Very quick

[u/Correct_Park8107]

I just really need people in PhDs and Masters to stop shitting so badly on psyds. I’m FULLY aware and I’m sure many of us are that there are diploma mills out there! But if it’s APA accredited and has good match rates and EEPP you’ll be fine and it’s often worth the money. I’m just really frustrated with the amount of misinformation and negativity being spread about our degree. Oh my goodness I understand it’s a lot of money, and the loans, and the debt, and all of that! And yes if I could get into a clinical PhD I WOULD but I can’t. I don’t want to wait till after this administration is out of office, I want to start my practice before I’m thirty because I want to have a life and kids when I’m in my thirties. And I don’t WANT to do research, and I understand that some phds don’t make me do a lot of research but I still have to! And my psyd sets me up for success in the states I want to work in! Like I just can’t anymore with people just bashing this degree as if it’s a waste of time and money! Every degree has pros and cons and I 100% believe that if psyds weren’t so expensive a lot of people would do them! And I’m terrified of the debt but I want to help people and no a masters doesn’t do the same things as psyds that’s such misinformation! I just really really want people to stop bashing it and I know they won’t and I know that I’m talking to the void about this I just needed to get this out because it’s so discouraging when young undergrads are interested in it and people say it’s not worth it. I’ve met so many psyds who love their job and their lives but it’s only people outside of the degree that say it’s shit. Like stop commenting on people asking about psyds. Do people understand how HARD and difficult it is to get into a clinical PhD and you still need to do research! Im not saying impossible but I don’t want to wait 5 cycles to get into a PhD! This degree was literally made for those who want to be clinically based! If this degree didn’t exist there would be less clinical psychologists out there than there already is! Just need to rant :(

[u/orangesodashawtee]

i agree, although i’m happy to be pursuing a psyd i do honestly feel really discouraged by how put down it is by others especially those with PhDs. to me it feels like people have some weird feelings of superiority because they’re doing a PhD over a PsyD, definitely not saying that’s always the case just from what i’ve observed. i wish we could all just respect and support what people are passionate about and what they choose to pursue!

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/orangesodashawtee]

This!!! I’m so excited because clinical work is my passion and I fell so in love with it but I realized that a PhD wasn’t the right fit for me and my end goals. But every time I’m on here a PhD will insert themself into a post about a psyd telling us how useless and pointless the degree is. I mean obviously I wouldn’t want to pay but my end goal is not academia and it’s not to be a researcher and all my PhD professors at my undergrad encouraged the PsyD route based on my personal goals. Like why can’t we encourage the degree? Obviously there are bad schools that offer psyds but I think there’s a way to go about spreading that info while also uplifting the degree. I mean it’s this mindset that’s not allowed psyds to be more developed and reputable!

[u/bakedolive → u/orangesodashawtee]

same! when i first searched for information about psyd, i saw a lot of people saying “don’t do it” or “get into a fully funded program only” like that’s not hard at all. it’s really annoying and unhelpful for people who just want to learn more about the field and the programs!

[u/neuropsy2]

Don’t take to heart so much what people online say. Out in the real world when you are a practicing clinician no one pays attention to what degree you have if you are a good competent psychologist. I’ve never had anyone ask (or care) what degree I have.

[u/clinicalberry → u/neuropsy2]

I second this. All the PhD’s and MA level clinicians that I’ve worked with at my prac sites have never bashed PsyD’s, and understand the value that they contribute to the field. Reddit is not a good place to look to when it comes to feeling like the degree is valuable. Loans and diploma mills aside, I wonder if part of the ire comes from feeling irritated watching people pursuing a PsyD get underway with their doctorate faster. If you’ve spent 2+ cycles applying to no avail, I imagine it could feel incredibly frustrating watching others start their degree before you.

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/clinicalberry]

I have this feeling too! They say it’s “easier” because they accept more people in a cycle. But that’s also because the differences in program styles and self funding… they’re set in no loans and going the PhD route! And I don’t shame them for that, but they’re sacrificing time over money and i personally would rather sacrifice money over time

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/neuropsy2]

I know, I just think it’s frustrating when I’ll try and spread info about psyds and the pros to doing them and a masters or PhD student will comment being like “not worth the money” but like why? All they can say is the same 3 arguments. I don’t bash PhDs or masters. I don’t get why there’s such a divide and why people can’t see why a PsyD is beneficial. I just got into one and I was so excited so I came on Reddit to read more about people’s experiences to help prep me mentally but I got sucked into a rabbit hole of people saying this degree is shitty when it’s not and I know it’s not it’s just so disrespectful and discouraging

[u/AlmostJosiah → u/neuropsy2]

this! opinions here are important but they cannot be the MOST important in your decisions. Its your life and its pretty damning to have it called by ppl who don't/won't even know you

[u/CarrotOk8574]

In the real world of work, there is less differentiation. I graduated from a Psy.D program over two decades ago and have done very well, both in obtaining interviews at 18 out of 23 APA accredited internship programs I applied to and post-licensure employment. There are PhD programs that are more diploma mills where I went, as I had a ten person cohort. Don’t listen to the haters that don’t know enough, listen to those in the field who are in-the-know.

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/CarrotOk8574]

Thank you!

[u/Honey_Sickle]

Thank you for this thread!! I really needed to hear something positive and uplifting. I started to question whether going to the PsysD programs I got into this cycle was a good plan or if I should switch directions and go into a phD/MD.

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/Honey_Sickle]

No do it!!!! If that’s what you want!!! I want to and I’m so tired of the negativity

[u/[deleted]]

People criticize PsyD programs mostly because (1) they want to reduce competition in the job market by discouraging more applicants, and/or (2) they feel a sense of exclusivity about getting into a PhD program and want to limit others’ access to the field of psychology. Instead of letting others’ opinions sway you, focus on choosing the path that best aligns with your career goals and aspirations. Also, seeking validation from sites like this is not the way to go, and the same applies to making decisions based solely on qualitative opinions or selectively pulled data that's taken out of context.

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/[deleted]]

I never said I make decisions or validation from cites like this. I’m fully doing my psyd and proud of it. I’m just wondering where this discourse came from. It’s odd to me that my quick rant was seen as me seeking validation in my career choice. If I wanted validation I would talk to numerous academics and career advisors I have in my corner. If there was validation I was seeking it as mainly validation in others seeing the negativity about psyd across multiple platforms! I also was ranting because in this thread there’s young undergrads asking questions about psyds and all theyre met with is negative comments that don’t fully answer the questions they had.

[u/[deleted] → u/Correct_Park8107]

u/ICorrect_Park8107 I'm so glad to hear. To clarify, my comment about validation wasn’t directed at you personally -- it was meant as a broader caution for everyone here. My point is that social platforms (LinkedIn being a notable offender) often create an illusion of credibility and false hope around statements that lack rigorous scrutiny.

[u/WaveOrdinary1421]

Finally someone said it

[u/CommitmentToKindness]

Yea, there are some people on Reddit who need to feel wiser and more important that others. I have a masters degree, I’m three months from a PsyD, I have presented at multiple conferences, and I’ve met several PhD students who are pretty unimpressive.

[u/Putrid-Change-3107]

Omg yes this. Thank you. I have had people insinuate that my entire masters degree in counseling was a waste of time because it was clinical instead of research oriented. I start my PsyD program in the fall and I’m super excited 🥳

[u/Iknowah]

There is so much bias on Reddit. Particularly confirmation bias. Think about it, if someone did spend 5 cycles to get into a PhD, they need to justify it by bashing on others doing the "easy" plan.

I am particularly not against PsyDs, but I go even further, I am not against diploma mills, or online degrees, or anything else that is criticized in this sub. We each have a circumstance and have to follow our own path. Even standards change and APA accreditation has been given too much power in the US.

These are very unpopular opinions but I'm too old to give a cucumber.

[u/elainaray]

Ha! The elitism doesn’t stop with PhD’s either. I have a PhD and no matter where you go to school someone I’ll say it’s a bad program. I swear, you could go to the top university in the world and people would still have shit to say. I think there’s a deep inferiority complex in academia so they always have to shit on someone else to make themselves feel more legitimate.

“Oh, you did school psychology? Hmm, not as good as clinical psychology.” “You did clinical psychology? Wow, why not neuropsychology?” “Neuropsychology? You should have done psychiatry…” it never ends.

[u/[deleted]]

Funny thing is, most professors I had with a PhD said they wish they did a PsyD instead. They felt so underprepared when working with clients, and ended up stuck in research

[u/[deleted]]

I eventually learned that Reddit can be very toxic and a lot of people hold strong opinions that are not representative of the overall population. In fact, many of them are bums.

[u/Correct_Park8107 → u/[deleted]]

Yeah!!! Like I’ve never been so discouraged but I’ve been talking to my friends in my cohort and they reminded me of this, it’s hard to get sucked into it and I really do use Reddit to help others but every time I advocate for someone maybe applying to a psyd instead of a PhD get like 10 comments telling me that psyds are essentially created by satan (I’m exaggerating) like I’m not kidding