PhD in Clinical Psycholgy?!

saratoga37
Thu, 10 Mar 2016 00:04:58 +0000

Hi,

I’m a 2nd year psychology major at UCLA. I’m interested in getting a PhD in Clinical Psychology; I want to be a psychologist for those with mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, or a psychologist for children with autism.

I just started doing research on requirements for graduate school and am freaking out… What exactly do I need to do to look good? I didn’t realize how competitive it is for clinical psychology.

I currently have a 3.7 GPA (hope to keep it at that, possibly raise it) and I volunteer to give campus tours to underserved children. I should get into a minor that requires an internship at a daycare for 1 whole academic year (junior year) that makes us write a paper on a focal child’s development at the daycare. I might also intern at a disability center for children my senior year. In addition, I plan on volunteering this summer at a camp for autistic children to cover the “clinical setting” aspect needed: that counts, right? I’m also looking to possibly shadow or work for a psychologist I know that specializes in working with those with PTSD.
As for research, I wasn’t planning on starting until the fall, and then doing that for at least 1 academic year. But I read somewhere that schools want at LEAST 1.5-2 years of research? Does this mean I have to take a gap year after graduating? Because I was hoping to go straight into graduate school.
Of course, I will take the GRE and hope to get a high score–I know that is needed.

Is this a good track? Can I go straight into graduate school? Will I have the possibility of getting into a top or mid tier one? I’m already freaking out! Any help is appreciated.