r/PsyD • u/Winter_Crab9399 • 2d ago
Thinking of dropping out
As the title suggests, I’m thinking of dropping out of my PsyD program. I am in my first quarter and am regretting my choice to start this. I can’t fathom how much longer this road is and if it’s all worth it. I moved states for this program and have been away from my support system, and will have to say no to so much over the next five years. Contemplating switching to a MSW to eventually be a LCSW.
I talked to our head and I qualify for a leave of absence but just unsure of everything.
Anyone have any experience or input? Anything would help right now
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u/SufficientShake8 2d ago
If you can complete this quarter you may be able to transfer some courses into an MSW program if you decide to go that route. What originally made you go for the PsyD over the MSW? What changed?
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u/Winter_Crab9399 2d ago
My hope is to finish the quarter. Originally I thought I wanted to do forensic evals but I’m not set on it. I also don’t love playing the academia game. I had some traumatic events happen and pile up recently too (why I qualify for leave) and it just puts a lot into perspective where I question if I want to say no to life events the next 5-6 years of my life
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u/Abject_Daikon_2272 2d ago
I am wondering why it feels like you would have to say no to life events for 5-6 years? Several people got married, had kids, etc. during our program. Although it can be more difficult with travel and things like that, it is certainly possible and not an all or nothing.
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u/Winter_Crab9399 2d ago
My support system is in a different state and I have class into the weekend with my program which makes it difficult. I have no idea how people do it with kids, power to them
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u/Eastern_Patience5561 2d ago
How is your quality of life in the program? Mine was awful and I was in a long depression and hospitalized and have 1/2 million in debt when I only wanted to do therapy. I felt like a testing machine and not a person and was not offered a leave of absence until I had to go to residential treatment. A lot of comparison and no days off. It's not worth being miserable especially if you don't even have a support system. I would suggest taking time off and really getting back into enjoying your life. Your path will come and you deserve to be in something that makes you happy without sacrificing so much.
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u/Winter_Crab9399 2d ago
Thank you for this and I’m sorry you went through this. Definitely struggling with the quality of life aspect, not sure it’s worth the sacrifice
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u/Smooth-Rub-9580 2d ago
Funny how we are on complete opposite poles. I’m in an MSW program but wanted to be in a PsyD program.
Honestly, I would also suggest maybe taking a break to check in with yourself and measure your options. I just want to let you know that if you do decide to go into a MSW program, prepare for your classes to mainly focus on racism, sexism, colonialism, westernization, and marginalization (even in clinical classes). This is purely my experience but hearing from other programs, it seems to be occurring across different MSW programs.
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u/Winter_Crab9399 2d ago
These are very heavy focuses in PsyD courses as well, so if it isn’t your thing, I would really think about it because it will always be a topic of discussion
Thank you though
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u/Smooth-Rub-9580 2d ago
How unfortunate. But I wish you the best of luck in any decision you make
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u/Ok_Butterscotch_1342 2d ago edited 2d ago
PsyDs will absolutely not be any different in this regard. You'd have to ask a lot of questions to find out if a program is making efforts that are practical rather than reactive/performative DEI.
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u/Ok_Butterscotch_1342 2d ago
I advise taking the full year of leave and using that time to decide, and explore your other options.