Where Do We Go Now?

Psi ChiPsi ChiCal Poly PomonaCal Poly Pomona

April 22, 2008April 22, 2008Alian KasabianAlian Kasabian

The First Question…The First Question…

• Where are you now?– Graduating senior?– Rising Junior?– Rising Sophomore?

*All these rely on how many years you have LEFT before graduation

– No matter which path you take, planning will make it easier

The Second Question…The Second Question…

• Where do you want to go?– The job market?– A Master’s program?– A PhD or PsyD?

• If you aren’t sure, experiment!– Talk to professors, check out the

career center, go to conferences, take career inventories, look at what you like!

Option 1: The Job MarketOption 1: The Job Market

• Make sure your resume/CV is current– There are many resources on campus and

online. • Network

– Ask around: sometimes jobs aren’t advertised, or they are coming up

– Talk to your professors, they often have connections

• Check the career center– Career fairs, postings, advice

• The job market can be competitive– In 2000, 74,654 students graduated with a

bachelor's degree in psychology *

http://www.apa.org/topics/psychologycareer.html

Option 2: A Master’s ProgramOption 2: A Master’s Program

• Usually take 2 years or more• Requires the same planning as PhD/PsyD• Overall- Master’s programs are not as

competitive (depends on the school)– Accept more students per cohort– GPA and GRE scores do not have to be as high

• As a terminal degree– Your career choice may not need a PhD/PsyD– Now a BA may not be enough to be competitive in

some markets• On the way to a PhD

– Always good to have a backup choice– Increases experience– Builds a broader network

Option 3: A PhD/PsyD Option 3: A PhD/PsyD ProgramProgram• Usually 2-4 years after Master’s• Planning is important• Choice depends on goals

– Mostly practice- PsyD• The practitioner model- emphasis on experience• Tend to enroll at least 3x as many students (~40%)*• Less financial aid• Less time to finish than PhD (~1-1.5 years)

– Want to teach- PhD is better (depends on school)• The scientist model- emphasis on research• Tend to enroll ~15% or less*• Greater test scores for licensure

– Relationship to faculty-class ratios

• Is not for everyone

http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_171.asp

Now what? Options 2 & 3Now what? Options 2 & 3• Junior year

– Look towards your interests– Attend conferences– Try to get involved in research– Build relationships with faculty (as early as possible)

• Summer before senior year– Study for the GRE

• How worried are you? – Take the test early enough to retake if necessary

• Take a practice test for a baseline– Build on skills you have, not waste time– Practice scores are at least 10% higher than actual

– Research programs• Start with your criteria: location, financial aid, prestige• Choose based on faculty interests and current research (esp. for PhD)• Dreams are great, but be realistic as well

– Start building your statements• Check out what the schools are asking for, and build off that

– Look into financial aid options– Budget! Applying is expensive

Now what? Options 2 & 3Now what? Options 2 & 3

• Fall of senior year– Clarify schools

• Make a list/spreadsheet– Due dates, what is required, fees…– Keep track of specifics that each school wants (2 copies of

transcripts, random questions)– Set up recommenders

• Politely ask for “strong recommendations”• Prepare packet of materials for professors

– Take GRE by early November• General GRE offered year round• Subject GRE ONLY offered in October, November and April

– Apply! ~ Keep track of all info and dates• Spring of senior year

– Cross your fingers– Stay on top of later deadlines- Masters and PsyD– Acceptance letters: Never keep more than 2 on hand

School Deadline

Paperwork Sent

Recommendations

Acme University

Dec.1 GRE, transcripts, letters, sop

Y To school w/ form

Psych College Feb. 1 GRE subject, GRE, sop, 2x transcripts, letters

N To me w/ signatures and forms

Clinical College of CA

Dec. 15

GRE, sop, research experience, transcripts, letters

Y Online

Etc…

Etc…

Etc…

Resources:Resources:• CPP Career Center: http://dsa.csupomona.edu/career/Student.asp• Psi Chi Info:http://www.psichi.org/links/home.asp#graduate• General Info: http://www.units.muohio.edu/psychology/vhandouts/• Job Market

– UC Berkeley has a really helpful site: http://career.berkeley.edu/– Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/

• Check out Occupational Outlook and Benefits

• Graduate School– General

• Funding: http://www7.nationalacademies.org/fordfellowships/fordpredoc.html• Funding: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/• What is a LEP? DO? ABFP? http://www.psychologytoday.com/pto/credentials.html• Timeline (slightly dated) http://www.psychwww.com/careers/time-grd.htm• Another timeline: http://www.psych.ucsb.edu/undergraduate/timeline/timeline.php• APA guide: http://www.apa.org/ed/getin.html• Tons of info on psych (not just social): http://www.socialpsychology.org/• GRE info: www.gre.org, free practice book for psych subject test!• Good general info: http://www.petersons.com• Council fo graduate schools: http://www.cgsnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=199

– Master’s • MFT and LCSW info http://www.bbs.ca.gov/

– PsyD vs PhD: Google search “PsyD vs PhD”• http://www.internationalgraduate.net/psyd.htm• http://www.psichi.org/pubs/articles/article_171.asp• http://www.sonoma.edu/Psychology/clinicalphdpsyd.htm

– PhD/PsyD

• A possible timeline for a disseration: http://www.dissertationhelp.net/timeline.html