<p>Cross-posted to SDN, but looking for as much input as possible! </p>
<p>Im feeling entirely overwhelmed and discouraged about the future, here is my story and my profile. I graduated this month with a BA in psychology, minor in gender studies. The plan I had decided upon senior year was to take a year off school to gain clinical experience via an unpaid internship or volunteer position, and enter a clinical PsyD program in the fall of 2010. I opted not to go the masters route for all the reasons you discuss here: not worth the money/time if your grades are good and you know youre going all the way to a doctoral.</p>
<p>Here are my statistics:
-GPA: 3.98 (both cum and psych)
-GRE Verbal: 590
-GRE Quant: 660
(plan on re-taking the generals at the end of this summer after more studying)
-GRE Psych: 710
-Graduated valedictorian of liberal arts dept (the school did 3 valedictorians at graduation: liberal arts, business, and something else)
-Member of Psi Chi
-1 year as an RA and on a Research Team at a large well known state university, social psych department
-1 year working under a professor at the small private university I transferred to, we are co-conducting a study, and I am continuing to work with him on this post-graduation, seeing it through to its eventual publication, very far down the road</p>
<p>As you can probably gather, Im solid academically (right?) but am lacking in the experience department. Also I have no publications or theses, as these weren't even OPTIONS at my school. I have one poster presentation from a semester-long research project done with a group, but I doubt this is useful. I was enrolled in a class/program for senior year that was supposed to find me an internship, but there was a severe lack of placements, partially due to our governor cutting mental health funding by 50% last fall, which closed down many sites. I ended up interning at a residential center for battered teen moms in the inner city for 4 months, but my experience here was limited and negative, as the staff just saw us as a burden and had us sitting in the office doing nothing. Staff asked me a couple months in why I was even there as we dont do anything psychology related, we are social work, at most. So yes, this was what was supposed to be my clinical experience, thanks university.</p>
<p>Im 90% positive the PsyD in clinical is for me. I do not want to teach and I have limited interest in research, although I will of course do it as necessary. I want to be a practicing psychologist, Ive always envisioned myself in a private practice but who knows. My area of interest (at this point given my lack of experience) is adolescent psychology self injury, self esteem, possibly eating disorders.</p>
<p>My main question is what are PsyD programs looking for as far as experience goes? I assume I should be focusing more on work experience and less on research, right? What should I be looking to do right now to make myself a better candidate for Fall 2010? I have found 2 places in my state that say they will take (unpaid) interns who only have bachelors degrees, I have applied and I am waiting to hear back from both. They are a residential center for troubled adolescent boys, and the psychiatric ward of a childrens hospital. If these fall through, what kind of volunteer things should I look for? Suicide or rape crisis hotlines? Really curious to talk to people who got into PsyD programs, and know what you did for experience beforehand!</p>
<p>Another thing that I know is going to limit me, is I dont want to leave this region of the US and my family. Im looking at New England, plus NY, NJ, maybe PA. My tiny tiny preliminary school list looks like this:</p>
<p>Safety:
-Antioch (NH)
Realistic:
-U Hartford
Ideal:
-Rutgers (I can dream right?)</p>
<p>Anyone have any input on these schools? Specifically U Hartford, as it looks like the one that is best for me in terms of location and academic match. Any other PsyD programs in this region that you recommend? I have also highlighted Immaculata, Long Island, Widener, and Yeshiva as others to look into getting info on.</p>
<p>Thats everything for now, help me dear god. Depending on if people actually reply to me, I have a few more specific questions. If any PsyD students are willing to talk with me, I would be forever grateful! Thanks all</p>