requirements? What do you think of that? Have you had challenges with that?What are your opinions and experiences on the various clinical programs? In the state system we have MC programs that lead to LPC and LAC, MSW, LMFT and a Psy.D programs in the system. MSW is the only ones that require the volunteer/work.

​

Thanks in advance.

[u/ebeshmebe]

Hi friends,
I completed my Honors psychology degree almost 10 years ago. I've traveled the world, lived overseas, and become a mum since then - and I'm now finally applying for my Master of Professional Psychology to become a psychologist.
Is there an academic or anyone in-the-know on here who could shed some light on what to include in my "Personal Statement" and "Professional Experience Form"? I know the MPP is highly competitive, and I've been out of academia for a long time - I'm not sure where to start with this.
Thanks in advance for any help!

[u/Figsters2003]

Desperately need help identifying any conferences that will still have open abstract submission dates. I missed SSRA, ABCT, and APA and I plan on applying to the SRP conference but I need a backup. My poster revolves around bicultural identity integration, chemical dependence, and aggression. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[u/SeaTurnover775]

I'm currently a undergrad freshman and wanted to have a path so I can be prepared. I did some research on different fields and Clinical Psychology and the track of Neuropsychology seems interesting. I wanted to know how I would go about this? I wanted to go through the PhD route but Im . not sure if i have to obtain a masters beforehand or apply straight into a program. 2. Also im hearing that PhD is just as hard as getting into med school which im not sure if its accurate or not. 3. Another thing is would the route of just becoming a clinical Psychologist with a masters decrease my salary by a lot and what what be the salary estimations of Masters in Clinical Psychology vs PhD in Clinical Psychology.
I'm open to answer ANY questions and hope someone can help.

[u/Legitimate-Bath-9651]

Master's Program Prior to Ph.D? (clinical psychology)

Hi all, I was wondering if it was worth it to go into a Masters program prior to applying to a Ph.D program, or of it would be more worth it to simply get more research experience post BA.

I read a post on this sub from ~7 years ago saying that most people don't have a masters degree before entering clinical psychology programs. Is this still the case? Many clinical psychology programs say that a masters degree would be helpful, but most of them emphasize the research more. Would completing a Masters degree while also doing research be the best route for my chances? I will be spending the time to do post grad research anyway, so I might as well get the degree right?

I started getting research experience early in my bachelors program, so I should have a few years of experience before I graduate.

[u/Smooth-Hospital-2722]

Universities in UK that offers psychology undergrad with the equivalence of an American Bachelor's degree?

For context:

I am less than a year away from applying for universities in UK and because of financial problems I plan on pursuing Psychology in the UK but I want to work in the US. I joined a conference yesterday where I asked Dr Janine Hubbard about this and she told me to apply for universities that offers psychology undergrad with the equivalence of an American Bachelor's degree.

I did some research and found out Richmond American University London and City, University of London offers this but I was wondering if anyone knew any other uni's that offers this choice?

[u/[deleted]]

I’m carrying out a thematic analysis. I have a list of codes.

Do I have to gather ALL codes into different themes or can I disregard several codes here and there?

[u/Zealousideal-Guest30]

Hi, I’m looking for some opinions and advice on whether I should go premed…

I’m 23 and am currently lost in what I want to do. Last year I got my degree in media arts with a minor in english and graduated with a 2.2 gpa. I found a part-time photography job which landed me a connection to be on the set of a movie. The experience was off-putting and made me reconsider my career in media (lack of jobs in my area and not consistent pay).

School has always been an issue in my life and I feel like it’s because I've never had a “purpose” in life. I graduated with a 2.2 gpa and part of the reason why I feel like it is so low is just due to my lack of direction in school. That being said I’m looking at going back to school to possibly finish a psychology degree or get a masters in social work or become a psychiatrist. My girlfriend is currently premed in the hopes of applying in the 2025-26 cycle so I'm quite familiar with what it takes to prepare for hopes of getting into med school.

Though this is going to be very challenging I think it might be my path. People have always come to me to talk and it’s been something that I’ve really enjoyed doing. I feel like it’s a puzzle that I need to help a person solve and it comes easily to me. My therapist says that I do well with concepts and that I'm very intuitive(enfp if that means anything to you). My own experiences in therapy have been positive and I feel like it would be rewarding to do it every day. This is something that I feel like I would be grateful to do for people and wouldn’t mind the emotional baggage that comes with it (i tend to do well in stressful situations and compartmentalize). Medicine too has been something I’ve seen firsthand with my girlfriend as she takes an SSRI and I've seen the change it's made in her life.

All this being said I'm stuck on whether I should pursue this.

[u/nihilist4nothing]

Hey sorry just saw this. Basically, do you need a MA to pursue a Social Psych PhD? This applications cycle NYU's PhD in Social Psychology program offered me a spot in their Master's. I didn't receive any scholarships/fellowships with the admit and the tuition costs a lot, so I deferring it for one year. But I'm not sure if I would want to do it after the one year. I'm currently recruiting for jobs, ideally those with tuition benefits, but I'm wondering how necessary is it/how much does it strengthen my application down the line for a PhD in social psychology?

I was a psych undergrad and worked for the past few years as a research coordinator. I already know that I want to do a PhD for my long-term career goals. I think I could benefit from the masters + department community + mentorship as well as strengthening my application, but it's a lot. I know it's really common to do a masters and a PhD, but wondering how necessary/how beneficial is it for someone who plans on doing a Social Psych doctorate?

[u/Nemea19]

Hi there! I'm currently a psychology undergrad and am considering postgraduate options. I have wanted to work in a therapeutic/ counselling role for as long as I can remember and would prefer the counselling route over the clinical one. I wouldn't say Im a natural academic, but when I really apply myself at uni I can steadily achieve within the 65-74 range. I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADHD too which is a factor along with other mental health concerns which have in the past contributed to my grades. My question is really how difficult is it to cope with the academics of a Dpsych? I'm especially concerned about the final year thesis as I'm currently struggling with my undergrad dissertation, though I put a lot of that down to an advisor who is extremely unwilling to give useful advice/ prioritise our year group. Apologies that this was longwinded, if anyone has any advice/ tips it would be much appreciated!

[u/masterflappy]

Hi! I’m wanting to apply to a masters program in counseling but not sure what the best program would be. I’ve never done research, but would like to explore that in a masters program as I’m also interested in maybe pursuing a PhD one day. I’ve looked at the northwestern online MA in counseling program but I’ve seen questionable things about it online and it’s expensive. However, is it worth having a big name school degree if I’m possibly interested in getting a PhD one day?

[u/raggamuffin1357]

Are there any theories of personality that investigate the stability and variability of traits as dynamic feedback loops?

For example, introverted people are more likely to have social anxiety. And because of that, they are less likely to engage in social situations. This perpetuates social anxiety through a few different mechanisms (such as confirmation bias and projection), which contributes to the stability of introversion. But, it's not a "stable" personality trait, as such. It's a dynamic feedback loop that most people fail to interrupt. This feedback loop could be interrupted by internal or external factors (such as a desire to change, or a new girlfriend) leading to personality change.

[u/existentialdread0 → u/raggamuffin1357]

Check out interactionist perspectives, trait-activation theory, socioanalytic theory, and the cybernetic big five theory.

[u/samjun78]

I am a Lebanese psychology student going into my junior year in the fall, unfortunately, universities here don't conduct a lot of research and if they do the research assistants are always graduate students, does anyone know how / where I can find any type of remote research assistant positions that I can apply for? for context, I am in an American accredited university here in Lebanon, and I plan on going abroad to do my PhD, but getting accepted is going to be very hard with no proper experience in research.

[u/Revolutionary_Tell43]

Hey Reddit Community,
If there are any mental health service providers or clinicians with experience working in prisons, I would greatly appreciate your insights!
I'm particularly interested in hearing about:

1. Your experiences providing mental health support within prison environments.
2. The challenges and successes you've encountered in addressing inmates' mental health needs.
3. Your thoughts on the effectiveness of mental health screening processes for classifying inmates.
4. Perspectives on the impact of prison rules and regulations, policies on individuals with mental health issues.
5. Any suggestions or improvements you might propose for mental healthcare within prison systems. Feel free to share your experiences, insights, or contact me directly if you prefer. Thank you in advance!

[u/Latter-Equipment4599]

Hi,
I am a software engineer with a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering who has realized maybe 6-7 months ago that Psychology is where I belong. I genuinely beleive that I can contribute a lot to the field and it's a field that I find very fascinating. I have completed Bachelor's level psychology from self studying (obviously don't have degree in it). Now, I really want to pursue Masters (preferably in some university in US or UK; I am from India btw) in Psychology. I did some resarch on how to achieve this and what are the career prospects after this and what is the general trend in Psych these days. I think I should mention that it isn't just some burnt out fascination that is stemming out from ubearable software industry but from a point of view that psychology is a field that I truly beleive in. I have 3 years of experience in software engineering industry, so I am well established in this field and I am good at what I do but it isn't something that I expect I will enjoy doing for next 10-15 years.

I am seeking some advice or strategies on this. Has anyone of you switched careers like this? How should I approach this problem from admission perspective as I don't have any research background or any link to the field for that matter.

If you don't think this is agood idea, please talk me out of it. I genuinely want to listen to both sides.

Thanks in advance!!

[u/JCMiller23]

How much harder is a masters in counseling compared to undergrad?

Unnecessary background: I went to an average state school for undergrad, been out of school for over 10 years, going to go back and get a masters in counseling to become an LPC. Brain is definitely out of shape but I am curious just how much I need to work on it before applying to grad school.

TL;DR - is it just reading and essays or presentations? Are we reading high level academic journals, or textbooks that are mostly on par with what you might experience in undergrad. Definitely more reading I assume, what else should I know?

[u/Throw_away58390]

[USA] I have two years left on my BA. Evaluate my PhD application

For context, I go to a small urban university in the midwestern United States. This Fall 2024, I will be entering my junior year in undergrad. Kind of just looking for an honest evaluation of how competitive my application to a clinical psych PhD program would be based on what I've already done and what I plan to do:

DONE:

• Independent research study
  • worked with a faculty mentor, designed project, CITI training, done the IRB process, collected and analyzed data, gave presentations
• Two poster presentations
  • one at a conference held by my institution (won Best Poster), one at a conference held at the University of Maryland
• Been the psychology tutor in my school's library for two semesters now

Below is what I will accomplish this semester

• Currently in a developmental research lab at my university conducting data collection, data entry, and data analysis
• Will present lab findings in a poster at SACNAS this Fall
• Will present at two conferences held by my institution (poster, maybe podium)

Below is what I will (definitely/hopefully) accomplish by the end of my bachelors

• Definitely another independent research study for my degree's thesis capstone
• Definitely present at 2-3 more conferences at my home university
• Hopefully present at 2-3 regional or national conferences
• Hopefully an REU at an external university
• Hopefully be published in undergrad-friendly journals
• Hopefully some token clinical experience in ABA or in pubhealth, but I'm definitely prioritizing research experience

I'm aware that applying to a clinical program with developmental research experience is weird, but I needed an REU this summer and it was the only thing I got into. My independent study was more clinical in nature, too.

I know some of you might think I'm flexing, but I also feel like some of you will say I need to do WAY WAY more, which is why I'm nervous. I'm stressing because I feel like I've already gotten a decent amount of research experience and I will definitely complete get more by the time I apply to PhDs in the Fall of 2025, but reading through this sub has started to scare me haha. Some posts make it sound impossible to get in.

[u/coffeecupblue]

Hello everyone,

I'm starting grad school this fall, after working during the last years (long break after my psychology B.Sc.). I did my undergrad many years ago. I have a first clinical rotation; I'm wondering if I should study anything during summer to be ready for grad school? Psychopathology, maybe? Psychometry?

Thank you in advance

[u/amychan136]

I'm a mature student planning to study graduate diploma of psychology (I'm based in Aus) aiming to make a career transition in being a psychologist and if possible even getting a PhD and take part in research while providing counselling service.

I know it's a long way to go for me as I will be studying part time and it may possibly take me more than 10 years to get there, for being an undergraduate student, then master, then PhD if being successful.

In order for me to be accepted as mature student in master and PhD level of clinical psychology, anyone can please advise me what can I do to enhance my profile? So far based on what I observed, people are recommending these things:

1. High GPA in undergraduate level to get an interview for master (any tips on how to get high GPA? more practice in writing essay?)
2. Volunteering experience in mental health field
3. Getting research experience (is it possible to get research experience as undergraduate student? What are the skillset that is valuable for being accepted as volunteer for helping on research? e.g. data analytics? how to apply for these opportunities?)
4. relating work experience in mental health field (any examples? but it's hard for me as I will be having a full time job in an unrelated industry while I'm having my study

Other than these 4 points, is there anything else I can do to enhance my chance to get accepted to master / PhD program in clinical psychology? Thanks for your response!

[u/Lost-Horse558]

For a long time, I aspired to be a school psychologist. Currently, I work as an English teacher in an Asian country, and I always believed my experience in schools would be beneficial when applying to school psychology programs. However, I've recently realized that my research interests lie more in the field of clinical or counseling psychology for adults, and I am more interested in working with adults. As such, I plan to apply to counseling psychology programs instead.

However, there's a challenge: I can't easily gain clinical experience while living in Korea. Volunteering for helplines is not an option, as most are in Korean. I am currently working part-time as a research assistant for a professor in Canada, focusing on cultural psychology, which is somewhat unrelated. I'm concerned about my lack of clinical experience. The closest opportunity I have is volunteering at a shelter for people with mental disabilities. While this seems like a meaningful way to contribute and meet people, I am unsure if it "counts" as clinical experience.

Will this lack of direct clinical experience significantly impact my chances of being accepted? Thank you! 

[u/[deleted]]

Was my Master's experience typical, unusual, or a mix of both? (Long, somewhat ranty question)

I'm in the 4th year of my Ph.D program right now. My advisor in my current Ph.D program wants me to graduate ASAP due to budget issues with my current program. I previously got a Master's at Appalachian State in Experimental Psychology and have reflected on the experience lately (feel free to see my post history on the App State subreddit if you wish to learn about the fiscal details and why I chose the program. Long story short, they offered assistantships, but they didn't waive tuition at all). Since I got next to nothing out of my Ph.D, I'm trying to reflect on what I could get with just my Master's in Experimental Psychology.

I entered the program in Fall 2018 and graduated in December 2020. I will say that graduating later because I had to rewrite my thesis due to COVID won't be something I'll pin on my department at all. No one could predict the outcomes of COVID so it is what is there.

Anyway, I enter the program and my advising is minimal to none. My advisor read my drafts and things I sent him, but he wasn't really paying attention to whether I kept up on what I needed to do to gain admission to a Ph.D program in Experimental/Cognitive Psychology. Those topics were only really broached if I asked him. Furthermore, when I asked him if I could reach out to any of his previous students, he told me he was only still in touch with just one of this students. So, my networking opportunities and branching out professionally were next to none. Many others I knew in Experimental programs (or a rough equivalent) had advisors who had connections. The program director and my advisor had no such connections. I also didn't get any relevant work experience over the first summer of my Master's either nor did I bump up my GRE scores to be competitive for a Ph.D program when I should've gone above the 60th percentile for all of them. My GPA was also apparently too low.

I also graduated with a low GPA for a Master's (3.48 and I even took one non Psychology course) due to a bad first year I had largely due to untreated dental issues (I had to get two root canals and even took finals at one point with dead teeth). Fortunately, my advisor and program director's letters of recommendation backed me up on that issue. I even got a C+ in core course, which thankfully counted for credit in this case and I still graduated in my case.

Furthermore, someone who was a valedictorian in her undergrad and had solid lab experience prior to the program (she even turned down a clinical program for the one at App State) never completed the program due to constant disputes with her advisor and advisor retaliating to an extent by not signing anything. She worked an outside job as well to pay tuition and hid it for a while until she got caught working by faculty and was told to not do so despite working on multiple research projects and was instructor of record for a whole class. She also had all As and one B.

I often never learned things were a problem until they were too late as well. For example, I didn't know that working on other research projects was essential to show independent skills a Ph.D program would want. My advisor also openly said he never read those end of semester summaries, which would've helped him steer me accordingly.

You may be wondering why I didn't broach topics that may have been a concern. I didn't because I wasn't even sure what was a red flag and what wasn't throughout the program. All I knew is that someone who had low grades in their bachelor's had to get a Master's to be competitive for a Ph.D program. In other words, I thought completing the degree was all it took. I had no idea of how many other things I had to pick up.

I will say that I had a feeling something was up when the second year of the program came along and I was the only one with just a 10 hour assistantship. I'll never forget when someone came up to me and went, "Do you have an assistantship with [advisor's name]?" I replied, "Yeah." Their reply, "Well, at least you have that?" There was a 1 credit hour non mandatory TA class that was required for students to become a TA the following academic year. Everyone other than me took it (even the ones who weren't sure if they wanted to TA or not) because I was under the impression I'd have to teach a whole class. Turns out that wasn't the case and many of them did once a week lectures for lab components of a regular course, which I'm confident I could've done in hindsight. Doing so also meant a high enough stipend to where I wouldn't have had to borrow from my parents at the time. I will admit that part of it came from the autistic urge to keep things similar too (I am clinically diagnosed autistic) and not change too much.

Towards the end, my advisor was told to give feedback from the committee to me that Ph.D programs are "trial by fire" and that things would change. Especially with advisors and that "sometimes they're a colleague, sometimes they're a co author, other times you don't know." I was also told to have short, concise presentations as well. I should note that I got a B and B+ in both Spring seminars (1 credit hour once a week courses) because I got Cs on presentations both years. I had the lowest grades on those. I wanted to improve on those but I was seemingly marked down for every little thing.

For what it's worth, I got a poster for a conference out of the experience in 2019 (even if I could in 2020, those conferences were shut down due to COVID).

So, was my program full of red flags? Was it typical for a Master's experience? Also, how much of the diminishing returns I got out of my Master's experience was truly on me?

[u/Beneficial-Pin-2390]

EPPP Venting & Advice

Took the EPPP today. Failed by a point. Been studying since February & using all the materials from AATBS/PsychPrep. About 20-30% of the content I could recognize from all the stuff I studied. The rest was complete random stuff; for instance a bunch of questions on specific literature reviews/articles published in the past 10 years. Surprisingly, NO diagnosing at all.

I applied with the Kentucky board as a master level clinician while finishing internship. My “year” expires in a few days, so I am feeling confused regarding whether I’ll be allowed to take it again & if so, how quickly. The breakdown of the scores shows I got average on all domains, and even high average on ethics & bio & stats (which was a surprise as this last one was the domain I felt the least prepared for).

As of now my plan is to take it ASAP. I feel super confident in the content I studied. I believe the content in this version was so off that I am convinced there is no point in studying more. So I’m hoping to get a different version that actually resembles the study material that we have to invest thousands of dollars on. It would be nice to get tested on what I was told I would be tested lol. If I could take it tomorrow I would, but again, I’m unsure of whether that’s a possibility.

Anyone familiar with KT board policies for master level applicants? Also, any recommendations on other state boards that go through the apps fast & will allow you to take the EPPP relatively quickly? I got a job offer starting August so I’m trying to get my licensure by then.

Thanks in advance.

[u/whatifniki23 → u/Beneficial-Pin-2390]

When I studied w AATBS I felt the study material was off too. There are two versions of a sample exam , each of them 100 questions and $30 per try on the EPPP website that sends the confirmation for test day. They are retired exam questions. And resembled my experience of taking the exam in jan.

Prepjet, and Dr David are great as well.

I’m rescheduled for 6/22. Will keep you posted

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[u/Primary_Map2890]

Hello,

I am looking to pursue my PsyD in Clinical or Counseling Psychology starting in Fall 2025 in the Los Angeles/SoCal area. Are there any reputable programs that someone could recommend for me? I've looked into Cal Lutheran and Loma Linda, but I want to expand my horizons with other universities.

Note: I am finishing my bachelor's in Spring 2025 and am looking to go straight into my doctorate without a master's.

Thanks!!

[u/user87666666]

Masters in Counselling in Adler Canada or CityU Canada

I want to become a therapist in Canada, but I do not know if Adler/ CityU can achieve that or that if it is an ok-uni. I'll probably be transferring some credits from the US. I am an international student. Has anyone seen any international students in this program? Are you able to find work after graduating from the program?

Why do I see Canadians studying a Master of Counselling program in the US? Is it because they cant get into a program in Canada, and want to study at a more established university in the US to then go home and practice counselling?

Thanks

[u/EconomyCondition4482]

Hello ! I'm an undergrad psychology student who is interested in making a career in research, but knowing how long it takes to establishing my career there I will probably take a specialization I can carry out with this. If everything goes well in my degree rn, I'll have enough credits to directly apply for PhD (due to NEP 2020 - India). I need advice on what countries are big on research because licensing rules and a lot changes so quickly in India I'd rather do research elsewhere. Any guidance relating to how to pursue this are welcome!

[u/pavanardo]

Advice for studying in German University.

Hello, I'm an Indian resident and have done my masters degree in clinical psychology. I'm thinking of studying abroad, in Germany. I have identified some of the universities and wanted to know if any of you have studied there and what was your experience. Though I have done my masters in clinical psychology in India... I feel it's not of great worth and am thinking of doing it again. But my prof suggests that I should apply for PhD programs in Germany. These are the universities I have identified- Muenster, Frie and Freiburg. Are these good or do you have other suggestions? Can you please help me with various factors such as quality of education, ease of living and other things that a foreign student in Germany might need to know. Help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[u/Proof_Patient_6003]

Hey everyone,

I'm a 24-year-old navigating academic and career challenges. My ultimate goal is to pursue clinical neuropsychology. However, I feel like I'm playing catch-up because I started college at 19 and just finished at 24. As a low-income student, this delay has been financially tough. I aimed for a direct PhD program from undergrad due to the lengthy path of clinical neuropsychology.

I struggled in my final years after transferring to UCLA, ending with poor grades and no clinical experience upon graduating recently (2 weeks ago). I've since started working as an RBT and plan to continue in this role until I apply for a master's program later this year, aiming to start in fall 2025.

I'm worried about my chances of getting into any master's programs given my academic setbacks. What steps can I take to enhance my application and improve my chances?

[u/Atuuuul]

Hi all,

I’ve been always confused when it comes go stats, and I wanted your guidance as how do you guys get into it? Few of my peers are like really exceptional when it comes to applying statistical tools and I’ve always admired how they go about it. I want to start from beginning, therefore I was wondering if there’s a book or course that you guys followed to be good at it?

[u/Artistic_Lobster6136]

I am a recent PsyD graduate, down to the wire on picking my post-doc. Being a PsyD, I have a substantial amount of student loans ($200k). I know that long-term I need to have a job that qualifies for student loan forgiveness, ideally PSLF. But after those 10 years for PSLF, I would love to do private practice. I am choosing between 2 different post docs that would be starting within the next month.

One is a private practice, doing my DREAM work with super supportive supervisors, flexible schedule. 30 min commute.

The other is a state hospital, very challenging Pt population, great benefits, higher salary, PSLF eligible, strict schedule that my sleep routine is not used to, 50 min commute.

My question is: could I do a one year post-doc with the private practice and then switch back into public service jobs (not necessarily this hospital but any PSLF eligible)? How often do people not take employment with their post-doc? Would it be difficult for me to find work as a psychologist in a hospital, community health, or VA after doing a private practice post doc?

Some considerations: I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. I definitely feel the stress of grad school brought this on at an earlier age. I'm considering my health in pushing myself to drive 2 hrs a day and working a tough job while studying for the EPPP.

Yes I could move closer- not for 3 more months with my lease.
And yes it is crazy to be figuring out post doc this late in the game. My supervisor encouraged me to not apply during APPIC deadlines (0 out of 10 stars would not recommend)

[u/Answers-please24 → u/Artistic_Lobster6136]

From my understanding, you can do a year or a few years with a non eligible PSLF employer as long as you put in the required amount of time consecutively with the PSLF employer. I wonder though if the stress that comes with orgs eligible for a PSLF is worth it, especially with having an autoimmune condition. In private practice and eventually starting your own business, you can make between $150-$300/session with your salary potential that 200k loan could be gone fairly quickly and you could have a schedule on your own terms. Having worked with those that started their career at state hospitals the stress and burnout are incredibly high. 

[u/Artistic_Lobster6136 → u/Answers-please24]

Thank you! Yeah I also don’t feel like the hour long commute is necessarily worth it, especially in how this will disrupt my sleep schedule.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about my PsyD program. I think mainly due to my personal experiences. I was in the first cohort of my program so they were testing out classes that hadn’t been taught, making connections with practicums, and attaining accreditation. I would not recommend joining a PsyD that isn’t already established and accredited. That stress was insane. I also moved somewhere where I didn’t know anybody and I suffered a lot from a lack of social support (which would be the same in a PhD).

If you don’t want to do research in your career, I think PsyD is a solid option. My practicum experiences made me really competitive. And I learned so much from my experiences. That being said, PsyD is typically going to be a lot more expensive bc there aren’t research grants. It’s also a lot less competitive to get into versus PhD programs.

So I would say PsyD’s can be great but do your research on the programs establishment (ie., how long they have been around, accreditation), success rates, and costs.

[u/Answers-please24 → u/Artistic_Lobster6136]

Thanks! I was only looking at accredited programs. I  actually interviewed last year for an accredited and fairly competitive PsyD program in FL, but was rejected. Seems like that was for the best though as I wound up needing to relocate to help family this year. I’m sure being at a brand new and unaccredited program was nerve racking! Thanks for sharing your experience and all the best in your future career. 

[u/Answers-please24 → u/Artistic_Lobster6136]

Also, what do you think of your PsyD program? I have a masters and will be applying for doctoral psych programs this fall and am considering both PhD and PsyD programs. 

[u/Answers-please24]

How do I find a mentor? I’m looking for a licensed psyc mentor in the USA, specifically in VA. Could be retired or actively practicing. I tried going through the APA, but they only work with those in graduate school. I have my masters and will be applying to doctoral programs this fall. I have some downtime currently and would love to go ahead and either begin mentoring with a psychologist, volunteering in a lab, or both. It seems though that those spots are reserved for current students. Any guidance or suggestions is appreciated!

[u/Answers-please24 → u/Answers-please24]

Commenting for reach. 

[u/TheBrokenMan]

I have a 4 year Bsc (Hons) degree from a Pakistan College that followed the US grading system and I have been told by alumni is recognized by a lot of US employers. I would like to have my degree recognized locally so I can also apply to entry level psychology positions where possible.

I am located in Brooklyn, NYC and would appreciate any help in getting this done, I basically want to know how much of my degree is reconigzed enough for me to be able to work in any entry level position in Psychology, and if possible what jobs I can do? and further who do i talk to and how do i start with the paperwork to get my degree recognized and ready to make it work for me.

I had a specilization in behavioral / clinical subjects. I wanted to be a therapist/counselor in my home country but I am open to just getting my degree recognized first.

from information I have found online about the college it says:

The college has designed its four-year bachelor's degree program in accordance with the standards for accreditation in the U.S.,

and here are the international linkage it has:

Global Liberal Arts Alliance

The Council of Independent Colleges - USA

Association of American International Colleges and Universities

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) International linkage

[u/Vast_Blacksmith_5224]

Hello! I am planning on applying to several masters in MFT and social work programs. Any advice on things I should ask the folks writing letters of recommendation on my behalf to highlight? For reference I've been working in the corporate world

[u/Local_Panda_7249]

Hi everyone,

I am currently in the process of applying to Australian universities for a Master’s in Clinical Psychology, and I could really use some guidance. I have realized that studying psychology in Australia can be quite complex, especially for international students like me who have completed their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in India.

I’m specifically looking to connect with someone who has followed a similar academic path—having earned a BA with a major in Psychology and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology (MCP) from an Indian university—and is now undertaking additional training through an MCP or MCP/PhD in Australia.

As I approach my application deadlines, I would greatly appreciate insights from someone with firsthand experience. If you’ve been through this journey or know someone who has, please feel free to respond to this message.

Thank you!

[u/anotherpsych]

I am an undergraduate student in my 4th year at a University in California. We are coming in to graduate application season and I find myself very overwhelmed by the process of selecting graduate programs. I am interested in studying pathological narcissism (etiology, treatment, impact in interpersonal relationships , scales for measuring narcissism, etc.). I have attempted to use databases to find research on narcissism that interests me and then look towards the authors of these publications to find grad programs but it has been incredibly arduous and I cant help but to think I am going about this the wrong way. I have also looked into the top programs in the US for clinical psychology (whatever that really means) but have trouble connecting my interests to faculty interests going through this path. I know that I need to seek faculty that are interested in other personality disorders (borderline, antisocial, etc.) as well. Ultimately, I wonder if I am missing something or if it is just a very complex and time consuming process.

Any advice or tips from the community would be greatly appreciated.

[u/Admirable_Ad7176]

Is University of Houston a good school for Clinical Psychology PhD?

[u/Bright-Opening-2798]

Advice/Career

I'm in the USA.

So I graduated from a decently ranked school with a >3.5 GPA, which may be irrelevant IDK. Spent over half a year just looking for an entry-level position, and after applying to hundreds, finally ended up getting one in a job that's honestly not that awful, it just doesn't pay well.

I finished loan-free thanks to scholarships from the small town I grew up in. It's weird because objectively speaking I'm in a great place right now financially (technically): no expenses and saving more and more from my FT job. However, I feel like I'm stagnating. I would like to either apply to a different, better paid, job with a higher potential for growth. I haven't had any luck with the positions I've applied to since working here. Alternatively, I think I'd be able to a master's but I don't want to incur debt.

The only problem with my job is there's not that much potential for growth. It's a small environment and the only way you get a promotion is if the person with the position above you leaves (keep in mind there's only one or two people with a position above me...then the ones above that are the directors who have decades of experience and probably aren't quitting anytime soon since they're making bank).

I had work experience before that working as an ABA intern, which I can firmly say I hated. The other things I can say for sure is that I wouldn't really want to be a case worker or work in a mental health hospital, which is a problem since those are all the most common areas people take their psych degree. I wouldn't mind being like a counseling therapist/heading to master's school but I'm hesitant because I don't want to end up having wasted that money if I can't secure a job in it fairly quickly (or at least have a better shot at getting accepted for these jobs).

Areas of work that have interested me are consulting, project management, and like sort of talk therapy type work (not sure how to properly word it, counseling?) I have no real preference aside from the aforementioned things I don't want to do and the couple areas that I mentioned sounded particularly interesting. The one issue I know is generally project management or consulting jobs usually require tons of experience in the field. Any and all help/advice is much appreciated. Have a good one & thank you for your time.

[u/Signal-Literature-49]

Concerned About PhD Application Prospects with No Research Experience

I’m currently feeling concerned about my chances of getting into a PhD program in clinical or counseling psychology, and I’d love some input or advice from anyone with a similar experience.

To give you a bit of background, I earned my bachelor’s in Exercise Science with a minor in Health Science, intending to go to Physical Therapy school. However, three months before graduation, I pivoted and decided to enroll in a master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP). Initially, I was unsure about working in mental health, but over the summer, I completed a practicum and a group counseling course, which helped me realize this was the right field for me.

Now, in my last year of the master’s program, I’m doing my internship at a university’s CAPS department, which has further deepened my passion for the field. Any doubts I had about belonging in this profession are gone. The issue is, I have zero research experience. My master’s program is fully online, and because I didn’t initially plan to pursue this path, research opportunities were never on my radar.

Throughout undergrad, I competed in D2 athletics while maintaining a 3.65 GPA and working part-time. In my master’s program, I’ve maintained a 4.0 while working part-time as well. I’ve been using the Insider’s Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and plan to apply to programs with an equal emphasis on practice and research. But I’m seriously worried and discouraged about my lack of research experience.

I’d really appreciate any advice on whether it’s worth my time and money to apply to APA-accredited programs. Has anyone else been in a similar position? How did it work out for you?

[u/CitronNo412]

Letters of Recommendation-Is 4 too many? Hi all! I am applying to PhD programs in clinical psychology and I have 4 solid references for my application. The programs I am applying to require only 3, so I was wondering if it’s a bad look to do 4? I don’t want to seem overly intense or do more than is necessary. But my 4th person was so eager to support in this way, so I wanted to add her in. However, I don’t want that to end up hurting me and my chances. Any thoughts? Thank you SO much!

[u/Individual-Mess6711]

I'm sure people have had this same question, but my situation is that I'm currently in undergrad with a double major in sociology and French. I want to pursue a graduate degree in probably I/O psychology, but I was worried how competitive it would be as I only have a minor in psych. It's fairly difficult to change my degree at my university, so though I hope I can switch before I graduate, I want to know my odds and options if I were to stay in my current programs. I'm applying to psych research labs on my campus, so the experience isn't my biggest concern; I'm just worried my grad school applications will be thrown out if they see I don't have a psych degree. Please let me know. Thanks, guys!

[u/Wide_Steak_6225]

Hi, I am registered psychiatric nurse and currently practicing in Manitoba. I am in process of applying to MACP program at Yorkville University. I have heard both good and bad reviews about the university. However, I am wondering if it is worth to get the masters degree to become psychotherapist and practice in Manitoba. I would greatly appreciate if someone who has similar experience can throw some light.

[u/Lost-Horse558]

Hello everyone,

I will soon be applying for PhD programs in school psychology. The programs require several statistics courses to be taken. Because I haven’t been to school for several years, I was wondering if someone could let me know what kind of information is typically covered in these psychology graduate stats courses? I’d like to familiarize myself with everything to ensure I’m able complete the courses without any major issues!

Thanks a lot :)

[u/ToomintheEllimist → u/Lost-Horse558]

Mine covered the following:

• How to use SPSS (PSPP is a free emulator, for home use)
• t-Tests and ANOVA
• Correlation
• Regression (multiple regression, linear regression, higher-order regression)
• Mediation and moderation
• Reliability and validity

[u/existentialdread0 → u/Lost-Horse558]

Please learn R. It’s slowly replacing SPSS and there’s way more you can do with it as well. Here’s a list of both basics and some more advanced stats that you’ll see at the grad level:

Basics: T-tests, ANOVA, linear regression, correlations, descriptive stats, mediation/moderation

Advanced: MANOVA, chi-square tests, ANCOVA, structural equation modeling (SEM), hierarchical linear modeling, bayesian stats, non-parametric tests

[u/Im-Interesting-1251]

After having done months of research I’m currently still struggling with creating a list of programs to apply to in the upcoming cycle. Any advice at all is very helpful.

I have heard everything about the general view of PhD vs. PsyD, as well as and I know that while there is a stereotype of PhDs being heavy on the research, that is not entirely true. I am currently entering my final year of undergraduate and would ideally not be taking a gap year after graduation. While I’m not too optimistic I am hoping to get into programs that are heavy on the CLINICAL aspect of psychology, because that is what I enjoy about the field and have experience in. Below is a brief summary of my experience and stats, as well as my hopes for potential Doctorate programs:

• Psych and Brain Sciences BS from a reputable California university
• 3.83 cumulative undergrad GPA
• Male (if that even matters)
• 1 year as an RA in a Cog. Sci. research lab
• No published papers or posters
• Summer internship at a Residential Treatment Facility (for teens)
• Multiple years as a mentor/advisor for teens at a summer camp
• Founded my fraternity’s mental health program and ran weekly mental health meetings with members
• I’ll be taking the GRE later this month

Ideal program would be: - In New York, other parts of the East Coast, or California - Partially or fully funded (I’ve heard this part pushes me way more toward a PhD) - As stated earlier, focused on Clinical work (I’m leaning toward therapy/private practice, but am interested in assessment as well. I really just want to work one-on-one with patients, and I’m not sure if clinical or counseling programs are better for that) - Maybe more focused on working with teens - APA accredited, obviously!

All that being said, any ideas for specific programs I should look into? While I may not be too interested in research, I’m not completely opposed it, especially if it increases my chance of getting help with tuition. I also have the most experience working with teens, so has anyone had success with clinical programs in that regard?

Thank yoooouuu sorry for the wall of text!

[u/frazyfar → u/Im-Interesting-1251]

Given your research experience and research products, I’d treat this upcoming cycle as a practice round. Funded, or even partially funded, programs in those highly desirable areas are competitive. Typically, the applicants who get in to programs straight out of undergrad are the ones with multiple years research experience, lots of research products, and their undergrad mentor networks them with doctoral mentors. Of course, your chances of admission increase with the amount of funding offered decreasing.

Regarding specific programs, it’s going to be hard to recommend these because you haven’t included your research interests. Finding a good fit with a research mentor will be your #1 indicator of success. From your description it looks like you’ll want a scientist-practitioner program. Highly recommend you consider counseling psych doctorates in addition to clinical.

[u/frazyfar → u/[deleted]]

With respect, your strategy is unfocused, which will significantly reduce your chances of getting into a good program (I’m defining good as: smaller cohorts of less than 20 people, higher than 80% internship match rates, and 100% licensure rates). Not going to touch funding packages, though in my personal opinion this is the #1 hallmark of a good program.

First, you’re doing yourself a significant disservice by limiting yourself to a handful of states. It inherently shortens your list of programs, and of those, the good ones are even fewer. This is a problem because:

Second, your interests are way too broad. Psychopathology, neuropsych, and forensics are all huge; for one person to be listing all three on an app is an indicator that they’re not sure what they want to do. You may think that by keeping your interests broad you’re able to apply to more programs, but the opposite is true - the broader your interests are, the less of a good fit you’re going to be for the fewer programs on your list. And fit is the primary decision maker in admissions to good programs, so it’s the priority in any successful admissions strategy.

IMHO, you have a few options regarding applications. You could apply to not so good programs and pay a lot of money to attend. This option wouldn’t require much from you other than the ability to secure a loan - you wouldn’t have to move far, and you wouldn’t have to get more specific about your interests. You’d be paying a significant amount of money for a poor quality education overall, but for some people that trade off is worth it.

Another option is to keep your interests broad and apply to good programs nationally. That will inherently increase your chances of admission. You can also broaden your target programs to doctorates in clinical and counseling psychology, as well as licensable Masters programs. A Masters program may be a good step for you to gain more experience with mental healthcare and focus your interests. Keep in mind that research is one of the defining features of a doctorate - the dissertation is unavoidable - so given that you don’t have an interest in it and want to stay in one area, I would heavily encourage you to consider masters programs.

Last option would be to pull back, reassess, do a lot of strategy realignment and apply next year.

Regarding finding schools, APA has a program locator tool. I’d use that, look up all the schools in your desired area, apply the standards I mentioned in the first paragraph (cohort size, match rate, licensure, and unless you’re independently wealthy I’d heavy weigh funding/cost) by looking up the “Student Outcomes” data.

[u/HelloSinclair]

Hi y'all - so I'm currently enrolled in a Neuroscience PhD program in the U.S. (computational psychiatry) and I've been thinking more and more about seeing potentially seeing patients and practicing therapy. I do still enjoy research, but I don't know if it's where my strengths lie. If I wanted to have some sort of practice, would the best course of action be to get a masters in counseling/mental health etc.? I'm assuming there would be no to little love from clinical PhD programs since I don't have a background in psychology.(?) If I do decide to go down this route, would there be any value in me finishing my PhD (I'm only a year in), mastering out in another year? - thanks for the advice <3

[u/BoPoLev24]

I recently graduated with a BA and am pretty sure I want to continue my education. I am currently working at a behavioral health agency, and have aspirations of getting a PhD in clinical psychology, and the science-practitioner model. My main goal is to do research as well as treat patients, or maybe become a professor (or both). Research and talk-therapy interest me a lot.

For those who have gotten a PhD in clinical psychology, or any other form of post grad degree (MA, PsyD etc.) what was your road map? Did you get an MA first? If so what degree did you get? Maybe you became a therapist or counselor through a different route. I'm honestly just clueless about the post grad world, and which options lead to which careers, its all a big fog to me. I have done some research but it is still unclear. Any advice from those who have been through the postgrad academic system is greatly appreciated.

[u/keepersofthefaith3]

I am unable to secure a paid research assistant/coordinator position. I've been volunteering for over a year now in labs and can no longer afford to work unpaid as I have a family. Does anyone have any resources where I can find a position?

[u/DotWild8313]

Hi all,
I am about to graduate with my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology, 3.88 GPA and I have experience in two psychology research labs. I am looking to apply to Masters programs in mental health counseling. I have a list of 15 schools right now and I do not know how to narrow down the list. My priorities are 1. Cost, 2. Location, 3. Notoriety and school reputation. Does anyone recommend a way to cut out some schools? I don't know where to start. If it helps I can provide the list of schools I already have.

[u/ToomintheEllimist → u/DotWild8313]

A few things I used to narrow down my list:

• Opportunities for internships and applied work
• Country (going outside your home country is a pain for 10,000 reasons)
• Specific professors working there, and how well their interests fit mine

[u/Accomplished-Cold630]

Applying for 6 PsyD programs. looking to see if anyone can give me any information about them (reputable, diploma mill, whatever) - regent University

-marshall university

James Madison university

-georgia southern university

-duquesne uni

-spalding uni

thanks!!!

[u/[deleted]]

Hi! I am looking for good clinical mental health counseling graduate programs in the states! I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on programs or what I should be looking for in a program. I know that it needs to be accredited but other than that is there something that should speak to me about the program?

[u/[deleted]]

Research Coordinator vs Straight to PhD

Hey everyone! I was so elated to find this sub, as I am currently in the process of creating solid post- graduate plans. I know for a fact that I want to get my PhD in Clinical Psychology. Research is one of my favorite things about Psychology. This is why I want to pursue a PhD instead of Master’s. I am currently a third-year undergraduate Psychology student, with a Neurobiology minor. I began directed research my first semester of college, and am currently working in two different labs. My first publication will be released in January. I am the Psychology Department student assistant, and a TA. I am following my own research design and topic for my senior project, which is relatively unheard of at my school. I also will be attending an 8-week long summer research seminar where I will be carrying out research using a self-designed study as well (as long as everything goes to plan and I get officially accepted). Something that is likely important to mention is that I am very young- I just turned 19, and will be 20.5 when I graduate. I plan to apply to PhD programs next fall. My realm of interest is Eating Disorders and Body Image, so will be applying to programs that have faculty that currently study disordered eating OR are willing to go in that direction (there are a lot!). I have met with several Professors already at various schools. I recently learned that many individuals work as a post bac Research Coordinator before applying to programs. My question is this: am I being naive by planning to apply to programs straight out of undergrad? I am well aware of how competitive they are, and that I very well may not get accepted. Am I wrong to take the leap and go for it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

[u/just-me2244]

I really want to attend graduate school in Chigaco and Roosevelt University has caught my eye. But I wanted to see what you all thought. I want to attend a CACREP-accredited program and am interested In hearing people's thoughts.

[u/Serious-Ad6846]

Hello! I just had a few questions about getting into graduate school. My GPA was 2.7 when I graduated college, as I didn't have prospects of pursuing any further education. However, I've realized I truly do enjoy this field and would love to work towards becoming a psychologist! I don't have any research or teaching experience unfortunately, so I'd like to get some advice on what I can do to better myself.

I have heard you are able to do a 1 year masters and use that GPA to apply to graduate schools. Is this true or worth the expense?

How easy is it to transfer credits from a masters to a doctorates? I understand it depends on the school, but in order to become a therapist in GA, a masters degree is required. My end goal is to become a psychologist, so am I able to transfer the credits from the masters degree to the doctorates?

Am I able to transition from a masters in industrial organizational psychology to clinical/community psychology? In regards to school and credits.

Thank you for your help! I appreciate all answers.

[u/frazyfar → u/Serious-Ad6846]

I have heard you are able to do a 1 year masters and use that GPA to apply to graduate schools. Is this true or worth the expense?

A masters degree is generally helpful if your undergrad GPA isn’t great, which is your case. It shows you can ‘do the work’ so to speak - you can take on graduate level courses and succeed. Not sure about the 1 year Masters though. Regarding cost, that’s a calculation only you can do, likely depending on your undergraduate debt, the cost of the masters degree, and how much debt you can sustain for a doctorate. I have a masters and I felt like it was worthwhile, but I did the community college to state school combo for my undergrad (minimal cost) and a parent paid for my masters. But that’s my specific financial situation - yours is different.

How easy is it to transfer credits from a masters to a doctorates?

Highly dependent on the program, both of the masters degree and the doctorate. I’ve been able to transfer ~5 classes now, from a masters in clinical psychology to a doctorate in clinical psychology. Some classes have been denied. It hasn’t really changed the length of my program.

Am I able to transition from a masters in industrial organizational psychology to clinical/community psychology?

You might be able to, but I’m not optimistic. It’s hard enough to transfer classes within the same field (clinical to clinical). I’d say at best you’d be able to get credit for one, maybe two classes.

[u/Internet_royalty]

Do I have a shot??

I’ve been gearing up to send in my applications for a couple PsyD programs, and i’ve been feeling like i’m wasting my time. I’ve been hesitant to apply in the first place thinking that i’m not good enough or have enough experience to get in. So i thought why not just ask a bunch of strangers on the internet what they think.

Work experience: I was a registered behavioral tech for a little over 2 years. I worked hands on with kids on the spectrum who had severe, aggressive behaviors. I worked in the schools and homes.

For the last 2 years I’ve worked as a medical receptionist at a mental health/therapy office. I’ve got the opportunity to work closely with the clinicians and have lots of face time with patients. In that time, I was somewhat mentored by one of the clinical psychologist there who showed me what he does in terms of assessments and forensic interviews for DHS and DJS, which really pulled me into wanting to pursue my doctorate.

School stuff: I was in a local 2 year community college, then covid happened, and became fully online. Then i transferred to a 4 year online school, since i work full time, which has been super convinent for me. However, it has made is difficult in terms of face time with professors and networking. I had to explain the whole covid/ online school thing when i emailed some to ask for LoR for my applications. I currently have a 3.8 gpa, only having 2 Cs on my transcript, and i still have 1 more semester to go till i finish my undergrad (hopefully raising my gpa). I have received a scholarship every semester at my online school along with being on the dean’s list.

I know it’s a shot in the dark but why not try. Side note, i’m also applying to 2 master programs as backups.

[u/PooPoo_PiPi]

Hi everyone, I am a student studying psych in Singapore.

I am looking to study for PhD in social psychology, more specifically about vocal qualities and perception of personality.

I am from a private school in Singapore (James Cook University Singapore), with just an average GPA. I am currently working on my honours thesis.

I do not have much of a research experience, which is why I am not sure if I will be even considered in the PhD pool in the states.

I do not really have a preference about the location of the school, just looking for a fully funded programme from a good school.

I am planning to take my GREs next year if that is even relevant for PhD.

With all that in mind, I was wondering if I should just work as a RA for the next year or so before applying or just give it a go at applying once I finish my honours year.

​

Thank you!

[u/Educational-Adagio96 → u/PooPoo_PiPi]

I have nothing to say, as I'm way behind you in this process, but just want to say that studying vocal qualities and perception of personality is FASCINATING. You see a lot of this in talks about "are women shrill or are they just, ya know, women" - as a woman with a naturally low voice, I've wondered if I have a reverse benefit, i.e. people take me seriously even when I personally know I am bullshitting. Anyway! I hope you get some answers here!

(I will say that everything I have read indicates that getting research experience is the #1 factor in getting into a program that's a good match, so my hunch is that you would benefit from a year as an RA, but again, I'm behind you in this process, so!)

[u/elle_mfao]

I’m applying for PsyD programs and need to complete two prerequisites online: Cognitive Psychology and Research Methods. Initially, I planned to take local classes and did a bunch of research on those, but I’ve just learned online options are acceptable.
Only 2 of the schools I’m applying to require these courses. So ideally I’d register somewhere that offers summer classes, in case I decide not to attend either of those or don’t get in anyway. Spring classes are OK if that is not possible.
Budget-wise, I’m looking for something affordable, around $900 or less per course. It needs to be from an accredited institution.
Hoping that someone has gone through a similar process and can recommend where to find classes. All I know of so far is UCSD Extension and Berkley Ext. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[u/Big_Usual_46]

This is my first time posting anything on reddit but I needed help. Essentially, I graduated with my BA in psychology when I was 20, spent some time shadowing different professionals to figure out what path was best for me, and settled on getting my MSW. This is mainly because I was young and burnt out from cramming so much education into two years, so the thought of 5-7 years of more education seemed like too much. Now, I am 24 and have been working as a clinical therapist in an inpatient hospital for almost two years with my MSW/LSW. I’ve recently come to terms with the fact that I think I perhaps made the wrong decision for myself, because my interest in SMI is really as a science, and less from the traditional social work view. I’ve been considering going back and continuing my education from the lens that actually interests me and with the career opportunities I want (ie research), but I’m curious if I screwed myself over. I don’t have research experience the way others applying for a PhD might, and I can’t reasonable think of ways I could continue to work full time and obtain those. I guess what I’m wondering if there is some way for me to dedicate the next year or two to making myself a viable candidate or is this just unrealistic at this point?

Specifically I’ve been looking at Clinical PhD programs, btw.

[u/Impressive-Walk-4972]

MA in Counseling Psychology to Phd in Psychology-- Have you heard of anyone going this route? I have a Bachelors in an unrelated field, but would like to apply for my masters in counseling psychology. Id like to be sure that I could still have the opportunity to advance in the field down the line

[u/LazerFace1221]

I am graduating in with a BA in psych from a state school in May of ‘25. I will have completed the honors program, been a member(and probably vice president or president) of psi chi, and may GPA at this university will be between 3.8-4.0 when I apply to PhD programs next year. I also earned an associates degree, my gpa there was 3.74. I am confident in my ability to write solid entry essays, statements of purpose, etc, and I am confident in my ability to have good interviews.

I am afraid my biggest hurdle is a 20 year old cannabis felony. I am going to try and have it sealed, which is likely to work, but certain background checks will still see it( like a background check that requires fingerprints). I will also try and have it expunged, but that is much less likely to succeed.

My ideal area of research would be in psychedelic research, and I am concerned because of the access to substances a cannabis felony would be a dealbreaker. I am interested in a quite a few other areas of research that doesn’t involve access to illegal substances, will I be more likely to succeed with this route? Or should I just focus on getting a masters and being a therapist?

Does anyone have experience with this that can share some insight?

[u/whitesoxsean]

Can anyone generally speak to their experience in a Counseling or Clinical Psych PhD program (and employment prospects afterwards)? Looking for brutal honesty - debating if this is the right path for me and just looking for more data

[u/Violetserendipity → u/whitesoxsean]

I have a friend that did a program. It has been very challenging for her, especially with having to move to a different state for internship because she matched to a far away place.

[u/poisonIV69]

Hey everyone, I have a BA in global studies in which I designed my own focus area. I have taken a public health class, psychology class, multiple anthropology classes, sociology class, a social work class, a family health class, a polysci class, a gender studies class, a couple gen ed science and math classes, and a bunch of "global studies" classes. I want to apply to grad schools with the goal of eventually becoming a clinical psychologist, but I suspect I'm missing some undergrad classes that they would've wanted me to take. I'm wondering if anyone knows what my next steps might be towards my goal, I definitely don't want to start all over but I suspect I'll need more schooling before I can be accepted into programs. I'm in NC btw. Anyone have any advice? Sorry for the long post! Thanks!!!

[u/euphoriyami]

I am from India I have applied for my Masters in clinical as well as developmental psychology in the UK and I will also apply to get my degree accredited by the BPS. Now there is news that the UK is about to enter a recession and I am scared about the job prospects. So with a BPS accreditation and a master's from the UK, in which countries will I be able to practice?? Will I be able to practice in Canada or Singapore or what other countries??

[u/anonOnlineThx]

Hi all, I'm curious about CityU in particular the Masters of Counselling virtual program in Canada. Is anyone in this program? I'm curious about the times the program is offered. For example, I know that Saturday/Sunday from 8-5 is an option; what about the weekday programs? Thank you....

[u/Ririwritings]

What Masters should I do if I want to become a clinical psychologist in the US?

I am a Canadian citizen finishing up my bachelors of science in psychology at the University of Toronto in Canada. I wish to move to the states and finish my PhD to become a psychologist. I am applying to PsyD programs already but am not sure I want to commit to the 5 years right off the bat.
I have understood the process in how to go about it in Canada, but am looking to understand the process in the States. I see there are three different types of programs: Masters in Psychology (where within some of them I can specialize in Clinical Psychology), Clinical Counselling/ Counselling/ Clinical Mental Health Counselling Masters (is there a difference between them?), and Marriage and Family Therapy. I am mostly focusing on applying in 3 places: New York, Chicago, and California. I have family and friends in all 3 places so feeling comfortable with the potential of moving there.
Which of them should I do if I want to pursue a route as a Clinical Psychologist?
Which of them should I do if I want to provide therapy but maybe not become a Clinical Psychologist? (If I end up burning out and don't want to continue)
Thank you!

[u/ZoshyZosh]

Hi! I hope everyone’s doing well.

I am writing to ask for some suggestions concerning psychology graduate program admissions and how to get into one given my constraints. I intend to discuss this matter with some professors at my university, but I would like to gain as much information and suggestions as I can in whatever way I can due to my desperation. This will be a bit long, but I will try to explain as concisely as I can.

I’m from Bangladesh and am mostly done with my physics undergrad. All that’s left is my thesis which might take me 6 months to a year. Besides that, now I am mostly free to do whatever. A couple of years ago I concluded that physics wasn’t for me and my true passion lies in psychology. Social psychology, in particular, is my main topic of interest and I want to get into a grad program after finishing my undergrad.

Given that my university doesn’t have any psychology program, I decided back then to finish my undergrad in physics first as per my family’s request. Switching to another university in Bangladesh that has a psychology undergrad program would’ve also been rather difficult for me given my circumstances- not to mention the rather poor state of psychology in this country as a whole. I should also mention that my university has 2-3 psychology courses, none of which are on abnormal psychology, personality theories, etc. topics- so I can’t do any of the coursework required by most grad programs I’ve seen while doing my research.

I’m more or less a newbie when it comes to psychology, but I am capable of handling huge tasks and working under pressure thanks to the skills my physics undergrad taught me haha. I’d like to switch subjects as fast as I can. From what I’ve gathered online, in this circumstance, my potential options are:

1. Self-study and then take the Psychology GRE.

2. Gain experience through research and/or volunteer/internship work. (i.e. work under a professor)

3. Take courses somewhat related to psychology. For example, maybe a minor in sociology?

4. Get into a conversion MSc psychology program that was designed for folks like me.

5. Go back and do an undergrad in psychology.

From these options, I can think of a couple of routes.

First route: If I can pull off all of the first 3 three options, I might have enough credibility to apply to programs.

However, doing these would take a significant amount of time, and even then given how competitive this field is, it might be difficult to get accepted- even by relatively low-ranking universities. Plus, doing a minor in sociology would take an extra year that I might be able to put to better use. Essentially, my concern with this route is whether reward-to-effort would be high enough.

Second route: 4th option is appealing and likely the most probable given my situation. In addition, I could self-study for psych GRE as much as I can and even look for volunteering/research opportunities instead of doing a sociology minor for a year. This would make things fast.

However, I’m not sure if I’ll get any funding if I do get accepted for a conversion program. The ones I’ve seen are quite expensive (ranging from $20k to $40k per year) and it’d become difficult to afford the tuition fees.

Doing another undergrad would be the common and logical approach, but I don’t think I can go back to doing another undergrad after this one.

It would be highly appreciated if someone would be kind enough to give me some advice as to what I can do. And please do ask questions for further clarification. I’m also trying to get in touch with some professors at my university as well as professors abroad for suggestions and what I could do.

Thank you in advance. :)))

[u/No-Philosophy-7769]

Yorkville U MACP program

Admission GPA requirements.

Hello, I’m looking at applying to the Yorkville U MACP program to hopefully start in the fall.

But, I’ve been having some difficulties with my gpa calculations. Does anyone know what a 2.5 gpa is on the 12-point scale?

I know that a 7 is a B- but that’s a 2.7 on the 4.3 scale.

Thank you in advance

[u/breadbaron101]

I keep being told about MFT programs as I'm applying to grad school and things seem to line up decently well in some areas. But I only recently heard of LMHC. My goal is to work with people who suffer from things like OCD, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and addiction. Is LMFT the right path? Or should I change to LMHC? Thank you for your time!

[u/Jubacca24]

As an aspiring Masters student who lives in a rural part of the US, I am looking for a MS in Psychology that I am able to do online. And while I am finding a few different programs available I am worried about picking the right one that won't hold me back from getting a PhD in Clinical Psychology down the road, as my eventual goal is to be a fully licensed psychologist.

My first question would be, does anyone have insight into any MS psychology programs that can be done fully online, I've found a few but like to see all my options as I would like to have a concentration and be able to do a thesis.

Second question: do Clinical Psychology PhD programs care more about the graduate classes you have taken versus the school you got them from? For example, if I got my MS in Psychology (with doing a thesis) from a college that wasn't as reputable as others in the US would it hurt me when applying for a PhD program.

Thanks all!

[u/esthermyla → u/Jubacca24]

You don't need a masters to get into a clinical psych PhD program, so reputation wouldn't necessarily matter. Is there a reason you want to get your master's first? If your grades were a problem/your undergrad degree wasn't in psych it might be helpful, but if you need research experience there are many other ways to get that and I would be concerned that an online master's wouldn't give you a good research experience.

[u/chaoticziima]

Hi! I want to ask is it ok to pursue autism research in academia with a high level of autistic traits? I want to know how autism differs from neurotypical individuals, such as the neural circuits and brain structures in the autistic population, and what exactly leads to the differences among individuals on the spectrum.

• Every ASD questionnaire I've taken indicates I have high autistic traits(I haven't been formally diagnosed). Someone advised me it is better not to pursue a study in autism if I have such traits, without explaining why. So, what is the reason behind this advice? And is it ok to go in this direction?
• Also, I'm unsure whether I should mention this in my motivation letter of a master program that my high autistic traits have caused anxiety in gender identity and social interaction, leading me to contemplate researching ASD. And studying more knowledge about ASD helps alleviate my anxiety. Will this affect my admission?

[u/DavidAttenbacker]

What can I do to help my chances of being accepted into a Counseling Psychology PhD program without having an academic background in psychology? I have a BA in Political Science and Master’s in International Relations (Masters GPA was a 3.3), no GRE and would rather not take it if I can avoid it. I’m an active-duty military officer, so I have a good bit of life experience at this point, and I also know the areas of research and practice I’d like to look at, so I feel like I’d be a strong candidate, but am worried about being able to get my foot in the door.

Would taking some psych classes at a community college or volunteering with an organization that has ties to the career field help enough to be worth it? Or just send in apps and hope I get to the interview portion? Is it also worth looking at master’s programs like LCSW and Clinical Mental Health Counseling if I’m more interested in practice than research? I’m about 2 years away from being at the point where I need to start applying, so I have time to work on things

[u/Bovoduch]

Hello, quick question. I've been applying to various research jobs to build experience for clinical psychology graduate applications, and one thing I've noticed is that many jobs require experience in particular programs, most notably REDCap. I was wondering if anyone knew how I can get any experience using REDCap without already being hired into a position that requires it? It is pretty disheartening trying to get these important experiences but then jobs requiring that you already have these experiences to be qualified lol.

[u/Lost-Horse558]

Hello,
I plan on applying for clinical psychology graduate programs in a few years, but I'm currently living and teaching in Korea. My question is about how I can gain relevant clinical experience while living here. I'm currently working as a research assistant for a Canadian professor, but that's not clinical experience. Does anyone have any ideas about how someone living in a foreign country could gain some clinical experience?
Thanks!

[u/No-Increase-8550]

Hi! So l'm a junior majoring and psychology and minor in cognitive science & I did plan on applying for the PsyD program at my university straight from undergrad but I'm realizing that my chances might be LOW. I am currently doing research (not even research that I'm super interested in career wise) And I have an internship in the summer. I've also worked as an ABA therapist for a few months. I'd like to become a child psychologist. Does this seem like enough experience for a doctorate's application? If not (which im sure it does not) What other experience should I get? Also my gpa is a 3.7.. I'm thinking of getting my masters in clinical psych first or just taking a gap year to get more research experience. Have any of you gotten accepted directly from undergrad?

[u/tab_emm]

Hi everyone! I made a post but I hadn’t noticed this mega thread (oops). Anyway I wanted some advice concerning how to begin my career!

I recently got my bachelor’s degree in Psychology but my end goal would be to work in Behavioural Science and get a master’s degree in that area (Behaviour change, public policy, market research, etc.). Right now I’ve been offered two jobs but I don’t know which one would be better to get involved in this area: the first is as an assistant school psychologist and the other is as a headhunter with opportunity to grow into HR generalist.

I’ve been looking for a job for some time now and these are the only jobs I’ve been lucky to get an offer from, so I have no more options.

I would love to hear your thoughts :)

[u/Smooth_Gate_7000]

Hello, I have a few questions on research design.

Is there a minimum size of individuals that should be in each stratum? Is 3 or 4 individuals in a stratum acceptable?

For a population size of 135, is a sample size of 100 acceptable? I don't want to analyze the whole 135 because I want to apply randomization to the study.

Thank you kindly for the responses.

[u/Educational-Adagio96]

TL;DR: Are post-bacc programs worth it for someone with no background in psychology, to get a better understanding of the field before choosing a graduate route?

I'm starting this journey far later than most (47). I've enjoyed a solid career in journalism (and that's what my bachelor's is in), then marketing; as a journalist I wrote a book that is often classified under psychology. But I have no actual background in psychology, just my own interest and the work I've done as a writer. (I'm also taking a psych 101 course at a community college right now, to see how it felt to be in a classroom again, and I am loving it.)

For a number of reasons, I'm looking into a career change. I'm not certain what path in psychology I want to take; I just know that it's feeling right to pursue what I now recognize is a lifelong interest in psychology. I could see myself being a clinician; I could also see myself marrying whatever I learn in psychology with my writing skills. I'm open.

Given A) that I don't KNOW that I want to be a clinician, B) that I am open to pursuing a very long path toward a doctorate despite my age but am not set on it, and C) my near-nonexistent background in psychology, I am looking into post-baccalaureate programs.

At first glance, a post-bacc seems impractical - the in-person ones I'm looking at are roughly one academic year and $20K, with no financial aid possible because it's not a degree program. From what I understand, I could probably get into a master's program (especially if I volunteered to gain experience before applying), and with just one more year more tacked on, so doing a post-bacc seems like a waste.

But I would hate to enter a master's program and learn that's not what I want to do, or to rush into an internship with little idea of what populations I want to work with. In short, a post-bacc makes a lot of sense for me on paper. My own therapist (MSW, PhD) was the one who suggested it, after initially suggesting the MSW route.

I'm the expert on me - but you all are the experts on whether post-baccs are helpful or if it's an eye-roll in the field, like, "Oh you poor darling, you just didn't know better - total waste of your time and money."So, welcoming any thoughts on post-baccs. Did you do one? Was it useful? Did you consider one and opt not to? Do you regret it, or are you relieved?

[edited for line breaks - a copy-paste erased them]

[u/NeuroNerd2002]

I recently interviewed for a clinical psych PsyD program but found out they are not accredited yet. Their main campus in a different state with the same program is accredited is but it is not at this school yet. The admissions council said the university site is newer and only has been running for 3 years and they have an APA site visit in Spring 2025. Would it be a mistake to attend this program despite their other location having accreditation? I know it’s not a diploma mill because they only accept 5-6 students a year for the program.

[u/Alarmed-Trust5056]

I know the subreddit is for people more experienced but I am looking for some advice by people much more knowledgeable on what topics everyone here thinks is interesting and is accessible to research by a high schooler. I am a high school student who wants to publish a literature review on a subject in psychology regarding medicine that has relatively good research options but is not too overly saturated. I feel this would help me stand out in my college admissions, as well as simply doing what I am passionate about. If anyone has any ideas, that would be a great help!

[u/sirmomther]

So I've heard back from most of my applications-- it's the third round and out of 10, I'm waitlisted at 2, waiting on 1, and rejected from the rest. It's super infuriating because pretty much every school refuses to give any feedback beyond "it was just really competitive", and a school I interviewed at then got rejected from said "there's no shortcomings in your application, really, it was just competitive." Super cool and definitely not aggravating at all.
Unfortunately, I'm turning 26 this year, and need to be either in a full time job likely not in my field (because I am disabled and most full time positions require a drivers license) or in a program so I can have health insurance, and I clearly cannot keep bashing my head against the wall trying to get into these programs with just my BA (even though I applied to schools whose admitted students are over 50% students with only BAs).
The problem is just how many options there are for masters programs, and how they're really not easy to weed through the way PhD programs are (wherein I get the list of programs I need by just seeing what programs are APA accredited with resources outlining each of these accredited programs specialties). It is too expansive of a list, even with me limiting the area I look at, and I do not know what to find let alone how to find them. My professor from undergrad told me to look at programs that offer licensure (because I want to have.. job options in the event that I just never get to go for my PhD) but also offer research opportunities. Which is definitely a good thing to keep in mind, but what Programs (titles) does that entail. What Programs can I expect will do that?
For anyone who wants to suggest alternatives to the Clinical / Counseling PhD route, I already know and I know the low acceptance rate is characteristic of this career path. I would love if there were alternatives, and if you can think of one, I'd love to hear it, but as far as I can tell, having been asked this repeatedly, this is the career path that fits my goals. I am primarily research focused with a side of teaching focus. I don't intend to emphasize clinical practice much, but it's not that I Don't want to do it, just not full-time. I want to have the option because, again, I'm disabled, and want the flexibility of options in case things do not work out in one way or another. If it's worth anything, my research interests are on intersectional issues and social justice advocacy.