I´m a second year who’s planning on applying to clinical psych PhD programs after undergrad. I recently got into my school’s McNair Scholars program, which is supposed to help you get into PhD programs, but under the program, I wouldn’t start doing faculty-mentored research until spring of my junior year. I would get to present my research at a conference, but I don’t know if two semesters of research (3 if you include summer) would be enough. I’ve read that grad schools like at least two years of research experience. Should I try to start getting research experience right now or wait it out? Thank you for any advice you can give me!
Definitely start getting that experience now. Clinical psych is incredibly competitive, and the experience will help you become a more competitive applicant. It will also help you discover and guide your interests and goals.
Ok thank you so much! I’m not sure if it’s too late to find something for the summer, but I will try to contact some labs and professors at my school. Do you know if doing research in the Human Development and Family Sciences department would still look good to psych grad schools? And would doing directed study under a faculty mentor count as research?
It’s not too late to find something for the summer per se, but the window is closing - so I’d hurry. Your best bet is at your own university, since the deadlines for summer programs are likely passed.
It’s very common for college students not to start doing research until their junior year. However, it’s also very common for clinical psych applicants not to get in on the first round of applications. It’s increasingly common for the best applicants to work as a research assistant, lab manager, research coordinator, or some related role for a few years after college to enhance their application to clinical psych PhD programs.
So yes, try to seek something out for this summer if you can. Even if not, I would think about going directly to a clinical psych program as Plan A and exploring other options to continue to do research and get clinical volunteering hours as Plan B.
Ok I definitely will! I have been strongly considering taking a gap year to work as a research assistant after undergrad, but I’m still exploring all options. Thank you for your great advice!