<p>i'm thinking about getting a phd in psychology. i have a couple questions about it.</p>
<p>my first question is how will i be able to afford it? i have read that, after you get a bachalores and you have good grades and get accepted into a graduate school for a phd, the school pays you to get a phd because part of your education is teaching classes and helping professors with their busy work. i've also read though that you have to take out student and private loans to be able to afford it.</p>
<p>my second question is, is being a phd student fun? i understand there's a lot more work compared to undergraduate school, but is there still parties, etc or is it more like adult working life where people mainly focus on their work or family.</p>
<p>my main goal in life is to avoid working at a 9 to 5 job. i can't see myself being happy doing that. i was thinking that if i get a phd in psychology i could move to a city and start a private practice or something like that. i could get involved in research if i wanted too and have freedom to do what i want. or maybe i would have to take up a job as a part time community college professor. i don't know. i don't need to be rich, i just want freedom. anyway haha i just need some advise, i feel confused on what to do in life right now.</p>
<p>Perhaps a Psy.D. would be more suitable for you? PhDs generally do research and the degree is inherently very research-oriented. Psy.D.'s do more clinical work, I believe. I had this discussion with my friend a few weeks back - he is also looking into terminal degree programs in psychology. </p>
<p>If you’re a decent student, it is my understanding that the university subsidizes your PhD education. Because essentially, you’re doing a whole lot of “free” work for the university, like teaching and TA-ing. But then again, I do believe you have to be a decent student. </p>
<p>The PhD students at my school seem like they have a lot less work than undergraduates. A large part of that is probably attributable to the fact that they dictate their own hours and really seem to enjoy what they’re doing, so it doesn’t seem like they’re actually doing work. I know several PhD students who come to our undergrad parties, though it is a little strange since they’re a few years older than everybody else. </p>
<p>But most PhD students go into grad programs because they are really passionate about the subject and love learning. They are also very self-motivated, as it can be hard to make yourself do the work when you don’t have a rigid schedule. But I guess that also prepares them for lives in academia. </p>
<p>So that’s just my two cents if it’s worth anything to you.</p>
<p>thank you 93tiger16, that does help. i have a 3.9 gpa so far in college and i’ve always been a good student.</p>
<p>any more advise/insight would help me a lot. i’m having a hard time finding a direction for my life and what i want.</p>
<p>PsyD programs are rarely funded and can be very expensive, but are more clinical and less research-oriented. PhD programs are usually fully funded, meaning they cover tuition and pay some sort of stipend in exchange for teaching, research, etc. The programs begin with several semesters of courses specific to your field (no “general education” requirement, they’re much more specialized), and then you spend your time on your dissertation and other research obligations, as well as teaching. It is a lot of work as the dissertation is essentially a book on the topic of your research focus, detailing past literature and outlining your own experimental studies over the course of a few years. It is not uncommon for students to take 5-7 years to complete the PhD program and be awarded the degree. Students who complete course requirements but who do not pass their dissertation defense can be awarded an ABD degree - All But Dissertation. </p>
<p>Your GPA will not be significantly important in your application. PhD programs like high GPAs, but they also really want quality research experience and a clear research focus that is a strong fit with the interests of the faculty at their college. Working on studies with your professors is a good start, or you can do independent studies in place of regular courses. Some students end up coauthors on publications, which is also great for your CV (academic resume).</p>
<p>Clinical psychologists are more “9 to 5” than you might think. There is a lot of paperwork/documentation involved, and many counselors become “burnt out” after a few years. It can be very draining to spend most of your day with people who are depressed, anxious, or suffering from other mental illnesses, abuse, etc. It is not all fun and freedom. You can change it up a bit and go from private practice to public service/non-profit, or teach. </p>
<p>As for fun, it is what you make it I guess. Some might party, but consider that PhD students are older and many are settling down with families or focused more on their careers than undergrads might be. They also often live on their own (not in dorms or with parents) and have greater responsibility. However, being responsible doesn’t have to mean boring and many do successfully find a balance.</p>
<p>Typically, PhD programs are funded. Someone pays your tuition and fees, your health insurance, and also pays you a stipend that typically ranges from $20-30,000 per year. That “someone” might be the university, the department, your advisor’s grants or an outside fellowship. In return, you assist your advisor with research and in some cases assist in teaching classes in the psychology department. You shouldn’t borrow any money to pay for a PhD.</p>
<p>I would add one note to NovaLynnx’s comment up there - there’s no such thing as an “ABD” degree. It’s just a designation that students use informally to describe their place in the program. A few schools do give an extra degree when a student has completed all degree requirements aside from the dissertation (mine does - here it’s the M.Phil) but most don’t. You can, however, usually get an MA after you finish your courses but before you complete exams.</p>
<p>Getting a PhD is more akin to adult working life than undergrad. If you make friends, you and your friends can have parties - but making friends is a lot more how adults who work full-time make friends than how college students make friends. The parties are nothing like undergrad parties.</p>
<p>There are many other fields in which you don’t have to work a 9-5 job, but I find this motivation curious. First of all, the only thing that 9 to 5 jobs have in common is that you work regular hours - but that’s it. I think most people have the conception that they’re going to be staring at a screen all day in a 9-5 job, but there are jobs with regular hours in which you’re outside all day, or talking to others all day, or moving around and burning off energy all day. And the ironic part about this is that professors of psychology probably spend more time staring at computer screens during the day than what you would probably think of a 9-5 job. I would say most people working a normal 40-50-hour work week probably have more freedom than professors - just because they don’t work regular monitored hours doesn’t mean they don’t work more than 50 hours a week. My professors routinely work 60-80 hour weeks. And most counselors I know keep pretty regular office hours - sometimes 9-5, sometimes maybe like 10-7 to try to get the after work crowd.</p>
<p>If you want to counsel and set up a private practice, consider getting an MSW and getting licensed as a clinical social worker. Another possibility is getting an MSN and becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner. But if the only reason that you want to be a psychologist is because you simply don’t want to work regular hours, I encourage you to look into other lines of work where you don’t have to work regular hours.</p>
<p>^^ Yes, I meant designation, not an actual degree, but my point for the OP was that not all students complete the program and will put ABD on a resume as opposed to, or in addition to, the masters degree to show they went a little farther but did not pass the defense. I stated this to make the point that it is not all fun and parties, and does require serious interest and drive to do all of the independent work necessary to earn the PhD - because not everyone does; it’s not just about passing your courses like in undergrad. </p>
<p>Many PhD programs in psychology offer a masters en route to the PhD. I had looked at many PhD programs in clinical and social psychology - but keep in mind the difference between the PsyD and PhD programs. If you want to practice psychology you could do so with both, but the PhD is designed more for those who want to contribute to their fields doing research (which brings in grants to pay for grad students), whereas the PsyD is designed for those who just want to practice/apply that knowledge (which is why these programs are so expensive - fewer grants due to less emphasis on research and contribution - or the grants go to the PhD students doing the research/teaching). And stipends can be much less than $20k depending where you go. Less prestigious programs can offer as low as $9-12k per academic year (9 months) - but then you earn more by teaching courses or working in labs over the summer. So there are a number of factors in cost/income depending on the field and prestige of the program. I have heard of students taking personal loans to pay for living costs because the stipends weren’t enough - either because they were also paying undergraduate loans, or wanted to live beyond their means and have nicer things than they could afford. But it is not necessary to do if you budget well.</p>
<p>I would say psychology professors (or many profs in general) spend much of their time reading - whether online or books - because staying on top of the research in your field is important. Practicing psychologists should also be reading up on new trends/findings in various counseling or pharmaceutical practices relevant to their specialties. If you’re a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, the America Psychiatric Association updates the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) every few years, and is the primary criteria for diagnosing.</p>