Is Grad School Right for Me?

Graduate school is not right for everyone. In addition, different graduate programs train you for different careers, so it is important to choose the right type of program for the type of career you want to have. Here are some of the basics:

M.A./M.S. in Experimental Psychology (Social, Cognitive, Developmental, I/O):

There are a limited number of masters programs in experimental psychology (Social, Cognitive, Developmental, I/O) as most programs are at the Ph.D./Psy.D level. Most terminal masters programs in experimental psychology are 2-years in length. You can be trained in a specific content area such as social psychology or you can obtain a general masters degree in experimental psychology. A Ph.D. is required to teach full time at the assistant professor level at most universities and colleges. However, in some cases you can teach in adjunct positions. Additionally, you can teach full time at most community colleges.

M.A./M.S. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology:

There are limited Master’s Degree programs focused on Clinical/Counseling Psychology, as most programs are at the Ph.D./Psy.D. level. The programs are typically 2-years in length. In a M.A./M.S. program, you will be trained in basic counseling/clinical skills and obtain experience in treating basic psychological disorders (depression, anxiety, etc.). Some states license Master’s-level psychotherapists, and there are Master’s level certified counselor programs that allow for independent practice. Typical practice includes school and career counseling, and typically you do not work with severe psychopathology.

MSW in Social Work:

The MSW program is generally a 1-3 year program that can lead towards licensure as a social worker. The type of social work depends in part on the training provided by the graduate program. Many social workers are employed in private practice, group practice, the VA system, and in other private and public hospital settings. Licensure as a social worker may NOT mean that you can practice independently, but with supervision by a LISW or psychologist.

Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (Social, Cognitive, Developmental, I/O):

Ph.D. programs in experimental psychology are typically 5 year programs in which you obtain your masters degree while in the process of obtaining your Ph.D. Some, but not all, programs require successful completion of comprehensive exams before candidacy to the Ph.D. program is granted. Most experimental programs are research oriented and require completion of a large research project that you will complete from start to finish and will culminate in the completion of your dissertation document. Internships are not required in most experimental psychology programs.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology:

The Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology is a 5-7 year program in which you obtain your M.A./M.S. as part of the process. You are typically admitted to the program pending satisfactory completion of a post-Master’s thesis comprehensive examination (usually done in your 3rd or 4th year). You will complete a full-length dissertation, which most likely will include data collection procedures. At the end of your program you will need to complete a one-year internship, which could be anywhere in the country. Some states also require post-doctoral training hours before you can obtain a psychology license. Within Clinical Psychology there are different training models that lead towards vastly different career options. The most common are:

• Scientist-Practitioner: focus of training is on both research and
  science-based clinical practice. This allows for the most diversity in career options.
• Practitioner-Scholar: focus of training is on clinical practice, with only
  minimal training in research.
• Clinical-Scientist: focus of training is almost completely on clinical
  research, with minimal focus on clinical practice.

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology:

First, how is this different from Clinical Psychology? Counseling Psychology prepares you much the same was as a Clinical program, except you will be working more with mild-moderate psychopathology rather than severe cases. You are more likely to work in group practice, private practice, and college counseling centers than Clinical graduates, and will likely receive more training in career aptitude assessment and counseling than in personality, cognitive, and neuropsychological assessment. Other than those differences, the programs are rather similar. A clinical internship is also required, as are post-doctoral hours on a state-by-state basis.

Psy.D. in Clinical/Counseling Psychology:

The main difference between Ph.D. and PsyD programs has historically been
the level of research required of the thesis and dissertation projects, although this difference has been disappearing in many programs. If you are very interested in clinical work, and know with 100% certainty that you will never want to do any sort of research or grad-school level teaching, then this is the degree for you. If you are unsure, you may want to investigate clinically-focused Ph.D. programs instead where you will still receive necessary training in research methodology. A clinical internship is also required, as are post-doctoral hours on a state-by-state basis.

Psychiatry:

If you are interested in psychiatry rather than psychology, you will want to apply to medical school programs. The application process is vastly different than outlined below, so make sure to talk with faculty members as soon as possible if you are interested in this path. The main difference between psychiatry and psychology at present is that psychiatrists more often conduct medication prescription and compliance evaluations and less often individual psychotherapy.

Other considerations to keep in mind before deciding:

Do you want to be involved in research?

All experimental programs and many clinical programs require participation in research from concept to completion. If you have absolutely no interest in ever doing research, experimental programs and Scientist-Practitioner/Clinical-Scientist clinical programs are not for you.

It is important to know this now—you do not want to start a program only to be miserable and decide it is not right for you.

Do you want to be involved in clinical practice?

Some people only want to do research or be involved in teaching. Pick the appropriate type of program for this career endeavor—a Practitioner-Scholar clinical program or a Psy.D. program is probably not right for you.

Do you have the stamina to devote 5-7 years of your life with very little monetary income?
Although you will likely receive a tuition waiver and/or stipend while in school, this may amount to $12,000-$20,000 per year before taxes. Are you in a position to be able to afford this, with or without student loans? Many programs will NOT allow you to work outside of the department during your training, or will only allow you outside clinical work after obtaining your Master’s degree.

Are you prepared for the potential rejections?

More and more individuals are applying to graduate schools, and you could be competing with 300-400 other students for one of 5-10 spots in a given program. Rejection rates are high. You may have to apply more than once, and this could depend on factors that are out of your hands (such as program funding and the applications of others).