Student ratings of selection factors for PsyD programs

To explore which factors doctor of psychology (PsyD) students feel are important to consider when selecting a PsyD program.

This article analyzes the survey responses of 394 enrolled PsyD students and 17 directors of clinical training (DCTs), in which the respondents rated the importance of 18 factors in program selection to understand what qualities PsyD students and DCTs value in a PsyD program. Students were also asked to assess how their program fared on the same 18 dimensions.

Results indicated that participants rated the program's structure, tone, and reputed quality of training as the most important factors in program selection (M's of 4.13 to 4.54 on a 5-point scale). Additionally, students rated their current program as high in quality on the same factors that they felt were most important in program selection (r's ranging from .15 to .37).

PsyD students rated a program's structure, tone, and reputation as particularly important factors to consider in selecting a program. Students' quality ratings were used to determine the top 5 programs for each of the factors assessed in the study.