Formalized Postdoctoral Fellowships: A National Survey of Postdoctoral Fellows

Why do some recent doctoral graduates participate in formalized postdoctoral fellowship programs? What activities do fellows engage in, and are fellowships meeting their training needs? By analyzing a national survey of 204 fellows, the authors address these and other questions. Desire for advanced training, particularly psychotherapy and assessment, was the most common reason for seeking and accepting a postdoctoral fellowship. It is interesting to note that training focused on new and emerging areas in psychology were not highly rated. Fellows reported engaging in a variety of activities, with nearly half of their work week spent providing direct clinical services. The majority of fellows were highly satisfied with their fellowship experiences.