Ways to get to a Doctorate Degree (Ph.D; Psy.D):

1.Associates Degree> B.A/B.S Degree> Masters> Doctorate

-It can be good to enter a graduate program after a masters because it demostrates that you are capable of hadling the course work and gives you the opportunity to do research. Being successful in a masters program is a good indicator for success in a doctorate program.

2.B.A./B.S. Degree> Doctorate

-Can be difficult to do because although most schools accept applications with a GRE (verbal & quantitative) of 1000, they generally look for higher scores to ensure or at least be more confident that the applicant will complete the program.

Areas in Doctorate Programs

1.Clinical

2.Social

3.Experimental

4.Personality

5.Orgainization

6.Community

-It is probably a good idea to strive for a general psychology Doctorate degree such as the ones listed above (according to your general interest area) than to get a doctorates in for example:Child Psychology because doing so will really restrict the type of job you are qualified to do. However, after a doctorate degree there are exams for certifications and specializations.

Certifications and Specializations

1.w/o a degree, can be acquired with years of experience

-Substance Abuse; Mental Retardation; Behavior Analyst

2.After a Masters Degree

-Counseling, Marriage & Family; Psychological Associate;LPC(Licenced Practitioner Councelor); School Psychology

3.After a Doctorate Degree

-Health Service Provider

The Boulder Model suggests that a psychologist (PhD) is scientist first and a practitioner second.

-The difference between a Ph.D and a Psy.D. is that a Ph.D focuses on research, experimental methodology, statistics. A Psy.D. is a new type of psychological degree where there is no research, unfortunately this type of program, to my understanding, is only offered in private universities (a limited amount) and is more expensive.

Paying for school

Jobs, Grants, Scholerships, & Fellowships

1.Score above 1000 on the GRE, the higher your GPA & GRE scores, the higher your chances of getting Grants, & Scholerships.

2.Their is assistance for minorites because, in the field of psychology, the number of minority profesionals is not proportional to the amount of minorities in the general population. The National Institute of Mental Health assists minorites.

3.New Program

-Working, after a degree, in a Reservation or in the Rio Grande Valley..$25,000 a year will be payed off on your loans.

Getting Into a Graduate Program

1.Can cost you $30-$50 per application

2.Turn in a Letter of Intent

-Best Advise- show it to someone before you send it off.

3.Visit the Department

-May improve you chances of being accepted because you are no longer just a name.

4.Deadlines!

-Deadlines are very serious, many universities feel that if you can not turn in your information on time, you should not even be considered!

Jobs

1.Associate Degree

-Mental Health- taking care of patients (bathing, washing, etc)In state hospitals. Pay is about $1,000 a month.

2.B.A. (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology)

-Similar to a mental health job.

-Case Worker- large workload. Pay is about $1,200 a month.

-Teacher- must have alternative certification. Pay is about $2,300 a month.

-Therapist Tech.- Pay is about $16,000-$20,000 a year.

3.Masters- (Clinical, Counseling, Educational Psychology)

-LPC (licenced professional counselor)- Graduate, and pass LPC test, 2 yrs under supervision with a provisional LPC, Licensure. Pay is about $30,000-$35,000 a year.

4.Doctorate- psychologist (licenced). Pay is about $50,000-$100,000 a year.