Neuropsychology Central

Mikayyla · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Posts: 10

A while ago somebody posted a dialogue -- what the topic was I don't remember -- anyway, the person made a comment about "Nova" like it was a bad school. I'm considering applying to Nova Southeastern in Florida because they have a clinical w/ neuropsychology program there. Can anyone tell me if this is a bad idea? Do they have a bad reputation or are they worthy of the 6 year investment?

A second question.....is there someplace I can find out which neuropsych programs are good and which are "hands-off"??

Thanks for your time,

Mikayyla

lash · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:30 am Post subject:

1) As far as I know, Nova's got a very good program, and I've met a number of people who came out of it and seemed to be doing quite well. I can't swear that they all enjoyed it, since I didn't ask, but I can't imagine it's too terrible. I don't remember the dialogue that had the negative comment, so I can't speak to that. Apply, and if you go for an interview, ask the current students. People tend to be honest if it's a horrible place.

2) None of the programs listed in the links section on this site are considered to be "hands off." Again, I don't know people who attended all of them, so I can't swear that people don't have bad experiences at any of them, but none of them have a horrible professional reputation that I know of. As for individual opinions, you'll have to ask around, I've never seen a website that ranks programs.
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Lee Ashendorf, Ph.D.
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA
Co-Webmaster, Neuropsychology Central

ndenbest · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 3:25 pm Post subject:

I am entering my third year as a Ph.D. student at Nova Southeastern University in the Neuropsychology concentration. I must have missed the negative comment posted but can attest that the program is reputable and worthy of consideration. The program has strengths for entering as a Psy.D as well as Ph.D. For a Ph.D. the emphasis is more clinical as opposed to a strictly research based program. As a Psy.D. you are more exposed to research than many other programs which is helpful in standing out upon internship application. As with any program you are considering, realize that you will agree and disagree with many facets but it is how you implement your acquired knowledge when you are done that matters most! Good luck with your future endeavors.

lash · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 4:27 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I found the post you were talking about. It was just mentioned in passing, so I have no idea what that person's beef with the program is--maybe it's valid--but when deciding whether to apply to a school, I wouldn't base a decision on a passing comment like that.
_________________
Lee Ashendorf, Ph.D.
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA
Co-Webmaster, Neuropsychology Central

Paendrag · Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 32

That was me.

My understanding is that NOVA is one of the largest programs in terms of # of students around and has no funding. Both are generally hallmarks of undesirable programs.

It's not advisable to take on medical school level debt to do a clinical psychology program. The payoff is not the same.

I am familiar with their program. . .some good, some bad. They let in alot of students. They are a professional school. For the most part, avoid programs on this list:

http://www.ncspp.info/byregion.htm

with a few exceptions (e.g., Rutgers)

lash · Posted: Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject:

Well, I admit to knowing nothing about the program in particular, and I also admit I did not know that it was a professional school. I tend to agree that racking up a medical-school-sized student debt without getting a medical degree to pay it off is silly.

However, the reason I didn't know it was a professional school is because its students are just as involved in the neuropsych research world as any "traditional" program's, and they seem to do OK. I know 1 person who got a (non-neuropsych) clinical degree from there, and she did quite well post-Nova. As for the program itself, looking over the faculty, I'd be tickled pink to work with some of them. Charles Golden & Wiley Mittenberg are huge names, and the non-neuropsych faculty roster isn't exactly full of slouches either (Reitman and Sobell stand out right now).

So no, I don't think it would hurt you professionally, but financially might be a different story, and you'll have to ask someone else for details about the experience of going through the program itself.
_________________
Lee Ashendorf, Ph.D.
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA
Co-Webmaster, Neuropsychology Central