Becoming a Forensic Psychologist

David DeMatteo, JD, PhD, ABPP (Forensic), is an Associate Professor of Psychology & Law at Drexel University, and Director of Drexel’s JD/PhD Program in Law and Psychology. He is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Jaymes Fairfax-Columbo, JD, PhD, is a graduate of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Drexel University’s College of Arts and Sciences. Alisha Desai, MS, is a doctoral candidate in the PhD Program in Clinical Psychology (forensic concentration) at Drexel University.

• Preface PART ICareer Crossroads 1 Forensic Psychologists: What Exactly Do They Do? 2 Forensic Psychology: A Brief History and Current Status 3 Laying the Groundwork: Things to Know in Advance of Graduate School PART IIGraduate Training 4 The Paradox of Choice: Picking the Right Program 5 Applications and Interviews: Helpful Hints for Maximizing Your Chances of Graduate Admission 6 Hallowed Halls: Surviving and Thriving in Graduate School 7 Internship Indigestion PART IIIProfessional Puzzles 8 Postdoc Pandemonium 9 Practice Qualifications 10 The World Is Your Oyster: Jobs and Professional Development Index 200

"This isn’t a GPS-plotted route to becoming a forensic psychologist. It’s better, more like a Fodor’s travel guide for the journey. It helps you decide whether and where you want to go, then provides first-class advice on optional routes, preparations for the trip, and how to manage the bumps and detours on the way." - Thomas Grisso, University of Massachusetts Medical School, USA"To those contemplating a career in forensic psychology, the pathway is often not clear. Understanding and navigating undergraduate preparation, graduate school applications, graduate training, the internship application process and experience, licensure, and various aspects of one’s early career experience is challenging. DeMatteo and his colleagues have provided the perfect roadmap. They answer most, if not all, of the questions many have about these matters, and they provide strategies that maximize one’s chances for success at each step in the process. For each topical area, the authors identify key factors readers should consider as they go about the decision-making process." - Randy Otto, University of South Florida, USA"The field of forensic psychology is both intriguing and captivating but the path to becoming a forensic psychologist can be difficult to navigate. In Becoming a Forensic Psychologist, DeMatteo, Fairfax-Columbo, and Desai provide a masterful blueprint for pursuing a career in this field. This important text is a 'must' for anyone considering a career in forensic psychology." - Patricia A. Zapf, Palo Alto University, USA“This is the go-to resource for anyone even remotely contemplating becoming a forensic psychologist. These authoritative authors clearly define what forensic psychology is, and what forensic psychologists do; they provide an excellent and comprehensive roadmap to becoming a forensic psychologist, regardless of your stage of training or education.” - Kevin S. Douglas, LL.B., Ph.D, Simon Fraser University, Canada