Teachers College at Columbia University Reviews of Master's in Psychology

"This year, I received my master's in clinical psychology from TC. Apart from the impressive faculty and broad course selection, I consider the graduate student network to be the most valuable draw to the program. Let me be frank - there are several master's in psych programs across the country - almost all of which will be cheaper to attend than TC. However, this is the only program that will connect you to a tight-knit group of leaders in psychological research. After the first month or two (when everyone is competing for the "best" RA and internship positions), people in your cohort will start to lend each other a helping hand. All you have to do is ask, and someone you know will be able to get you a first interview at any leading psych research institute in the city. This is why the tuition is worth every penny. These connections will, if you allow them to, last a lifetime."

"I received my BA and MA from Columbia University. Here's my experience... As an undergrad, I felt like I was constantly competing with my classmates for the best grade; this geared my focus on academics rather than research. As a psych major, I was devastated when my high GPA didn't solidify my spot in a clinical psych PhD program. I began working as a research coordinator at NYU Medical School and decided to apply to psych PhD and MA programs the following cycle. While I did match into a PhD that year, I was not excited about the school or supervising professor. Luckily, I was accepted to the MA in clinical psych at Columbia, as well as the MA in general psych at NYU, BU, and Wake Forest. In retrospect, I am thrilled to have chosen TCCU. As a graduate student, I felt much more connected to my cohort - there were intelligent and driven people with vastly diverse experiences coming into the program. In my year, there was a former defense attorney, two investment bankers, and a coder from Google, each of whom had a clear and inspiring reason for pivoting their careers. While some students in the program considered graduate school to be merely an extension of their undergrads (partying a lot, focusing on only getting good grades, etc.), many more seemed to immerse themselves in research. I made lifelong friends that inspired and supported me. I just completed the third year of my PhD at Boston College and continue to look back on my MA program experience at TCCU as one of the best times of my life."

"During my senior year at Yale, my academic advisor recommended that I apply to the MA in clinical psych program at Columbia to enhance my application to doctorate programs. Throughout my time at TC, I was impressed with the diversity and intellect of my fellow peers. Furthermore, there is no question that the faculty are highly respected researchers offering exciting research opportunities (I learned quite a bit about suicide ideation in adolescents)."

"Amazing experience with brilliant faculty who are leaders in their fields"

"I found Teacher's College, Columbia University to be a great educational institute. Class selection was great and the teachers were always willing to answer student's questions during lectures and/or during office hours. Classroom size was just right for my needs."

"The program is unendingly interesting and I feel like I am learning from some extremely knowledgeable and competent professors. However, being that a Master's degree in psychology here is more of a stepping stone to further education and offers no licensing upon graduation, it is incredibly expensive. One sort of has to trust that the classes will improve the chance of acceptance into a great PhD. program. As it is, it's almost the cost of an undergraduate degree at a solid state school."

"The Clinical Psychology Master of Arts program at Teachers College, Columbia University has far exceeded my expectations in preparation for a career in psychology research. The professors in the Global Mental Health and Trauma concentration are well-established in the field, with a wealth of publications, and provide their students with valuable insight about all the ups and downs of global mental health research. I am learning exactly what I came to graduate to school to learn, and far beyond. I have no doubt that I am receiving the exact type of training necessary to get into a reputable Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program."

"The program incorporates multiculturalism in every class, but can sometimes be in a more effective way."

"The masters program in clinical psychology at Teachers College can be an incredible program for students who choose to take advantage of the opportunities available. In my first semester alone, I feel that I have gained skills exponentially and have refined my research interests. Unfortunately, there are some students within my cohort who choose not to take advantage of available opportunities. While this does not weaken or devalue my personal education, it is disappointing. Overall, I love the program and can attest to it's great quality, assuming one is willing to take the lead on their education."

"I completed my MA in Developmental Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, last year. The faculty and quality of education were extremely impressive, and I was particularly pleased with my academic advisor with whom I am still in touch. I felt the level of support provided to me was very strong and I highly recommend this program for these reasons. In addition, the Upper West Side of New York is a wonderful and safe area to live and work, and as a TC student you will have great access to many cultural and social events in the city. The only real downfall is that student funding is almost nonexistent, and the financial burden is a lot to carry. Living expenses are also very heavy, and I will say that -- while in every other regard TC was absolutely wonderful -- student debt is now a major issue for me. My graduate school experience, however, could not have been better."