Therefore, the typical program is interested in recruiting students with some experience in research. Clinical programs are interested in the quality of the research experience not in the population on which the research is conducted. For purposes of admission to clinical Ph.D. programs, you need not be concerned about whether your research experience is with a clinical population. Because professors get to know their research assistants better than the students in their classes, they are in a stronger position to write references for them. This is an important bonus of becoming involved in research.
Most clinical programs require at least two academic references.
Public service Clinical programs vary in their interest in students' clinical experience. As with research experience, it is important to get some experience with clinical or high-risk populations because clinical work is an important part of what you will be doing in a clinical Ph.D. program. There are no formal ways at Columbia in which preclinical students can get this experience. This course involves supervised placements. Interested students should contact Prof. Stingle or the Barnard Psychology Department for further information.