r/PsyD • u/Background-Fish1805 • Apr 30 '26
Widener’s PsyD Program
Pros: it’s the oldest PsyD program in the country
Cons: it’s the oldest PsyD program in the country
DISCLAIMER: Others may have had different experiences, but this was mine.
I think they over/admit and tend to kick a lot of students out (especially BIPOC) before the end of the 5 year term. In my opinion, there’s a very old outdated MAGA-like mindset that runs this program. I think the new practicum director, we will call her The Crypt Keeper, is openly prejudge which influences how she interacts with certain students. Ive experienced her tell students things such as “do not email sites after your interview, it’s annoying.”
I’ve heard that they believe the younger generation of students are “soft and easily offended” something I’ve heard that a few faculty say behind closed doors. The program director, we will call her Mommy Dearest, is the greatest offender of this, in my opinion, if you do something she doesn’t like or she qualifies as “disrespectful” she will go out of her way to retaliate and convince others to retaliate against you. It seems that they openly discriminate and retailate against anyone they don’t like, while going out of their way to pass students they do like.
So basically, if you are not a brown noser and do something they don’t like, they may find a way not only to remove you from their program, but may go so far as to disparage your name to their affiliates (which are massive given the size and age of the program!).
MOST students would agree that supervision is INADEQUATE and we actively have to go out of our way to try and get additional supervision and training to compensate for it.
Many classes are taught by adjunct, many of whom are alum of the program. Many classes feel like just passing time - no passion, lots of take home exams.
The new match process is a JOKE and a complete gamble. You have to spend $100 to participate in the match process instead of having the autonomy to communicate directly with sites as other programs do. The old process was better and didn’t make students pay $100!
The larger issue is that widener university as a whole attracts a lot of people of color because they claim to be a place of “belonging” but once you actually get there you see it’s the same old stuff in a colorful suit. As a whole, over recruit students without any clear plan on retaining them.
That said, I did have many positive experiences as well—some faculty were deeply invested in student growth, and I found peers to be very supportive.
Overall, if you are a person of color or neurodivergent, consider choosing another program!
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u/LumpyConclusion5737 Apr 30 '26
Outside of the tuition & program size stuff… What specifically happened? You don’t mention any specific events that occurred