Clinical psychology Reviews

A first-rate program

By: pdwade (In Progress) on January 19, 2009

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A dilemma I faced after receiving my BS Degree was finding a reputable academic program to pursue a Doctorate in Psychology. I had a previous up-close experience with asynchronous learning and felt it left something to be desired. Primarily, it was a lack of emphasis on student issues. The school staff had become complacent in the asynchronous model, and priorities had shifted away from student needs. I began looking elsewhere and researched Capella University as well as a handful of other programs, which offered similar models compatible with working adults attempting to meld education into their life priorities. In my research, I found Capella University not only offered several degrees in the area of mental health services, but also few schools provided Capella’s level of flexibility and rigorous academic standards I believe necessary to obtain a creditable degree. Additionally, the program Capella offered met the high standards mandated by my state’s licensing board. I enrolled in a Masters Program in Psychology in 2003. I was able to complete my degree in three years while working two jobs. Toward the completion of my Masters Degree I contacted my advisor, he was extremely helpful and not only facilitated my application process for the Doctoral Program in Psychology but also helped me to think through what credits from my masters program were acceptable for enrollment in a doctoral program at Capella. My advisor was also clear that although he was not in a position to make these types of decisions, I was in a good position since I was completing my Masters Degree at the same institution. Capella University accepted me into their Doctoral Program in April 2006. I had to make changes in my life because of the rigors of the program but in many ways Capella’s format made it possible. This journey began in June 2003 at Capella University since beginning the masters program. I am now working on my doctoral dissertation. In this time since 2003 I have only taken one quarter off school, I have worked two jobs most of this time, and Capella University’s format, focus on high curriculum standards, and attentiveness to student needs, have given me the opportunity to balance my life priorities and stay focused on my professional goals. I could not be happier with the decision to enroll at Capella. It is a fully accredited university with exceptional academic rigor and first-rate attentive staff dedicated to student needs.

Also Scammed

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on December 30, 2008

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I feel like I was scammed also.  I completed one quarter in the PhD General PSych program, and found the course to be much of the same work as I completed as an undergrad, I was only able to speak to an advisor once, as they kept changing my advisor around.  Once I did get an advisor, he suggested that I add another class, and could drop without penalty within 5 days.  I signed up, couldn't get the books in time and was given a near-impossible alternate assignment to complete in a couple of days.  When I dropped the class in 4 days, they charged me over $500.00!!!!  
This is a corporation whose primary responsibility is to their shareholders.  this, I believe, has resulted in a cheap, canned education that is profitable, and they know how to maximize their profits from both you and the federal student aid loans that they are so very willing to assist you with.  If you just want an expensive degree without any real learning, stay at Capella.
I have moved to Walden, where I will be designing my own course of learning, which will focus on the areas that I want to work in.  I am hoping this will result in a real and applicable education.

Excellent Experience

By: Anonymous (Graduate) on December 24, 2007

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I graduated in 2003 from Capella University's Clinical Psychology program. I am now licensed in one state as a psychologist and currently trying for licensure in another state. My overall experience was excellent. I can honestly say that I worked harder in this program than in my two traditional programs, mostly due to the extensive writing requirements. The faculty I worked with both online and in residencies were excellent and gave tremendous support. I do know of other students that had professors who were less than stellar, but I personally never had one. 

I currently work in a private practice with psychologists, LPCs, and LCSWs. My doctorate degree has qualified me on numerous times to see patients with insurance that only pays for "PhD level" clinicians, for higher reimbursement from insurance companies, and to do work such as psychological and educational evaluations that LPCs and LCSWs cannot do. I also teach adjunctly in a local master's degree counseling program, a position that I could not have gained without a doctorate degree. (As an aside, I recently discovered another Capella PhD alum is teaching at a different local college's counseling program).

I have found that my degree has been approached by others mostly in a positive fashion. Many colleagues, both clinical and academic, are curious and a few of my patients ask questions, but it seems that more and more online/distributed learning for professional programs are becoming accepted. Several recent academic colleagues have asked if the program I teach in should start offering courses online.

I-O program was not satisfactory

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on August 22, 2007

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I attended there for several years and was not happy with the experience. The school is disorganized and while there are good instructors many of them are not available in the classroom. They do not compare well to many other schools in terms of curriculum and have failed to obtain APA status for good reason. They are all about the money and problems are met with abject frustration rather than productive solution. Their technology is good but their status is poor.
They accept everyone who can pay and of those only about half graduate. One has to ask why their attrition rats is so high and why they don't offer national facilities for the cost of the programs they offer. This reduces their credibility as well as their ability to serve students well.

As good as it should be, but ...

By: sphampe (Graduate) on December 10, 2006

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I finshed a teaching certificate online and which opened my eyes to the entire world of online learning, rekindling my desire to pursue a PhD.

The education at Capella was as good as I would have expected at any conventional program. I had mostly good instructors -- diligent, involved, knowledgable, caring. And there were a few duds, but that is no different than one could expect at ANY institution of higher learning.

My bigger concern isn't the quality of the program but its ability to interface with the profession at large. I hear this is diminishing, but I have encountered a pretty strong prejudice against online degrees -- especially in clinical psych. Even though I received high marks for competence and knowledge during my fieldwork, I am hitting a wall post-graduation.

But to be fair, I have also discovered that professional psychology is not a great career potential field, with a lot of infighting and image problems. That is only compounded when you try to join the fight with an online degree.

Bottom line: great program, poor profession.

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