<p>My D is a rising junior who is doing research with a pyschology professor at her college this summer. They have been actively discussing graduate school plans and so she is in the very early stages of thinking about PhD programs in psychology.</p>
<p>I would appreciate any advice on the process, schools, etc.</p>
<p>My question is: If your D is lucky enough to have a close working relationship with a psych professor at her college, why would you think CC parents are a better resource than that (not to mention other profs in the department, with whom your D also probably has a good relationship)?</p>
<p>As the parent of a graduate student in another discipline, it has been my experience that virtually every bit of information and help--vital recommendations, contacts with faculty at graduate schools, direction in selecting schools best suited to his needs, even receipt of fellowships--all came from faculty at my son's college. He took a year off before grad school but put his apps in early in the autumn after he graduated; it worked out very well. I imagine it is the same with psychology and that your D should continhue to pursue, maintain, and strengthen her faculty contacts. Her area(s) of specialization will in large part determine what schools are best for grad study. Faculty members and university Web sites will also help her determine waht kind of preparation is needed in terms of courses, GRE, internships, and so on.</p>
<p>Mattmom is 100% correct. I would add, too, that "psychology" is especially uninformative, because the same term could apply to clinical psychology (essentially, therapy) or to experimental psychology (controlled experiments, rats in mazes, surveys, etc.). The two fields are almost completely separate at the graduate level. And, of course, there are myriad areas of specialization within each.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback. You're both right.</p>
<p>by far the #1 thing to look for in a psych phd program is fit- a research match with a particular professor. You dont apply to the program, you apply to work with a specific professor.</p>
<p>NJ113-
Here's the link to APA's education information (info on graduate programs)<a href="http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/homepage.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/homepage.html</a> This is a good place to start. Have your d take a look at the APA approved programs. There can be different approaches or areas of specialization in the faculty. For example, I wanted a program that was affiliated with or housed in the medical school, and had a stron neuropsychology orientation. Other programs may be housed in or affiliated with othjer programs. Does she know if she wants Clinical Psych, Counseling Psych, Ed Psych?? At any rate, APA the best place to start. If she sees something she likes, she should email the faculty whose research she is interested in. They are always looking for students to help with their research, and making a connection is good. If the person she is working for has relationships with anyone from their own grad training program, thats great too. The personal relationship is helpful. </p>
<p>If she happens to be near SF, the APA annual conference is coming up in August (warning- it is HUGE). She might want to look into the student programs and talk to students who are attending or presenting at poster session. If you need some information that is in the "members only" section of the APA website, PM me and I will see what I can do. (However, I will be away with limited access tot eh computer until next week.) Hope this helps</p>
<p>Her prof will be a good source. Beyond that, I'd encourage her to look widely to start with--for example, consider school psych, counseling psych and clinical psych program before narrowing her focus. It is a good idea to explore her interests and long term goals before identifying a program and work experience is often a big advantage prior to grad study. University programs are almost always less expensive than "professional school" programs, even though the latter are more prolific these days and often easier to gain entrance and advertised as a quicker route to the degree (not necessarily true). Financial aid is actually most/more generous in Counseling Psychology programs (which are less common), Just talking to folks in the field about their route to their current position is also pretty instructive.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the responses everyone. It's all been very helpful and good advice.</p>
<p>jym626, she is not attending the session in August, but is planning on attending the one next Spring which I believe takes place in Boston. She goes to school in Massachusetts.</p>
<p>NJ113-
Sounds like you may be talking about a State Psych Association conference in Boston. I think APA only holds one annual conference (hence the name annual :) ) and it is always in August. But there are always lots of conferences held by different organizations. She hould have opportunities to network. I agree with maaah. Start with her faculty members. I will show my personal bias here, but I woul dencourage your d to look at the Ph.D programs (research-practitioner oriented programs) before looking at the Psy.D. programs maaah alluded to above. Alll in all, I believe a better education and training experience will be gotten in the university-based Ph.D. programs. Again, thisis clearly my bias- sorry if I offended any Psy.D.'s out there. If your d plans to go into Clinical or Counseling, it is very hared to get a good internship spot too- and I think students from Ph.D. programs have an edge over some of the Psy.D. candidates.Of course this varies from programto program-- I am speaking in generalities.</p>
<p>just about all clinical phd programs are funded, but are EXTREMELY difficult to get into (average nationwide acceptance rate is about 5%). clinical psych is what people usually think of when they think of psychology, but as mentioned there are a plethora of other concentrations that might be of interest, such as counseling, school, developmental, social, cognitive, etc.
you really have to have a clear focus of what you want to do before apply.</p>
<p>FWIW, next year's August APA meeting is, in fact, scheduled for Boston.</p>
<p>I agree with the posters above that the best source of advice is the psych. prof. at the OP's daughter's school. Assuming she is interested in clinical psych. and given the difficulty of getting into pretty much any program, the two factors which will give her application a boost beyond those of similarly qualified applicants are having some research experience/publications and personal connections between her faculty advocate(s) and faculty in the schools of interest to her. (Having some quasi-clinical experience would also be helpful, but to a much lesser extent.) Maintaining the relationship with the prof. with whom she's doing research now will be very beneficial.</p>