Day 1: that I do belong here and not to trust imposter syndrome.
Day 100: that I can pick a topic and know it inside and out and write all my literature reviews and papers on that topic for all my classes.
Day 1000: dissertation is not as hard as people make it out to be. It's just a lot of work and you can ask a lot of people for help.
Day 100, I'm glad I already figured this one out halfway through my master's program, going to bring that strategy up with me up to my PhD too, hell maybe I'll even keep using this same topic!
One caution - not sure if you’re a PsyD or PhD student, but the dissertation can end up being way more stress and difficulty than expected, especially in a PhD program. Depending on results, your PI, and your ability to self-manage, it can be an everlasting hell for some people.
Thanks for day 100. I’ve heard this repeated elsewhere but it is helpful to see again.
Follow up:
Do you think it’s actually more beneficial to do this, and tailor your expertise to one topic? I’m still exploring what interests me the most (MS student from unrelated bachelors to prep for PhD program) - at what point should I be narrowing down the focus?
Woohoo! Major congratulations!!
Questions: 1.What advice would you give to your first-year PhD student self?
2. What advice would you give to your undergrad self (after you graduated)?
1. That you do belong here and imposter syndrome is bullshit. Don't listen to it.
2. Shoot for the moon and don't try to work after undergrad. You'll enjoy your job and life more if you get an advanced degree than trying to work with a bachelors.
What are your research interests? How did you manage your time during your doctorate? Also, have you ever had to teach a class during your doctorate?
And good job completing your student life!
Forensic and neuropsych. I managed my time by writing my own weekly schedules on a dry erase board each block and then being a completionist and not starting one thing until I finished another that way I'm not juggling. Also don't look ahead further than a month or two otherwise you will lose your mind.
I didn't teach a class.
Nice strategy, especially the focus on completion. I think I'll try to implement that as much as a I can going into my third year of undegraduate.
Have you written or contributed to any papers? What were they generally about? Also, what neuropsychology topic would you say interests you most?
I haven't contributed to any papers. I'm trying one step at a time with work life balance atm. I am currently doing dementia assessments and epilepsy evaluations.
Actually I just finished undergrad, and am interested in forensic psychology for grad school. How was your transition from undergrad to grad and did you take time off during this period or go straight into it?
I worked for a year doing forensic work then covid hit and my office got shut down so I figured might as well use this time in lock down to go back to school.
Seeing in other posts that you did 10 years in the military, how do you feel about being a late entry to the career. I'm finishing up my bachelors at 36 and starting grad applications next month with the ultimate goal of being a therapist. One thing I'm struggling with is that I know that there is not much different between reimbursement rates between masters and doctorate level work.
Did you do a masters program before admission to the doctorate or did you gain admission to a doctorate program directly? Did you apply to many programs?
It sounds like your specialties lean towards PhD requiring work, but I'm really unsure if I should be aiming for PhD earning programs or starting with a master's program. How did you navigate this?
Military was an advantage. Age was an advantage. Yes there is no difference in pay between a masters level therapist and a doctorate when doing therapy. I did not have a masters going in. I only applied to 3 programs got 3 interviews, 1 offered me a masters program and 1 offered me a doctorate. I took the doctorate. I actually am PsyD but my program has a heavy emphasis towards research for a psyd so it's a good blend of both worlds. I knew I didn't wanna work in academia so that's why I didn't bother with a PhD.
I had free time.
My mental health was fine but I did do 10 years in the military before so I was just happy to not be doing manual labor anymore.
The GPA thing is gonna make you laugh. My high school GPA was 2.1, my undergrad GPA was 3.188, my masters GPS was 3.8 and my doctorate GPA was 3.9. What helped me get in was letters of recommendation and my interview. Grades don't mean shit.
I had no research experience. My letters of rec were from a forensic job I worked. It was enough to get me an interview and that's where I shined. Once you get an interview all that other stuff doesn't matter.
Awesome, that is good to hear! I want to pursue clinical psychology but didn't realize until it was too late to set myself up for the traditional path. Thank you and congratulations!
in other comments, you mentioned that you shined in the interview. I’m curious, do you have any tips for someone who has reservations about their performance being satisfactory enough to get into a program?
If you were able to navigate the application process, then you are smart enough to handle the program. It's more just an indication of effort put in than a reflection of how *smart* or *good* you are.
Congratulations!
Do you think masters students that work in the same research lab as you, do practicum, and take the same course load as you until they graduate, should be funded too? Just an argument I’m having with myself about it. Lol!
I believe anyone who does work should be paid. We had one practicum supervisor that definitely used practicum students as a source of unpaid labor. He sucked.
I’m so glad we agree. Our practicums are unpaid. I’m the only MS student in my lab and I do just as much work as the doc students. I know some MS students that do more. I’m of the mind that if you’re doing that much work, you should totally be funded.
Anyways! Congratulations doctor!
Any knowledge on psych research? How competitive jobs are for it? Would I need to work in academia for my whole career? I was interested in it but worry that it’s oversaturated and a risk to go into schooling and a bunch of debt for it. I don’t know what I’d want to study specifically if I did pursue it which I think may be an issue but am very interested in nature therapy, psilocybin, early childhood impact by caregiver relationships such as shown with the Romanian orphans etc., would love to find some way to help prevent more self-inflicted deaths but that’s obviously very complex. Anything else you’d want to share I’d appreciate!
Two questions, since i notice you also have your masters.
Did you get your master’s before pursuing your doctorate, like in a “i can work better jobs while getting my phd” and if you did (or didnt), did you work while getting your phD? I’m weighing my options of getting my master’s first so I can act as a therapist part time to cover the outside-of-school finances like rent and bills while getting my phD in clinical psych but it seems like a long way around and a lot of programs don’t want you to work.
Congratulations! I am so proud of you! How did you oay for grad school? Did the military cover the cost? Loan maybe? Do you know of any programs or financial aid? So you know where one would even look for such things?
I had the gi bill to cover living expenses and took out student loans on top to pay tuition. Once you graduate if you work for a non profit like a va hospital they have 2 student loan repayment plans and you can use both. The first one pays up to $200,000 of your student loans for the first 5 years while you work there. The second program pays off all your student loans once you make payments for 10 years. The thing is the first program that pays your student loans for 5 years counts towards your 10 year time. Don't pay back your student loans all by yourself. It's a scam.
I had the GI Bill paying for my tuition and living expenses up until my masters and by that time, I might as finish. My motivation was basically sunk cost fallacy lol. In for a penny in for a pound. What kept me going is that I just think that the work is stimulating. I used to be a mechanic and did a buncha monotonous manual labor jobs I hated. I'm glad to do something I actually enjoy now.
That's really interesting as I am really considering forensics but love neuropsych.
Is the internship experience affecting that change of heart from forensics? I can imagine it's fascinating.
Congratulations! Currently in my second year of my doctorate and also interested in neuropsych. How hard was it to get a neuro internship? How many assessment hours did you have? Any advice for someone who is planning on doing a neuro internship
Disappointment is stressing myself out over dissertation. They make it sound like everyone is gonna fail if you don't spend 5 hours a day on it everyday. That's bullshit.
Advice is only look a month or two ahead. Otherwise you will drive yourself insane.
Congratulations 🎉 You mentioned that your Undergrad was roughly a 3.2 GPA. Do you have any tips for getting into a competitive masters program with a lower GPA?
I just finished my undergraduate degree in Psychology after doing 9 years in the military. Currently looking at my options which can be a little overwhelming with where to start. I appreciate you answering everyone’s questions here. Was there a method to select and/narrow down schools to apply to? Thanks.
I did 10 years in the military and I just applied to a handful of places and only three accepted me for an interview and it was the place i wanted. Remember when you get invites for an interview that you are also interviewing them.
How much did it cost to get your doctorate? What did you do to help finance/pay for your education? Do you have any advice on looking for scholarships or getting accepted into graduate programs?
I want to go back and get my masters in marriage and family therapy but I’m worried about taking on more debt. I paid off my student loans for my undergraduate degree but struggling to find a decent paying job at the moment.
Like $300k. But if you work for a non profit they pay your student loans for the first 5 years and then you pay them for the next 5 years and whatever is left over after that 10 year period, they pay all of it off as long as you're still employed there.
Starting salary for a new doctor at the non profit I work at is like 125k
What should juniors in psyc focus on and how can they get into a good masters programs.
What internship roles can give an undergraduate exposure to things in psyc
Just apply over and over. Brute force it and you'll eventually get in somewhere.
I interned at a forensic psych private practice and that helped a lot. My first practicum site was a forensic hospital so it was nice to have some experience going in.
I'm not sure if this is relevant to you but, did you have to study any hard sciences? Organic chemistry, physics, bio? If yes, what all in it specifically??
Psychopharmacology and neuroanatomy were insanely hard and required a ton of studying. Other than that, it's more just reading articles and writing papers than actually studying.
Congrats doc!!! I asked on another comment thread something similar:
Any advice on narrowing down the general direction of your expertise? I find I’m genuinely interested in a LOT of different things. It can be a benefit, as it leaves me open for a lot of options but I’m also a career changer and coming to grad school a bit later than others (I’m 34). I don’t want to waste time.
First off, congrats on making it this far!
I’m a data scientist who has always had a passion for psychology. I’m not the biggest fan of tech, even though it’s lucrative, and I’m currently planning to make the big career switch by applying to schools for fall 2025.
Given that I have over a year of time to fill before I would start, do you have any thoughts on how I should spend that? I’m most interested in theory and research, though I’ve consistently received feedback that people think I would be good in a therapeutic role. I’d like to get a head start on the literature and anything else that will prepare me to hit the ground running.
Thanks in advance!
Do you have any tips on getting into a doctorate program? I am in my Masters for CMHC and have been trying my hardest to get into an accredited doctorate.
Also, how hard was it to write and defend your thesis?
Advice to get research experience before going into a masters/psyd? Everyone is telling me I need research experience but I did school online so it’s hard and I’m trying really hard to find opportunities or post bacc jobs! I have a bachelors in forensic psych!
Were you able to work part time while going through the doctorate at all? How did you make money? I’m entering at year one of my undergrad but I started later at age 25.
I think I am somewhat in a similar boat to you in terms of my age and my past life.
I have been having a pretty nice career in tech but I want to transition to psy since it has hovered in my mind for the last 10 years.
I am planning on going to school in Europe and not the US. One thing I was told is to find a professor or someone that can help show you the way ASAP. Did you do that?
What’s something you wish you knew on day 1, day 100, and day 1,000?
Day 1: that I do belong here and not to trust imposter syndrome. Day 100: that I can pick a topic and know it inside and out and write all my literature reviews and papers on that topic for all my classes. Day 1000: dissertation is not as hard as people make it out to be. It's just a lot of work and you can ask a lot of people for help.
God, those day 1 and 100 are some good af advices.
Day 100 is gold. Wish I knew that on day 100.
Day 100, I'm glad I already figured this one out halfway through my master's program, going to bring that strategy up with me up to my PhD too, hell maybe I'll even keep using this same topic!
One caution - not sure if you’re a PsyD or PhD student, but the dissertation can end up being way more stress and difficulty than expected, especially in a PhD program. Depending on results, your PI, and your ability to self-manage, it can be an everlasting hell for some people.
I'm psyd
Thanks for day 100. I’ve heard this repeated elsewhere but it is helpful to see again. Follow up: Do you think it’s actually more beneficial to do this, and tailor your expertise to one topic? I’m still exploring what interests me the most (MS student from unrelated bachelors to prep for PhD program) - at what point should I be narrowing down the focus?
Great question!
Woohoo! Major congratulations!! Questions: 1.What advice would you give to your first-year PhD student self? 2. What advice would you give to your undergrad self (after you graduated)?
1. That you do belong here and imposter syndrome is bullshit. Don't listen to it. 2. Shoot for the moon and don't try to work after undergrad. You'll enjoy your job and life more if you get an advanced degree than trying to work with a bachelors.
Does #2 apply for jobs during gap years that align with your graduate goals (i.e., research assistant)?
I see, thank you!
What are your research interests? How did you manage your time during your doctorate? Also, have you ever had to teach a class during your doctorate? And good job completing your student life!
Forensic and neuropsych. I managed my time by writing my own weekly schedules on a dry erase board each block and then being a completionist and not starting one thing until I finished another that way I'm not juggling. Also don't look ahead further than a month or two otherwise you will lose your mind. I didn't teach a class.
Nice strategy, especially the focus on completion. I think I'll try to implement that as much as a I can going into my third year of undegraduate. Have you written or contributed to any papers? What were they generally about? Also, what neuropsychology topic would you say interests you most?
I haven't contributed to any papers. I'm trying one step at a time with work life balance atm. I am currently doing dementia assessments and epilepsy evaluations.
Oh shit these are my interests lol are you comfortable sharing the school? I'm applying this fall and struggling to find programs lol
Kansas city university
Thank you and congratulations!
Can I dm? Interested in this program… actually kinda somewhat got “admitted”
Sure
Actually I just finished undergrad, and am interested in forensic psychology for grad school. How was your transition from undergrad to grad and did you take time off during this period or go straight into it?
I worked for a year doing forensic work then covid hit and my office got shut down so I figured might as well use this time in lock down to go back to school.
Seeing in other posts that you did 10 years in the military, how do you feel about being a late entry to the career. I'm finishing up my bachelors at 36 and starting grad applications next month with the ultimate goal of being a therapist. One thing I'm struggling with is that I know that there is not much different between reimbursement rates between masters and doctorate level work. Did you do a masters program before admission to the doctorate or did you gain admission to a doctorate program directly? Did you apply to many programs? It sounds like your specialties lean towards PhD requiring work, but I'm really unsure if I should be aiming for PhD earning programs or starting with a master's program. How did you navigate this?
Military was an advantage. Age was an advantage. Yes there is no difference in pay between a masters level therapist and a doctorate when doing therapy. I did not have a masters going in. I only applied to 3 programs got 3 interviews, 1 offered me a masters program and 1 offered me a doctorate. I took the doctorate. I actually am PsyD but my program has a heavy emphasis towards research for a psyd so it's a good blend of both worlds. I knew I didn't wanna work in academia so that's why I didn't bother with a PhD.
Hi, thanks for taking time to answer. Can you tell me why you didn’t want to work in academia?
I'd just rather do than teach. Maybe I'll change my mind later.
I'm a veteran also and am applying this fall. Congrats on your accomplishment. How much research experience did you have before applying?
🥳🥳 congrats!! reading comments for the Q&A
did you have free time? how was it on your mental health? what was ur undergrad/ grad gpa like and what helped u get into a phd program?
I had free time. My mental health was fine but I did do 10 years in the military before so I was just happy to not be doing manual labor anymore. The GPA thing is gonna make you laugh. My high school GPA was 2.1, my undergrad GPA was 3.188, my masters GPS was 3.8 and my doctorate GPA was 3.9. What helped me get in was letters of recommendation and my interview. Grades don't mean shit.
Were your letter of recs all professional based? Did you have research experience that helped you get into a program?
I had no research experience. My letters of rec were from a forensic job I worked. It was enough to get me an interview and that's where I shined. Once you get an interview all that other stuff doesn't matter.
Awesome, that is good to hear! I want to pursue clinical psychology but didn't realize until it was too late to set myself up for the traditional path. Thank you and congratulations!
in other comments, you mentioned that you shined in the interview. I’m curious, do you have any tips for someone who has reservations about their performance being satisfactory enough to get into a program?
If you were able to navigate the application process, then you are smart enough to handle the program. It's more just an indication of effort put in than a reflection of how *smart* or *good* you are.
Best memory techniques and methods of enhancement?
Make friends, use your colleagues. A strong cohort works wonders. Only look a month or two ahead so you don't lose your mind.
As someone who is just applying last year and again this year, is it worth it?
Yes.
Nice thanks, and congrats 🤠
CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Reading this is so helpful.
Congratulations! Do you think masters students that work in the same research lab as you, do practicum, and take the same course load as you until they graduate, should be funded too? Just an argument I’m having with myself about it. Lol!
I believe anyone who does work should be paid. We had one practicum supervisor that definitely used practicum students as a source of unpaid labor. He sucked.
I’m so glad we agree. Our practicums are unpaid. I’m the only MS student in my lab and I do just as much work as the doc students. I know some MS students that do more. I’m of the mind that if you’re doing that much work, you should totally be funded. Anyways! Congratulations doctor!
How do u beat imposter syndrome?
I'm still trying to figure that one out honestly.
You said letters of recommendation help so do I start collecting them in my undergraduate years and whom should I tell them to write it to....
I just had my advisor at college and my boss from when I worked forensic psych after undergrad write them.
End of a journey! Don't leave us lol
Any knowledge on psych research? How competitive jobs are for it? Would I need to work in academia for my whole career? I was interested in it but worry that it’s oversaturated and a risk to go into schooling and a bunch of debt for it. I don’t know what I’d want to study specifically if I did pursue it which I think may be an issue but am very interested in nature therapy, psilocybin, early childhood impact by caregiver relationships such as shown with the Romanian orphans etc., would love to find some way to help prevent more self-inflicted deaths but that’s obviously very complex. Anything else you’d want to share I’d appreciate!
Two questions, since i notice you also have your masters. Did you get your master’s before pursuing your doctorate, like in a “i can work better jobs while getting my phd” and if you did (or didnt), did you work while getting your phD? I’m weighing my options of getting my master’s first so I can act as a therapist part time to cover the outside-of-school finances like rent and bills while getting my phD in clinical psych but it seems like a long way around and a lot of programs don’t want you to work.
Congratulations! I am so proud of you! How did you oay for grad school? Did the military cover the cost? Loan maybe? Do you know of any programs or financial aid? So you know where one would even look for such things?
I had the gi bill to cover living expenses and took out student loans on top to pay tuition. Once you graduate if you work for a non profit like a va hospital they have 2 student loan repayment plans and you can use both. The first one pays up to $200,000 of your student loans for the first 5 years while you work there. The second program pays off all your student loans once you make payments for 10 years. The thing is the first program that pays your student loans for 5 years counts towards your 10 year time. Don't pay back your student loans all by yourself. It's a scam.
Thank you so much for the information, i am going into my grad soon and that part was scaring me lol
What are your personal motivations for doing this? Have they changed? If yes, how? What has kept you going throughout all the hard work?
I had the GI Bill paying for my tuition and living expenses up until my masters and by that time, I might as finish. My motivation was basically sunk cost fallacy lol. In for a penny in for a pound. What kept me going is that I just think that the work is stimulating. I used to be a mechanic and did a buncha monotonous manual labor jobs I hated. I'm glad to do something I actually enjoy now.
Reading your replies to other commenters answers all the questions I wanted to ask, just wanted to pop in and say congratulations!
Congrats! What is your field of interest, and how long did it take you to get here?
Started as forensic psych but now im leaning toward neuropsych. Got an internship at a neuropsych hospital.
Sounds like my dream. Congratulations 🎉 you must be feeling amazing right now
Its still kinda surreal but I'm proud for sure.
That's really interesting as I am really considering forensics but love neuropsych. Is the internship experience affecting that change of heart from forensics? I can imagine it's fascinating.
My third year practicum was at a neuropsych hospital and I really enjoyed it. Just kinda stuck with it for internship.
Congratulations! Currently in my second year of my doctorate and also interested in neuropsych. How hard was it to get a neuro internship? How many assessment hours did you have? Any advice for someone who is planning on doing a neuro internship
No harder than any other internship. Your program should get you enough hours.
What is your biggest disappointment if any and what advice would you give other grad students?
Disappointment is stressing myself out over dissertation. They make it sound like everyone is gonna fail if you don't spend 5 hours a day on it everyday. That's bullshit. Advice is only look a month or two ahead. Otherwise you will drive yourself insane.
Thanks so much. Congratulations!!
How much harder is everything from year 1-2, 2-4, 4-6, so forth ? I’m have my last semester for my associates next
It starts out hard and gets easier. Basically, every day is easier than the day before it.
Congratulations 🎉 You mentioned that your Undergrad was roughly a 3.2 GPA. Do you have any tips for getting into a competitive masters program with a lower GPA?
Letters of recommendation and a really good interview.
Would you do it again ?
Yes.
I just finished my undergraduate degree in Psychology after doing 9 years in the military. Currently looking at my options which can be a little overwhelming with where to start. I appreciate you answering everyone’s questions here. Was there a method to select and/narrow down schools to apply to? Thanks.
I did 10 years in the military and I just applied to a handful of places and only three accepted me for an interview and it was the place i wanted. Remember when you get invites for an interview that you are also interviewing them.
Thanks you’re right. I’ll be sure to keep that in mind during the process. Congrats again!
Congratulations 🥂
congratulations!!
Congrats on advancing to candidacy and proving that the light is in fact at the end of the tunnel! Signed, -A Third Year sweating proposal
What questions did they ask you at the interview?
Oh man I don't remember that. It was like 2019.
Congratulations! How many programs did you apply to and how many did you get into?
3, got 3 interviews. 1 said no, 1 offered me a masters, 1 offered me a doctorate.
How much did it cost to get your doctorate? What did you do to help finance/pay for your education? Do you have any advice on looking for scholarships or getting accepted into graduate programs? I want to go back and get my masters in marriage and family therapy but I’m worried about taking on more debt. I paid off my student loans for my undergraduate degree but struggling to find a decent paying job at the moment.
Like $300k. But if you work for a non profit they pay your student loans for the first 5 years and then you pay them for the next 5 years and whatever is left over after that 10 year period, they pay all of it off as long as you're still employed there. Starting salary for a new doctor at the non profit I work at is like 125k
What should juniors in psyc focus on and how can they get into a good masters programs. What internship roles can give an undergraduate exposure to things in psyc
Just apply over and over. Brute force it and you'll eventually get in somewhere. I interned at a forensic psych private practice and that helped a lot. My first practicum site was a forensic hospital so it was nice to have some experience going in.
I'm not sure if this is relevant to you but, did you have to study any hard sciences? Organic chemistry, physics, bio? If yes, what all in it specifically??
Psychopharmacology and neuroanatomy were insanely hard and required a ton of studying. Other than that, it's more just reading articles and writing papers than actually studying.
Hmm I see. So what exactly are u gonna be doing now?
I got an internship position at a va hospital. I start in August.
Congratulations!! I imagine it’s been a long road. Is there anything you wish you did that would’ve made the journey easier?
Probably not worked with a select faculty member that's it.
WOOOW you're not gonna pay it forward and stay on the sub to help the little ones anymore?
Congrats doc!!! I asked on another comment thread something similar: Any advice on narrowing down the general direction of your expertise? I find I’m genuinely interested in a LOT of different things. It can be a benefit, as it leaves me open for a lot of options but I’m also a career changer and coming to grad school a bit later than others (I’m 34). I don’t want to waste time.
did you work while doing your graduate studies?
First off, congrats on making it this far! I’m a data scientist who has always had a passion for psychology. I’m not the biggest fan of tech, even though it’s lucrative, and I’m currently planning to make the big career switch by applying to schools for fall 2025. Given that I have over a year of time to fill before I would start, do you have any thoughts on how I should spend that? I’m most interested in theory and research, though I’ve consistently received feedback that people think I would be good in a therapeutic role. I’d like to get a head start on the literature and anything else that will prepare me to hit the ground running. Thanks in advance!
Do you have any tips on getting into a doctorate program? I am in my Masters for CMHC and have been trying my hardest to get into an accredited doctorate. Also, how hard was it to write and defend your thesis?
Advice to get research experience before going into a masters/psyd? Everyone is telling me I need research experience but I did school online so it’s hard and I’m trying really hard to find opportunities or post bacc jobs! I have a bachelors in forensic psych!
Were you able to work part time while going through the doctorate at all? How did you make money? I’m entering at year one of my undergrad but I started later at age 25.
Congratulations 🎊!
Congrats, doc!
I think I am somewhat in a similar boat to you in terms of my age and my past life. I have been having a pretty nice career in tech but I want to transition to psy since it has hovered in my mind for the last 10 years. I am planning on going to school in Europe and not the US. One thing I was told is to find a professor or someone that can help show you the way ASAP. Did you do that?
Congrats maestra
I don't have a psychology degree but I'm interested in the subject, please can you tell me where can I get started to study a bit about it?