Neuropsychology Central

[Linley]

I graduated this May with an undergrad psych degree, but I won’t be able to start grad school until Fall ’05. I plan to go for my doctorate in Clinical Psych with specialty training in Pediatric Neuropsych.

I’m wondering what is the best way to use these next 2 years. I’m in the running for a yearlong AmeriCorps position, but in the time before and after that I’m at a loss. I’m more interested in broadening my psychology experience, but I have to admit that it would also be nice to have those experiences look good to grad schools. I am perfectly willing to work/volunteer unpaid, I just don’t know where to start. Are there particular areas I should be looking at since I am interested in Pediatric Neuropsych? Should I be getting more research experience, volunteering in an undergrad psych department? (and is that done?)

Any advice, insight, or personal experience you can share is welcome! Thank you!

~ Linley

[lash]

Depends on where you live. Getting research experience in a lab (at a university) is a great idea, and it's even greater if it's in your area of interest. Many labs take volunteers who aren't students, giving them titles like "research technician" or something like that--free labor is usually seen as a good thing. The experience would give you (1) a leg up on other applicants, since the application reviewers will see that you've done the stuff and know what it's all about, and (2) a recommendation. For these reasons, the best-case scenario for you is finding a research position in pediatric neuropsych. That being said, where you're located will dictate how feasible that is. If there's no pediatric neuropsych lab in a school nearby, you could settle for either general neuropsych research or general child research. If you can relate it back to your pediatric neuropsych interests when you apply to schools, it's impressive. If you can't find anything that relates, any psychology research experience will also look good.
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Lee Ashendorf, Ph.D.
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA
Co-Webmaster, Neuropsychology Central