<p>Oh boy. I didn’t think tsdad was being intentionally unkind. And ALum is a big girl who zips between continents like she’s taking a commuter flight. She wanted honest feedback–of all sorts–and she got it. Woo hoo for CC.</p>
<p>However…and I don’t know how to balance this, but I would guess that AluD is fairly identifiable as Alum’s D. </p>
<p>P isn’t that big. They don’t have that many freshman from Alu’s state.</p>
<p>Anyway, Alum, I have to go home and eat dinner and cannot come to the alley to throw peanuts–as much as that sounds like a laugh, you poor pitiful dear. In the future, should you hesitate to post specific info about AluD? Should you…send around a bunch of group pms instead?</p>
<p>We love you but there are lurkers galore who don’t know you and don’t care enough to give a cyberslap or a cyber hug (a berurah special)…</p>
<p>For Arizonamom: While there are some highly competetive clinical psych programs–I do not think the earlier poster is giving a fair representation about entry into the field. In fact, I think even highly competetive programs will be interested in relevant field experience (undergrad research, involvement with projects that have a clinical application, demonstrated interest in the field) and GREs/recommendations more than GPA. I supervise graduate students in their pre-doc internships so I am familiar with the field and professional training. I have never heard anyone cite a specific required undergrad GPA. Your son sounds like he is on an excellent track and Pomona will have him well prepared.</p>
<p>Well… interesting thread and sub/thread issues.
First of all-- Alumom… RELAX. Take a deeeeep breath. Sounds like alu-d. is doing great, having fun and adjusting well. Attending a school where just about everyone is equally as bright and self-motivated, it is hard to continue to be the top of the top all the time. In statistics, there is something called “regression to the mean”.You can’t be on the up-side of your personal bell-curve all the time. Your d. is doing great. She sounds like a keeper. Enjoy her. And while you’re at it, be a little kinder to yourself. Your “angst” is part of being a concerned parent. That is something to feel good, not bad about. </p>
<p>As for Arizonamom’s worry about clinical psych grad school- while yes, it is hard to get into, there are many other issues besides grades that influence the admission process. If your s. gets involved in undergrad research projects, does volunteer work at a community mental health clinic, has the opp’ty to work as a teaching or research assistant with a faculty member, has a specific interest area and communicates with grad school faculty doing that kind of research, does well on GRE’s and reasonably well in college, there are opportunities out there. I’d recommend your s. get the grad school catalog published by the APA (Amer. Psych Ass’n). That provides a ton of information on the programs and the admissions requirements. As mmaah said, coming from Pomona, your s. will be well prepared. The more he does in the field while in college, the better candidate he’ll be for grad school. </p>
<p>It’s a beautiful fall day here. Let’s all go cyber-leaf watching (the colors are beautiful here) or pumpkin-carving. We can all benefit from that collective chill pill every now and then…</p>
<p>Well, Alum, I’ve read the thread and I agree - you made a great choice to come join the rest of us ne’er-do-wells at Sinners Alley and get a bit sloshed because YOU REALLY DO NEED TO GET A LIFE AND LET YOUR DAUGHTER START TO LIVE HERS. Said with a hug and a big pat on the back.</p>
<p>Do you have any reason to believe she is better than the average Princeton student? If not, shouldn’t a B+ be a source of pride? (Our rule is that we don’t want to know her grades unless she wants to tell us.)</p>
<p>Alu, hang in there. I know what you were saying and I know where your heart is on this. </p>
<p>Everyone else, when posters are talking about their own kids, it’s not always us at our most rational. Can we listen with our most generous ears? I’ll try harder, too.</p>
<p>Alu–it’s enough to drive one mad, how these threads can keep going and going–you could use a non-virtual glass of wine at the non-virtual sinner’s cafe, er coffeeklatch, tonight, eh? Think about it?</p>
Sounds like alu-d. is doing great, having fun and adjusting well. Attending a school where just about everyone is equally as bright and self-motivated, it is hard to continue to be the top of the top all the time. In statistics, there is something called “regression to the mean”.You can’t be on the up-side of your personal bell-curve all the time. Your d. is doing great. She sounds like a keeper. Enjoy her. And while you’re at it, be a little kinder to yourself. Your “angst” is part of being a concerned parent. That is something to feel good, not bad about. </p>