FCP

I need help!
 
I am not sure if I want to get a PhD  in clinical psychology or social work. I've currently been accepted into both programs. Both programs will take me 6 years to complete (2 years for masters, 4 years for doctorate).
 
I am really interested in research, and would really like my education to position me to be a well versed researcher. Any thoughts would be appreciated. 

I got an email from Laurier this morning!!!

Congrats!!!!! ! I am anxiously waiting.... 
 

Just got my acceptance to Laurier. Yeah!

Congratulations to everyone who found out from Laurier, U of T and St Thomas today, that is such wonderful news! I'm just curious, to people who are getting into the 2 year programs: is this your first time applying or have you applied before? Just wanna get an idea of how common reapplication is ! 

omg I got into UoT. I'm crying ...I can't believe this as it is my top choice. 

I also just go accepted into Laurier (about 20 minutes ago) by email. I am very happy but I know how emotionally draining this experience is, so I wish everyone the very best.
 
For those of you who are still waiting, in the email they directed me to Loris, and its the same website as the one that has my references but the references are gone and its the acceptance with detail about how to accept. So you may want to check Loris if they are still sending email.
 
FYI: It says we have respond by April 22.

It has no bearing on whether you get in (though when I got CGS last year, the very first thing my profs told me was that I should inform the department. It didn't change anything, but there's no harm in it). Admissions decisions are made by the social work department while awards decisions are made by the graduate awards offices, and they don't talk to each other. You should inform the social work department at Laurier that you got OGS, especially while you know they are still working on decisions.
 
Congrats! Getting a major award like OGS, whether you wind up being able to use it or not, is a huge accomplishment! You should feel super proud =D

Hey hey! I just got an OGS award from Laurier. I applied for the 2 years MSW track. Not sure if this means I'm in, but it feels great to get an award (even if I don't use it).

Hey hey! I just got an OGS award from Laurier. I applied for the 2 years MSW track. Not sure if this means I'm in, but it feels great to get an award (even if I don't use it).

wish we would just find out already!

Starting to get anxious about the 2-year MSW results.... Common Laurier, let me know sooner than later!

I got wait listed at stanford and they said 'there is some likelihood' they can offer place with funding and told to wait unt il around April 15th. But no ranking provided. Someone told me they about 3-5 max on waitlist.

I wonder if others get some thing that says 'strong likelihood' and I'm the some likelihood dude:(

I agree with the above.  If you are wait listed, the best you can do is write it off and start considering other schools with which you are still waiting to hear from or have offered you admission.  You should not engross yourself with worry over whether or not you will be pulled off of that wait list.  Avoid being hung up over one specific school even if it is your top choice; you can hold on to an offer and wait to see what happens with your top choice but be ready to go elsewhere if it seems like it will not work out.
 
Generally, if you are an alternate, it does mean that the program is still very interested in you and considers you someone they would be happy to admit, but due to spot limitations they make offers to their top choice candidates first.  If they were not willing to admit you, you wouldn't be an alternate (people do get rejected post-interview often).  That being said, this is something to remember while you are forced to sit on your hands.
 
If you are offered admission somewhere, it is nothing to shake a stick at and you should be excited about this.  However, I am no stranger to wait lists and have been globally wait listed in two application cycles.  Last year the number of wait lists I was on was half of what I am on this year but the real question is does that increase your chances?  It's hard to say.  Each one is mutually exclusive and you would have better luck asking a Magic 8-ball about your chances since it is based on the decisions of those with the offers.  I think ultimately it is best to hold out to see if you get any first-round offers but as you are informed that you are listed as an alternate, just thank them for the update, restate your interest should an opportunity present itself, and find something to do to occupy your time.  Last year I had one school tell me the spot was filled within a week of informing me of my status as an alternate, and another one dragged out for six weeks.  Find a hobby, stop checking your email after 5 and on weekends so you don't drive yourself crazy meticulously seeking updates, and consider it a break from the stress of the admissions process.  Last year, I just found distractions after work to take my mind off of it and I gradually shifted out of freak-out mode by doing so.
 
People do frequently get accepted off of wait lists.  I have yet to experience it but I think all of us in this situation will still have our fingers crossed.
 
*None of this is accusatory or assuming any reaction/response/behaviors, just general advice on the subject at large for anyone reading.

He applied for a PhD in Defecatory Sciences.

I'm also going to agree to what everyone else said. If they did not think you would make a good addition to the program, they would have rejected you rather than waitlisted you. Right now you just have to be patient. Have you asked how the waitlist works? Is it ranked or not? If it is, can they tell you your ranking? Moreover, regardless of how the waitlist works, it will not be used until after admitted students turn decline their offers, which means at this point in the application season nothing you do can really increase your odds of getting in. The only additional email you should send out at this point are ones to let the program know about other offers, ones to let the program know if you win any awards, and possibly one in April reiterating your interest in the program and letting them know it is your top choice. Other than that, it is a matter of chance. 
 
Last year I was wait-listed at my top school and also told that my program historically used its waitlist. When I found out that I was waitlisted, I emailed my POI to let him know I was still interested. I emailed him again in mid-March to let him know I was still interested in the program after he asked if I wanted to remain on the waitlist  and if I had any other offers. Finally I emailed him once again at the beginning of April to let him know that I still had not accepted any offers, that this program was my top choice, and if offered admission I would accept. I was offered admission shortly after that last email. I know being waitlisted at your top school is incredibly difficult and anxiety inducing. I felt stuck in some perpetual limbo. I was constantly afraid that I would open my email and find that I had been rejected. I just wanted to get in so badly and was there was nothing I could do to ensure that I would be admitted. I know you are really eager to get in to this program, but unfortunately for the most part your admission from the waitlist is a game of chance and there is little you can do but try to be patient. 

You will be very busy as a graduate student. I'm not sure how much free time you will have to date - there may be some free time but certainly not a lot. You probably already know that the vast majority of people in social work are women so you would probably need to expand your horizons outside of your program. Are you sure you want to do this degree at this time in your life? Doing a master's degree is a lot of work and you may be disapointed when you discover how little free time you'll have for dating and courtship. Developing a relationship to the point of marriage typically takes time (a few years for most people, but there are exceptions for sure), so if your primary focus is to find a future husband perhaps you should entertain the idea of whether or not you'd want to do your degree after you are married or when you are engaged.

Love the idea of this topic! Throughout this whole experience (its my second year applying to phd programs in psychology), Ive learned that those who have not applied to PhD programs will never understand how grueling and exhausting the process can be. Its extensive, requires a lot of effort, organization, meticulous planning, preparation, persistence and hard work! Only the tough survive. I have found that the best thing you can do after you turn in your applications is to turn to people who do understand your plight. Thats why I have a select group of supportive people in my life who DO understand this situations and will respect and understand my many mood swings during this crucial yet sensitive period in my life. 
  
O Where shall I start....
 
Older sister:   "It's not the end of the world, I wouldn't stress" and quickly changes the subject
Mother: "Wait, don't you need a master's degree first before you get your PhD?"
Boyfriend:  "You have a compelling background and demonstrated ability, why wouldn't you get in?"
Friend:  "Don't get frustrated, go jogging like I do"
One of my letter writers/Experimental Psychologist:  "You have good credentials, you will get in somewhere"
Best Friend/Pharmacist, Pharm.D.:  "I only applied to one PhD program and I got in. So if you're applying to 7 programs....."
Mother:  "Oh well, life goes on"
Mentor/Clinical Psychologist:  "Always have your Plan B ready"
Older sister:  "Keep applying and eventually you will be get in"  like I have the rest of my life to pursue this??!!
Older sister:  "...and connections are everything!!"  She majored in international relations and spent her graduate school years partying it up in NYC with other party animals. She thinks academia is about "connections" rriiiiiiiggghhht. 
 
And the number #1 most annoying saying:     "You will get in somewhere and you know it!"
 

At this point, the only thing you can do is find another advisor and keep it moving. Sorry to hear about your misfortune. 

well you could do that too. You were kind of left out in the open. 

There are a lot of details missing here. Is this a PhD program or an MA? How far along are you? Have you written (and defended) a thesis proposal/prospectus? How much writing have you done already? How long have you been working with your advisor? Is your advising relationship a formal one or have you been working with several people at the same time? Were you assigned to your advisor or did they explicitly agree to take you on as an advisee? Are there other professors in the department you could work with? Do you have a committee? Are you planning to stay in academia or leave once you get your degree? 
 
You make it sound like everything was going great, and then suddenly your advisor decided not to work with you anymore. That is not an impossible story, but it is somewhat improbable. Were there any warning signs before they decided not to work with you anymore? 
 
I think that contacting the department head is the logical next step, but I would advise against taking this issue out of the department and complaining elsewhere until some of the other questions I asked are answered. First figure things out and find a solution within your department, then you can think about taking other measures. Complaining may cause the department trouble and that may be what you want, but I wouldn't do that until I knew that my situation was solved (if at all) because causing them trouble is not going to make them want to help you. 

Found this in polisci.

I don't think I've ever seen the word jerk used so many times.

So Concordia just let the cat out of the bag! I got it!
 
STATS
Applied in first year of Masters' on basis of undergraduate grades
GPA: 3.9
RAships: 1
Awards: 5
Uh...dunno what other info to provide!

heard from U of T 99% certain that I am in