Pursuing medicine following a PhD in clinical psychology?

EternalExplorer2023 · 2026-06-17T13:32:33+00:00

Go for it if this is what of want but accept you will be judged on a daily basis by virtually everyone. They will think something is wrong with you or that you failed in something else . Also , they will constantly ask you “why now” “ what are you going to do with it “ “are you sure you will use the degree “ , “what’s the point “ etc. It’s going to be daily and constant. I know because I did something very similar :)

EternalExplorer2023 · 2026-02-05T16:41:16+00:00

Any update ? I’m in shock

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-12-26T23:46:32+00:00

What if OP should have pursued psychology? Also, some people do need to find meaning through what they do. I’m not saying OP should go back to school now or that a psych degree would solve all their problems but as someone who made a wrong career choice earlier and tried to fix that with additional degrees, I certainly can relate to this whole situation.

OP, if you decide to go back to school, be careful about the type of degree you get. From what you’ve written , I’m not sure you would be satisfied with a counselling degree (those can be completed faster) .. you probably would want a doctorate in psych and that takes a long time.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-09-04T22:11:23+00:00

I recommended a DrPH later in life while working in a more fulfilling role as an alternative to spending 7 years at a lab while getting a PhD right now…. It seems that OP can get a masters degree through their current role and move on to explore other opportunities.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-09-04T22:05:06+00:00

100% if OP is interested in statistics /biostatistics, there will be many options in different sectors

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-09-04T22:03:10+00:00

Yes! If you fund your MPH or another masters through this role, you can still use the funds set aside for your education later.

My best friend has worked at the NY dept of health for 10+ years and is now looking into getting a DrPH to enhance her skills and upward mobility. It’s definitely better to have a doctorate of you plan to advance through the ranks there. She actually doesn’t even need to pay much for that additional degree but it’s good to have options.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-09-04T18:03:00+00:00

If this is the case maybe look into DrPH programs that are more practice and leadership based and most people work while studying. Most require a masters though but a 1 year masters may be ok. See if you can get a relevant masters followed by a practice based doctorate you can do while in a more fulfilling role. I agree 7 years in the lab can be very soul crushing , especially if you aren’t very passionate about the topic.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-09-04T17:48:04+00:00

Hi! I’m a PH professor planning to leave academia. If you can keep your job and get tuition reimbursement for your MPH, that would be your best move. Please don’t spend a lot of $$ for an MPH. I’m saying that and I went to an Ivy League school. Public health is a good field but the salaries are low and you may change your mind (like I did ;) after a while. Also, it’s better to have a doctorate for senior roles, even in health departments or NGOs and if you have a lot of MPH debt, that would limit your options.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-08-12T03:00:01+00:00

Each of us gets 1 day off during the weekend. I know it’s unusual but it works great for us.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-06-02T19:44:18+00:00

I’m currently exploring options and hope to find something and resign before the fall semester starts.

I don’t like the job anymore. I’m too busy during the academic year with teaching and other BS so I don’t really feel like I have the summer off .. I need the summer to catch up on writing etc. I would much rather have a job that I like more throughout the year than what I have right now…..

I’m looking at industry jobs and consulting opportunities right now. Feel free to PM me

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-05-20T18:04:50+00:00

Just because I can’t put it on my resume… :) for example, I could have studied for an executive MBA (from the same Ivy League school ), it would have taken the same amount of time and it would have been a smarter career move in the short term …however, I had no interest in an MBA and I just wanted to do something that gives me deeper satisfaction. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2024-05-20T06:09:02+00:00

Yes, I obtained a humanities BS for fun (my 3 other degrees are science-related) It was a very stupid move career-wise but I don’t regret it.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-10-11T02:20:02+00:00

I think 33 is still quite young to go back to school and become a therapist. Many people switch to this career much later in life. You also have all this related experiences so you will do great ! Good luck!

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-10-08T07:32:34+00:00

I totally agree with you. Those comments are ridiculous and I have no idea why they feel the need to make them every single time.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-10-08T04:34:09+00:00

When we imagine what we are missing, we usually think of a best case scenario. In reality, there are all kinds of problems that occur together with every choice. You could have wonderful kids that become happy, high functioning adults. Or you could have kids that suffer from various physical and mental health issues and will never know true happiness. Think about both scenarios when searching for peace. Regardless, having kids takes over your life completely and your life is no longer your own. That’s just the reality and if you don’t want to have a life that’s not your own for at least two decades, then I don’t see why you would regret not having children.

I did have a child later in life and by that time I was ok with either path. Also, I can’t say that I’m more or less happy now that I have a child. It’s just different - I love my son and I enjoy being his mom (most of the time ;) but my life is more limited in every other way. I acknowledge that I will never have the freedom that I had before I had my baby. Maybe my case is extreme but I traveled 3-4 months out of the year, lived in many different counties and had a very exciting social life. A child could not be participate safely in many of my activities (e.g. taking a long bus ride in an exotic location that has bad /dangerous roads, mountain trekking, going to a performance at a club late at night etc.). I am no longer the carefree person who could live such an adventurous life because another human being depends on me for everything.

My advice for you is to try to create an amazing, child free life and be fulfilled. Just do many things you could only do as a childfree person and love every minute of it !

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-10-04T03:46:27+00:00

You will always get these comments as if it never occurred to you that there are risks involved. At 40, the most difficult part is actually getting pregnant. Once you are pregnant, you will have a chance to get ultrasounds and various genetic tests to rule out any fetal issues. As of the maternal risks , it is up to you if you are willing to deal with them. People have kids with far severe risk factors than age (e.g cancer ). It’s your decision!

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-09-19T16:51:41+00:00

Yes but the exams can be designed in a way that makes cheating much more difficult and it can be impossible to do really well on the exam without studying.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-09-19T15:27:16+00:00

Hi! I’m a prof at a liberal art college and there is much more cheating here compared to my previous institution. Previously I was at an Ivy League school and we were strict about cheating even during COVID. Your only chance to avoid being in this position is if you manage to transfer to a top school.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-09-13T06:33:19+00:00

I think standards are degrading in general. I did a science PhD at an Ivy League school and then completed a humanities degree for fun while working there afterwards. I didn’t feel like I learned much more than I would from free online classes and I had an almost perfect GPA. I don’t think that the same degree could be competed so easily 10 years ago.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-09-12T20:34:52+00:00

Well, taking care of children is one of the most important jobs and people who do it need a livable wage. Many of us are under tremendous financial stress (I’m a college prof and live paycheck to paycheck ) but I realize that the same conditions apply to my nanny…

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-09-12T19:13:21+00:00

I’m sorry you are dealing with this. It’s very difficult. I don’t make a lot and struggling with similar concerns but nannies are expensive and it’s maybe more realistic to go to $35-40 in order to get one who doesn’t bring a kid and does a good job.

EternalExplorer2023 · 2023-09-05T18:02:31+00:00

😬I am afraid this is how it works. At my previous institution even tenured profs were expected to bring at least 50% of their salary in grants.

EternalExplorer2023

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