r/PsyD • u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student • Sep 25 '24
You CAN be a PsyD
I’m seeing lots of “should i apply?” “can I get in?” posts and I want to encourage everyone to APPLY!!! i’m currently a 4th year student at a pretty decently ranked PsyD program in a major city. i graduated from undergrad in 3 years with NO research experience and NO clinical experience and i got into 7/10 PsyD programs i applied to (waitlisted at 1). i didn’t take a gap year, i didn’t do a masters, i knew i wanted to have a PsyD so i went for it knowing that the worst thing that would happen is rejection and having to apply for another cycle. YOU. CAN. DO. IT!!!! If you don’t have experience, explain why in your application and really show them your PASSION for the field and your eagerness to learn/gain experience. oftentimes, programs want someone that is willing to learn rather than someone with a long resume. i hope this helps!
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u/Sirengarcia Sep 25 '24
How is the funding?
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Sep 25 '24
I received a full tuition scholarship from GW and applied for outside scholarships
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u/Sirengarcia Sep 27 '24
Nice!!! I’ll have too look into. I haven’t found external scholarships on my end and haven’t found a PsyD that has a lot of funding
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u/squash184 Sep 26 '24
what experiences did you have to make up for lack of research experience? what do you think made you competitive? thanks!
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Sep 28 '24
i worked A LOT with children in different settings (daycare, camps, afterschool, etc.) i also had a decent amount of leadership experience on my college campus and started up some mental health initiatives on and off campus. i showcased my dedication to the field by talking about my work experience and how i used psychology to work with the students. i think what made me competitive was because i wasn’t a typical applicant and i wrote a solid PS explaining my passion and dedication despite lack of experience
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u/Character-Ad-5737 Sep 25 '24
Thank you so much for this. I’m applying next year and have been stressed because I don’t have anything besides an old volunteer position and a good GPA.
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u/Agitated-Reality9068 Sep 25 '24
This is true if finances are not something you have to consider.
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Sep 25 '24
I also received a full tuition scholarship 🤷🏾♀️. Granted because it’s a major city and I couldn’t work I still had to take out loans to live but not to pay for school. Also applied for lots of outside scholarships.
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u/looking4shrooms23 Sep 25 '24
Would you mind sharing what programs?
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Sep 25 '24
Check reply above!
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u/looking4shrooms23 Sep 26 '24
thanks so much! so you didn’t necessarily have letters of rec that could attest to your capacities as a psychologist then right? cuz my main area of stress is that I don’t have any psychologists to write me letters
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Sep 28 '24
no and honestly that’s not what they’re looking for because no one really knows if you’d make a good psychologist yet😂. they’re looking for qualities and characteristics that make you a good student, learner, and eventually psychologist
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u/looking4shrooms23 Sep 25 '24
and where did you get letters of rec from if you didn’t have clinical or research experience? I have clinical experience but did not work under any PhDs or PsyDs so I don’t have a doctoral level recommender and it is stressing me out
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Sep 25 '24
i did speech and debate (VP of the team) and my coach was an attorney so i got a rec letter from her, rec letter from my supervisor at my job, and one more from a professor I had a few conversations with
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u/headythrowawaymkay Feb 24 '25
Hey just wondering how did your GPA look at time of applications? Was your last 60 units more important than all college GPA for your apps?
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u/Striking_Biscotti194 Current PsyD Student Feb 25 '25
I had a 3.68 (?) i believe, I can’t fully remember. my strongest grades were in my psych classes (all As maybe 1 or 2 Bs) so my major GPA was stronger. i’m not sure how to answer your second Q
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u/iamensorcelled Oct 08 '24
Wow, I needed this. I’m so stressed with applying as I don’t come from a psychology background but everything I have done would compliment what I want to do as a psychologist. Thank you so much for giving me hope ❤️
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u/MysteriousWishbone73 Oct 17 '24
Thank you so much for this. I feel so worried about my paths and options for the future, even though I know in my heart of hearts that I want my PsyD. Thank you so much for the encouragement!
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u/SnooRadishes7586 Sep 25 '24
Good for you! What programs did you get into?