CHOOSING A CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY or RELATED FIELDS

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CHOOSING A CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY or RELATED
FIELDS PREPARING FOR APPLYING TO GRADUATE
SCHOOL
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• This presentation is one view.
• Speak to many people, and utilize many
  references in deciding your future. No single
  person or source can provide all the information
  you need!

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Choosing a Career Area
Finding a career that will be satisfying to you
takes time and effort. Pay attention to speakers
in this class read text to see what sounds
interesting. Surf career grad school web sites
(on psychology department web site
elsewhere) Go through career grad school books
available in Psychology Advising Office
(A209) Check our department website
ltwww.psy.fsu.edugt for additional information
under undergraduate andcareer and graduate
school.
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Interview people in careers of possible interest.
Speakers in class might provide names of
recent graduates, if you ask. Get research
experience in professors labs to see what
is interesting (i.e., Do DIS) Read books and
scientific articles within areas of possible
interest. Psych Lit is good source of
articles as are your course text books that list
references at the end of chapters. Career
counselors can suggest professions you might
not have considered. But only you can decide what
career will work best for you.
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• Ask yourself questions ( answer them) that will
  help you pick the right career
• What is my general orientation? (behavioral vs.
  cognitive service vs. business)
• What topics do I enjoy learning about in and out
  of school?
• Do I want to work with children, families, adults
  your age, or seniors? or families? Do
  volunteer work to find out.
• How much does prestige matter to me?
• How important is income and how much do I need?

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• How important is flexibility in hours to me?
• Am I capable of very long hours of hard work?
• Can I sit at a desk for a long period?
• Do I have hobbies I love that I can turn into a
  career?
• Am I going to get depressed listening to
  problems of others?

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When to Apply to Grad School
When you apply depends on the kind of program to
which you are applying--Ph.D. vs Masters. In
either case, you need to start considering
schools working on applications 2-4 months
before applications are due
Ph.D. Programs For some highly competitive
Ph.D. programs, such as Clinical Psychology, you
need to apply almost 1 year (9-10 months) prior
to admission date. For example, if you want to
start Fall, 2013, you probably need to submit
applications this semester-- November or
December. Deadlines vary across individual
schools.
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Masters Degree Programs
For most Masters Programs, deadlines are not as
early. Some programs require that you submit
applications in April or May prior to the Fall
in which you start grad school. But many have
deadlines as early as January or
February. Deadlines vary across individual
schools.
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GRE
Virtually all grad schools require general GRE
(quant, verbal, analytic) some also require
subject area (psych). Other professions require
similar exams (MCAT, LSAT) Studying for GRE
crucial!!! I recommend taking GRE 6 months prior
to when application is due. This is to
allow for possibility you need to take it
2nd time to improve scores. Go to
http//www.ets.org/gre to get information
free test prep materials. See scoring comparison
to prior version.
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Points of Clarification re Degrees

• Practicing degree (PD)
• A. Degree that you need to work
  independently (i.e., without requirement of
  supervision).
• B. May still need to pass a licensure exam
  after degree.

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• 2. There is more than one route to specific kind
  of career.
• If interested in providing counseling/therapy,cou
  ld choose clinical psychology (Psy.D or Ph.D),
  counseling psychology, school psychology,
  clinical social work, mental health counseling,
  psychiatry, etc.
• If you want to work in business to improve
  employeeperformance, you can get degree in
  instructional design, industrial/organizational
  psych, performance management, MBA, Masters in
  human resource management.

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Examples of Professional Degrees (see also list
of Psychology Sample Careers/Jobs)

• Masters in Social Work (MSW) (case work or
  clinical SW) MSW is practicing degree (PD)
• Masters or Ed Specialist in School Psychology
  (PD)
• Masters in Performance Management (PD)
• Masters in Instructional Design (PD)
• Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology
  (generally need Ph.D., but Masters can be enough)
• Masters in Experimental Psychology
  (Specialties Neuroscience, Social, Personality,
  Developmental, Child, Cognitive, etc.) (generally
  not PD)

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Examples of Professional Degrees (continued)

• Masters in Clinical Psychology (PD only in few
  states)
• Masters in Counseling Psychology (PD only in
  a few states)
• Masters in Mental Health Counseling (PD)
• Masters in Marriage Family Therapy (PD)
• Masters in Pastoral Counseling (PD)
• Degrees from some programs will allow one to
  sit for licensure exam for LMHC
• Note If you have PD in non-psychology field,
  cannot call oneself a psychologist. And for
  psychologists, must advertise by type of degree.

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Examples of Professional Degrees continued

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (PD)
  (specialties children/adolesc, adult, family,
  substance abuse, forensic, health psych,
  aging, depression, schizophrenia)
• Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (PD)
  (w/specialties)
• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (PD)
  (w/specialties, but not severe pathology)
• M.D. w/residency in Psychiatry (PD)
  (w/specialties)
• Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology (neuroscience,
  cognitive, social, industrial-organizational,
  business, developmental, child, etc.) PD for
  research position

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Differences between clinical and counseling
psych 1. Types of problems you are trained
for Clinical deals w/ entire range of
problems. Counseling deals w/ problems of
every day living e.g., child behavior
problems, marital, depression, anxiety).
Usually does not deal with severe pathology.
2. Relative emphasis on research Clinical big
emphasis on conducting research evaluating
efficacy of treatments along w/ learning
assessment and treatment of problems
Counseling less emphasis on research
evaluation (in colleges of education). Still
includes research. 3. Individual programs differ.
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Difference between Psy.D. versus Ph.D. in
Clinical 1. Psy.D. generally involves little
if any research training either how to do
research or how to be a critical consumer
of research. 2. Psy.D. Most are for
profit institutions, but some within
universities. Ph.D. generally within
regular university 3. Psy.D. For profit more
expensiveoften VERY expensive,
generally poorer training 4. Easier to get
into Psy.D. for profit programs.
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Recommendations regarding Psy.D. vs. Ph.D.
1) Be sure programs in counseling or
clinical are APA approved before you
apply. 2) If apply to Psy.D. program, I
recommend those within a university
(e.g., Rutgers, Colo.)http//www.apa.org/ed/accre
ditation/programs/clinical.aspx 3) Be aware
that Psy.D. degrees are not as well-
recognized as Ph.D. Thus, may be less
employable with Psy.D. in certain places.
4) Even if you dont want to conduct research,
you want to learn to be a consumer of
research to evaluate the
effectiveness of treatments. This is
advantage of Ph.D.
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How to strengthen credentials for grad school

• Get high GPA.
• Minimum for acceptance 3.0.
• For good Ph.D. programs, usually 3.5 or higher
• Some schools look mainly at 2 years prior to
  application.
• 2. Study for the GRE (or other entrance exams)
• New GRE on different scale.
• Minimum old scale 500 verbal 500 math.
• For Ph.D. programs, minimum 1l50,
• often 1250, unless your application
  exceptional.

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3. Need 3 letters of recommendation, at least 2
of whichshould be very strong. Letters
generally need to be from faculty, although some
programs accept letters from people that
supervised you in applied settings (e.g.,
schools, crisis counseling, nursing homes,
assisted living facilities). Most applied
programs require some applied letters (e.g.,
School Psych, Mental Health Counseling,
Counseling Psych).
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4. How to get experiences to earn strong letters
prepare you for graduate study
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DIS (Directed Individual Study) PSY 4911-4914 or
(Research Topics) PSY 4920 most projects 4920

• Work in professors lab doing research forcourse
  credit (pass/fail)3 credits 7-12 hours/wk.
• 2. Allows professor (or their grad students) to
  observe your work habits quality of your
  workso they can write a strong letter of
  recommend.
• 3. 6 hours total can count toward major in psych
  18 hrs. of 4920 plus 6 hrs of 4911-14 count
  toward graduation
• 4. Depending on career goals, may want to do 2
  or more semesters with 2 or more faculty
• 5. Some students get into grad school w/out DIS,
  butGREATLY improve chances with DIS.

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How to Seek out a DIS (4920)
1. Find a faculty member whose research is
interesting a. See psychology web site for
people actively recruiting students.
www.psy.fsu.edu (Undergraduate Research
opportunities DIS opportunities). b. Read
faculty members research (clickPeople Faculty
specific area). Neurosc dont advertise 2.
Contact faculty member (or grad stud) for
interview. -Dont approach them by saying
I need to do DIS. 3. Some DIS/4920 involve
working with grad student.This is just as good
as long as professor will co-signletter of
recommendation you like the grad student. 5. Be
sure to clarify expectations on both sides. 6.
Start looking before registration for next
semester. 7. Most (not all) require at least 3.0
GPA.
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• Other Ways to Strengthen Your Credentials
• Write an honors thesis, if you qualify (3.2
  overall 3.5 Psych) Strongly recommend Honors if
  want to apply to research-oriented program. Some
  honors thesis hours count toward major.
• Generally need do DIS in lab prior to honors
  work.
• If youre interested in applied work, volunteer
  or work with population of interest or potential
  interest.See list of volunteer activities Vary
  in type of commitment.
• Except for 211 Big Bend, hard to get real
  clinical experience. (see volunteer
  opportunities listings)
• Some professors letters are necessary so dont
  count on volunteer supervisors for all letters.

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• Checking out Potential Grad School
• Start looking for info early so you have time to
  carefully consider various programs.
• Different schools within same specialty area may
  provide different training so read materials
  on program carefully.
• The best programs for you are the ones that best
  fit your interests, philosophy, career goals.

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Check out web sites and books listed on
web. Look at books in Advising Office A209 PDB
(e.g., APA listing of ALL psych grad schools in
US) If you have questions not answered by web or
written materials, contact graduate secretary of
that department or head of specific program to
which you are applyingnot head of psych dept.
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When deciding which grad schools to apply to,
consider 1. type of training (e.g.,
evidence-based vs. eclectic) 2. type of jobs
they say you are likely to get (contact
them about jobs if not clear) 3. financial
assistance 4. cost of living in that
location 5. admission requirements
be realistic, but optimistic 6. geographical
location of school (less important if do
out of state internship and/or want
academic position) 7. deadlines, application
requirements 8. your fit with interests of
faculty in program 9. ask DIS/4920
supervisor(s) for opinions w/in their
area of expertise.
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Contact professors of interest at potential grad
schools to 1. Find out if accepting students
(generally for Ph.D programs with
apprenticeship models.) 2. Let them know you
are interested in their research. Can help you
get accepted, but be respectful of their time.
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• How Many Schools Should You Apply To?
• Depends on how competitive your credentials
  are.
• Depends on how competitive the schools are.
• In general, Id say at least 10 for
  competitive Ph.D. Programs, unless your
  credentials truly exceptional.
• Project 1000 for Hispanics and some other
  disadvantaged minorities might help with
  application costs to STEM programs

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• Filling out application materials
• Avoid spelling or grammar errors in all materials
  communications with department faculty
• Avoid leaving spaces blank
• Avoid mistakes that show you didnt follow
  instructions!!!!!!
• Dont procrastinate out of anxiety or laziness

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Statement of Purpose It
is IMPORTANT Proof many times and use
spell-check, but never rely on
spell-check Have several people read for
clarity, content, grammar, spelling
Can ask DIS supervisor for general advice Can
ask DIS supervisor to read, but only if
its in good shape, you followed their
early advice Go to Career Center for
feedback. Highlight your individuality,
but do NOT make it a self-disclosure
of personal problems. See description
on psych web site.
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Basically 1. Describe professional goals. 2.
Explain how you got interested in the field. 3.
Describe in detail what you did to prepare
yourself. (OK to repeat whats in resume) BE
HONEST!! 1. Dont say you love research just
because that is what you think they want
to hear 2. Highlight your great experiences
without misrepresenting what you did.
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• Interviewing
• Many programs (particularly applied ones)
  encourage top applicants to come interview.
• Dress professionally (goal is to
  look/actprofessionalnot to be trendy or sexy)
  Dress in a waythat a fuddy duddy Grandparent
  would approve.

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• Give thought to what youll say when asked likely
  questions
• 1. Why you want a particular career.
• 2. Why you think you would be good at this
  career.
• 3. Why you applied to this particular school
  how highly you rank this school
  personally.
• 4. What you did to prepare yourself.

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• Interviewing (Continued)
• Come prepared with questions to ask them about
  nature of program
• Jobs that recent graduates have gotten
• Collaboration camaraderie among faculty
• Collaboration camaraderie among students
• Typical time it takes to graduate
• Nature of courses (can usually get from
  materials)
• Types of internships, if relevant.
• If not arranged, ask to interview with
  currentgrads and perhaps get names of those who
  recently completed program.
• Some questions addressed in program materials,
  but may still want clarification. But dont ask
  something that is clear in materials

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If Accepted to More than One Program

1. Celebrate!!
2. Use criteria discussed earlier to choose program