Anonymous asked: Hi!
I was psychology major on another pre-health track, but I found I couldn't keep myself away from books and articles on neuropsychology as well as your blog, and I realized I'd be so much happier constantly learning and working in this field. I'm afraid I haven't any research experience in psychology and most of my undergraduate extracurricular hours and volunteering aren't very psychology related. Neuroscience would be my area of choice but I've heard clinical psychology in graduate school is competitive and difficult to get into. Would you have any suggestions or advice on what to do for a year off to make myself a more competitive applicant?
Absolutely! Unfortunately, Clinical is the MOST competitive program in the US (more competitive than medical or law school), simply due to the number of applicants vs. the number of available spots.
The absolute best thing you can do to make yourself a more competitive applicant is to find a research assistant position—I would recommend looking at hospitals with research departments. The pay sucks because it’s all based on grant money, which due to the current economic state has been decreased across many disciplines, however it really is the best thing to have on your resume.
If you have time I would also suggest volunteering somewhere psych related/that offers psychological services (there are many nonprofits that need a lot of volunteers).
The most important thing to have on your resume is research, so really try to get some experience before you apply!
Good luck!
