The “Right” Program

Clinical Psychology is not the only option, if you want to work with patients.

• Clinical Psychology: Research and treatment of mental health disorders; combines science and clinical practice
• Counseling Psychology: Greater focus on clinical work and multi-cultural research; less emphasis on severe psychopathology and assessment
• School Psychology: Supports youth in school settings; training in assessment, intervention, and consultation
• Health Psychology: Studies how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness; often integrates clinical training and behavioral health interventions in medical settings

PsyD programs may seem appealing for students primarily interested in clinical work; however, they are often costly, have larger cohorts, and typically require more time to complete. In contrast, PhD programs offer a strong foundation in research and often provide flexibility in balancing clinical and research training. Research experience and productivity can strengthen internship applications and future job prospects. If you are considering a PsyD, be sure to carefully review accreditation, match rates, and faculty support.

Research Programs

For students more interested in research, systems, and non-clinical roles

• Developmental Psychology: Research on human development across the lifespan
• Social Psychology: Studies social behavior, attitudes, and group dynamics
• Cognitive Psychology: Focuses on mental processes like memory, attention, and decision-making
• Neuroscience/Behavioral Neuroscience: Explores brain-behavior relationships
• Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology: Applies psychology to workplace issues like hiring, leadership, and productivity

These programs can be less competitive to enter and often lead to careers outside of academia, including in government, tech, policy, and industry. I/O psychology, in particular, tends to have a significantly higher earning potential than clinical psychology due to its application in corporate settings and leadership roles.

Should I Get a Masters?

It depends…

For most people, I do not think you need to get a master’s degree. It is typically expensive and does not take a significant amount of time off of your degree program. Yet, I completed a master’s program and am so glad that I made that decision. If you decide to get a master’s before applying to PhD programs, you need to be prepared to work efficiently. It is important to find a program that allows you to complete an empirical (data; not lit review) thesis. You must get yourself involved in research from day one!

I may recommend seeking a masters, if you are:

• Struggling to get research experience
• Unsure about research interests
• Young and/or flexible
• Haven’t been accepted into a PhD program for multiple cycles
• Find a program that offers funding/assistantships
• Motivated

Research Experience

This is crucial for PhD applications!

• Online directories (2 and 3) and X can be good resources for finding research jobs
  • This document has a complete list if the directories are not prosperous.
  • As for X, you should try to get on the “Academic” side. Follow professors that do the research you are interested in, professional organizations, and groups like @PsychChatter.
• Apply for SURF or NSF summer undergraduate programs
• Look at your local university for labs hiring research assistants.
• You may also offer to volunteer in a lab (remotely or at a local university) that is aligned with your interests
• Agencies like the NIH, CDC, or DOE hire bachelor’s-level researchers
  • The NIH has/had a bridge program for post-Bac students looking to pursue a PhD. Attend the info session to get more information about the process.
  • Additional postbac programas on this link (I did not create this)
• Dr. Nussenbaum has a detailed guide for undergraduate/post-bac research
• APA has a website with industry positions that

Clinical Experience?

Not necessary (for PhDs)

However, if you are interested, you can look at volunteer opportunities. Some places you can consider include:

• Court-appointed special advocate (CASA)
• Hospice
• Children’s hospital
• Community centers
• Youth mentoring (Big Brother Big Sister)
• Domestic violence shelters
• Peer support programs
• NAMI
• Children’s advocacy centers
• Crisis warm/hot lines

Note: If the work feels clinically adjacent, you do not need to include this under a “Volunteer” section on your CV. Create a section that is titled “Clinical Experiences,” and under the role list what your title is (e.g., volunteer __). Non-clinical work likely won’t set you over the edge like it did for admission to undergraduate programs.

When to Apply

Senior Year or Postbac?

There is no one-size-fits-all path.

• Apply during senior year if you have substantial research experience (e.g., posters or publication), strong letters of recommendation, and a clear sense of your research interests
• Consider a postbac year (or more) if you need additional research or clinical experience, stronger letters, or more time to clarify your goals. Many applicants work as lab managers or clinical research coordinators during this time

Taking time before applying is common and often strengthens your application. In my experience, the most common reason students delay applying is difficulty securing strong letter writers during undergrad, especially at large institutions. You will need at least two letters from professors/academic supervisors who know you well and can speak to your academic or research strengths (not just someone you took a class with). Ideally, these letters speak to your research abilities. Aligning research experience with your interests is helpful, but it is more important to gain strong skills and tangible products (e.g., posters, publications) that demonstrate your readiness for graduate work.

Creating a Timeline

This is my personal recommendation, different things work for different people!

1. Early summer: Review programs to determine which ones you are interested in. It is my experience that creating an excel spreadsheet with the school, deadline, and the professor’s research interest you are interested in working with, as well as required materials helps you get/stay organized.
   • Complete list of PCAS accredited programs
   • Complete list of APA accredited programs
2. Late summer: Start working on CV and personal statement. If you need to take the GRE, take it around this time.
3. Mid-September: Schools will update their websites around mid-September to early October announcing which professors are accepting applications for graduate students. Ask your identified letter writers if they would be willing to submit LOR.
4. October: Once you know which professors are accepting, narrow down your list. Send your personal statement to advisors and mentors to review.
5. November: Open accounts on the application portals and request letters from your letter writers. Finalize materials.

Tips for Applicants

Based on my personal experience, here are somethings I wish I knew.

• PhD programs are about advisor-mentee fit. Use Google Scholar or lab websites to find out which faculty are actively publishing in your area of interest. Your research alignment with an advisor is one of the most important components of a strong application.
• When reviewing faculty research across programs, make sure you can identify a clear theme across the advisors you are interested in. If you cannot articulate the common thread, your application may come across as unfocused. This often becomes apparent during interviews.
• Your personal statement is not your CV. Use it to tell a story. What have you learned from your experiences, what values guide your work, and what do you hope to contribute? Show how your past experiences led you to your current interests.
• Customize one paragraph per program. You can reuse most of your personal statement, but tailor one paragraph to discuss the program, specific faculty, and how the training model supports your goals.
• Look up common questions you will be asked and ones you should ask. Interviews are two-way conversations. Ask about mentorship style, lab culture, funding, and student outcomes.
• If the GRE is required, consider investing in a prep course. The test rewards strategy over content knowledge.

Additional Resources

A collection of external resources to support your application process.

• Mitch’s Guide
• Hamilton Lab/CUDCP guide
• Book of accredited programs with helpful info about the program
• Sokol-Hessner Lab comprehensive guide
• Emily Bibby Resource List
• Mentoring programs (I have mentored through all three and have heard that quality of mentors varies.)
  • Project Short
  • Psychin’ Out (also includes active Slack access)
  • Nextgen Psych Scholars