Navigating Your Academic and Career Path: A Guide for Psychology Students

1. Where Do We Go Now? Psi Chi Cal Poly Pomona April 22, 2008 Alian Kasabian

2. 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

3. 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!

4. Option 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

5. Option 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

6. Option 3: A PhD/PsyD Program • 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

7. Now 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

8. Now 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

10. 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