Questions to ask the faculty/whoever is interviewing you
- What is (insert school) known for or bring to the table to differentiate from other PsyD/Ph.D. programs?
- How soon do students need to start thinking about dissertation topics?
- Are there mentors/advisors for students once in the program?
- Do students who don’t have their masters in Clinical Psychology obtain their masters and their doctorate once completing the program? (So the program comes with an M.A. and a Ph.D./PsyD)
- Are most of the professors and faculty clinical psychologists themselves? (Counseling or Clinical) It makes a difference 🙂
- Does the school do anything to prepare students for the EPPP part 1 and 2 boards?
- Is there going to be a part 2 board exam for the EPPP?
- Where do most students get their internship, or is it too broad or varied every year to say?
- Diversity of the cohorts? (race)
- When can students expect to hear back after the interview?
- How many people in the cohort does the school aim to get?
- Have there been any changes in the curriculum in the last few years, or has it been relatively stable?
- Are there any paid practicum experiences?
- What involves the dissertation process?
- What year are students collecting and analyzing data for their dissertation?
- Do students specialize in any focus? (child, neuropsychology, family therapy).
- What are state guidelines in terms of how quickly students can become licensed once graduating from the program?
- Are there scholarships available? Minority, Navy, Army?
- The average age of students for incoming cohorts?
- Are the opportunities to have part-time jobs in the program?
- Where are your graduates getting jobs- in hospitals, private practice, or different facilities?
- What are the successful characteristics from which you have seen from students in the program?
- What are you looking for in a candidate?
- How are students successful in your program?
- Would you become a clinical psychologist all over again if you had to start over?
- How hard is it to turn it off when dealing with clients and to have a social life? Can you talk about the importance of having emotional boundaries with clients and patients?
- What do students say is the most challenging part of the program?
- How is the first semester? What are the challenges, work hours, most challenging classes?
- What are just some general tips to get through the first year?
- How do students prepare for an internship, and do they feel prepared when they go?
- What would you say the average hours a week spent in class/studying are for students?
- What are the extracurricular activities, and how can students get involved? Clubs, organizations, minority groups, research groups, etc.
- Diversity of the cohort?
- What is the average amount of time students take in finishing the program for this year?*** critical question
- What are the reasons that students have taken 6 or 7 or more years to finish? *** also critical question (you want to know why it’s taking others longer to finish)
- What would you say is more challenging, general classes, or preparing and obtaining an internship?
- What is more complex, studying for boards or preparing to defend a dissertation?
- What would you say students rank the level of difficulty in classes, studying for boards, defending a dissertation, or preparing for an internship?
- What type of backgrounds do you find in the cohorts? People that just finished undergrad or those who have been working for some time?
- How and when do students study for the board exam?
- What types of career backgrounds do people have when they come into the program? For example, science, psychology, or math majors?
- What have students said they wish they knew since starting grad school?
- Are there people that have gotten married or had kids in grad school?
- How does being in a cohort help with studying? Is there a lot of team collaboration?
- What was it like to go through your first psychology therapy session?
- Are there many people in the cohort who already have their master’s degrees?
- How do students support themselves financially? Part-time jobs, TA’s, research work?
- What are some qualities of a good psychologist?
- How are grades distributed in classes? Papers, exams, presentations?
- Is it challenging to obtain a high GPA?
- What was the most challenging part of this program so far for you?