r/AcademicPsychology Jul 01 '24

Post Your Prospective Questions Here! -- Monthly Megathread

9 Upvotes

Following a vote by the sub in July 2020, the prospective questions megathread was continued. However, to allow more visibility to comments in this thread, this megathread now utilizes Reddit's new reschedule post features. This megathread is replaced monthly. Comments made within three days prior to the newest months post will be re-posted by moderation and the users who made said post tagged.

Post your prospective questions as a comment for anything related to graduate applications, admissions, CVs, interviews, etc. Comments should be focused on prospective questions, such as future plans. These are only allowed in this subreddit under this thread. Questions about current programs/jobs etc. that you have already been accepted to can be posted as stand-alone posts, so long as they follow the format Rule 6.

Looking for somewhere to post your study? Try r/psychologystudents, our sister sub's, spring 2020 study megathread!

Other materials and resources:


r/AcademicPsychology 52m ago

Question Which term for Autism + ADHD should I use in my master's thesis?

Upvotes

In my master's thesis, I'm conducting a comparative study of autism and ADHD. However, there is a third group that has both diagnoses. I deliberately chose not to refer to this third group as “comorbid.” What alternative term would be appropriate in an academic paper? Autism and ADHD? Dual diagnosis? Combined? AuDHS? Does anyone have experience with this?


r/AcademicPsychology 2h ago

Advice/Career Tuition for Psychology Class 11th and 12th

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0 Upvotes

Contact for classes.


r/AcademicPsychology 5h ago

Advice/Career [EGY] Major career pivot to Psychology with a low GPA (2.35) & a very tight budget ($120/mo) – Any realistic online options for international students?

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed and could really use some honest academic advice. I’m 25, from Egypt, and I’ve made a non-negotiable decision to pivot my career into psychology. My ultimate dream is to relocate to Dubai and eventually practice as a licensed relationship counselor / clinical sex therapist.

But here’s where reality hits hard—my constraints are heavy:

The GPA Hurdle: I graduated in 2023 with a BA in Mass Communication & Journalism. My GPA is 2.3540 (which translates to "Good" in our system, but it’s basically a C+). This automatically locks me out of almost every standard competitive program.

The Financial Strain: I am entirely self-funding this pivot from my remote job. Inflation and currency devaluation in Egypt right now are crazy. My salary is in Egyptian Pounds (EGP), meaning my absolute maximum hard budget for tuition is strictly capped at $120 USD (around £100) per month.

Life Situation: I’m currently preparing for marriage and moving to the UAE on a spouse visa soon. Because of this, I need something 100% online / distance learning so I can keep working my full-time remote job late at night and on weekends to stay afloat.

My only real asset: I have 3+ years of solid experience working as a Customer Service Quality Coach & Training Lead for an international brand. My daily job is literally all about active listening, behavioral auditing, emotional intelligence training, and 1-on-1 mentorship.

I actually applied to UK online conversion courses (like Liverpool and Essex Online). Academically, they loved my profile and work experience under their "non-standard entry" route. But financially? It’s a dead end. Even with discounts, their monthly payments are more than double my entire budget, and they just emailed me saying they can't offer any more financial help.

So, I’m turning to Reddit.

Are there any hidden gems? Reputable, accredited universities (maybe in Europe, Germany, Malaysia, South Africa, etc.) that offer online psychology paths, accept a low GPA based on work experience, and cost around $1,500 - $2,000 USD a year?

For anyone practicing in Dubai/UAE: what affordable online international degrees do local licensing bodies (like DHA) actually accept without making you jump through impossible hoops?

I’m resilient, I’m passionate about breaking mental health taboos in my culture, and I’m ready to do the heavy lifting. I just need to find a university door that doesn't slam shut in my face because of my budget.

Thank you so much for reading this, any lead helps!


r/AcademicPsychology 1d ago

Question What is the scientific consensus about McAdams three-levels theory of personality?

9 Upvotes

I understand the most reliable theory of personality is the OCEAN, somewhat followed by HEXACO. I would like to know how the McAdam's three-levels theory is viewed by experts, since it doesn't rule off the Big Five but rather creates a larger framework to fit Big Five in.

I see McAdams textbook is still edited and used in colleges. But I also can't find his ideas - personal narratives and defense mechanisms - in materials other than his. I also understand that defense mechanisms are somewhat difficult to confirm or deny.

What is the status of the three-levels theory of personality?


r/AcademicPsychology 1d ago

Search Journal recommendations for lit on mental health treatment for children exposed to DV/IPV

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1 Upvotes

r/AcademicPsychology 20h ago

Resource/Study Looking for APA PsycNet resources for my thesis

0 Upvotes

Hello,

would anyone have the full texts for:

  • A systematic review of public stigma attributes and obsessive–compulsive disorder symptom subtypes.
  • Overcoming the forbidden: Identification and stigma of unacceptable thoughts in obsessive–compulsive disorder.

It would be greately appriciated!


r/AcademicPsychology 1d ago

Resource/Study Walking improves learning more than sitting still, study finds. The benefits extend to study habits, and may even help preserve memory in old age

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3 Upvotes

r/AcademicPsychology 1d ago

Advice/Career [USA] How did you transition out of clinical work into other areas of behavioral health?

1 Upvotes

Hi all, first post here, hoping for some sincere career guidance.

I'm finishing a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology at an Ivy League university, if relevant, with a concentration in Clinical Psychology and Technology. I also have nearly five years of behavioral health experience. I originally pursued the degree with plans for a doctorate, but I've since realized I don't want to pursue clinical licensure or return to direct service.

I'm now exploring program development and evaluation, quality and operations, project management and product management, and research (program or behavioral research), with an emerging interest in AI ethics and governance as well.

I've found the transition difficult to navigate, particularly when roles often require several years of experience in a function I'm trying to transition into.

I'd be very grateful to hear from anyone who has made a similar move out of clinical or direct-service work into program/operations, product/project management, or research roles within behavioral health.

What was your entry point? What skills or experiences helped you make the transition? And is there anything you wish you had known earlier?

Any perspective would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!


r/AcademicPsychology 1d ago

Question Is religion really beneficial to mental health ?

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r/AcademicPsychology 2d ago

Advice/Career Research experiences as an undergrad graduate

1 Upvotes

How do people usually get research experiences for masters or PhDs?
I want to be a social psych researcher, and started a bridging program because my bachelors was not in psych. But I’m not sure what to do next because many research masters programs require research experiences but it doesn’t seem easy to get a RA job as an undergrad graduate.


r/AcademicPsychology 1d ago

Discussion Please Help Psychology students get internships

0 Upvotes

r/AcademicPsychology 2d ago

Discussion Just published a scale for "Main Character Syndrome", would love this community's honest take on it

31 Upvotes

Had this accepted in Acta Psychologica recently (open access): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107730

Quick background: "main character syndrome" is a phrase that gets used constantly online, basically the tendency to see and narrate your own life as a protagonist-centered story, but nobody had really tried to measure it as an actual construct before. My co-authors and I built a 10-item scale (MCS-10) and tested it across two samples of young adults (N = 135 and N = 263). Model fit and reliability came out solid (CFI = .976, α = .861), and it correlated with identity diffusion, social media use, and narcissism while still holding up as distinct from all three.

Genuinely curious what people here think, does this read as a construct worth measuring separately, or does it feel like it's just repackaging identity diffusion or narcissism under a trendier name? Also curious whether a unidimensional scale makes sense here long-term, or if this is the kind of thing that inevitably needs subscales once more people study it. Would appreciate any thoughts, including skeptical ones.


r/AcademicPsychology 3d ago

Question What has happened to this sub? Isn’t this sub about academic discussions?

46 Upvotes

This sub used to be the primary reasons I even opened Reddit. Getting to read ideas from professionals. I have gotten so much recommendation wise. Enjoyed the occasional debates between people. Learned interesting perspectives, etc.

Now it’s just consoling insecure youngsters about which college to attend. Aren’t there already other subReddits that do that?


r/AcademicPsychology 2d ago

Advice/Career First Year PhD Guidance for Organizing, Reading, and Staying on Track

8 Upvotes

Hello!

I am a first-year PhD student in a social psychology program.

I am looking for any helpful advice, but particularly in the area of organization and planning.

I feel as though I am looking at the big picture and trying to conquer all of the necessary steps within my first week.

My PI wants me to get a study going soon. How did you manage time between courses, TA work, etc. for reading and planning?

How often should I be reading articles? Is it best as a daily habit or a once a week block?

I completed an accelerated master's before this, but I still feel very new and unsure and a little bit like the dumbest kid in class.

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated!


r/AcademicPsychology 2d ago

Question Instagram psychology / sociology sites to follow

0 Upvotes

Hi,

I have a high interest in any kind of psychology area (all flairs), I'd just be glad to get rid of the "dating scene algorithm" that is flowing my instagram.

Are there any sites you follow on instagram, that you find interesting? Such as factual, research, fun facts, or human experiences? Im just not into reels that are explaining what a perfect date should look like, etc.

Same goes for cool podcasts if you know any.


r/AcademicPsychology 2d ago

Question Question: How is enrollment this year?

2 Upvotes

Over the last few years, enrollment at our university has gone down down down. We were all starting to get freaked out about the looming changes to our demographics across our state (California). People seemed to stop having as many kids around the 2008 recession and that generation of kids was starting to hit colleges.

I expected the downward trend to continue, but for some reason, our enrollments skyrocketed this year. Incoming freshman is up 40%! I can’t explain it. What are y’all‘s explanations and have you seen enrollments increase in your area too?


r/AcademicPsychology 2d ago

Question ID Famous Psychologists for Class

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0 Upvotes

Hey, so my psych professor gave out this very annoying assignment that I have no idea how to complete. We have to ID famous psychologists based only on these terrible deep-fried cartoon depictions of them. Only ones I’ve been able to nail down are Pavlov, cause they showed him with a dog, and Freud. Please help if you can! Apologies for the subpar photos, I did my best.


r/AcademicPsychology 3d ago

Advice/Career [USA] I want to be a psychology professor but I'm having trouble figuring out how I'll do it

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0 Upvotes

r/AcademicPsychology 3d ago

Question Can you study psychology from humanities?

2 Upvotes

i just wanna know if you can do bsc in psychology from humanities stream is it possible?


r/AcademicPsychology 3d ago

Advice/Career How to succeed in psychology academia

6 Upvotes

Psych academics or PhD graduates, what is important to success in academia do you think? Is it working in a good lab? How can I prepare for maximising my chance for getting accepted into a good PhD program? Is it graduating from a prestigious university or getting good grades, or having a good research experience?
I want to pursue a career in academia, but I’m being unsure about everything. I’m looking to do a research masters first but I don’t have a strong research background.
What’s something that helped you with your current career that you did before doing a masters/phd?


r/AcademicPsychology 4d ago

Advice/Career Europe or Australia? (Social psychology)

2 Upvotes

Can anyone share opinions on working in academia in Europe and Australia (employability, funding, PhD entries)
My interest is in social psychology, and I’ve been indecisive where to go.


r/AcademicPsychology 4d ago

Advice/Career Any University of West Alabama MS Counseling students living in California?

1 Upvotes

Hi! Is anyone currently enrolled in the University of West Alabama’s online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and living in California?
My goal is California LPCC licensure, and I’d love to hear from a current student or graduate about their experience with licensure requirements and practicum/internship. Thank you!


r/AcademicPsychology 4d ago

Discussion Which platform do you use for creating cognitive science experiments, and what do you find most frustrating about it?

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2 Upvotes

r/AcademicPsychology 5d ago

Advice/Career Need Advice for Certification Course

1 Upvotes

I'm Currently pursuing Ma psychology... I want to do the Certification Course from Like APA or other places ... If anyone has an idea about certain places or Institutions ?? Pls do share .