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Got this on Friday too! Not sure if I am going to take it yet or not though as I have been accepted to other programs. You're the first person I've seen on here that has even applied (and gotten into!) CSUSM! Congrats! It seems like a really great program and I'm hoping to be admitted but likely won't hear back from them soon. May I ask when you applied and heard back?

Hi Tuala, Sorry to hear you didn't get any offers. I applied to just over a dozen clinical programs in the US last year and didn't get into any. It was devastating. I've read students have done this for years even. My GPA was ~3.7 with great research experience but I could maybe have used a bit more direct clinical experience. I think student896 is definitely right in that it is a lottery situation though. Apply to as much as you can provided the interests are not way off to increase your chances if it's what you want. Funding is available in the US as far as I know but you also do need to TA and having some money saved beforehand is good if you don't want to be struggling because it is tight on funding alone. I found this document earlier today regarding funding for a little more clear and up to date info but don't remember from which thread (sorry to not quote/credit the original poster!) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E9TbpYk16w8PIO1DfzPZwXKaSk0P2QQEhnAwS09HQB8/edit#gid=0 I also know of the PhD students I knew through working in research at on-campus labs, that they received admissions even having GPA's between 3.2-3.4. Your GRE scores are also pretty good relative to others you will be competing with, and a good amount of professors in the field of psychology who had their own grad students said they didn't even care about them that much if at all (same with GPA) as long as they were okay because they don't believe them to be great indicators for success or who you truly are as a person. They gave the benefit of the doubt to poor test takers and the like more easily than others in different fields. I think this is a mentality within psychology that some people can luck out with. These same professors often said the biggest factor provided your SOP was good was what recommendations said of a person. I was also in the place of not quite having something published yet which is something I felt many typically did when applying and from those who were accepted, so I would really work on completing that to help you. I would try to get a new reference or two if you can or reassess the ones you have. I feel like when asking someone to write for you, you should ask if they feel comfortable writing for you so you can somewhat assess their feelings about it. They may not be honest so that may not be helpful, but maybe they will be and that is helpful! Better to at least try. I know at least in the places I went to school/in the US, professors felt and knew it was part of their duty as a university professor to write students letters of rec, and many did so happily as they had generic templates already ready to go as they are asked so often to. To make this easier, and which I got amazing feedback for was to really make the process of writing for you as easy and wonderful as possible. I created binders first with a one sheet page containing a breakdown of how I knew them and for how long, my responsibilities when working for them, my achievements, academic, and work history, what degree I was pursuing, and some blurbs with kind adjectives describing my skills and attributes especially if you can tie them into your experience with them (Did you work in their lab and always told how organized you were or that you were a team player? Were you a dedicated student of theirs who showed their interests in the subject through projects the class may have inspired you in one way or another? Or an anecdote about your great interest in the subject after having met them at their office hours and what that led to). You can add in your personal statement as well if you're comfortable with that. Next I had a printed spreadsheet organized by due dates and the method letters were due (mail or online). Each line had a box for them to check off as they went so it was easy on them to stay organized. Then was a sheet for every school I was interested in organized by date as the check off sheet was which provided the school's name, the specific program I was applying to, the letters due date, and instructions on how to submit that letter. If it was by mail and required forms, they were attached right behind with a pre-addressed and stamped envelope. Online submissions had the email address they should be expecting in their inbox for a link. And the part that my writers really loved and I think could hugely benefit you if you get lucky is to bulletpoint the topics you are interested in at the school, and which professors are connected to those areas/interests (you usually need to pick a few in your application). My writers recognized a few schools and professors this way and actually said they were good friends them, used to go to school with them, or were old colleagues with the person and would put in a word for me when they next spoke with them or that they would soon be meeting them at a conference and would mention my name then. I would have never known about the chance of these relationships if it had not been for this and was so thrilled my writers did this for me. At the end you can add in a thank you note, extra supplies (a few envelopes and stamps), and ways to reach you if they needed anything else to ease the process. It may be a bit excessive and it was a lot of work to prepare but I am so happy I did it and my writers told me they were saving my binder to show future students. It was also a good demonstration that I was organized, prepared, and detail orientated which are definite positive qualities that schools look for in their future grad students. I ultimately decided I wasn't going to reapply for PhD programs for many reasons but reapplied for masters program's this year and am so happy about it and the field I will be in. Definitely continue to pursue it if you are set on it and I'm sure you can open up some more opportunities for yourself before applying again. Best of luck!!

Hi all, I applied to both MFT programs and MSW programs in California. I ultimately got into an MSW program I loved and am going to proceed with pursuing that degree over an MFT but I thought I'd provide some information on my experiences with the MFT programs I applied to. The wait to hear back from schools is brutal and I know I spent a lot of time on gradcafe trying to see when and how other people were hearing back from their programs. It was definitely helpful and relieving for me, and I was thankful to have it as a source to look to. Hopefully this information can help someone else in a similar position. CSU Long Beach Applied and was invited to interview on 2/24. I went and didn't feel that great about it and was not extremely interested in the program after leaving the interview process. I received an email last night saying I was denied which I was honestly not too bothered about. CSU Stanislaus Applied and was invited to an interview on 3/5. I felt as if it went very well and I liked the faculty a lot. They said there wouldn't be decisions for a few weeks and have not heard back as of yet. Humboldt State Applied and received an interview for 3/7 even before my department application was even in. I felt really confident about my chances at getting in and they were very willing and communicative about doing a phone interview with me (I live quite far away from the school) but informed them I was no longer interested prior to my interview as to open up spots for other potential candidates. Cal State Los Angeles LA Applied for MFT and School Counseling program. Interviewed on 3/10. Seemed like a great program that was more competitive that I thought prior to my interview. I felt like my interview could have gone a bit better but left more nervous that they were interviewing so many potential people rather than the quality of my interview performance. I will not know if I am accepted for another week or two. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Applied and was invited to an interview on 3/13 but told them I was no longer interested as to open up spots for other potential candidates. Champan University Applied and was invited to an interview which I plan to politely decline to open up spots for other potential candidates. Though it is a expensive program over options at a CSU, the staff I interacted with while my application was being processed were wonderful if that's something anyone is looking for. Schools I have applied to but have not heard a peep from since submitting: CSU San Bernardino, CSU Chico, CSU Fullerton, and CSU East Bay. I received an email from CSU Bakersfield this morning saying I was accepted but it wasn't from a department so I'm not sure which program (MFT or MSW) it is of the two since I applied for both or if it just means I was accepted by the school itself and still need to wait about the department's decision. Congratulations to everyone who has gotten into a school so far and good luck to all those still waiting to hear!!

That's interesting. I haven't been in that situation either. Have you not been able to get through to anyone live on the phone? I would keep trying to reach someone by phone rather than emailing or leaving messages if it's been a significant amount of time since you've sent in your acceptance. Though it is unusual, I wouldn't worry much if it has only been a few days because you never know how busy they are or what their process is. Did you receive your offer and send your intent online or via snail mail? If it's online, I would maybe even resend or forward your initial email again to be safe just so they can verify it was in on time if they are looking back on it. Congrats on your acceptance though! Hope it all gets cleared up soon.

Hi jbell89, I also interviewed for CSUN but in February. I received the email asking if I was interested in being considered for Ventura County as well but was not interested in it. I got accepted via email on March 9th for a full time (2 year) program, and was invited to an orientation March 26th. Sorry to hear you haven't heard back from them. I am sure you can call the office though to verify. I remember at the end of the interview they said they would take calls a few weeks after your interview if you needed to check on your status or if there were updates that needed to be made to your application. I have yet to receive anything from them by postal mail even after accepting so I'm not sure if I would worry about checking your mail as much as your email.