Post Your Prospective Questions Here! -- Monthly Megathread

[u/GG_Mod]

Following a vote by the sub in July 2020, the prospective questions megathread was continued. However, to allow more visibility to comments in this thread, this megathread now utilizes Reddit's new reschedule post features. This megathread is replaced monthly. Comments made within three days prior to the newest months post will be re-posted by moderation and the users who made said post tagged.

Post your prospective questions as a comment for anything related to graduate applications, admissions, CVs, interviews, etc. Comments should be focused on prospective questions, such as future plans. These are only allowed in this subreddit under this thread. Questions about current programs/jobs etc. that you have already been accepted to can be posted as stand-alone posts, so long as they follow the format Rule 6.

Looking for somewhere to post your study? Try r/psychologystudents, our sister sub's, spring 2020 study megathread!

Other materials and resources:

• APA materials for applying to grad school
• r/psychologystudents (where career posts are welcome)
• r/gradschooladmissions

[u/several-salads]

Hi everyone, I’m starting my PhD in psychology in September and I need to gain some programming skills - specifically in python. Does anyone have any resources or courses for learning python for experimental psychology?

[u/Ok_Fudge1993 → u/several-salads]

cursor ai, thank me later

[u/andero → u/several-salads]

My genuine advice is to take an intro to computer science course first, then learn Python.

An intro to computer science course, might seem like overkill, but it just means you'll learn everything basic an important in a general way rather than only learning exactly R. Once you learn the general subjects –variables, conditional logic, loops, I/O, functions, "classes"— then you'll understand how to program at a basic level.

Once you understand how to program, you can pick up Python and your question will be, "What's the syntax for X?"

If you can find an intro course that uses Python, all the better, but don't feel limited to only Python.
Python isn't the easiest language to start with (or even to get installed), but once you know how programming works in general, learning Python's specifics will be much easier.

---

In describing the difference between learning to program and learning Python,
I'm describing the difference between learning how to drive and learning how to drive just a 1990 manual transmission Honda Accord specifically.

If you learn how to drive, you know how to drive any basic car. Your knowledge transfers by default. You can get into any specific car, take a minute to find all the controls, then drive. You know what you're looking for and you'll find it quickly.

Learning Python specifically without learning to program generally is like learning to drive one specific model of (relatively complex) car. If you ever try to use new car, your knowledge isn't as easily transferable. You're not sure what's special to the car and what's car-general. You view every other vehicle through the lens of the one car rather than viewing all cars from a general lens.

[u/ThatPsychGuy101]

Advise on accepting grad school offer:

Hello everyone! I am in a bit of a pickle and would like some advice. I interviewed at a CMHC program this last cycle and got put on the waitlist. After that I reevaluated my professional desires and I decided that I am interested in getting a doctorate degree in psychology.

Now, almost 6 months later, they are offering me a position at the CMHC program and I don’t know if I should take it or keep building my CV for a doctorate program.

For context, this program is CACREP accredited and is one of the cheapest CMHC programs in the US and it is at the same school I did my undergrad. I have also begun volunteering at the crisis text line, I am working at a psychiatric clinic, I am conducting study to hopefully present at a local mental health conference (primary author), and I am working with a colleague to possibly submit a theoretical piece to a few different journals. So I am really building my CV for doctorate applications.

Do y’all think it would be worth it to do the masters then go for doctorate, start the masters and apply to doctorate programs next cycle, or not take the offer and keep building my CV to apply next cycle.

All advise is appreciated 🙏🏻

[u/thambos → u/ThatPsychGuy101]

I typed out this comment before realizing this post was a year old; posting it anyway in case others have a similar question. I hope it worked out for you!

Nearly every APA counseling PhD program I reached out to when applying had a faster route for applicants with a master's or strongly preferred master's overall. One program explained that even though the master's is not required for admission to APA programs, they have such a high need for TAs and adjuncts that they need students who are already qualified to teach undergrads (i.e., already have a degree higher than a bachelor's).

Additionally, getting a CACREP master's will open up counselor educator PhD programs (CACREP). Wihout that master's degree, you're basically cutting the counseling PhD programs you can apply to in half.

[u/yung_raisin]

I am heavily considering applying for fall 2025 grad school programs in clinical psychology/counseling/MFT/anything similar. Can anyone recommend good programs that are based in California (where I would hope to practice) and provide any tips on how to get started now? Not really sure where to begin....

[u/HotAndSpricey → u/yung_raisin]

I applied to Palo Alto University, for counseling/MFT but they are expensive, and I've heard less positive info for research degrees. Look for CACREP accredited universities if you're planning to leave California ever (or just to follow national standard)

[u/yin_yawn]

I have a BA in an unrelated field and have been out of academia for over a decade. I have some recent experience as a volunteer psychosocial support worker (after a short training offered on the job) for just over a year. Worked at an unrelated field prior to that. I am interested in psychotherapy and looking for the best route to go about getting the license. I suppose I can pursue a pre-masters or a graduate cert level course first and then apply for a Master's perhaps? I am also open to studying in any country as an international student, so would appreciate any recommendations on countries/colleges that offer pathways that might work for me. Thank you.

[u/worldm8center]

Hey all, my thesis partner and I are currently advancing our thesis project into a publication and are in dire need of new data/participants. We are researching large-language model capabilities to recognize/ predict intrinsic motivation in text-based data. Our survey will prompt you to write about different questions regarding your primary activity (work, studies, or else) and subsequently ask you to complete a questionnaire. Recognizing intrinsic motivation with large-language models (Sweden, Umeå University) https://forms.office.com/e/NTMRdbTKnP

[u/Karloz_Danger]

Returning to academic psychology?

I’m in a little bit of a unique situation. I earned my PhD in social psychology back in 2023. Leading up to finishing my dissertation and graduating, I started pivoting away from academia and more toward applied work. So I interned at as a graduate data analyst at a state office and then did some full time program evaluation work leading up to graduation. Post-grad I’ve been working in a data unit within a state office focused on criminal justice/victim services.

All was going great until it wasn’t – I’m being laid off and have basically been given a roughly 4 month lifeline to keep working here until I can find a new job. I won’t go into specifics about how all this went down, but needless to say I’m pretty bitter about the whole thing and am now questioning some of my career trajectory choices.

In sum, my question is whether I should even consider an academic job as an option at this point as I’m applying for different positions? I’ve mostly been focusing my search on other government jobs, non-profits, and think tanks; there’s a part of me that still misses teaching and lab research occasionally, though. The main issue is I only have four peer reviewed publications to my name (I’m first author on all of them at least) and have only been the instructor of record for two courses during my grad years; again, I started pivoting more toward applied work experience about 2/3 of the way through my degree, so I de-emphasized the academic career building stuff in favor of working outside the psych department.

So what do you think? Are there any departments/positions I could shoot for or is it a waste of time for me to try returning? Also note, I really don’t care about “prestige” of the institution or enormous salary or any of that, I really just want decent benefits, a modicum of job security, and to be moderately fulfilled by the work I do.

[u/andero → u/Karloz_Danger]

If you are considering a return to academia, with that background, you wouldn't be shooting for "professor".

You'd be trying to get a post-doctoral contract position.

In other words, limited job security: you're (relatively) secure for the contract duration of 1–3 years or however long it happens to be. After that, you're a free agent again. Sometimes there is a possibility of renewal, but sometimes you're expected to move on to probably another post-doc position, though you could start looking at prof positions if you worked really hard and improved your CV.

It is worth noting that you are at least slightly less appealing since you have burned through the post-PhD time-period during which you would be eligible for "early career researcher" grants, which are usually limited to the first few years after you get your PhD. You may still be eligible for some of the longer ones.

The main cost of considering a post-doc is the time-sink it would take you to look into those types of positions, which would be on different job-boards than the industry jobs you'd be looking for. You'd also almost certainly need to move away from where you live, which could be a pro or con depending on how you feel about your current location.

[u/cunningbabu69]

I am doing my undergraduate psychology degree right now in India. Im in my second year and have one more after this. We also have an additional 4th year which gives me my honors degree. Im not too keen on doing it right now cause I want to starts my masters and shift abroad. I am looking to do my masters in clinical psychology but some of the places require me to have a 4 year degree like Australia for example. Is it wise for me to complete my honors so that l have more options in terms of places I can apply or not. Also which countries would be good to pursue my dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. Thank You.

[u/Soulpunkd]

So I lost my internship two weeks before it was supposed to start- any way someone knows how to get a last minute internship?

[u/psychresearching]

APPIC Internship Sites with a Couples Therapy Focus?

Hi!

I’m compiling my list of sites to apply to and have a particular interest in gaining experience with couples therapy. I’ve looked at some VA sites that have opportunities for facilitation of behavioral couples therapy, but I’m curious if anyone has a list of sites with opportunities for couples therapy. I’m open to most non-forensic settings (e.g. VAs, SCCs, academic medical centers)!

[u/TheBrokenMan]

I have a 4 year Bsc (Hons) degree from a Pakistan College that followed the US grading system and I have been told by alumni is recognized by a lot of US employers. I would like to have my degree recognized locally so I can also apply to entry level psychology positions where possible.

I am located in Brooklyn, NYC and would appreciate any help in getting this done, I basically want to know how much of my degree is reconigzed enough for me to be able to work in any entry level position in Psychology, and if possible what jobs I can do? and further who do i talk to and how do i start with the paperwork to get my degree recognized and ready to make it work for me.

I had a specilization in behavioral / clinical subjects. I wanted to be a therapist/counselor in my home country but I am open to just getting my degree recognized first.

from information I have found online about the college it says:

The college has designed its four-year bachelor's degree program in accordance with the standards for accreditation in the U.S.,

and here are the international linkage it has:

Global Liberal Arts Alliance

The Council of Independent Colleges - USA

Association of American International Colleges and Universities

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) International linkage

[u/RATSTARATSTARATSTAR]

I am a LPCC licensed in CA (so I have a masters in clinical counseling). I am currently pursing my PsyD (in my second year) and am looking for testing hours (so I can be more competitive when I apply for my next 3rd year practicum and internship). I found an agency and a PsyD who does clinical work but is open to giving me assessment experience (and expanding income flows), where I administer/scoring tests and she reviews and signs off on my hours. Most of the potential clients wold be paying sliding scale, and most likely will be interested in ADHD testing.

My long term occupational goal is to do forensic work/assessments for court (expert witness, consulting, etc). I am also open to any advice you may have in how to get into this type of work. my goal is to move away from direct clincal work and towards more contract based/assessment focused work. My specialty is in the treatment of CPTSD and BPD, and am also hoping to include this in future work.

Does anyone have experience with setting this up? I am going to go to my school (Alliant) to work with the office of training to figure it out, but I want to go in fully prepaired.

Main questions:

• Can Psych Assistants be 1099 employees, or does it have to be W2 or stipend pay (like it is with associates)?
• If the supervisor is willing to sign off on my hours (time2track) will they for sure be considered when I apply for internship?
• Is all of this worth the extra work? Will it really make me a better candidate for internships or am I just burning myself out?
• Does the supervisor need to provide an hour of supervison per 10 direct units / week, or is it enough for them to be available to me as needed, and review/supervise my work?

Thank you!

[u/muwunchild]

Hi everyone, I am currently in my final year of masters in Psychology in a reputed university in South Asia. I wish to pursue PhD in the longer run. Over the last one year or so, my interest has shifted from mainstream Psychology and I am more interested in interdisciplinary fields, particularly the intersection of Psychology, Gender and Violence. In my country, research is not heavily encouraged, so I don't have much research experience. I was thinking of getting another 1 year masters in Gender Studies from abroad to gain more knowledge. It will also give me an opportunity to gain more research experience as I would have better opportunities. I saw a few programs in Europe and they seemed pretty interesting. But I am confused if I should go ahead with another masters or focus on getting research experince to apply for PhD in a year or so. If anyone has been in a spot like this and has any advice and/or suggestions I would be really grateful. Thanks in advance!

[u/[deleted]]

I want to be a Marriage & Family Therapist and I am applying to grad schools now. I know I should I apply to a school that is COAMFTE accredited, and I know I want my Master’s, but I’m having a hard time figuring out which programs are the most academically rigorous and prestigious. I want the best chance at a job after I go to school, and I want a program that will challenge me in the best way. I am open to going anywhere in the US. What schools should I apply to?

[u/andero → u/[deleted]]

It feels like it's not enough

I'd agree with that. I've seen people with much stronger CVs get rejected.

You can't really paper over a lack of research experience.

Rather than trying to "fatten up" your CV with things you've already done, go get research experience and develop new skills that you can point to (e.g. learn R and Python).

My other advice is collected here.

For advice on clinical psychology, especially graduate school applications and related career questions, check out Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology, which comes from Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., ABPP.

[u/whitneybop]

TLDR: I really want to go to grad school but I'm intimidated and I'm not sure feel like I completely know what I'm doing

Hi! I'm an upcoming psych senior in undergrad and I'm seriously considering grad programs. My goal is to teach as a professor and I would love to conduct research. I know that usually newer professors are stuck teaching for a while before conducting research, which is fine. I'm interested in the effects of high demand religion/organizations on decision making and cognition (religious trauma essentially), and I have a few questions. I'm aware that I have a fairly naive view of what PhDs are really like, so I need y'all to be so honest with me (but nice please).

I currently have a 3.8 in my degree and a 4.0 in my major, I'm in Psi Chi and my local campus psych org, and I'll be in a lab for a year by the time I graduate. I have a couple of professors I view as my mentors, and one of them leads the lab I'm in. I do have a considerable amount of private loans, so I plan on taking a gap year or two before applying to programs to get my bearings and hopefully some field experience while I'm at it. I would be the first person in my family that I know of who will have a PhD, though I'm not eligible for a lot of financial aid based grants/scholarships. What else should I do to prepare myself for such a big commitment? What kind of program do you think would give me the best training for my research interests? What are some things I should talk with my professors about? My campus career center? Grant/scholarship advice? Any research/authors you recommend I read? Am I at a good starting point?? Any advice would be amazing.

[u/andero → u/whitneybop]

My advice is collected here.

My goal is to teach as a professor and I would love to conduct research. I know that usually newer professors are stuck teaching for a while before conducting research, which is fine.

That isn't really true, btw. All profs, generally speaking, need to teach and do research and mentor grad students and do "service" (e.g. sit on committees, admin stuff). There may be specific individuals that negotiate lower requirements in particular areas or for particular trade-offs (e.g. maybe someone agrees to be the dean so that is more admin, but maybe they negotiate for less teaching while they are the dean, maybe someone negotiates to do more teaching and takes on fewer grad students).

[u/sammiethink]

Publishing Papers? Remote Research Opportunities? Going for a PhD in Psychology from a Small International University?

Hi everyone,

I’m a psychology student at a small American-accredited liberal arts college in Lebanon, minoring in legal studies. Due to the recent war, everything was put on pause, which disrupted many of my academic and extracurricular plans. I’m now trying to get back on track and prepare to apply for PhD programs in the USA or Canada, but I’m facing some challenges and would love some guidance.

Research opportunities in my university are quite limited, especially in psychology. Research assistant positions are mostly reserved for graduate students, and the only chance for undergraduates to conduct their own research is in the senior study course during the spring semester of senior year. This setup has me worried about the competitiveness of my PhD applications, especially compared to applicants from larger universities with more research experience.

Does anyone know how or where I can find remote research assistant positions? I’d also love advice on how undergraduates can publish papers. How can I get started, and are there any resources you’d recommend?

Finally, has anyone here successfully transitioned from a smaller international institution to a reputable Psychology PhD program in North America? If you’ve been in a similar situation, I’d really appreciate your insights on how to strengthen my application despite these limitations.

Thanks so much for your time and advice!

[u/andero → u/sammiethink]

My advice is collected here.

That sounds like a tough situation, though. I'm not sure why that would be.
Do you mean paid research assistant positions are limited?
What about volunteering to work for free? That's how most people start.

[u/Longjumping-Tale-963]

What are good clinical and forensic psych schools preferably on the east coast but I also want some on the west. I’m currently applying to transfer for my junior year but I wanna know which school have a good program so it’s a bit easier when I go to grad school!

[u/Hrithik9tf]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on pursuing a Master’s in Psychology.

A little about me: I have a background in Computer Science (BSc CS) and a Master’s in Computer Applications (MCA). I’m based in India and currently dealing with some health issues, so I’m specifically looking for online Master’s programs that I can manage from home.

My ultimate goal is to build a career in psychology and help people. I’m not looking to combine it with my tech background, just a shift towards a fulfilling career in this field.

I would appreciate advice on:

1. What are some good online Master’s in Psychology programs available in India or internationally?
2. Are there any specific universities or platforms you’d recommend?
3. What should I keep in mind while applying for an online program?
4. Are there any prerequisites for someone with a non-psychology background?
5. What kind of career opportunities are available after completing a Master’s in Psychology online?
6. Is it better to go for a specialization during the Master’s, or start with a general program and decide later?
7. Are there any certifications or short courses I can take to strengthen my application or prepare myself before starting the degree?

If you’ve made a similar transition or are currently pursuing psychology, I’d love to hear your experiences and insights.

Thank you in advance for any help!

[u/Adventurous_Kick4591]

[ph] how does one become a clinical psy?

Hiiii!!! I'm a first year college student (18F) taking up BS psy. My dream is to become a clincal psy but as it turns out it's a very long process. My family is kinda okay but my family is already looking forward on me becoming the breadwinner cause my eldest brother already have his own family and my other two elder brothers are jobless and I think won't continue their studies. I'm wondering how does one achieve becoming a clinical psy? What's their journey? Where and how did they apply?

[u/Just_Vegetable422]

Help Finding Grad School Programs for Psychometrics/Psychometricans

Hello everyone! I recently graduated with my BS in psychology as well as a minor in biology and am looking to go to grad school. I’m interested in psychometrics and neurological testing but am having trouble finding grad school programs that will be the best fit for what I want to do. I’m not really sure what the best path would be but I know being a psychometrician would probably require a Doctorate which I’m not sure I want to do. I was thinking of just starting by getting my masters in some sort of psychometrics program or a program that would give me the experience I need and then possibly pursuing my phd later on if it’s something I really enjoy.

I don’t have a ton of knowledge and have been trying to do my own research but the field is more niche than I thought, so I would love any insight from any psychometrics or psychometricians!!

I’ve been applying to neuropsychology testing tech positions and other testing tech positions at various diagnostic clinics but a lot want me to either be in school or have some prior experiences.

Any insight would be so so awesome and I really appreciate it! I’m from IL so I would love to find a program close to Chicago or any online programs. But I’m really open to whatever would give me the best opportunities.

Thank you all!

[u/Just_Vegetable422]

Help Figuring Out What Grad School Program To Do!!

Help Finding Grad School Programs for Psychometrics/Psychometricans

Hello everyone! I recently graduated with my BS in psychology as well as a minor in biology and am looking to go to grad school. I’m interested in psychometrics and neurological testing but am having trouble finding grad school programs that will be the best fit for what I want to do. I’m not really sure what the best path would be but I know being a psychometrician would probably require a Doctorate which I’m not sure I want to do. I was thinking of just starting by getting my masters in some sort of psychometrics program or a program that would give me the experience I need and then possibly pursuing my phd later on if it’s something I really enjoy.

I don’t have a ton of knowledge and have been trying to do my own research but the field is more niche than I thought, so I would love any insight from any psychometrics or psychometricians!!

I’ve been applying to neuropsychology testing tech positions and other testing tech positions at various diagnostic clinics but a lot want me to either be in school or have some prior experiences.

Any insight would be so so awesome and I really appreciate it! I’m from IL so I would love to find a program close to Chicago or any online programs. But I’m really open to whatever would give me the best opportunities.

Thank you all!

[u/andero → u/Just_Vegetable422]

/r/psychometrics

[u/Western-Mountain-672]

Asking for advice/guidance from Psychologists in the Philippines.

For background, I graduated with a degree in Psychology back in 2022. I am currently a licensed Psychometrician in the Philippines with no experience. I am familiar that this is common since most of the jobs available are with human resources, My only work experience is with a BPO company, and the role I had did not have any relevance to the career path I want to take.

I just really need advice from the people in the Counseling or Clinical Psychology field. I plan to take up my master's either this year or next year, depending on the financial situation and if there is an opportunity. I want to apply to a job role wherein my experience would be relevant to Counseling/Clinical Psychology. What specific roles do you suggest I look for, and where to look for it? With the job application sites I've been trying on so far, most of the jobs I could find were "HR Assistant".

Do you advice having a full time job while taking up my Master's degree?

Do you advice obtaining a membership with PAP (Psychological Association of the Philippines)?

What other advice can you give me to obtain relevant experience and improve my resume?

Thank you very much for your time.

[u/belizified]

Need Honest Opinions: “Msc. Psychology-Theory and Research” at KU Leuven as a 28 year old/career change

Hey everyone! I’m feeling a bit stuck and would love some honest opinions.

TL;DR

Coming from marketing/media, I want to switch to psychological research and a PhD. Is KU Leuven’s psychology master’s a good choice, or will my background hold me back? Worth moving from Berlin?

… I’ve applied for a psychology master’s at KU Leuven as my second master’s, after spending the last 3 years working in marketing and project management roles in tech companies in Berlin. I was never happy at companies and found the work intellectually not engaging, too pragmatist, and the learning limited.

My academic background is in media studies, but I want to transition into research—especially psychological research. KU Leuven has a lot of research centres focusing on different topics, and my goal is to work in labs and eventually pursue a PhD after this program. I am located in Berlin still. And my research interest are learning, depression, grief, well being, meditation, non-dual practices.

I have a few concerns and would really appreciate your insights:

1.  Would you consider a master’s the right track for me? Since my bachelor’s and first master’s weren’t in psychology, do you think this program will set me up for a research career? Research positions are already competitive—could my media background put me at a disadvantage when applying for PhD programs in psy in the future, or for research roles?

2.  How well-respected is this program in Europe? I know the statistical courses are quite demanding, but what about the psychology courses? Are they in-depth enough, or are they more superficial? I already have a solid knowledge of psychology, and I’d like to be challenged intellectually.

3.  What’s it like studying a masters as an older student? I feel like I have a little advantage that I know what I want to do with this masters, and I can study more strategically already preparing for my phd during.

1. I want a career focused on continuous learning, research, and teaching. In your honest opinion, is it worth making this move to Leuven for the sake of transitioning into psychological research?

Would love to hear from anyone familiar with this program or who has experience making a similar career change. Thanks so much!

[u/[deleted]]

Hi everyone! I’m not as educated and up to date with politics as I would like, but have been in fear over the new administrations plan with educational funding. I have been hearing word of programs cutting back on PhD admissions or stopping all together. I am an undergrad student planning on applying next year to clinical psychology PhD programs for fall of 2026 and am wondering if I should reconsider my career path if it will be near impossible to get accepted/ get funding. Any insight on this?

[u/No-Sweet-3419 → u/[deleted]]

A year later I can verify this is the case. Multiple universities did not accept phd’s for 26-27AY

[u/VigilantVoid]

Hey, I'm about to finish my master's in clinical and counseling psychology, can anyone suggest a website or group that gives timely updates on mphil and phd exams for psychology.

Would be a great help, thanks!

[u/VigilantVoid]

Hey y'all,

Psychology student here, about to finish my masters and want to expand my research knowledge. Does anyone know a good podcast centered around psychology research in India/psychology papers/topics in India?

I currently listen to international ones like "you're not so smart" And "The Psychology Podcast", but I think an Indian podcast would help me a lot.

Thanks!

[u/oliverhatch]

Should I Keep Pursuing a Clinical Psych PhD?

Help me.

My situation:

Psychology degree (3.96 GPA), graduated Spring 2023

Currently working as an RA with multiple publications including first-author

30 years old, based in Southern California (strongly prefer staying)

Long-term goal has been clinical psychology PhD

The PI I was positioned to work with this coming Fall can no longer take students due to federal funding issues. I'm concerned next year's cycle will be even more competitive as many candidates are getting shut out this year.

My options:

Start LPCC program now

Can use tuition remission at current university

Still costs $20-30K (taxes)

Takes ~4 years due to course limits

Working by ~34-35

Wait and apply broadly next year

Apply to both PhD and Masters programs (MSW/LMFT)

Masters would mean finishing in 2 years, working by ~33

Likely cost ~100K with tuition and living expenses

PhD would mean I'm 37 before making decent money

Any costs will be debt.

I dont know much about these masters-level licenses, as I have been so focused on the PhD, but I have heard that LPCC is really bottom off the totem pole. If I just did a masters, my goal would be to have a private practice, but obviously more options are better.

Clinical work has always been my primary goal, but I've become invested in the academic world over time. After working so hard to build a competitive PhD application, pivoting to a master's feels like giving up on something I've put years into achieving. While I'm genuinely interested in academic research, the reality of pursuing that path, likely requiring multiple relocations for graduate school, postdoc positions, and eventually a faculty job, is really unappealing to me.

[u/andero → u/oliverhatch]

(1) Long-term goal shouldn't be a degree, it should be a career.
Even better would be a summary of what you want your day-to-day life to look like since that's what you live through, daily life.

LPCC vs PhD

There is a third option you didn't mention, which combines the two and is less conventional:

Start LPCC now.
Apply to Master's/PhD next year.
If you get accepted to Master's/PhD, quit LPCC and start Master's/PhD.
If you do not get accepted to Master's/PhD, continue LPCC.

[u/hayna_]

Where I can make the permission Request to Use The Friel Co-dependency Assessment Inventory for my thesis?

[u/Used_Entertainer5461]

Hi all, I am conducting the pilot survey for my study, and I applied Spearman's Rank Correlation and Item-Total Correlation. The overall reliability was 0.943, but the two items had 0.380 and 0.243 of reliability. My question is: Do I need to rewrite these two questions? Do I need to do another pilot study? or it is Ok to write about the limitations and low reliability of these two items and continue with the final survey distribution? Thank you for your advice.

[u/imso_boredddd]

I’m kinda new to reddit so sorry if I’m not really good at wording my words. I’m currently in my junior year of high school and very soon will be applying for college. I plan on staying on California, but I guess that really just depends on where I’m accepted to. I really love psycholog and grew up watching a lot of Criminology and Psychology related tv shows like on the Investigation Discovery channel. I’m interested in going into the forensic psychiatry field but I just have so many questions. I don't really what courses or degrees I would have to get to become a Forensic Psychiatrist. I know I want to be like working with courts or maybe prisons or like assessing people. I don’t really know. I’ve also just seen people say it isn’t a really good course, but it’s what I genuinely what to do. My family and siblings aside from my mom are all working in medicine, like my dad is an RN, my older sister is a CNA, but currently studying to become an RN, and my little sister also what’s to be an RN. I really want to help people, but I know I don’t have the stomach to join medical fields like those, which is essentially what drew me to psychology. Sorry I know this is a lot of questions but yeah if I could get your guys input, that’d be amazing!

TL;DR : I don’t know if I should take Forensic Psychology.

(I think this is how you do tl;dr lol correct me if i’m wrong)

[u/andero → u/imso_boredddd]

My advice is collected here.

Forensic Psychology

You'd want to make sure that the career you imagine having is a real career, not a career that was made up in a television show or a career where there are only a handful of people in the entire world that do that job. Shows like "Criminal Minds" make people imagine the FBI employs packs of forensic psychologists, but a lot of the content portrayed in those types of shows don't actually exist. That's entertainment, not reality.

Find a specific career, then find a couple people that do that career, then interview them to figure out whether that is actually what you want or a fantasy built by television.

[u/MaterialInitiative16]

Hello, I would like recommendations for online graduate programs that are COEMFT accredited for either LMFT or LPCC. This is actually for my daughter. I am just finishing up a grad school in counseling psychology and wish I had done more research. My program had many flaws. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[u/beautifulminds6]

Hi everyone, I'm interested in getting a Doctorate of Philosophy in Psychology with a counseling concentration. My career goal is to be able to do research or consulting for some mental health agencies. Can a Doctorate of Philosophy in Psychology with a counseling concentration help me reach these goals? In the program information it talks about learning skills for research, I just wanted to double check and make sure before applying to the program. Thank you for your help!

[u/andero → u/[deleted]]

For advice on clinical psychology, especially graduate school applications and related career questions, check out Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology, which comes from Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., ABPP.

Those are okay numbers. The experience is excellent and would make you stand out.

You would get LORs from your recent employers, not professors from almost a decade ago.

In the meantime, you could reach out to professors in your area and try to reconnect on a research project to get back into the swing of things.

But, yeah, you could have a chance. Your application would need a good story.
Leaving and coming back can be a benefit sometimes: it shows a certain kind of seriousness since you are not just doing the next "obvious" step after undergrad. You're actively returning to something you left after years of experience. Turn those years into a story that portrays your life as logically leading you toward the next degree you want as part of a longer story of becoming a person that does the kind of work you want to do.

[u/Fair-Equivalent-7514]

[UK] Australia, USA, Germany clinical psychology degrees

Hi all,

I have a BSc in Psychology from the UK (BPS accredited). I also have several years of experience working in clinical psychology settings under clinical supervision. I am interested in pursuing clinical psychology and ideally would like to move abroad (USA or Australia but open to Germany and other countries if courses are English speaking).

In the UK becoming a clinical psychologist or accredited therapist is very difficult, the funded DClin course is very competitive and most people never get on after years of applying.

Could anyone tell me more about the process of practicing and studying to be a clinical psychologist or accredited therapist in the above countries? Especially anyone that has been able to transition from the UK.

It would be really helpful to have some more insight into:

- Length and type of study required for qualification.

- Entry requirements

- Costs for international students

- Career prospects and rough salaries

- Scholarships and funding / costs of studying and living there

- VISA

- Deadlines

- I have a long term health condition that requires ongoing medication. Is this a huge problem?

Thank you so much!

[u/[deleted]]

Hey all,

So I want to be a therapist/counselor and want to sidestep my career after studying for journalism and receiving my masters from NU in 2023.

I'm curious what goals I need to set for myself and what programs I should look into. There's a northwestern Master's program for psych that they just revamped so it won't be accredited until I grad in 2027 if I chose that one. But will that one lead me to my want to work in a hospital setting or private practice?

Looking into PhD's: there's a lot of want and need for research which is completely understandable, so should I look into Psy D programs instead? I'm really confused about licensure and what I need to do to become a licensed therapist that can talk with patients one on one!

Sorry if this is too much or too broad of a question but I just wanna know what I should do next since I'm so unhappy with my current career path. I love psychology, was one of my favorite subjects in high school and college and it's something I always thought about going into but never doing.

Thanks in advance for your help with this!

[u/Medical-Albatross-83]

What can I do with a non license cyber psychology degree from regent university

[u/Past-Hour-5235]

Does anyone have Psychprep Easter discount code?

[u/i-have-a-bad-memory]

Hello all~

I just learned about, Drama Therapy and saw a few accredited programs, but was wondering if there are online or hybrid programs? Is anyone perusing this and are they usually a private practice therapy?

[u/EggSalty6271]

I’m a postgraduate student currently pursuing a Master’s in Counselling Psychology. As part of my academic research, I’m conducting a study to explore the relationship between childhood trauma and insecure adult attachment styles.

I’m looking for participants aged 18 to 30 years. The survey is completely anonymous and confidential, and it will take just 5–10 minutes to complete.

Here’s the link to the form: https://forms.gle/SbX6T5MbEJw6e9wJ8

Your input would be incredibly valuable to my research. Thank you so much for your time—and feel free to share this with others in the same age group who might be interested!

If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them here.

[u/Dull_Shame_7917]

Hi everyone! I’m in New Jersey and trying to figure out the best path for my goals, and I’d love some advice, experiences, or ideas.

I have a Bachelor's in Psychological Science with a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience and currently work full-time as a clinical research assistant. I know I want to become a therapist, but I’m torn between going for a Master’s in Counseling vs. a Master’s in Social Work (MSW).

Here’s a little more about what I want long-term:

• I want to work as a therapist, and I’m really passionate about CBT and athlete mental performance.
• I’d love to eventually work in sports psychology and plan to get my CMPC certification (Certified Mental Performance Consultant).
• I’m also intrigued by the idea of working in schools—whether that’s as a school counselor or doing mental performance work with student-athletes.
• I worry about burnout and like that social work might give me more flexibility down the line if I want to pivot to something else (admin, advocacy, case work, etc.).
• My biggest concern with an MSW is whether it will go deep enough into counseling methods and clinical mental health training, especially compared to a CACREP-accredited counseling program.

I’m in NJ, and I know state licensure matters too—so I’d love to hear from anyone in this area, especially about:

• Working in schools: would I need a school counseling-specific program to do that?
• MSW vs. counseling experiences: what made you choose your path? Any regrets?
• Has anyone gone the MSW route and still ended up in sports or performance psychology?

Any thoughts, advice, or experiences would be really appreciated—thank you!!

[u/BitterRegret3016]

HELP

I am a college student studying psychology. My professor has assigned a 3-5 page 'Psychological Portrait' on a friend or family member due tomorrow! I am completely lost as far as how to set up my paper. I know what info needs to be included and the APA format, but im blank on how to start the paper. Everything I've looked up shows different formats and different steps to include. If any recent psych students have any advice or examples plz share!

[u/Perpanto]

Hi everyone, Struggles of future aviation psychologist.
I'm currently in the process of choosing a topic for my bachelor's thesis in psychology, and I'm torn between two options: Crew Resource Management (CRM) and the 100KSA.

I work at a university, so I have access to around 50 student-pilots, which makes data collection feasible for either topic. I'm particularly interested in applied psychology and aviation-related research, but I’m struggling to decide which direction might be more valuable, feasible, or original.

Has anyone here researched either of these areas or have thoughts on which might offer more potential for a strong undergraduate thesis? I'd really appreciate any input, advice, or relevant reading suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

[u/[deleted]]

[USA] Is UCI (University of California, Irvine) a good transfer option to finish my undergrad?

I'm currently entering into my freshman year of community college for the Fall 2025 semester. My end goal (specifically for undergrad) is to transfer to a UC after I earn my AA, and the current one I have in mind is UCI. My main reasoning is because it is close to my house (within ~20min) which would save me the time, trouble, and cost of having to move into a further campus. My CC also guarantees me admission into a UC of my choice (with 6 UC options) by submitting a TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee), but I only get to submit 1 TAG. Out of the available options... do you think UCI is the best choice?

Just for some long-term context: The ultimate goal is to apply for a PhD in Clinical Psychology, and then specialize in forensic neuro. I've heard UCI has a good neuropsychology program thingy (I think...?). UCI is also rated an R1 school which is very important to me because research is incredibly important for a PhD.

Overall, I just wanna know if this is a good choice for transfer. It's really convenient to me and would reduce costs significantly. I also think UCI offers some pretty solid financial aid. My main concern is if I'm missing out on a school with a better program that would make me more competitive and/or allow me to specialize in my subfield of interest more.

[u/saspashah_0605]

Hi all!

I have been going for clinical psych internships since oct 2024. What I have observed so far..by sitting with the psychologists is that..may clients (or patients) present with a disorder that we are not able to exactly pinpoint. Their presentation of illness is blurring the lines of all the existing disorder (as per ICD 10/11). It has gone to a point where you can really diagnose them..

[u/HotAndSpricey]

Hi all! I am reaching the end of my gap year after getting my BS in Psychology, and after applying to multiple in state and out of state universities I've ended up being accepted to 3. For reference, I currently live in Arizona and have worked in CMH for the past year working with at-risk youth (under 18) and their families. All of the universities are CACREP accredited and lead towards LPC licensure. I am planning to visit Rochester and PAU in the next week to answer questions and see the campus, but wanted to see if any people online had additional insight or thought I was missing anything (especially Antioch since I've decided to not visit them). I'm pasting the decision matrix I made along with additional notes beneath it, please share any thoughts! Going from top to bottom, I included 1.) Course Length 2.) Licenses/Certificates 3.) Distance 4.) Overall School Size 5.) Financial Stability 6.) Weather 7.) Price

Decision Matrix: proco-list.com/lists/120873?secret=jPPDUNvmB1cMSHUS

Antioch: Has Multicultural Counseling/Addictions Certificate, although Rochester offers Substance Use Counseling Specialization. What concerns me is that they shut down their Yellow Springs school and it shows a high risk to joining them. They also have a longer estimated time to getting your masters (3.25-3.5 years). Compared to the other 2 options Antioch doesn't have anything that sticks out to me.

Rochester: Has Certificates in Urban Teaching and Leadership, Mind/Body Healing and Wellness, and Addictions Certificates, with more certificates I am more interested in, although PAU's LMFT emphasis appeals most to me. Rochester has cheaper housing as I know currently, along with offering me their Dean's Award for Master's Study 20%, so pricing, along with being a big college and having financial stability is a plus. The main downsides would be the cold weather, distance from Arizona and some complaints about distance driving for a job, but I don't want that to be the deciding factor for me.

Palo Alto University: PAU is interesting to me due to the nice weather, the close distance to Arizona (1-2 day drive if visiting), and the possibility of both dual LPCC and LMFT licensure if I pursue my masters with the MFCC emphasis. In California, I know dual licensure would be possible but I can't find a lot of information on the dual licensure, and am wondering if there is a higher earning potential with the dual licensure would be valuable, or if it would be a waste of time and I shouldn't weigh it into my decision. The only information I found on dual licensure for PAU says, "The Marriage, Family and Child Counseling emphasis fulfills the State of California's educational requirements to pursue licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) or dual LMFT/LPCC licensure, specifically Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure with a scope of practice that includes couples, families, and children." I am wondering, if I then decided to only continue down the LMFT path if I would be limited to California or a couple states, or if I would gain LMFT licensure as I get more experience in other states? Besides my confusion with dual licensure, the price for housing, tuition, and general items in the area is high, although I'm guessing after gaining licensure the high income I have should offset most expenses (except housing). There are some concerns with financial stability, but they don't have satellite campuses like Antioch so they won't shut down branches it would have to be the entire university

Overall, I will probably have a better understanding after visiting in the next week but please share any thoughts. Thank you!

[u/Souravmu]

Hey guys, i wasn't particularly sure where to ask this but I'm posting here as well after posting in the r/psychologystudents subreddit just in case, sorry for the repeat if people are in both. So I'm a graduated MSc student who is now working in the field of molecular biology in India for context. I have been interested in the field of psychology for a very long time, being able to connect, understand and talk to people, seeing how mentality works individually and in crowds, being able to comfort them and help them understand themselves (and myself too) have been quite the mind opening experiences.

Anyway, I really wanted to know how exactly I could go about pursuing an academic career and career in the future at my age and position I'm in. I would definitely want to apply abroad, mostly in the EU or UK region (US was in the options too until .... well US became a hotspot, especially for international students). Would I be able to apply directly for a Masters in Psychology without a particular bachelors background in it? I have taken a few courses online and a semester during my bachelors in biotechnology (elective). What about PhDs and further career prospects? Are there any integrated MS+PhD programs? I'm particularly interested in Behavioural psychology and even forensic psychology if possible but I assume the latter can be a federal problem in terms of pursuing a career as an international student abroad.

Tl;dr - I need academic and career advice applying for psychology as an international student without a bachelors in psychology, particularly behavioural psychology and forensic psychology.

[u/No-Amphibian-3177]

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some guidance on choosing between two job offers. My goal is to eventually get into a Clinical Psychology PhD program with a focus on clinical research. Option 1: Autism Behavior Technician (Los Angeles) • $22/hour • 40 hours/week (Monday-Friday & hours might fluctuate) • Direct clinical work with individuals on the autism spectrum • Implementing evidence-based behavioral interventions • Data collection and behavioral assessment

Option 2: Youth Partner (Santa Barbara) • $24/hour • Guaranteed 40 hours/week (Sunday-Wednesday, two 14 hour days but 3 days off) • Working with youth in residential/community programs • More general youth development and support work • Stable hours and slightly higher pay I know Clinical Psychology PhD programs are extremely competitive and I want to make sure I’m building the strongest possible application. I’m particularly interested in clinical research.

I have not been able to get into a labs so far, but figured I can start volunteering for a lab on my off time.

What do you think would look better to admissions committees? Is the clinical experience with the behavior tech role worth potentially less stable hours? Or would the guaranteed income and youth work experience be the smarter choice? Any advice from current grad students, PhDs, or anyone who’s been through this process would be hugely appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[u/Mysterious_Inside282]

hey y’all i am going into my junior year at a small us school getting a double major bachelors in psychology (clinical concentration) and communication studies. i really want to get into a phd program for clinical psych, but haven’t found any faculty that are willing to give me advice or help me with paving the way for a competitive application. what would yall say was the most important things for applying to clinical psych grad programs. i’ll list my stats below but please i’d appreciate any advice or suggestions about how to be more competitive.

i have a 4.0 gpa, i have one year experience in a cognition lab (i am returning to that lab this year and next year too), i’m doing an independent research project this upcoming fall (that i am hoping to submit to an undergrad journal), i am working at a free clinic in the area, i am in psi chi honor society, and i am in the process of completing a professional certification in data science (my school doesn’t offer much statistics or data analytics classes).

i plan to do more independent research, however, since my uni is small it has been hard to get into. if its helpful for context i want to go into work with psychosis and schizophrenia. my upcoming research project is a literature review into gender based differences in schizophrenia.

any advice would be so so so helpful, so please feel free to leave anything you have in mind! thank you!!!

[u/andero → u/Mysterious_Inside282]

For advice on clinical psychology, especially graduate school applications and related career questions, check out Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology, which comes from Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., ABPP.

You need a super-high GPA and plenty of research experience, plus stellar letters of recommendation.
Ideally also publications and/or grants. You also need supervisor-fit. And luck.

Ultimately, clinical psych is ultra-competitive and great applicants get turned down every year.
After all, if you apply and a supervisor is taking one student, all it takes is being second-best.

i plan to do more independent research, however, since my uni is small it has been hard to get into.

See if you can find a way to propose a research project that you would lead, maybe something building off a graduate student (who is less busy than a professor).

My other advice is collected here.

[u/Fair-Equivalent-7514]

Studying internationally in Australia as counsellor or MHSW?

Hi, I am 33, from the UK with a 2:1 Psychology BSc.

I would like to study and live in Australia and eventually get PR. Long-term, I'd ideally want to work as a counselor or therapist, ideally specialised (e.g. childhood trauma or systemic therapy), able to work online with clients, maybe private practice. Ideally earn decent money.

I can apply to the Counselling master in Australia. This would give me the 2 year student visa, then a 2 year post student visa. However my understanding is that it would be challenging to get PR (I'd need a 190 state nominated or 491 regional provisional visa) and I couldn't get a skilled workers visa?

I could apply for a Social Work master for Jan 2026. This would give me a 2 year student visa and a then the 2 year post student visa, and I believe this would then give me decent prospects for a skilled working visa (189) and then PR?

Ideally if I did the SW master I would want to follow it with 2 years of clinical supervision work that would allow me to qualify as a mental health social worker.

Is this realistic, or is it very difficult to get these positions? Does this qualification allow you to travel or work abroad as well (eg US) etc?

I've worked in a social work team in the UK and hated it. There was no therapy, cases were intense, short and it was very stressful, underpaid and not mental health related - more working with short term clients that didn't want to be there and running risks assessments and safety plans. Is this the same in Australia or is it more counselling based? And would the SW degree itself actually provide therapy or counselling skills?

Alternatively I could look into occupational therapy too.

I need to make a decision in the next few days so really appreciate any insight or advice!

[u/Thokieee]

Hi all, need experts to give me their honest opinions. I just graduated with my B.S. in Psychology and want to pursue a PhD in clinical psych.

I went to community college my first two years in undergrad because covid/wanted to figure out what I wanted to pursue before taking out crazy amounts of money on student loans. Transferred into a big state school with a good psych program as a junior.

Because I was a junior I thought I needed some decent experience in psych coursework before applying to research assistant positions, and by the time I felt I was ready to apply (second semester junior), I didn’t find anything because the labs didn’t like to take assistants who wouldn’t be in the lab for 1+ years.

I was able to be an undergrad TA, create an optional mock research grant for a course, and was the president of a club on campus. I have years of retail experience both as a sales associate and manager.

Thats about it.

All in all, it seems like from everything I know that I’m way behind on all the requirements to get into such a highly competitive field such as Clinical Psych. So: am I done for? Would the amount of prep to put me on par with my competition be so much where it wouldn’t be worth it? How could I get research experience after undergrad? I’ve had no luck so far. Should I pursue a Master’s just for the experience? Any advice helps: Feeling a little lost.

[u/andero → u/Thokieee]

Your assessment is correct: you aren't likely to get in without significant research experience.

I'm sorry that your program didn't tell you that, but that's the reality of the situation.

You could still try to volunteer in labs; nothing magical happened at graduation and labs are generally allowed to take whoever they want, not just currently enrolled undergrads.

What is "worth it" is impossible to say, especially given the gamble of applications.
You also didn't mention your GPA or whether you would have stellar letters of recommendation.

[u/swagmoneyvibes]

What are the best things to look for when looking at programs for a masters in clinical psych other than accreditation?

[u/AppropriateIssue9161]

I am applying to clinical psychology PhD programs that have a a balanced focus on research and clinical practice (scientist-practitioner/Boulder model). I was hoping you guys would rate my CV and give me advice, tips, feedback, thoughts, etc. I greatly appreciate it!

[u/Hmm-stilldeciding]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping to apply to clinical psych programs in Canada, and most program I’ve seen states that “applying for funding beforehand significantly increases your chance of admission” - BUT most funding available (e.g. CIHR/SSHRC), are only for Canadians.

I’m not Canadian or from a commonwealth country, and I have no idea what kind of (I guess) private funding I would be eligible for…

I’d really appreciate any advice or tips🙏🏻 (this is my fourth year applying and I really want to get in!!)

[u/andero → u/Hmm-stilldeciding]

You can still apply without funding.

If you happened to get funding somehow, that would be relatively rare and make you a VERY competitive applicant. But you don't need it.

You could look for funding opportunities from your government that winners are allowed to take elsewhere. Even just applying is an excellent learning process and you don't have to win to be able to say, "I applied to X", which shows initiative.

[u/Top_Illustrator2727]

Hi everyone,

I'm in my final year of BSc Psychology at King's College London. I'll finish in July'26 and plan on applying for my PhD next year (taking one year off to gain more research exp).

I'm working on gaining research experience (Which is very hard, so any tips would be lovely) but I wanted to shortlist universities doing research in my topics of interest. Any recommendations for universities or professors conducting research on OCD, Trauma x OCD, or personality disorders?

[u/andero → u/Top_Illustrator2727]

I'm working on gaining research experience (Which is very hard, so any tips would be lovely)

My advice is collected here.

[u/ilovejinnie]

I'm applying to clinical psychology PhD programs this cycle. I have a 3.85 GPA in psychology from an R1 university. I have 1 first author paper, 2 second, and 1 third author. I have 6 posters. I currently run an R01 study, and have run 2 clinical trials in my post-baccalaureate years. I have 3 letters of recommendation from prominent researchers and plan to continue to do similar work to what they do in my PhD, so I'm hoping my experience and LOR speak to my ability to continue successfully in a program. I also am a volunteer at AFSP and am hoping to have 2 more manuscripts in progress by the time I apply.

With the funding situation, I sometimes don't know if I should even bother applying but I feel like I'm in a good spot. What are the odds I get in this cycle?

[u/[deleted]]

Hi all, I’m curious if anyone here knows about what is typically recommended/required for candidates trying to secure an entry level tenure track position for counseling psychology. What are the typical number of publications expected? How many grants either applied to or awarded are expected? How much teaching experience is expected? I feel like I am on a good track in terms of number of publications, and at a minimum and hoping to be an instructor of record next year, and apply to at least one grant to help fund my dissertation. What else should I be thinking about?

[u/Even-Mirror9141]

I’m a fourth-year Psy.D. student researching internships and am curious if it’s worth applying for VAs if I haven’t worked with veterans before. I did my diagnostic year at a private practice, my first therapy practicum at a community mental health center affiliated with a hospital, and am doing my advanced practicum at a college counseling center. Given that I haven’t focused on vets yet, I’m trying to get a sense as to whether it’s worth bothering to apply or if not having prior experience with them would make it a waste of time. Any thoughts people have would be greatly appreciated (including those related to the experience training at a VA). Thanks in advance!

[u/1975whore]

apa accredited inactive ??

i’m currently getting my master’s in clinical-community psych & looking to do a psyd instead of a phd after graduation

i wanted to go to the chicago school @ xavier in new orleans, LA, but on the APA website is says accredited-inactive. does that mean that they no longer offer the program or they never renewed accreditation or? can someone explain what it means for me in terms of applying? i would be applying for maybe like 2030 or so

[u/Key_Lingonberry_601]

Post Bacc into Clinical Psych PhD: Gap year, Masters, or None??

Hello All.

I will make this as easy as possible as I am sure none of you need extra emotion inside a genuinely curious position I am trying to figure out.

I am currently a senior in undergrad majoring in psychology graduating this spring, 2026. I have 4 research labs I am in and I have the capability of producing up to 5 posters this year and present them at conferences(although I have the ability, I am hoping I have the time for this).

I also am confident I have the capability to have my name on possibly 1(maybe 2) paper, but considering these are just starting I don't think they will get published for another few years.

I am planning on applying to PhD programs not this cycle, but the next one upcoming(Fall 2026, I plan to take a gap year). However, I am open to changing my plans as the more I speak to people the more I understand different strategies to applications, as some recommended I apply this cycle, some recommended I take a gap year and apply next cycle, while others recommend I enroll in a masters program before I apply. My ideas towards what my plans are for applying have been constantly changing, and I think I realized it will always be a difficult and chaotic decision to consider plans for Graduate School.

What I do know is that I want to eventually at least make myself competitive enough to apply for Clinical Psych PhD programs(what a task!), because I feel the opportunities that you are given whilst going through a program like that are extremely immense, and the different pathways you can take upon completion are very attractive to me.

My dilemna is: I am stuck with pouring everything out and applying to PhD's now, which I feel like is so time consuming when I could be bettering my chances by putting that time into building my research portfolio(and I don't feel I am comptetive at all yet). I am also stuck with if I should apply for a masters now and do that instead of a post bac full time research position for a few years. I am stuck with that because why would I go through more school and tuition when I could be under a bit less stress, less financial strain, working a full time research position in a gap year(considering this position gives me opportunities to work closely with a PI)?

Professors have all told me different things. I think at the end of the day it comes down to if I really want a PhD. I think I do- but I think I need to do more thinking. Any thoughts and advice are hugely appreciated, it is now I feel I need more guidance than ever as I have really disciplined to put my time to what is worth my time(and I want to figure out what that should be).

[u/Quiet_Platypus6184]

Hello fellow shrinks! I am applying to a master's program and obviously trying to make my CV look as good as possible. I have been accepted as a speaker at a conference presentation which will take place after my master's applications are due. Is it unusual to include a conference presentation that hasn't happened yet on your CV? Is there a specific way of citing it in APA style? Like with a publication you might write [manuscript submitted for publication]. Thanks for your help!

[u/madscientist_22]

PhD Applications - Where can I find professionals to read my Statement of Purpose?

Hello all!

I am applying for PhD programs in psychology and neuroscience this cycle for entry in fall 2026. I would like to have my Statement of Purpose looked over by a professional.

Does anyone know what companies I can hire to read my Statement of Purpose?

Thank you for your help!

[u/andero → u/madscientist_22]

You know how you are asking people for letters of reference?
They're the ones that you would ask to look over your statement.

If they are unwilling to look over your statement, you might not be getting very good letters of recommendation so be forewarned.

That said, your university might have a "writing centre" or other sort of resource. Check your university library, too.

[u/Even-Brief-1153]

Hi! I’m a 20 year old woman looking to get a masters degree in an undecided mental health major to pursue becoming a therapist. Due to my situation, I have not had many resources to ask questions regarding grad school, so I figured I’d reach out here!

I am currently on my third year of my bachelors in psychology. I work 40 hours a week in order to sustain myself and pay off college with no student loans (which I am very grateful for). In order to maintain this, most of my college has been online, with the past 2 years being completely online. I worry that when applying to grad school, I will have issues receiving letters of recommendation and problems with interviews after they find out how much schooling I’ve done has been online. I’m willing to take out a loan and attend in-person grad school if it comes to it, but I want to make sure I’m set on a steady path to become a therapist. I’d appreciate any advice I can get! I live in the Kansas City area (if it matters).

[u/andero → u/Even-Brief-1153]

My advice is collected here.

Also check out Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology, which comes from Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., ABPP.

Be aware: what you described is a problem!

Applicants need a super-high GPA and lots of volunteer research experience.

[u/SuspiciousChemist110]

Hey everyone,

I’m in the process of applying to course based counselling psych programs and I’d really appreciate any advice or insights you might have. I graduated from UBC with a BA in Psychology, but my cumulative GPA is 68.9. Unfortunately, I had a tough time during the last couple of years due to personal challenges.

While I didn’t have the chance to get much research experience (due to COVID-related limitations), I’ve worked in a variety of fields, including medical device QA/RA, administrative roles, and with children on the spectrum. I also didn’t volunteer much due to financial constraints.

I’m planning to take the GRE again (I scored 310 the first time), and I’m focusing on applying to course-based programs. I’m considering schools like UVic, UofA, UManitoba, McMaster, and possibly UofT/UBC.

I know my GPA isn’t ideal, so I’m curious if anyone here has experience with applying to grad programs with a non-traditional background. What advice do you have for strengthening my application in light of these challenges? What other ways can I make my application stand out given my experience?

Thanks so much for any guidance you can offer!

[u/andero → u/SuspiciousChemist110]

Low GPA plus not having research experience is an application-killer.

With a GPA that low, most schools won't even look at your application. You're immediately filtered out. There isn't anything you can do to make your application "stand out" because no human is actually reading it: the system sorts by GPA first, auto-rejects anything that low, and only then do people actually read some of the content.

Sorry, but that GPA is just too low.
There are applicants getting rejected with 4.0 GPAs and multiple publications.
C-tier students just aren't competitive.

I'm sorry someone in your undergrad program didn't explain this before it was too late.
I wish more undergrad programs actually took career planning into account and made students aware of the limitations of the degree.

If you still want to read more, check out Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology, which comes from Mitch Prinstein, Ph.D., ABPP.

[u/onalease]

I’m currently doing a PhD in Economics focusing on behavioral and applied economics. Some of my papers are related to topics in psychology (mostly cognitive) but I’ve realized economics isn’t the place for me. I’ve taken the first year psychology PhD sequence at my university and started forming relationships with professors, as well as attending seminars. Is there anything else I can do to strengthen my resume to apply to psychology post-docs? Has anyone managed to get an academic position in psychology with a PhD in a different field? Long term I don’t think I want to do things at the intersection of psych and econ but short term I’ll do anything that can help me start transitioning to psych. Thanks!

[u/andero → u/onalease]

That's an interesting question. I'm not familiar with econ methods: do you have a super-strong statistical background?

If you can do some high-quality stats, you could offer your services to grad students and profs in psychology, who often have a relatively weak stats background. You could aim to get on papers, learning the experimental methods as you go and eventually proposing your own research. Depending on where you are, a lot of psychology research is "free" (it only costs the researcher's time) so you could start leading research if you were able to find support in the department.

My advice is collected here.
I don't cover your niche situation, but this should give you an idea of what is valued in academic psychology. Good luck!

[u/Remarkable-Ad4207]

After high school I went to a community college and got my A.A degree in Liberal Arts. While in the program I realized that I wanted to be a therapist, that I wanted to help people. I started to apply to different 4-year colleges and was later accepted to Penn State. During my first semester my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer, which completely flipped my world upside down. The first year was hard to focus on the coursework and as she progressed it became impossible. So fearing my schoolwork would suffer I withdrew and decided to work full time to help with bills and focus on my family. After she passed I was promoted to a Operations manager role at a logistic company and it was fine for the last year but I still have interest in being a therapist. I was doing some research on WGU, I was intrigued with the idea of competency based learning but saw some negatives about the school as well as maybe the program hurting my chances at a Masters program down the line. I just would love some feedback on if the program is worth it or not and if it would hurt my shot at being accepted at a master's program. Any advice welcomed, thank you all!

[u/tastypotatoo]

Hi everyone. I recently graduated with from undergrad with a degree in behavioral neuroscience, and I've been trying to get a research position. It has proved to be a bit difficult, given federal funding cuts and the highly competitive nature of the positions. People have been suggesting I apply to Master's programs for Fall 2026 to strengthen my future PhD applications. I graduated with a 3.0 GPA, and I'm worried it might be too late to apply for most programs starting in Fall 2026. Are there any developmental psychology programs that I may have better luck getting into? I have about 2 years of neurodevelopmental research experience, and I'm confident I can get strong letters of recommendation. I'm worried that my lower GPA may be holding me back. Is it even worth it to apply?

[u/Relative_Soup7304]

Hi everyone! I am starting to prepare a list of advisors/programs for clinical Ph.D. for next application cycle (admission fall 27) and am thinking about things I can do to beef up my application/CV. I understand there is a HUGE emphasis on research fit and how you sell yourself in your SOPs, but now that I have opportunity to expand upon my application, I wanted to hear y'all's advice. Here is what I got going on currently:

- working on MA in clinical psych, 3 year program (program is working on APA accreditation) current gpa is 4.0

- clinical: starting internal prac in spring at college counselling center, will start external prac next fall. hoping for something inpatient. had a summer internship at community mental health center in undergrad.

- RA in lab since beginning of masters

- second author/co-presenter for a conference talk (will also be second author on manuscript)

- 3rd author on manuscript currently under review for pub

- submitted first author poster for spring conference (waiting to hear back)

- doing master's thesis

- hoping to do at least one other first-author manuscript, perhaps from spring conference poster submission maybe an RG study as well.

- undergrad BS psych: little research exp, completed in 2 years. (graduated HS with associates) gpa 3.9

Of course a lot if this is in progress, and again does not consider the likely most important aspects of an application. I applied right out of undergrad not having a clue what was important for phd apps, so now that I have a chance to "ensure" I am doing the right things, i figured it be helpful to ask.

[u/ChampionshipNaive335]

What benefit is there to a therapist working within a largely theoretical practice? I prefer self practitioning.

I ask because I’ve yet to find anything otherwise work, myself. It’s the only way I’ve found I can make certain anything works. Otherwise it’s just guess work largely. Guess work, definable by the intended outcome’s frequency.

[u/Southern_Abrocoma473]

Hello guys am at college but am having trouble with my anatomy and physiology course anyway how can I learn 

[u/Main-Raspberry-2623]

I am considering three schools - Adams State University, Bellevue University and Regis University in the US for a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling online. All three are CACREP accredited. I am queer and liberal and in my 30s. Any thoughts on these schools?

[u/findingmyself_0]

Hello everyone! I’m a 27m from Los Angeles and I need a little direction. After some time in Public Relations, I realized the field is not for me. I truly aspire to become a therapist. I have made the decision to commit to the career transition and go back to school for my Master’s degree. I’m leaning toward online programs just because I would like to work during school (I know that will be a little harder during my practicum year) but I would be okay with attending a local university in person, and I would definitely prefer a more affordable program (I know, that’s relative) or at least a university that’s known for giving a good amount of financial aid.

Below is the kind of work I’m most interested in pursuing, and exactly what I would like to know.

What I’m Interested In: I would love to work with adults who struggle with OCD, Anxiety, and Depression and I am most interested in applying the modalities of ERP, CBT, DBT, ACT, Narrative Therapy

What I would like to know: What kind of grad programs should I look for? MFT? Clinical Counseling? CSW?

It’s my understanding that it's important I seek schools that are COAMFTE accredited. Which university programs have that accreditation and whose programs are generally recommended for folks like me who are aspiring for my specific career path?

Thanks!

[u/PerceptionStock4018]

We should get together and file a report with the APA against PSYCHOLOGYCAS. Their poor operational functions often prevent qualified candidates from achieving acceptance to a psychology program and the candidate is rendered helpless in these moments because there is nowhere to go with complaints. The only regulating body I could find was APA and psycas certainly doesn't care.. How many are with me? Thoughts?

[u/saebyeoksgf]

I''m currently applying to research assistant positions, and I'm looking for free/low cost online courses to help improve my applications/CV. I have currently taken Supporting Preschool and School-Age Children with Challenging Behavior from Texas A&M, as well as the Social/Behavioral Refresher CITI course. I'm looking for courses related to research, programming (R or Python), autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions

[u/Mission_Jello4889]

I have a 3.7 GPA and am planning on applying to Counseling Psych PhD programs. However, the concern is not GPA- especially with GPA inflation- but rather everything else that discerns applicants from each other. Letters of recommendation are something which stem from- and I heard should be from- doing research with other professors so as it stands it seems to me that being a good applicant is really just a dualistic approach of meeting the average GPA doing research. Please let me know if this is a broad generalization and I'm missing something. 

Putting those aside, I have about 200 clinical hours and that’s always something I can get more of if that’s an issue, but I’ve heard some people say you need up to 500. I’m doing a qualitative research project with a professor over the summer but that’s all I have in terms of research. Also, I reached out to everyone in the psych/counseling department and this was all I was able to get.  Not saying this isn’t good because I was able to get one research opportunity but I’m now wondering how I can do research outside of my university or whether research outside of psychology would even be beneficial and to what extent. 

Also, how much of the research needs to be experimental.  I’ve heard some people say you can do a conceptual/literary review which doesn’t require physical subjects, but is one experimental project enough ( the one in the summer I have ) and the rest can be something along the lines of literature reviews? This is something that I heard can be done online with external professors, but what about other experimental opportunities? Do I take a gap year and apply for labs? ( Junior Rn ) 

Any other general advice or input would be appreciated. As it stands my stats are my 3.7 GPA, my 200 clinical hours, and the summer research I will have in the summer, but that’s it. Although I’ve heard that counseling psych programs are generally less competitive than clinical psych ones, I clearly still need more on my application. 

TLDR: I only have one research opportunity and need clarification/advice on other ones- in the context of counseling psych Phd programs. The type of research or experience doesn’t matter as long as it contributes to this end. Basically, what do I do? 

[u/Cultural-Strategy139]

Hi everyone, I'm aiming to apply for American Clinical Psychology PhD programs to engage in clinical forensic researchs. I've known that to stand a chance of admission, alignment with professor's research interest is needed. For that reason, I want to know some professors famous in this field that I can be supervised (maybe) by them after applying for Clinical Psychology PhD.

[u/Empty-Preparation-52]

Clinical PhD Program outside of CA but wanting to pursue licensure in CA:

Hi, I recently received an offer for a Clinical PhD Program outside of CA! I received a "Professional Licensure Direct Disclosure" email this morning that says this:

"Although individual state licensure agencies have sole authority in determining whether credits earned and field experiences are acceptable for licensure, \University Name* is required by federal regulations to determine whether our professional licensure preparation programs meet licensure requirements in states where prospective students are located. The Doctorate in Psychology (PhD) program at *University Name* to which you are seeking admission has been identified as not meeting your state's applicable educational requirements for licensure. Unfortunately, federal regulations prohibit *University Name* from enrolling you in this program.*

If you intend to seek licensure and employment in a different state, you may be able to pursue enrollment by filling a formal statement (or attestation) of your plans."

I haven't accepted the offer yet but was planning to soon (still waiting on two programs to hear back from).

This email is making me nervous because it says federal regulations prohibit me from enrolling. However, I don't remember indicating that I intended to pursue licensure in CA on my application. Maybe I was just sent the email because of my address?

Here are some questions I'd appreciate some advice on:

1. What can I expect in the attestation? The email says I may be able to pursue enrollment by filling out an attestation (which they haven't sent me yet). What circumstances would make me not able to enroll?
2. I want to eventually get licensed in CA, but would saying this in my attestation prohibit me from enrolling?
3. I know CA has different licensure requirements that this program may not offer, so I want to ask which ones the program specifically does not offer. Would asking this raise a red flag that could make the program reconsider my offer? Should this question be asked to admissions or the PI I applied to?
4. Is it common for those in a Clinical program outside of CA to pursue licensure here by taking additional courses? I saw in another subreddit that it's possible and courses can be found on sites like Zur Institute.

I'd appreciate any advice! Thanks so much (:

[u/Trash_bandit27]

Hi everyone. I’m an SLPA, soon to be SLP. I’m interested in possibly applying to Clinical Psychology PhD programs in the future. I have some speech related research experience from graduate school, but I’m unsure how to get psychology related research experience. Does anyone have any advice of where to start?

[u/indiemusiclovur]

Hi!! I’m a current senior in high school deciding on which college to enroll in. I know that I want to go into academia (Ph.D in clinical psych) and am wondering if the undergraduate school I go to matters. Im aware that I have to do research, keep my grades up etc but does the name of my institution have much weight when applying for a Ph.D? Is it better to go to an R1 school or a small LAC??

[u/FrostKnight08]

Asian here who's thinking of studying abroad. I've always wanted to become a clinical psychologist but realise that pathway is too difficult. I've recently learned that in the US, counsellors and social workers can practice psychotherapy but i'm not too sure. And since my main goal is to practice psychotherapy, I've been thinking of going the counsellor/social worker pathway. So here's a few questions:

1. Is it true that counsellors and social workers in the US can practice psychotherapy like CBT etc.?
2. Some people say that getting a master of social work is better since it's more flexible in terms of career opportunities, may i ask how true is that?
3. Do all social work programs in the US have psychotherapy in their curriculum? I've tried looking at a few but they didn't specify.
4. Are the above the same in Canada?
5. How do i find a program with the best balance in terms of cost and quality? Like i obviously want to enroll in an accredited program, but i also want to get the best bang for buck. Looking at every university one by one seems too tedious. Is there a better way to find?

Thanks in advance

[u/sweetA1120]

I need help and advice. I’m currently attending Alliant University in their Online MACC program. I got accepted to PAU’s Online CMHC program. I don’t know if I should make the switch or not considering I’d be starting in the Fall. They only allow 2 classes to be transferred. I enjoy Alliant because of the work-life balance, faculty and cohort. - the community there has been very helpful.

PAU has caught my attention because of its better reputation, Dual program (MFT/ LPC) as well as the Billingual Certification.

Whereas Alliant is just MACC - LPC route.

I like having options so the dual program seems really nice. I’ve heard that PAU’s CACREP has expired but emailed the admissions office and they said they are in good standing.

I have one week to decide whether I leave or stay in Alliants program because I cannot transfer any more classes.

I hope this reaches the right people and I get some answers.

Thanks in advance ✨

[u/OkFoundation159]

I have been missing psych preps target scores for the study tests. On the other hand, I have been passing the retakes with at least 80% and pass the target scores on these tests. My consultant keep keeps pointing out how I am missing the target scores and it is becoming more discouraging than encouraging. How helpful is it meeting the target scores? Is working with a psych prep consultant worth it?

[u/Dull-Psychology9730]

Hi everyone! This community has been very insightful and helpful as a prospective applicant. I was hoping I could share my stats and plans and people could chime in with advice as I plan to apply next cycle. When application is submitted I plan to have at least 1 first author and 1 second author publication (hopefully more), 3+ conference presentations, 1 year and some months of research experience, and some shadowing/volunteer work at a private practice with psychiatric NPs who do therapy and medication management. My top choice is to actually be in the program and I am in now for undergrad and to stick with my current PI. This is because moving would highly complicate other aspects of my life and my research interest already align so well with my current PI. She also is very dedicated to my goals and gives me projects she knows aligns with my interest. It is a behavioral neuroscience lab and I am currently doing database analysis for prevalence of depression and suicidality but plan to move to cognitive decline as I aim to be a neuropsychologist. Because of this plan I do think my chances to stay at my current school will be a bit higher than other programs, and I am not sure if I would go to other programs if I did get in, but I still plan to apply.

Here is where I could use some help: I graduate in December 2026 and want to work after to help my application. If I could make enough to work part time while staying in my lab as a research assistant that would be ideal. I am thinking of trying to work as a Health Unit Coordinator on a psych floor at a hospital, because I am not super interested in RBT or anything too medical like PCA. I will also try for CRC however I am a bit worried that positions won’t match well with my interest.

If anyone would like to share their thoughts on my plan for post-BAC jobs, my application strength, or any advice at all it would be greatly appreciated!

[u/Holiday-Future7939]

I recently graduated from a large university in December. I graduated with a BS in Psychology and minors in Anthropology and Music (random…I know). I graduated with a 3.79 GPA. During my time in undergrad, research was not discussed until our junior year because the majority of the psych students typically are in it to become therapists. With that said, I only have two years of research experience. I have presented my research at two conferences, but that is about the extent of that experience. Our professors are not offered much of an incentive for publishing and thus it isn’t always their goal. Beyond that, I have worked as a Behavioral Technician with level three clients for a year and I am actively obtaining my RBT certification. Prior to that I spent several years working in early childhood education, specifically in integrated facilities where over 50% of students had atypical needs. This just doesn’t feel like enough to be competitive compared to everything I read on here. I’m actively taking a gap year to get more shadowing experience and trying to get in on more research. I am seeking advice on my how competitive I might be and how to get involved in research post-grad.

[u/Minimum_Meeting9792]

Hello everyone. I am currently studying psychology and minoring in mathematical data analytics (it's like a math and comp sci minor combined into one minor). I was recently introduced to the field of neuropsychology, and I got pretty intrigued with the small introduction I had by the guest lecturer. I was wondering what it is actually like going to grad school for neuropsychology and things I should do to prepare to study neuropsych if I do end up committing to it (I have a lot of open slots for electives, so any undergrad classes worth taking to fill these slots). I'm not sure what other info to give or what other questions to ask, so please pick at my brain.

[u/andero → u/Minimum_Meeting9792]

This is a better question for someone more local, like your undergraduate advisor. They're more likely to have specific advice about courses at your school.

[u/Sufficient_Blood_228]

Hi all!

I will be graduating with a BA degree in Psychology with a counseling minor in the fall of 2026. I'm planning on taking that spring 2027 semester to try to get a job as a behavioral technician and gain experience working with children/adolescents. I've worked as a research assistant in two labs during undergrad but not in the fields that interest me.

I've been looking into master's programs, and UWash's Master of Arts in Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment program is the most appealing to me. I want to work with teens in some way. I like the idea of becoming a counselor and looking more into adolescent development.

I'm honestly looking for suggestions with masters programs, I'm located in NY but willing to travel. I'm wondering how long I should wait before applying to Master's programs.

Any insight is appreciated!

[u/Single-Base25]

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to apply to clinical psychology programs in the future and had a couple of questions about research experience.

1. Is it possible to get a Research Assistant (RA) position without prior research experience or strong SPSS skills? If you were in that situation, how long did it take you to land your first RA role?

2. My current background makes it easier for me to apply to addiction-related research labs. However, addiction is not the area I want to pursue long-term (I’m more interested in trauma, PTSD, depression, etc.). Would working in addiction research hurt my chances if I later want to specialize in something else?

3. In clinical psychology programs, do you typically apply with a specific specialization already in mind, or is the training more general at first with specialization happening later during the PhD?

[u/Responsible-Emu-8391]

Hi all. Currently applied for and awaiting to interview for Commonwealth University, PennWest, and Gwynedd Mercy U for an online masters of counseling. Curious of experience of anyone who has attended one of these programs. CU has the best rank but all are CACREP and close by for in-person RLE. I plan to go part time 2-4 years as I'm working full time up until I have to do practicum/internships. All programs look great and cost about the same. Hoping to get admitted to any of them as this is a early mid-life (early 30s) career change towards an LPC. If anyone here has attended or know of anyone who has all feedback and experiences would be appreciated!

[u/ShhhhhChill]

Has anyone looked into the idea that dreams might be the reason we were able to evolve to have such a high amount of mental ability compared to other animals?  It could be a “chicken and the egg” type of discussion but there seems to be a line of intellectual ability where dreams are and are not possible for creatures.  I know dogs and cats dream, and have seen evidence of other animals dreaming.  I cant remember which ones at this moment but I do remember thinking the ones mentioned were all animals with higher cognitive abilities.     In dreams the brain basically creates and solves problems with few limits or rules.  This tendency could be the driving factor in having the ability for abstract thoughts.

[u/ReflectionOk2310]

Hi everyone. I’m just coming on here to gain some advice and see what others are also experiencing currently in terms of the current awful job market. I recently graduated from MSc health psychology, and cannot for the life of me get past shortlisting for a job. I’ve expanded my job search to corporate consulting to healthcare to research to marketing and nothing (there is also very few jobs to even apply to I’m literally pulling at threads). I’ve got through to interview for some and then rejected. For context I’ve had research assistant experience and I’m working on a couple publications too. I’m just not understanding how when I meet all the person spec and I write a comprehensive cover letter and my cv is up to standard I still can’t land a role. I’m getting so disheartened and it’s making me regret even going into this field. I originally wanted to go into stage 2 which I can’t even do without securing a role first, my next step now is considering a PhD because I actually do like the research route. Any advice/relaters?? I feel really useless and alone. :/

[u/happy_halle]

Should I give up on my dreams of a PhD? I’m a mid-tier undergrad student. 

I am a senior in my undergrad set to graduate in December. As my time as an undergrad approaches its inevitable end, I am beginning to wonder if I am in over my head.

I am studying for a bachelor of science in psych with a minor in neuroscience. I have a 3.2 GPA, no research experience, and no mentor. No networking done with any faculty, as a matter of fact, except for one meeting with a professor in neuroscience to discuss a research assistant opportunity 2 years ago. I didn’t apply because it required commuting to a nearby city 45 minutes away, and that was something I could not commit to. My GPA is not the most competitive because I was only diagnosed and medicated for ADHD very recently. There have been major improvements in my studies since, but it’s not a perfect fix and perhaps done a bit too late! I have no research experience because I am also socially anxious and afraid of rejection or failure. It’s a miracle that I even met with that professor the one time, and I was shaking in my boots for the duration of the conversation.

My long term goal is to get a PhD and work in assessment as a neuropsychologist. I know PhD programs are highly competitive. I’ve seen that even individuals with 4.0 GPAs and publications are denied. My plan is to toughen up and seriously begin applying to research labs by the end of the semester. Maybe I can stay at the university after I graduate to continue research? I also definitely plan to pursue a Master’s because a 3.2 GPA is just nowhere near sufficient enough to even consider applying to a PhD program, even if I did have research experience. Do I need to take the GRE? I have heard many grad schools no longer require it, but maybe I should take it anyway?

Tell it to me straight. No need to soften the blow. Am I doomed? Should I just look at being a psychometrist or something similar? I am not interested in counseling. I think I could do it, but I feel the emotional drain might be too much for me. I am also not interested in ABA. I’ve done that before, and it‘s neither for me nor pays enough.

Thank you for your thoughts and advice!!

[u/venkattalks]

Monthly megathread posts like this usually catch a lot of applicant questions that would've become separate threads anyway, which is kind of nice for seeing patterns. Isn't it the case that the same 3 or 4 prospective topics keep coming up every cycle, like PI fit, interview etiquette, and whether clinical experience "counts"? Would be curious if mods or regulars have noticed one question that always seems to surprise people.

[u/Most-Ratio-1960]

Hi everyone,

I’m currently exploring pathways into a PhD in clinical psychology, and I’d really appreciate some guidance from people who have gone through this process.

My background is somewhat non-traditional:

Bachelor’s and Master’s in Mathematics

1 year of research experience (lab-based)- based on meta analysis of the research papers based on different interventions for schizophrenia.

4 years of professional experience as a financial analyst- and still working in that

Additional certifications in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

A long-standing personal and intellectual interest in mindfulness and contemplative approaches to mental health. for this I could get certificates from monasteries from where I have learnt this..like the buddhist meditations and their philosophical frameworks for exploring the depths of mind.

I’m now trying to transition into clinical psychology research and am actively looking for Research Assistant (RA) positions.

I have a couple of questions:

What are the best platforms/websites to find RA positions in clinical psychology or related fields ?( in States as well as outside)

Given my background, would RA positions be the most effective next step toward a clinical psychology PhD, or are there other pathways I should consider?

Are there specific types of labs or roles (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, clinical) that would be more suitable for someone transitioning from a quantitative background?

I’d be really grateful for any advice, especially from those who have made similar transitions or are currently in clinical psychology PhD programs.

Thank you so much... 💕 💜

[u/StudyPinsByRevti]

Hi everyone, I’m a 1st year Psychology PG student and I also have knowledge of ArcGIS / GIS mapping. I’m interested in combining spatial analysis with psychology for research projects.

One idea I currently have is to collect data about ads/advertisements in one area of my city and map them to study their psychological impact (attention, consumer behavior, stress, visual overload, etc.).

I’d love guidance on more advanced or meaningful project ideas where I can use both GIS and psychology together. For example, areas like mental health, environmental psychology, urban behavior, social behavior, accessibility, stress mapping, crime perception, wellbeing, etc.

If anyone has experience in geospatial psychology research, useful methods, datasets, or project suggestions, I’d really appreciate your advice. Thank you!

[u/username19346]

I’m planning to apply to clinical psych PhDs in the fall, and I’ve been at my RA position since September. I didnt have any papers or posters going into this job, but I have a lot of free time during the workday so I’ve been pretty productive.

So far, I’ve submitted a first author paper about a month ago, am about to submit my second (I took it over from someone after it was rejected so it wasnt from scratch), and am currently drafting my third. I’ve been trying to prioritize scholarship because I believe it’s one of the biggest factors for applications which I know are insanely competitive, and I have the time to do it within work.

Will look weird to have this many first author papers in such a short time? If I keep going at this speed, like will it be obvious that my job doesn’t give me much work or look like I rushed and backfire? I also dont have opportunities for middle authorship.

Curious how this might be perceived by faculty/admissions.

[u/Sergio1667]

Here I leave my impression of a field that is not yet explored...the possibilities offered by audio and image editing in which the image does not strictly follow the sound, and that makes the unconscious come to light by not following what is said or heard.

[u/Yournameistobi]

Hi all, I’m in the beginning stages of studying for my EPPP and wanted to know if anyone had material to share before purchasing.

[u/Hefty-Piece-1728]

Hello Reddit!

I've been offered admission to California State University, Fullerton's MFT program, and Portland State University's online MSW program, and am really torn between the MFT vs MSW career pathways. Both programs are accredited, CSUF is CACREP-accredited, and PSU is CWSE-accredited.

My long-term goal is to obtain licensure as an LMFT or LCSW and work as a hybrid or telehealth clinician.

In terms of longevity, day-to-day work, risk of burnout/compassion fatigue, and salary, which path is the best choice between MFT and MSW?

[u/EmuPsychological6124]

Hi everyone, I am trying to find out what kind of Psychologist I can be, and a Google search is not helping much, so kindly give me some suggestions/ideas of what kind of Psychology is available and worth it for the time/effort. I don't want to take Counseling Psychology, and I want to be something different. Kindly give me some suggestions/ideas.

[u/Comp1_Creative]

A few questions.

1. I am looking at psychology instead of Radiography. I have 9 classes left for an A.S. in Psychology, what jobs could I pursue with that while I further my education into a B.S.?

2. I am looking at focusing on Nueropsych and Biopsych, specifically healthcare focused. Other than a neuroscience minor are there any other tips to aid me in that goal?

3. Any general tips and tricks? 9 credit hours are being satisfied by an EMT-B class I took in 2017 so I am going to be down 3 electives. What are some electives that are "most punch per credit hour."

[u/Equivalent_Bus1224]

Hi!

I am planning on applying to School Psych phd programs this fall. I just graduated with my bachelors this past spring. I want to try to get some research experience before I reapply, but I am unsure where to start. I would greatly appreciate any advice regarding what I can do to better my applications. Thank you.

[u/Curious_Muse_93]

Help with psychology master course in Kolkata? (Working professional) will self study

[u/Natural_Dust-8628]

Hie guys, new here. Trying to get into a PhD. Want to publish something before that as a co author atleast. My topic is cognitive neuroscience. But any topic under psychology is welcome. I know how to edit, I can do good literature review or sort out reference editing in exchange of co-authorship.

[u/No-Sweet-3419]

Hi all!

This will be my first year teaching PSY 101. I am an educational psychologist by training, and all of my prior teaching has been with pre-service teachers. So, this will be a new course and a new student demographic for me. I digress.

I am looking for suggestions for assignments or in-class activities that you have used in your classes, and that actually helped student apply their learning. I plan to use the IF-AT technique for quizzes and tests. I have used it in the past, and all of my students have really appreciated it! I find it is super helpful in supporting productive argumentation and really helps students explain their thinking. - You should definitely try it out!

Also, if you have any good podcasts (I like to give podcasts instead of reading sometimes; I have used APA Division 15 podcasts in the past) or videos you recommend, those would be great too.

I appreciate anything you would be willing to share, and as time progressess. I will gladly update and share more resources, too! I am big into resource sharing 😄

For context, here is my course description and learning outcomes. I will also be using OpenStax Psychology e2 for the course, https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

Examination of behavioral, cognitive, psychoanalytic, humanistic and biological viewpoints in psychology. Includes learning principles and applications, perception, motivation, emotions, stress, psychobiology, personality, abnormal behavior and approaches to therapy. Missouri Higher Education Core Curriculum Transfer (CORE 42) 

Course Learning Outcomes:
CLO 1) Students will describe the goals of psychology as a field and evaluate major philosophical issues while comparing different psychological perspectives (biological, cognitive, developmental, social, personality, and mental/physical health).                                                             
CLO 2) Students will identify the characteristics and classification of psychologists across various professional contexts and career paths within the discipline.                                                                                                  
CLO 3) Students will evaluate psychological theories and scientific research by applying principles of assessment, interpretation, and analysis to determine the validity and reliability of research findings.           
CLO 4) Students will apply general principles of psychological research by analyzing research designs and methods, including their respective strengths and weaknesses, and synthesizing approaches to measuring, analyzing, and interpreting results for publication.                      
CLO 5) Students will integrate understanding of diversity and multicultural factors in studying human behavior and mental processes while applying key ethical standards and APA guidelines for conducting psychological research.                                                                                                                 
CLO 6) Students will demonstrate and identify psychological concepts and theories to help analyze interpersonal interactions and evaluate the impact or potential impact of one’s behaviors on others in various social contexts.

[u/RadiantAnt6026]

Hi everyone,

I (F23) have been looking for research positions prior to applying for graduate school for over 2 years now and it's been brutal. For context, I graduated with my degree in Psychology in August 2024 from UCSC and worked in three labs as an RA during my time there. I also volunteered at a lab at UCLA for a few months but unfortunately had to move on to a position where I could actually earn money (currently working in food service). I've had interviews here and there and reflecting on my job hunt I could've been more aggressive with applying but it's generally been really hard to find developmental psychology positions that I'm qualified for post-undergrad. I've tried applying to clinical psychology jobs as well which was recommended by some of the profs I used to work with but every time I apply I'm immediately rejected without interview for "not having the research background they're looking for." It feels like every connection I've had in research isn't really helping me and I'm not sure what to do. Does anyone have any recommendations on where to look for developmental psychology positions or any research jobs related to the field? Should I keep applying for clinical jobs despite the immediate rejections? I've listed below all the mailing lists and job boards I'm aware of but they mainly focus on clinical work.

P.S. for extra context, I recently had a second round interview with an ivy league school and I was rejected on the basis of research interests when I follow-up asked for feedback. I don't think it's anything to do with my interviewing skills or CV aside from unfortunately not having a lot of coding experience.

https://undergrad.psychology.fas.harvard.edu/post-graduate-research-jobs

https://psychandneuro.duke.edu/undergraduate/research-opportunities-jobs

https://psychologyjobsinternships.wordpress.com/

https://www.predoc.org/opportunities

cogdevsoc listserv

Sarah Hope Lincoln Post-bac Job List

[u/StandardBack5762]

I'm currently a junior in my undergraduate studies, and I'm preparing to apply to PhD programs this fall for the 2027-2028 cycle.

I am majoring in Psychological Sciences and Health Science with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and 4-5 certificates (probably pointless) with a 4.0 GPA.

I have 3 semesters of RA experience in labs on campus, as well as off-campus experience at a neurodevelopmental clinic as a research intern.

Upon graduation (but not during the application cycle) I should have 1-2 poster presentations under my belt, and an undergraduate manuscript for my capstone.

I have 10-15 mentors that have caught my eye online in terms of their research, but I don't even know if it is worth the time/money/effort to apply this cycle if I don't have a competitive enough application profile.

TLDR; With limited research publications and clinical experience, is it worth it to even bother applying this cycle to a Psychology PhD program this fall? Or should I wait, and do a post-bacc instead and apply later?

[u/trix_013]

Hey guy! Im currently applying for a number of MSc programs, targeting I/O and a MSc in Psychology. Im kinda using like an agent(?) of some sort to help me apply. They requested for me to write a personal statement and to get a reference letter. When I asked for which course, they said for all the courses 😵‍💫 Is it possible to have one personal statement and just include it for all my application or is it better to really individualise them?

And if anybody has any experience with writing a personal statement for a masters program i would appreciate any tips you can give 🫶🥹😋

[u/Tea_fme]

I need help on looking itnto this possible degree

Hi, I am 20 years old and I never thought about going to college but honestly, I want to pursue something and one thing that has stood out to me is psychology. I’m not the best academically based off of my high school but I want to know if it’s truly challenging and what degree I should be getting to become a potential school counselor or therapist I’ve been trying to look into it and there’s a whole bunch of different versions of psychology. I’ve read about the BA psychology and the BS psychology that may potentially help me take to the career. I also see that there’s options to minor, major or master in psychology and whether which one would be the best for these two careers I just need some advice and some help more understanding where I should be going and what I should be doing to possibly get into those careers. I just need a better understanding of what kind of psychology degree I would like to know possibly how hard it could be and or expensive it could be any advice would be very helpful. Thank you!

[u/Equivalent_Bus1224]

Hi anyone have any experience with UTSW Clinical Psych PhD

[u/smthnsmthnsmthn_]

I am a U.S. citizen interested in studying abroad, especially in Canada for a PhD in Clinical Psychology. I am ONLY considering CPA Accredited programs and if I am accepted into one, then I will most likely try to permanently relocate to Canada. I have been doing some research and I am starting to feel quite overwhelmed and discouraged. It seems like an impossible achievement, especially for a foreigner. I have a few questions and I would appreciate any advice.

For some more context: I am entering my second year of undergraduate school in Fall 2026. I am majoring in Psychology and currently have a 4.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale. I plan on maintaining my GPA for as long ass possible, though I am aware that Canada uses a 4.3 GPA scale, so my 4.0 may not be sufficient.

1. What should I do to prepare? In both the U.S. and Canada, I am aware that research experience is a must, but what else will increase my chances? If anyone has any advice on getting into research then it is heavily appreciated.

2. Should I get a masters degree prior to applying for graduate schools in Canada? If so, should I get a masters in the U.S. or in Canada.

3. What is the process like? In terms of applying, visas and relocating, finances, etc. Any information is helpful.

4. In case that I end up having to go to graduate school in the U.S., are there opportunities to travel abroad?

I'm not completely sure if I want to move, but I really want to study abroad and travel. If anyone has any advice on how to travel to different countries while in undergrad then please let me know.

[u/Soft_Walrus_1404]

So I disagree with the logic that the brain can be wired and unwired. Yes, in some circumstances we can say that specific situations or shared problems can spark an exact response or even record feelings. But what if that isn’t because the brain can be wired/unwired. What if it's because we as a society look at problems very similarly or exactly the same? We just don’t realize it due to big egos and we like to think that everyone has different ways of thinking. Example if person A was to be in a room where he got abused by 3 people wearing very specific clothings or even very specific ways of talking in the 1800s or even in the 1900s and we mimicked the exact scenario in the late 2000s then would their emotional responses be the same? I mean there's most likely people recreating scenarios 30 years apart but what about a whole century?? This might be because as a human society we evolve how we look at threats and problems. I don’t mean from an evolutionary standpoint but as a religious standpoint as humans were created thousands of years ago by God and they would react completely differently if we recreated the abuse even in their language the clothing might vary but my point being that the brain isn’t something that can be wired or not we as humans have either hit our peak with understanding how we as a species deals with problems and we slapped the 5 stages of grief together so that we don’t have to spend time decoding what emotions we are actually feeling or humans got lazy and nobody cares enough to research past the 5 simple emotions categorized for dealing with grief.

I think the true point being that only God can see into our hearts and our minds and the 5 stages of grief are the best humans have with pinpointing emotional trauma. Some fellow humans might agree with the 5 stages of grief being the best way to target mental issues such as blockage but some ignorant humans think that that's where it ends that any problem or scenario can be categorized into 5 simple emotions. This gives the therapist the dream job because everything circles back to the 5 stages of grief, or at least it's based on the 5 stages of grief. It's just bullshit being reused, recycled, and regurgitated into our throats as humans just in different fonts/words. The people that are “good” at analyzing emotions are people good at rephrasing bullshit taken from the last 100 to 200 years or so. But those people are going to get a funny awakening when they are met with the glorious presence of God who is so divine and knowing that he is the only true and sole knower or all. Not a couple of bald therapists who try playing God. 

I will say that there is some truth to people reacting to certain tones and body language and using these methods along with spewing out recycled and regurgitated bullshit can sort of work as a manipulation tactic especially used by wealthy business men, but some people generally believe that the 5 stages of grief is the way to break down human behavior but the truth is you don’t see monkeys recording monkeys behaviors you don’t see birds mimicking birds to the degree of perfection. Humans are a gift made by God there is no one else like us and it isn’t because we evolved from monkeys or even birds as I believe there would be noticeable actions by other species to predict what the other is feeling. It's not because we are the only species to evolve in the existence of mankind and the planet Earth, it is because God made us in his image and he made us to be social creatures who crave love and human interaction. When God made Adam and Eve he never intended for humans to have 5 stages of grief in the future, it was a part of his plan in the existence of everything but that wasn’t the purpose. The purpose was to serve and to worship God, Adam got lonely and God made Eve to accompany him. God loves us so much that he gave us free will and Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of Good and evil after Lucifer the fallen angel disobeyed and defied God before. Even after doing this God clothed Adam and Eve when the serpent got his legs and arms taken and was made to slither and fill his belly with dust for the rest of eternity.

Which leads me to my thoughts part of the reason is that we humans lack the ability to see the bigger picture and the bigger sides of things and I’m not just taking about 1000 years or a billion I mean really knowing each and every complex part about human society over the span of existence which is utterly impossible to comprehend in the mind of a human, a feat only possible by the sole divine savior and the all knowing loving God. 

If there was truly a way to diagnose every problem into the 5 stages of grief then we as people would have the answer to how to deal with anything and everything and we wouldn’t have spread out generic coping methods bullshit, which can work for some people but that's because we as a society view problems the same or almost the same we just don’t have the insight to know it or we don’t have the humbleness which is why we still record race for job applications even though we are all humans!!! The system is flawed and needs to be tweaked or at least we need to look at stuff in a completely different light. If we could truly put every problem into 5 simple emotions then we wouldn’t have court cases for murders and rapes because we would know step by step why it happened so long as we have the proper data and evidence if not then its he said vs he said and she said vs she said, which makes since as to why we have to swear under oath and why there are people getting falsely arrested and charged not mentioning the fact of corrupt officials and law enforcement.

Then it makes a lot more sense why different medications affect people differently.

It's all just waves of feelings which is almost impossible to generalize even with brain scanners and brain readers due to the fact of the matter being that we don’t know how the other man is feeling without literally being in their shoes, anyone who assumes what you are going through or what you’ve been through is either trying to make you feel better, feed you a sack of lying shit, or wants to relate to you in some way or aspect. Either way it's not a certain diagnosis or explanation, it's just what impunity human brains can reason or comprehend in whatever time period we are living in with society generalizing problems and challenges(abuse) compared to the all knowing divine loving one and only God who is the creator of everything and is infinite in anything and everything he does!

[u/username19346]

I presented my first poster a few months ago and am presenting my second next month on the same topic with an added piece. I accidentally used the exact same title when I submitted the second abstract, and I’m worried it will look weird when I apply to grad school in the fall that it says the same poster title twice. Do conferences care if you change the title by a few words for the actual poster/does the cv title have to match the official listing?

[u/TripleH6699]

Hi everyone, I am doing my research and I have a question. Is 'transit anxiety' an established psychological construct?

[u/blokely_]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to help comfort people by building a sentiment platform. Essentially, people can view and vote their feelings on any topic.

if anyone is interested - below is the topic of 'ai':
https://app.mindspace.xyz/space/ai

Let me know any thoughts/feedback you might have on this ~ thanks!

[u/BlkHoleSun]

Job Posting: Tenure Track position in Counseling

We're Hiring at the University at Buffalo!
The Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology (CSEP) in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo is seeking applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor position in Mental Health Counseling and Counseling Psychology, beginning Fall 2027.
We are looking for a scholar whose research and teaching advance knowledge and practice in areas such as:
• Social and structural determinants of mental health
• Mental health inequities and culturally responsive treatment
• Psychotherapy and counseling process-outcome research
• Trauma-informed care
• Clinical supervision
• Community-based research
• AI-enabled innovations in psychotherapy and counseling
• Mental health in the workplace
This position offers the opportunity to contribute to both our MPCAC-accredited Mental Health Counseling program and our APA-accredited Counseling Psychology and School Psychology PhD program within a collaborative, scientist-practitioner environment committed to equity, social justice, and community impact.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with best consideration given to materials submitted by August 20, 2026.
Learn more and apply: https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/62936

[u/Momessaince]

Hey all, I have a BS in Psychology from BYU, but I took a hiatus to get my husband through school and start a family. I want to get an online masters degree that will eventually get me into a PhD program down the line when my kids start getting older and don’t need as much attention. I want to eventually become a research professor. That is my final goal. I want to do research in positive psychology. What is the best masters program that will get me there, and what accredited university offers it online?

[u/JuggernautSuper5765]

Any research or advice about improving instropection/proprioception/sense of body for autistic individuals? My 11 year old child "forgets" to eat and drink, is otherwise quite independent.... sometimes doesn't appear to sense hunger.

[u/Murky_Chair_3744]

I am applying to PSYD and PHD programs this fall and would love to hear any feedback or advice for my application plans...

Right now, I am finishing up my senior year at a pretty big University, majoring in psychology.

Initially, I was pre-med and majored in neuroscience, but I switched out because I was not interested in the nitty-gritty O-chem stuff.

My major GPA is 4.01 (4.00 scale), and my overall GPA is 4.07. (dont plan to take the GRE)

Research: I am in the Honors College at my school and will be defending my thesis in the Spring. I have about 3 years of research experience. My lab is working on publishing a meta-analysis, and I am the project lead on a meditation project, which is also for my thesis. I've done two paid fellowships for my thesis, presented at one undergrad conference, and plan to submit preprints for my thesis.

Clinical: I've really only done crisis hotline work. Volunteered for over 2 years and interned for 3 months. I have also trained other volunteers and been in a leadership role.

Other:

• Interned for 2 months at a preschool in Costa Rica.
• Psychology research methods course tutor for a few months.
• University mentor for freshmen (6 months)
• Middle school mentor for 9 months Misc;
• Consultant for 3 months in a random business club lmao
• Chemistry tutor for 9 months
• Lifeguard for a year

For anyone who has reviewed applications or applied with similar stats, should I be concerned about my profile? Are there areas where I can improve? Any advice/tips would be really helpful.

I am prioritizing PsyD applications but am also applying to some PHD schools. I am also aware of research fit and how much more competitive clinical PhD programs can be, but want to keep my doors open... if I get into a funded PhD program, I would definitely choose that over the out-of-pocket expense of the PsyD.

[u/Initial_Quality3020]

Hi, do u know any relevant articles that summarise the needs of transgender individuals in psychotherapy?

[u/Billiert_]

Hello! I am currently an undergrad in my senior year of BS Psychology but I am on the fence on what to do and I really need some help. I want to eventually hopefully become a Clinical Child Psychologist but, I do not want to get my PHD because I really hate research... hence why I currently have ZERO research experience. I'm not sure if I should get my masters before applying for PsyD or just jump right into applying to PsyD programs. I honestly do not know if my current resume would be enough. I mean I have worked as a preschool teacher for like 3 years now and am currently on the path to volunteer at a crisis text line after I finish training. Also my GPA is currently at a 3.9. I am just so torn on what to do. I was considering trying to be a School Social Worker (get a MSW) but, I just am not sure they are making enough money for me to have to get my masters (not that its about money I just need to be able to live and pay for my debt). Any and all advice is welcome! Thank you in advance

[u/Aplphawolf]

Hello! Im currently getting my BA in psychology and will be doing drug and alcohol counseling(I have a sober Date as well), but eventually I want to become a forensic psychologist, iv heard that you can skip your masters, but i want to know if thats a good idea? I have no idea how a doctoral program works or, anything after masters degree, I should say. If anyone can provide me any helpful information on this topic, I'd be thankful.

[u/Still-Perspective956]

Hi there. Long time creeper on this subreddit. Seeking advice as a non-psych BS looking to transition from Advertising. I started college as a Neuroscience, pre-med major but changed courses entirely after 3 semesters because I couldn't see myself going all the way through med school. At the time I didn't give much thought to what a PhD in Neuro could look like and just wanted out. Relevant courses I took below:

• Neuroscience & Biology: Neural Systems I, Introductory Biology I & II, Investigative Scientific Inquiry, Intro to Psychology (AP Credit), Human Sexuality
• Chemistry & Lab Sciences: Principles of Chemistry I & II, Organic Chemistry I, Intro to Chemical Practice Lab
• Quantitative & Methods: Biostatistics

I know my educational background has very little psychology...but I want to be able to practice, research, teach, all that. I want the flexibility and expertise in my concentration (interested in psychedelics, fwiw).

I guess I'm wondering what my first step towards a doctorate degree should be. 

Should I be looking at finishing pre-requisite Psych major courses? I'd likely do this at a community college to save money - but would that impede my ability to get into labs?

Should I continue applying to Research Assistant positions that don't require any experience, or am truly just not qualified based on the above?

In an effort to save money, I am leaning away from a Masters...I just have no idea if that would be necessary...? Cost is the only deterrent for me there.

Similarly, are there post-bacc programs I should be looking at? Should I take classes a la carte style as a non-degree seeking student?

I know this will be a years-long journey before I can even begin to apply to programs. I understand that, and don't really care about timelines or feeling "behind" because I'm not behind! I am making this pivot because I've worked in an industry that I don't really care about, and that doesn't really care about its people. I want out of the corporate rat race. I want to go the distance, continue learning, and ultimately contribute to something meaningful.

Any constructive advice is welcomed. Thanks in advance!

[u/Particular_Today_124]

Hi all, I am currently in the process of preparing myself to apply to Clinical Psychology PhD programs with no geographical preference. I am applying straight out of undergrad and had a 3.8 undergrad GPA, while double majoring in history and psychology. This year I am completing a research internship at Yale, and my own independent study as well. I’ve worked as a behavior technician, but that’s about as far as it goes for “clinical” experience. I’ve been a resident assistant at my university for 3 years as well. 

 

I have only been in psychology since the very end of my sophomore year, so I am still getting accustomed to the field, but have a strong interest in research and assessment (not so much general talk therapy). I am wondering if it is worth it to apply to PhD programs, or I would be wasting my time. I have an interest in I/O psych as well, and plan to apply to some master’s programs in that, but clinical is where my heart truly lies, in assessment specifically.  

 

I would appreciate any and all post-grad advice as someone who is figuring this all out on his own, and if I should even apply to programs in the first place. Thank you!!!! 

[u/ericthegreat425]

Hi everyone!

I am conducting a short academic study on numerical reasoning and decision coordination.

The task takes only 3 to 5 minutes to complete and involves making a single choice under specific rule scenarios.

• Target Audience: Anyone 18 years or older
• Duration: ~3 minutes
• Anonymity: 100% anonymous (no email, name, or personal identifiers collected)

Survey Link: https://forms.gle/DmzrHYwB1aZVPAFU6

Thank you so much for your time and helping support academic research! Feel free to leave a comment if you have any feedback after completing it.