<p>I’m graduating this year and applying to PhD programs in school psychology. It’s a competitive process to be sure, and many people get rejected across the board each year, so it’s advisable to have a Plan B. I’m just not sure what mine is. Through college, I have taught/TA’ed (paid and unpaid, including two years as a part-time Americorps member), done research (paid and unpaid, including multiple theses, publication(s), and presentations) and done clinical work/volunteering (mostly with college students referred for alcohol problems, but I’ve volunteered with kids a fair amount, too). My main professional interests are a mix of research and clinical work, and I have pretty well-defined research interests.</p>
<p>I can’t figure out a good plan B, though. I was considering applying to the same government placement program that I got a paid internship through last summer (they place both summer and full-time positions), but the on-campus interview date is the same day as one of the grad school interviews I’ve gotten, so that’s more or less out. </p>
<p>I’ve considered both applying to full-time AmeriCorps positions working with children/youth, and applying for full-time RA positions elsewhere (but they’re very competitive and would unlikely be as good a fit as my current lab). I’d like to apply to some funded general/experimental psych master’s programs, but I’m hedgy about asking my recommenders for more letters after they’ve written so many for the doctoral programs to which I’m applying! </p>
<p>It’s odd because I’m so focused on what I want to do professionally, but I’m unsure of how to make a Plan B, C, etc. I know I would like/need to gain additional clinical and research experience, and honestly, all of the ideas above have their drawbacks and pluses for me.</p>
<p>With your background in school psychology/teaching, have you thought about Teach for America at all? I believe there’s still at least one application cycle left. Though it’s a very competitive process, your background would be of real interest to them, I believe. If classroom teaching isn’t for you, the organization often has administrative openings, and school psychology as your field would probably mean you’d be considered for some of them.</p>
<p>Also - have you thought about asking one of the moderators to move this thread to the Parents Forum? I think it’s college-related enough to belong there, and you’d get more responses.</p>
<p>Regarding that government placement program on campus on a day when you have a conflict, can you try to talk to them in some other time/place? Especially since it sounds like that program helped place you before. If you have any contacts (who interviewed you last time?) at the program, try going through them. Maybe they are visiting another campus in your area on another day and would put you on the schedule there (or meet with you before/after/during lunch at their day on that campus), or would be willing to do a phone interview with you since they placed you before.</p>
<p>Here’s your synopsis: Goal…PhD in school psychologist: clinical & research
Previous experience: TA and govt internships and research</p>
<p>Plan A: graduate school</p>
<p>Plan B: possible govt work, Teach for America, Americorps.
Hitch: interviewing conflicts, asking for more recommendations</p>
<p>Plan C: how about working locally, asking for guidance at your public school? Or investigate possibilities at the Hospital or Youth services? YWCA/YMCA, Boys & girls club? United Way? Girls Scouts/Boy Scouts?</p>
<p>You need to think broadly and consider that you’re taking agap year, and what would that look like. You can also be totally “fun” by throwing up your hands and consider traveling for a time (there are youth hostels in Europe and India…). Peace Corps? Summer camp places (they may hire for the full year, not just for the summer). Consider what you’re good at: working with kids? Psychological testing? marketing? as tough as it is, there’s a whole world of possibilities. Think outside the box!</p>
<p>Plan D: Research/Lab staff position that requires only a B.S. degree. Does your group have anything? What about the other groups at your university? Look in the university staff bulletin for job openings</p>
<p>Plan E: Take your ed. psych. background overseas for a quick TESL certificate and then a paid year as an ESL teacher. PM fiona_ for comments on her pre-college experience doing this.</p>
<p>^
Oh, yes, I’m guaranteed a part-time RA job at my lab if I need it (I was written, by name, into the grant at .5 FTE). My question is just where the other .5-ish FTE will come from. I could try hopping onto someone else’s grant or getting an unrelated job on campus. If possible, I’d prefer not to leave my university city (except to go to grad school, of course!), because I have excellent connections here in terms of research and clinical work. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice, which I hopefully won’t need (my first interview is this Friday! Wish me luck!).</p>