Is anyone here with DClinPsych experience? - OU BSc

[Flippin]

I want to change my career and considerIng a path to become a Clinical Psychologist or a Neuropsychologist. I want to realistically assess the situation. I will be a mature student, so I am very worried that if this happens I will be in my late forties ...if I am lucky.

My degree is a BSc in unrelated technical field 2:1 and a long time ago and I have an unfinished MA in an unrelated field, which was not finished due to illness. I appreciate that this background is very patchy.

So, I am trying to be realistic. If I go down the OU route and graduate with high (1st or 2:1 at the very least) will I be able to go onto a DClinPsych or is that wishful thinking and I need to get a degree from a brick and mortar uni? It needs to be a part-time degree as I plan to work to gain work experience (required by all DClinPsych programmes) and I have family commitments.

Was anyone with an OU degree accepted to the doctorate programme or is that just too crazy??

You will be better off posting this question at www.clinpsy.org.uk it’s a forum specifically for people wanting to do clinical psychology

Also, if you already have a degree you don’t need the BSc in psychology you can do a conversion masters which will be cheaper and shorter route

Thank you so much coffeemonster for the tips. I have looked through the link - there are lots tips and insights, thank you!

The reason I am considering The OU is because it is only 6 months longer but with potential to secure much higher grade is higher. I have to study part-time unfortunately due to family commitments and both options (BSc from the OU and MSc from Glasgow) are online, so I have lots of flexibility. Cost difference between the two is not significant to worry about. Both will allow me to work part-time, hopefully.

I do worry about the judgement about degree from the OU though. Should I be?

I think your big worry is actually getting a job and the further training needed post degree. Very few actually achieve this and I would ensure you would get a training position before embarking on this. Don’t forget other people applying at in their 20s. Other jobs are easier to get!

Thank you My, I absolutely agree. From all the research I am doing I understand this to be a massive issue. I spoke to a few psychology graduates from the early 2000s and they gave up this path after years of trying. I am aware and it concerning. There are other issues working in my favour in respect of the age, but I know it will also be a reason to bin my application...

What training position can I possibly get ahead of completing my degree? I was considering volunteering or working in private sector caring positions. I understand anything at trainee levels - ie assistant psychologist - is completely unrealistic without a psych degree...

I’m not sure about what you could do but of course some undergrad degrees have placements and would you get this with a masters? Alternatively, have you thought about social work. A DD in our village did this after a psychology degree. She did a masters in social work. Much more chance of employment. And promotion if you hang on in there.

I think that most Clinpsy doctorates require your work experience to be post completion of your GBC degree

Thank you Nordstrom, you are right, most but not all it seems. I am looking at Surrey and a few further into London and their requirements vary. Surrey says “ Experience
Applicants may either be graduates or those who are in their final year of an undergraduate psychology degree. In all cases, applicants must have at least one year's full-time (or equivalent if part-time) relevant experience at the point of application. This experience needs to have been acquired within the last three years prior to application. Applicants are not expected to have extensive previous experience in a range of settings. ...”

The DD I spoke about earlier was at Surrey but undergrad. Employment afterwards is still the problem if you are not in a training programme. Ask them what relevant work experience they want. I think you might find it a problem if the Psychology grads are getting the relevant work experience via training programmes. Worth asking though.

I qualified a few years ago from DClinPsy. Previous posters have rightly pointed out that it's a highly competitive career at every stage. That's not to say that you shouldn't persue it but it might be helpful to think about what it is that attracts you to clinical psychology? Are these things that are unique to this profession or would you get the same satisfaction from another role in the health/care sector?
(The role of a neuropsychologist is different, unless you're referring to a clinical neuropsychologist, in which case you need to complete further training and assessment after qualifying from the doctoral programme).

For me I sacrificed a lot to gain relevant experience - moving across the UK 3 times over 4 years wherever a relevant job came up, something I was able to in my twenties but wouldn't be able to do now with my family. I also completed a masters a couple of years after my BSc, which seemed to be pretty much standard in my cohort (all bar one of us had additional postgraduate qualifications as well as experience). It's a challenging and rewarding job which I love, but I also think it's a lot to undertake and to sacrifice for, so it's worth having confidence that it's definitely the career that you want. That ClinPsy forum can be really helpful, although I found it a tad toxic around application time so I'd suggest browsing it with an open mind!

Oh thank you so much, that definitely gives me a lot of food for thought.

I am probably mixing neuropsychologist and clinical neuropsychologist, mumma. I live with a person with head injury and it was always utterly fascinating (and frustrating in equal measures) to observe the changes he suffered (both cognitive and behavioural) due to that. It happened almost 20 years ago.

Coincidentally Flippin that's the area that I work in post-qualification. If brain injury or neurorehabilitation is what you have a passion for there's so many roles that are all rewarding and vital in supporting those who've been affected by brain injury, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Just food for thought, you'll know what the right career fit is for you. :)

Amazing, mummabubs, what a coincidence! Thank you, I am giving all of these a good thought. I think I will go down one of psychology degree routes for now and then see what will pan out. It looks like a career without a clear and certain path, that’s for sure! I had a crazy few days, I cannot think straight right now, but I would love to quiz you a bit more... if it is ok with you, of course.

Of course, feel free to PM me if that's easier.