<p>I think I'm in a pretty bad spot but I'm determined to get to graduate school! I'd like to apply to programs either in Clinical Psychology (PhD) or a Master's in either Social Work or Special Education.</p>
<p>These are my stats:
Overall GPA: 3.4
Psychology GPA: 3.6
Internships: One in a psychiatric hospital, one in a therapeutic school setting
Research experience: none
Member of Psi Chi (Honor Society in Psychology)
Have 3 good LOR's</p>
<p>I realize my GPA is very low, and the lack of research experience is a big negative. How can I offset this? I'm planning on taking the GRE and Psychology subject GRE, and I'm also taking a year off after ungrad to work/do volunteer stuff (either at transitional living homes for people w/mental illness, suicide hotlines or rape crisis centers). </p>
<p>What can I do to boost my application? I feel like a huge failure.</p>
<p>Take 2 years between undergrad and application season to work as a lab manager or research assistant for a psychology lab or some related lab (like a psychiatry or neurology lab). In your off/spare time, volunteer at the rape crisis center or suicide hotline. Especially if you are already working at a university, you could likely work with the university’s rape crisis center or suicide hotline. You need that research experience, including a letter from someone who can testify that you are a good researcher.</p>
<p>What if I’m planning on applying to programs that are much more clinically based and less research based?</p>
<p>To be honest I’ve heard conflicting things about research - two of my friends with 0 experience got into grad programs and I have absolutely no interest in research in a lab or conducting research as part of my career.</p>
<p>You’ll still need some research experiences. Clinical psychology students are expected to do at least a dissertation, and you’ll probably be required to participate in some kind of research experiences with professors. Your funding might come in the form of a research assistantship. You will probably need to have less extensive amounts of research, but the best clinical psychology programs will require research experience, even if you have no intentions of conducting research (and your intentions may change).</p>
<p>If you don’t want to do research in a lab, why not consider getting a master’s that will allow you to counsel/practice mental health services? Also consider counseling psychology programs, as they are less heavy on the clinical science and not as competitive, but will still give you the same autonomy and licensure as a clinical program would as long as they are APA accredited.</p>
<p>If you’re not interested in research, have you looked into PsyD programs? Yes, they are expensive since they do not typically offer the type of funding PhD programs offer, but the point of a PhD is to do research in your field. Otherwise you might be better off looking at masters-level programs in social work/special education.</p>