Hidden Gems Among Clinical Psychology Training Programs

As a result of CoA-mandated program disclosure being initiated in 2006, there are now sufficient data available to allow for analyses that compare clinical psychology programs on a range of variables, including student outcomes. This standardized data, in concert with other sources of publically available data (i.e., APPIC and ASPPB), allow for programs to be compared empirically in new ways. Using SEM, in this Study 80.6% of the variance in clinical psychology training programs' outcomes (i.e., internship match and licensure exam performances) was accounted for by predoctoral characteristics (measured by GPA and GRE scores). Analyses then identified programs that produced exceptionally better outcomes than expected, given their predoctoral characteristics. The identified top programs were next compared on a range of department level training-relevant variables to similar programs, but whose outcomes were equal to or worse than expected. Findings are discussed and future directions for research and policy are suggested.