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What programs, extracurriculars, or resources do you recommend for someone interested in going to graduate school for community psychology?
I'm currently an undergraduate student with five years of experience in nonprofit and community development hoping to go to graduate school with a focus on clinical and community psychology. Unfortunately, because I invested so much in community development I don't have much experience in psychology outside of class experience! I would love to learn more about potential pathways I can take in order to get some more experience as I consider my options for graduate school. Thank you!
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Chiquria’s Answer
It's fantastic that you're pursuing a graduate degree in clinical and community psychology! Your experience in nonprofit and community development is incredibly valuable. You might feel like you're "behind" in psychology-specific experience, but your background in community engagement is a strong foundation for community psychology, which thrives on real-world understanding.
Here are some programs, extracurriculars, and resources to help strengthen your graduate school applications and gain more psychology-focused experience:
🎓 Academic Enrichment & Coursework
With your class-based psychology experience, you could:
- Take upper-level electives like abnormal psychology, health psychology, social psychology, or research methods.
- Look for independent study or research opportunities with professors in community or clinical psychology.
- Work on a senior thesis or capstone project focused on community-based psychological topics.
🧪 Research & Lab Opportunities
Research experience is highly valued by graduate schools:
- Join a psychology research lab on campus, even as a volunteer. Labs focusing on social justice, health disparities, or intervention studies are especially relevant.
- Reach out to professors whose research aligns with community psychology. Highlight how your nonprofit work gives you a practical perspective.
- Consider assisting with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), a key method in community psychology.
🤝 Volunteer or Work in Psychology-Aligned Roles
If you're not already in roles that intersect with mental health:
- Volunteer at domestic violence shelters, behavioral health clinics, or local crisis centers.
- Look for part-time roles or internships in case management, peer support, or mental health advocacy.
- Explore opportunities with AmeriCorps, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), or youth mentoring programs. Your nonprofit skills will be especially helpful in small organizations where versatility is key.
📚 Extracurriculars & Campus Involvement
- Join your school’s Psychology Club or Psi Chi, the psychology honors society.
- Attend or present at undergraduate research conferences, especially those focused on social issues or mental health.
- Participate in community engagement events led by your psychology department.
🧰 Helpful Resources for Exploring Graduate School Paths
- Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) – Division 27 of the American Psychological Association (APA) is the professional home for community psychology. Their site has resources on academic programs and networking.
➤ Website: www.scra27.org
- APA Graduate Psychology Programs Search Tool – Explore programs that offer emphases in community psychology.
- Talk to grad students or recent alumni at schools you’re interested in—they can provide insight into what helped them get in.
💡 Final Tips
- Write a compelling personal statement that connects your community development experience to community psychology goals.
- Ask for letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors that speak to your leadership, insight, and commitment to community well-being.
- Consider master’s programs or dual-degree programs (MPH/MA or MSW/MA) if your interests intersect with public health or social work.
You're already well-prepared conceptually; you just need to frame and expand your experience through a psychological lens. Your background will set you apart in graduate applications. Let me know if you'd like help building a roadmap or sample outreach email to a professor or research lab!
Here are some programs, extracurriculars, and resources to help strengthen your graduate school applications and gain more psychology-focused experience:
🎓 Academic Enrichment & Coursework
With your class-based psychology experience, you could:
- Take upper-level electives like abnormal psychology, health psychology, social psychology, or research methods.
- Look for independent study or research opportunities with professors in community or clinical psychology.
- Work on a senior thesis or capstone project focused on community-based psychological topics.
🧪 Research & Lab Opportunities
Research experience is highly valued by graduate schools:
- Join a psychology research lab on campus, even as a volunteer. Labs focusing on social justice, health disparities, or intervention studies are especially relevant.
- Reach out to professors whose research aligns with community psychology. Highlight how your nonprofit work gives you a practical perspective.
- Consider assisting with Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), a key method in community psychology.
🤝 Volunteer or Work in Psychology-Aligned Roles
If you're not already in roles that intersect with mental health:
- Volunteer at domestic violence shelters, behavioral health clinics, or local crisis centers.
- Look for part-time roles or internships in case management, peer support, or mental health advocacy.
- Explore opportunities with AmeriCorps, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), or youth mentoring programs. Your nonprofit skills will be especially helpful in small organizations where versatility is key.
📚 Extracurriculars & Campus Involvement
- Join your school’s Psychology Club or Psi Chi, the psychology honors society.
- Attend or present at undergraduate research conferences, especially those focused on social issues or mental health.
- Participate in community engagement events led by your psychology department.
🧰 Helpful Resources for Exploring Graduate School Paths
- Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) – Division 27 of the American Psychological Association (APA) is the professional home for community psychology. Their site has resources on academic programs and networking.
➤ Website: www.scra27.org
- APA Graduate Psychology Programs Search Tool – Explore programs that offer emphases in community psychology.
- Talk to grad students or recent alumni at schools you’re interested in—they can provide insight into what helped them get in.
💡 Final Tips
- Write a compelling personal statement that connects your community development experience to community psychology goals.
- Ask for letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors that speak to your leadership, insight, and commitment to community well-being.
- Consider master’s programs or dual-degree programs (MPH/MA or MSW/MA) if your interests intersect with public health or social work.
You're already well-prepared conceptually; you just need to frame and expand your experience through a psychological lens. Your background will set you apart in graduate applications. Let me know if you'd like help building a roadmap or sample outreach email to a professor or research lab!
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Angelica, please understand that your background in nonprofit and community development provides a strong and meaningful foundation for graduate study in community psychology—especially given the field's emphasis on social justice, systems change, and community-based interventions. While it’s true that many graduate programs look for applicants with research or clinical psychology experience, there are several strategic ways you can strengthen your profile and bridge the gap between your community work and academic preparation.
First, Angelica, consider joining psychology-focused student organizations or national associations like Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology - www.psichi.org, even if your school doesn’t have a chapter. These organizations offer networking opportunities, access to research presentations, and even funding for conference attendance or research projects. Volunteering or interning with organizations that provide mental health services—such as Crisis Text Line - www.crisistextline.org or NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org/Support-Education)—can also be a great way to gain practical experience in mental health and crisis response, even on a flexible schedule.
Academically, Angelica, you might want to explore research assistant positions in your university’s psychology department. Even if you haven’t done research yet, your five years of community development work likely reflect transferable skills like data collection, program evaluation, and working with underserved populations—skills highly valued in community psychology research. Don’t hesitate to email faculty members whose research interests align with your goals; express your passion for learning and describe how your community background can contribute to their work. You can search faculty interests on university websites or platforms like ResearchGate - www.researchgate.net.
Additionally, enrolling in online courses or certificate programs related to clinical, counseling, or community psychology can strengthen your theoretical background. For instance, Coursera - www.coursera.org and edX - www.edx.org offer courses taught by professors from top universities, including classes in psychological first aid, abnormal psychology, or program evaluation in community settings. For hands-on training, look into trauma-informed care workshops, Motivational Interviewing (MI) certification, or Mental Health First Aid - www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org, all of which are valuable in both clinical and community contexts.
Finally, Angelica, please consider attending professional conferences like the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) Biennial Conference - www.scra27.org, which is the Division 27 of the American Psychological Association focused on community psychology. These events provide a platform to learn from leading experts, network with graduate students and faculty, and get inspired by innovative community-based research projects. Even attending virtually can give you insight into current trends and expectations in the field.
While your academic psychology experience may be limited, your real-world impact and passion for community work make you a compelling candidate. By proactively seeking research, clinical exposure, and professional development opportunities, you’ll be well-prepared to make the transition to graduate-level training in clinical and community psychology.
First, Angelica, consider joining psychology-focused student organizations or national associations like Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology - www.psichi.org, even if your school doesn’t have a chapter. These organizations offer networking opportunities, access to research presentations, and even funding for conference attendance or research projects. Volunteering or interning with organizations that provide mental health services—such as Crisis Text Line - www.crisistextline.org or NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness, www.nami.org/Support-Education)—can also be a great way to gain practical experience in mental health and crisis response, even on a flexible schedule.
Academically, Angelica, you might want to explore research assistant positions in your university’s psychology department. Even if you haven’t done research yet, your five years of community development work likely reflect transferable skills like data collection, program evaluation, and working with underserved populations—skills highly valued in community psychology research. Don’t hesitate to email faculty members whose research interests align with your goals; express your passion for learning and describe how your community background can contribute to their work. You can search faculty interests on university websites or platforms like ResearchGate - www.researchgate.net.
Additionally, enrolling in online courses or certificate programs related to clinical, counseling, or community psychology can strengthen your theoretical background. For instance, Coursera - www.coursera.org and edX - www.edx.org offer courses taught by professors from top universities, including classes in psychological first aid, abnormal psychology, or program evaluation in community settings. For hands-on training, look into trauma-informed care workshops, Motivational Interviewing (MI) certification, or Mental Health First Aid - www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org, all of which are valuable in both clinical and community contexts.
Finally, Angelica, please consider attending professional conferences like the Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) Biennial Conference - www.scra27.org, which is the Division 27 of the American Psychological Association focused on community psychology. These events provide a platform to learn from leading experts, network with graduate students and faculty, and get inspired by innovative community-based research projects. Even attending virtually can give you insight into current trends and expectations in the field.
While your academic psychology experience may be limited, your real-world impact and passion for community work make you a compelling candidate. By proactively seeking research, clinical exposure, and professional development opportunities, you’ll be well-prepared to make the transition to graduate-level training in clinical and community psychology.
Updated
QuiÁna’s Answer
Hi Angelica,
A great way to gain practical experience is through volunteering. In Detroit there are a few organizations that I would recommend you contact to learn what opportunities they may have that align with your goals.
1. The Youth Connection- this organization focuses on youth development, health and community engagement.
2. Detroit Justice Center or Detroit Disability Power - these groups would be ideal if you are interested in advocacy work or systemic community change. They offer volunteer roles, internships, and could be a great externship partner for you.
3. Given your background you may be aware of the CDAD - Community Development Advocates of Detroit. They may help you pivot your training into practical work related to equitable community development, especially if you are interested in community psych.
Detroit offers a vast network of Mutual Aid Networks and professional organizations. You can reach out to any of them, share your goals, and they would be happy to provide you with resources.
Lastly, the graduate program itself is another great resource. Many institutions have job placement programs could have resource lists that would help you gain the experience you are looking for.
Best of luck on your journey!
A great way to gain practical experience is through volunteering. In Detroit there are a few organizations that I would recommend you contact to learn what opportunities they may have that align with your goals.
1. The Youth Connection- this organization focuses on youth development, health and community engagement.
2. Detroit Justice Center or Detroit Disability Power - these groups would be ideal if you are interested in advocacy work or systemic community change. They offer volunteer roles, internships, and could be a great externship partner for you.
3. Given your background you may be aware of the CDAD - Community Development Advocates of Detroit. They may help you pivot your training into practical work related to equitable community development, especially if you are interested in community psych.
Detroit offers a vast network of Mutual Aid Networks and professional organizations. You can reach out to any of them, share your goals, and they would be happy to provide you with resources.
Lastly, the graduate program itself is another great resource. Many institutions have job placement programs could have resource lists that would help you gain the experience you are looking for.
Best of luck on your journey!