Hi all! I apologize if some of this info seems repetitive, as I've posted my stats before when I was initially applying, and I also apologize for the length. Desperate for some advice, though!
I'm a current undergrad senior who just applied to 8 PsyD programs (Loyola, UIndy, IUP, University of Denver, LaSalle, Widener, Wright State, Xavier). My advisor was extremely confident in my ability to get into a program if I applied now, however, I only received 2 interview invites. I fell in love with one of the programs, had a great interview, and was subsequently waitlisted (although I was told I was a high alternate for admission). The other program I interviewed at, I really just didn't click with. And if I were to receive an acceptance, the likelihood I would attend is slim. So I'm stuck waiting to hear from my waitlist, but preparing for the worst as I know waitlists are kind of a fever dream (most of the time).
To be honest, I'm really disappointed and surprised I did not get in this cycle. I knew my quant GRE score was problematic (as you'll see below), but I really hoped my other stats would balance it out.
I'm looking for advice on what to do now. I do not want to wait until April 15th to start making other plans, in case that waitlist call never comes. Listed below is the info from my CV. Other than trying to improve the heck out of my GREs, what would you suggest I focus on this next year to make myself competitive for PsyD programs? I was offered a job at my internship as a mental health tech, but would attempting to get a position as an RA or a psychometrist be better?
Academics:
General GPA: 3.77 (3.79 now)
Psychology GPA: 3.77
GRE (blah- I know these are bad): V:157(76th percentile) Q:147(27th percentile) AW:4.0(60th percentile)
In an academic honors society as well as Psi Chi, work at my school's writing center, top 12% of my class, and have been on Dean's List every semester except for 1.
Clinical experience:
Research experience:
LOR: Extremely strong. 2 from professors who know me extremely well and who I have done well in their classes, and one from my RTF supervisor.
SOP: Felt very confident, and mentioned a specific professor I would be interesting in working with at each school due to my clinical and research interests.
As I do have some clinical experience I was able to talk about in length for my SOP and in interviews, I'm leaning more towards gaining some research experience. However, I already have that job lined up in my hometown where I could live at home and save some money, whereas being an RA would probably be much more of an expense, and not a guarantee, as my hometown does not seem to have too many opportunities. However, I will do whatever it takes to make myself competitive. I truly believe it is mostly my GRE scores that held me back, as all my interviewers immediately asked me about my scores and while they seemed satisfied with my answer, no doubt they held me back a little. However, I think I should get even more experience while I hopefully beef up those scores because you just never know.
With this over-abundance of information
do you think it would be best for me to take that mental health tech job, or would that not be beneficial enough for me and I should search for research positions?
Thank you so much for any help! I really, really appreciate it. It has been so stressful and discouraging to have put so much time into my apps not to see the results I wanted as I'm sure many of you can relate to, and I'm ready to start moving forward and stop focusing on the negatives.
I'm a current undergrad senior who just applied to 8 PsyD programs (Loyola, UIndy, IUP, University of Denver, LaSalle, Widener, Wright State, Xavier). My advisor was extremely confident in my ability to get into a program if I applied now, however, I only received 2 interview invites. I fell in love with one of the programs, had a great interview, and was subsequently waitlisted (although I was told I was a high alternate for admission). The other program I interviewed at, I really just didn't click with. And if I were to receive an acceptance, the likelihood I would attend is slim. So I'm stuck waiting to hear from my waitlist, but preparing for the worst as I know waitlists are kind of a fever dream (most of the time).
To be honest, I'm really disappointed and surprised I did not get in this cycle. I knew my quant GRE score was problematic (as you'll see below), but I really hoped my other stats would balance it out.
I'm looking for advice on what to do now. I do not want to wait until April 15th to start making other plans, in case that waitlist call never comes. Listed below is the info from my CV. Other than trying to improve the heck out of my GREs, what would you suggest I focus on this next year to make myself competitive for PsyD programs? I was offered a job at my internship as a mental health tech, but would attempting to get a position as an RA or a psychometrist be better?
Academics:
General GPA: 3.77 (3.79 now)
Psychology GPA: 3.77
GRE (blah- I know these are bad): V:157(76th percentile) Q:147(27th percentile) AW:4.0(60th percentile)
In an academic honors society as well as Psi Chi, work at my school's writing center, top 12% of my class, and have been on Dean's List every semester except for 1.
Clinical experience:
- Shadowed at an acute adult intake floor for a few weeks. Observed group therapy, observed case hearings, and assisted in writing case notes.
- Interned at a residential treatment facility where I observed group therapy again, attended treatment team meetings, helped with case notes, and sometimes aided in facilitating the group therapy (helped the patients 1:1, was sometimes able to ask questions etc.).
- Direct care aide for children with autism (honestly basically glorified babysitting but still some experience).
Research experience:
- Completed an independent study this semester writing a literature review about the efficacy of Early Intensive Behavioral Interventions for children with Autism.
- Worked as a research assistant for a professor one semester where I scheduled participants, ran the lab, collected all of the data, and matched data to corresponding participant (but no real hands on SPSS work).
- I go to a small college, so there isn't much opportunity for research. However, the classes are extremely research focused, and I do have knowledge of designing my own scale, running SPSS etc and could talk at length about two research studies I completed for class (even though I know this doesn't count for much).
LOR: Extremely strong. 2 from professors who know me extremely well and who I have done well in their classes, and one from my RTF supervisor.
SOP: Felt very confident, and mentioned a specific professor I would be interesting in working with at each school due to my clinical and research interests.
As I do have some clinical experience I was able to talk about in length for my SOP and in interviews, I'm leaning more towards gaining some research experience. However, I already have that job lined up in my hometown where I could live at home and save some money, whereas being an RA would probably be much more of an expense, and not a guarantee, as my hometown does not seem to have too many opportunities. However, I will do whatever it takes to make myself competitive. I truly believe it is mostly my GRE scores that held me back, as all my interviewers immediately asked me about my scores and while they seemed satisfied with my answer, no doubt they held me back a little. However, I think I should get even more experience while I hopefully beef up those scores because you just never know.
With this over-abundance of information
do you think it would be best for me to take that mental health tech job, or would that not be beneficial enough for me and I should search for research positions?Thank you so much for any help! I really, really appreciate it. It has been so stressful and discouraging to have put so much time into my apps not to see the results I wanted as I'm sure many of you can relate to, and I'm ready to start moving forward and stop focusing on the negatives.
