r/ClinicalPsychology • u/username19346 • 4d ago

Choosing PhD programs

I’m having a hard time narrowing my list and was wondering if anyone knows of red flags or problems at any of these (funding trouble, mentorship issues, program culture, anything):

Temple University (clinical science)
Florida International University (Clinical Science in Child & Adolescent Psych)
Kent State University (Clinical)
University of Toledo (Clinical)
Montclair State University (Clinical)
Miami University, Ohio (Clinical)
University of Georgia (clinical science)
University of South Carolina (Clinical-Community)
University of Kansas, CCPP (Clinical Child)
San Diego State University/UC San Diego JDP (Clinical)
University of Texas at Austin, SCCP (combined clinical-school)
Northern Illinois University (Clinical)
University of Connecticut, Storrs (Clinical)
Vanderbilt University (Clinical Science)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Clinical-Community)
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Clinical)
University of Virginia, Clinical
University of Virginia, Clinical-School (Education)
Fordham University (Clinical)
University of Houston (Clinical)
University of California, Irvine (Clinical)
Georgia State University (Clinical)

9 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

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17

u/AvocadosFromMexico_ 4d ago

Both of the folks I knew who came out of Vandy left with a lot of anger about the culture there. Take this for what it’s worth—as I don’t have direct experience.

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u/yuiwerty PhD - Clinical Psychology - USA 3d ago edited 2d ago

Graduated from Vanderbilt’s Clinical Science program in 2024 and can confirm this is true. Regardless of the lab, you’ll be in an exploitative culture that prioritizes research productivity at the expense of the grad student’s wellbeing. I was expected to be available until 8 PM during the week and from 8 AM - 6 PM on weekends for research participants. Granted, I didn’t always have participants scheduled, but I was reprimanded multiple times by my PI for saying I wasn’t available one Saturday a month because I wanted to have a semblance of a life outside of school. Vanderbilt banks on people wanting the prestige behind the name, but it’s not worth it whatsoever. The only positive from my experience is that I was able to leave for internship, where I learned what it’s like to be a supported, respected member of a team while still in grad school and to have a work/life balance be encouraged by my supervisors and training director. My Vanderbilt diploma is actually still rolled up in the tube and somewhere in my closet, because I only feel anger when I think about my time there.

Like someone else mentioned, the cost of living in Nashville is incredibly difficult now. After pressure from the student union for a stipend increase to make meeting basic needs, like having food to eat, maybe possible, my department gave us a $1,000 annual increase. $34k is Nashville is NOT livable with how much it has grown, and I had to take out student loans to be able to afford rent, utilities, and food. Also, the Psych department is split in two. Psychology & Human Development gets paid $34k for the academic year (only 9 months), whereas the Psychology Department gets paid $39k for 12 months. Neither are good, but at least one guarantees an income over the summer. Your stipend is ultimately contingent on which department your PI happens to be hired in.

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u/username19346 3d ago

oh wow thats horrible, do u have any thoughts on the PI BC

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u/yuiwerty PhD - Clinical Psychology - USA 2d ago edited 2d ago

He wasn’t my PI, but a friend from my cohort was in his lab and didn’t have a positive experience either. I don’t know too many details, but the gist was that his expectations for their availability were comparable to my PI’s, he is often unavailable because of being spread too thin with having a ton of undergrads, masters, and PhD students to supervise, and he subsequently isn’t helpful or prompt when it comes to providing manuscript feedback.

He is the department’s director of clinical training and is very out of touch with applying to internship, so my friend felt very unsupported and like they were lacking guidance during application season. He also holds a lot of “grad student townhalls” to solicit student feedback, but it was all performative and nothing ever changed as a result of our complaints.

Also, he’s in the department that gets paid 9-months out of the year. When that happens, PIs typically cover the student’s income for summer months, if they have grant funding which he always does, and the student works for “no more 20 hours/week” since we can only get paid half time (for whatever reason). It ends up being $1,833/month pre-tax, but you’re expected to work the same amount as if you were getting paid fulltime.

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u/username19346 2d ago

Thanks that’s helpful! I dont think im gonna apply lol

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u/username19346 4d ago

Thx! Do u know what abt it upset them?

4

u/AvocadosFromMexico_ 4d ago

I don’t know specifics, but what I was told was that work life balance was pretty rough and the faculty could be a bit petty and toxic

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u/username19346 4d ago

Oh that’s not great 😕thank u!

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u/AvocadosFromMexico_ 4d ago

No problem. Definitely take it with a grain of salt, as both folks were out of postdoc and probably haven’t been in the department in 4-5 years—but I’d just be aware, in case you observe anything questionable!

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u/OkTelevision1206 PhD Student - Clinical Science - U.S. 4d ago

Vandy's still like this and COL in Nash has only gotten worse to the point where I wouldn't recommend a prospective psych PhD try to live there on their stipends. Wouldn't recommend unless you have supplementary income from another source.

-Current UTK

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u/AvocadosFromMexico_ 4d ago

Ugh, so true. I did my undergrad there and then interviewed for internship and the stipend even for that vs COL was BRUTAL

2

u/OkTelevision1206 PhD Student - Clinical Science - U.S. 4d ago

UTK is far from perfect but my stipend at UTK is amazing plus health insurance and other benefits. Knoxville's not the easiest city to live in especially with the crazy rent prices but it's way more doable than Vandy any day.

1

u/username19346 4d ago

I couldn’t find a prof there that I liked 😭

2

u/cosmicist_at_heart (MS - Clinical PhD Intern - Georgia, US) 2d ago

I only went to Vandy for undergrad but the vibe of the department/s left me completely uninterested in applying for grad school lol. Also the school was being run by hardcore union busters so I imagine the pay/CoL disparity won't be changing much anytime soon

7

u/Snoooupdawgiedawg 4d ago

Montclair is a newer program, but I have heard great things! They seem to really put a lot of effort into building the program and taking care of their students. I would say it has a less toxic atmosphere than a lot of other academic institutions. But like others have said it is highly dependent on your mentor!!

2

u/Crazy_azzy 4d ago

Is Montclair fully funded??

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u/Snoooupdawgiedawg 4d ago

Yes, for the first 4 years it’s guaranteed funding both tuition and stipend (but you do have to teach years 3 & 4)

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u/Crazy_azzy 4d ago

Ok thx! Did you personally attended or did you have contacts who did?

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u/Snoooupdawgiedawg 4d ago

I have a friend currently in the program

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u/guapat 4d ago

FIU is great! Depending on the mentor, you get clinical hours starting on your first year. It is research focused so if you’re into that, it might be a good fit. If you DM me I can tell you more. Houston is also great, I’ve heard good things, however, your experience at any of them will be highly dependent on the mentor you have.

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u/MidNightMare5998 4d ago

One of my former mentors is in the clinical-community program at University of South Carolina. They seemed to like it a lot, although it’s obviously going to depend on the PI.

3

u/becalts Clinical PhD - Rehabilitation Psych - USA 3d ago

Have a colleague who was at UConn and she has had a very successful research career from her opportunities there she stayed an extra year and seemed happy

4

u/arrrrr_won 3d ago

DM me for tea on both the UVA programs. Graduated from one, know the other very well.

1

u/peachyjules 4d ago

If you lmk the initials for the University of Houston PI, I can let you know what I know of them

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u/username19346 4d ago

CS and AV thank u!

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u/peachyjules 4d ago

I have friends who worked for both in undergrad! CS is pretty hands on, personable. and produces lots of great researchers, AV was her grad student! I have heard AV is wonderful but more hands off, and takes on grad students who have the understanding that she is developing them strongly into clinician-scientists, very research heavy. I know more CS grads that do a mix of both, some are more practice focused on their careers now.

1

u/username19346 4d ago

Thx! Do u feel like they’re open to students doing their own thing or rlly aligned w what they’re already doing? Im way more interested in what they j did than currently doing is my problem

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u/peachyjules 4d ago

I think if you fall somewhere on the spectrum with their recent work you’ll be good. I know a CS postdoc who helped develop one of her projects but unsure about AV. I have a feeling AV may be open to flexibility too because her team doesn’t usually take on undergrad RAs. The focus should be less on “I want to do exactly what you’re doing!” anyway, and more on “what I have done will set me up for success in your lab in this way, and your developing under your lab’s work will set me up for my future goals in this way”

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u/username19346 4d ago

Thanks! That’s helpful

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u/peachyjules 3d ago

Happy to help! Good luck in your apps!

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u/chaosions 4d ago

What is your research interest?

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u/username19346 4d ago

These are narrowed down already based on faculty fit

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u/chaosions 3d ago

You might want to narrow down based on population too.

1

u/OutrageousChange4416 30m ago

I would say to consider accreditation (e.g., are they APA accredited and planning on continuing/discontinuing it?) and stipend after faculty fit