Now or Later? An Empirical Investigation of When and Why Students Apply to Clinical Psychology PhD Programs
Abstract
This study used a national sample of PhD students in clinical psychology (N = 1,034) to explore when students decided to pursue their graduate degree, reasons for their decisions, and associated satisfaction. Results indicated that immediately after completing their undergraduate degree, 57% of current graduate students reported postponing graduate studies, 10% went directly to a terminal master’s program, and 33% went directly to a clinical psychology PhD program. A variety of reasons for these decisions were documented. Individuals who postponed graduate school were significantly more satisfied with their decision than individuals who went directly to a terminal master’s program and reported less frequent thoughts of withdrawal from their program than individuals who went directly to a clinical psychology PhD program. Implications for undergraduate advisors are discussed.
Department
Psychology
Publication Date
4-2011
Journal Title
Teaching of Psychology
Publisher
Sage Publications
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1177/0098628311401585
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Edwards, Katie M.; Zimak, Eric H.; Johnson, Shannon M.; and Suhr, Julie, "Now or Later? An Empirical Investigation of When and Why Students Apply to Clinical Psychology PhD Programs" (2011). Teaching of Psychology. 64.
https://scholars.unh.edu/psych_facpub/64