Applying to Doctoral Programs: An Insiders Perspective

Thom Field, M.Ed., NCC Doctoral student, James Madison University

VACES 2012, Lynchburg, Virginia

Introduction
O 1st year, 3rd semester doc student @ JMU O Completed my master s studies at LC in

May 2011 O Began preparing my doctoral application after my first semester at LC O I learned some important lessons along the way, and had to make difficult decisions

Overview
O Whats Your End Goal? O Educating Yourself O Maximizing Your Chances O The Interview O Final Decisions

1. Whats Your End Goal?

Begin with the end in mind (Covey, 1989)

1. Whats Your End Goal?

O Start with a funnel approach O Long-term planning facilitates short-term

decisions O So
O What is important to you? (Salary?

Avoiding loans? Marriage/parenting? Academic enjoyment?) O What options are not important to you?

1. Whats Your End Goal?

Your desired work tasks will guide your direction. What work tasks are you most interested in?
O Counseling? (therapist etc.) O Educating? (professor, speaker,

consultant, supervisor) O Psychological testing? (clinical/school psychologist) O Leadership? (principle, superintendent, director, dean of students)

1. Whats Your End Goal?

Ask yourself some challenging questions O Am I prepared for another 3-5 years in graduate school? Is my family/partner? O How will I feel if I have to compromise my dreams? Will I resent this? O Am I prepared to move? Or commute? O Do I need a doctorate to perform my desired work tasks?

1. Whats Your End Goal?

Remember, bad habits learned in masters programs only get worse in doctoral programs! O Are you a
Procrastinator? Workaholic? Non-note taker? Slow reader? Perfectionist?
O The truth: you wont have time to complete all

of your assignments perfectly. O Dissertations take a lot of time & energy away from your other commitments O My personal struggle: cognitive room

2. Educating Yourself

2. Educating Yourself
Once you have decided on long-term goals, begin researching career options first. Sources of information: O Websites (Bureau of Labor Statistics, job descriptions on webcrawlers) O Interviews with people engaging in your desired activities (professors, psychologists) O Consider buying/loaning books on career options (E.g., Career Paths in Psychology; Sternberg, 2006)

2. Educating Yourself
Why start there?
O Does the job description look appealing? O Is it a good fit for your personality? O Job outlook? O Do other people in the field enjoy doing

that work activity? What are the pros/cons?

2. Educating Yourself
Financial considerations You are making an investment.
O How much will you earn in the prime of

your career?
O Doctoral salary Masters salary = ?

O Cost of not working FT for 3-5 years? O Anticipated loan amount?

2. Educating Yourself
O Where are the jobs? Bernard (2006)

analyzed doctoral-level jobs for doctoral graduates in counselor education, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology:
O 40% of faculty openings were advertised

specifically to counselor educators compared to 10% for counseling psychologists O 78% of clinical positions were advertised exclusively to psychologists compared to <1% for counselor educators

The Investigative Process

PhD PsyD EdD ODU W&M PhD in Counselor Education at W&M

Different Types of Programs

Different Programs

Specifics to Each Program

2. Educating Yourself
Then begin researching particular programs in your area of work activity O Become knowledgeable about the varieties of programs
O PhD vs. EdD vs. PsyD vs. DPC O Counselor Education and Supervision vs.

Counseling Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology vs. Leadership Studies vs. Professional Counseling

2. Educating Yourself
Become knowledgeable about the programs themselves, through the same sources of information as before O Websites of programs O Interviews with current students at different types of programs (Counselor Ed., Clinical Psych, Leadership, etc.) O Books (Insider s Guide to Clinical and Counseling Psychology; Norcross & LaFayette, 2011)

2. Educating Yourself
Look for their relevant requirements/prerequisites for admission
O CACREP or APA accredited?

O Require 60 CACREP credits?

O Require 18 undergraduate credits in

Psychology? (APA) including statistics? O GREs? Psychology Subject Test? O Length of program? O Length of doctoral internship? Out of state?

2. Educating Yourself
Conduct research into various programs O What is the program focus? (e.g., Crisis @ JMU) O What theoretical orientation will you be trained in? O 2 years of post-master s experience? O Tuition costs? (e.g., PsyD vs. PhD) O Financial aid/support? O Likelihood of admission? O Unique entrance requirements (e.g., videotape?)

2. Educating Yourself
Create a timeline for yourself, and consider: O When will I be graduating? O When will I have time to work on the application? O Do I anticipate any major life events in the future? (marriage, etc.) O Do I need to retake or order copies of the GRE? Psychology Subject Test? O When are the application deadlines?

3. Maximizing Your Chances

3. Maximizing Your Chances

O Begins with expanding your CV!

(a) Scholarship
O Presentations
O

Statewide: VCA, VACES O Local: Student scholar showcases or symposiums

O Research experience
O

Some programs place heavy emphasis on publications (particularly Ph.Ds in psychology) O Consider assisting faculty research

3. Maximizing Your Chances

(b) Service
O Organizational leadership
O

Start small: student organizations, Chi Sigma Iota, VCA small chapters

O Clinical experiences
O

Consider part-time work during course of study O Or if you cant work, volunteering at crisis hotlines, homeless shelters, other social justice projects

3. Maximizing Your Chances

O Use the resources available to you: O Show your CV to a career counselor at your

college/university O Ask your advisor about letters of recommendation O Seek out a mentor to guide you through the process (may or may not be your advisor) O Ask current doctoral students about their own preparation

3. Maximizing Your Chances

The Ugly Truth: Retaking the GREs
O Some doctoral programs still require the

GREs, even though you have a graduate degree O If you are unsure of the weight given to the GREs, ask the program director O For Clinical/Counseling/School Psychology programs, GREs < 1200 = the discard pile
O

Most doctoral psychology programs also require the Psychology Subject Test

3. Maximizing Your Chances

O Choosing your internship is important
O Some programs have internship

requirements (e.g., 60 direct face-to-face hours for Radfords Psy.D in Counseling Psychology) O Your site supervisor should hopefully write one of your Letters of Recommendation (you need 3) O It can be matched with the programs focus (which should be your own interest, also!) E.g., Crisis @ JMU)

3. Maximizing Your Chances

O Face recognition
O When you have decided on the programs

O O O O

you are interested in, meet with program directors (better than phone calls why?) Sit in on classes Ask to meet with current students Bring all the questions that you would like answered, preferably written down (why?) Send a thank-you note afterwards. Consider scheduling a second follow-up meeting

3. Maximizing Your Chances

Examples of questions to ask: How much weight is given to the (GRE, personal statement, letters of reference, research experience, clinical experience) when reviewing applications? How many days/week on campus? How many hours/week are devoted to study? What are the main training emphases?

3. Maximizing Your Chances

Invitations and Opportunities
O Present at conferences or attend

trainings if offered; e.g., Southeastern Counseling Psychology Regional Conference O Why? O Would this opportunity have occurred had I not met with the program director faceto-face twice?

4. The Interview

4. The Interview
O The application is in, and you get the

call!! O Doctoral interviews are intimidating affairs O Prepare as you would for a job interview. Do mock-interviews the week before. Dress conservatively (I bought a suit!) O Be able to articulate: (a) why you want to go to that program, (b) why you want to be a doctoral student, (c) why they should admit you [instead of the other candidates!]

4. The Interview
O Prepare adequately. O If you are interviewing in another state,

consider arriving one or two days ahead of time O Visit the interview location the day before, for transportation, parking, and timing purposes O Only ask for a phone interview if you cannot go in person, and arent excited about the program O Arrive early for the interview with notepaper, pens, cash, and a smile!

5. Final Decisions

5. Final Decisions
O Best case scenario = you have more than O O O

one offer! This is when your previous in-person interviews and visits help you the most Discuss the matter with your family; it takes a village to earn a doctorate! Return to your initial planning: What end did you visualize? What funding does each program offer? You may be able to haggle if they want you enough

References
Bernard, J. M. (2006). Counselor education and counseling psychology: Where are the jobs? Counselor Education & Supervision, 46, 68-80. Covey, S. R. (1989). The 7 habits of highly effective people. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. Norcross, J. C., & LaFayette, M. A. (2011). Insider s guide to clinical and counseling psychology: 2012-13 edition. New York: Guilford. Sternberg, R. J. (2006). Career paths in psychology: Where your degree can take you (2nd ed). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.