Generic_Applicant

Anyone kind enough to review my SOI? I'm willing to do the same for you as well On another note- what is your opinion on mentioning two somewhat unrelated research interests in my letter? My work so far has been in the field of schizophrenia but my personal interest is in mindfulness. While I prefer mindfulness, I am interested enough in schizophrenia to want to pursue it for the next 5 years of my doctoral studies in order to expand my application choices.. I have tried to word it in a decent way in my letter, but I am nervous this may make it seem like I am unclear in my interests or maybe will do whatever to get in (.. which isnt entirely untrue to be honest haha). Thoughts?

From my understanding, an MEd doesn't require much research experience because it isnt a research focussed program. A friend of mine got in two years ago having done only an undergrad thesis, psych specialist, and probably about 3.7-3.8 GPA. Keep your GPA high and work on getting great recommendation letter. Maybe even volunteer in a relevant area to build experience/ connections. Good job on the early start.

Thanks, Mystic_Fog. Not sure which scholarship NHS is but I've already applied fro the CIHR DRA with the lab but used a smaller project- maybe could've used one of our bigger projects in retrospect. Either way, that's excellent advice. I'm not too optimistic on my chances, but atleast I applied!

Excellent advice... Not sure why I didn't think of this straightforward answer! Thanks!

I have a certain faculty member that I currently work with who wants to take me on as a PhD clinical psych student since he does not want to lose me and stop the work we are doing together. Only thing for us is that our funding in our lab right now has been crap (owing to staff transition before I started here, we were in deficit but we are slowly getting better). He wants to know if he does take me on, if I can continue to work as RA in his lab and with his research projects. I know PhD clinical psych is research based so I would be spending a lot of time doing research anyway. But do you think I would be able to commit to 3 days a week for research given course work and clinical work also need to be done? We both want to make this work but the only thing is we want to figure out a way we can afford it, funding wise, and also so that I can actually continue to stay committed to our projects here. Would someone please provide some insight? Would greatly appreciate!

I have a clinical interest in Forensics but not research!

For anyone in a PhD clinical psych program (pref at UTSC, but I guess the exact school doesnt matter)- How much time do you spend on coursework? I see from their website that the PhD involves 3 courses per year. How much time do you actually end up spending in class and doing coursework over the years? How much is your research and placement work? Appreciate any insight in helping me plan/make decisions! Thanks!

Another quick question- for anyone in a PhD clinical psych program (pref at UTSC, but I guess the exact school doesnt matter)- How much time do you spend on coursework? I see from their website that the PhD involves 3 courses per year. How much time do you actually end up spending in class and doing coursework over the years? How much is your research and placement work? Appreciate any insight in helping me plan/make decisions! Thanks!

I'm in a similar situation. Most schools will look at the final one or two years or only relevant credits. I've been okay, I think you should be too esp if you are going to explain it in your letter

Hey! That's the impression I was under too but it seems they have redone their website and it now says we can apply at the PhD level. The faculty and research seems outstanding so I am excited (and a bit nervous). Do you know anything about the co-supervision process? The faculty I am interested in is associate faculty and they said that I'd have to list a core faculty to co-supervise. What if the core faculty has stronger applicants in mind for them? Who does the decision rest on for the position with the associate faculty, you know? >.<

I would say apply and give it a shot. People with all kinds of backgrounds get in so you never know. Worst case you reapply next year and keep getting experience/networking with the applications. That counts for a lot as well.

Hey all, Just wanted some input on the program at UTSC in Clinical Psych if possible. Is anyone here attending/applying or know much about the program anyway? I want to know in terms of program quality, accreditation, funding, etc. Plus.. the commute, from downtown Toronto. Appreciate it!

Try Adler School for Prog Psych. Very clinically focussed (non research based) and easy to get into if the work is all that matters to you. I've got an awesome practicum placement from it. It's a new school so you have to put in the work to be successful. But terminal masters with good training for counselling. only thing- it's a private school so fees are ridiculous- 45k for the 2 years. I was able to get financial aid and can tell you more about it if you PM me. But, yeah, that's one option...

Thanks everyone! I'm going to stop reading so much into it and just do my best Appreciate all your input!

haha I did this last year! And I keep in mind and do it whenever I can. It's great!

Thanks, Fuzzylogician. Since I have met with this PI before and he has known of my work and interests since my interview with him last application cycle, I think a lot of it may be updating about my new research job and the new projects in his lab. Other than that, he has said that "we can meet to discuss your interests", so that scares me a bit, especially because his primary interest is my secondary (even though I would be super excited to still study it at a PhD level), and my primary is likely his secondary. I have one or two ideas in each of these areas but probably need to work on the reasons for why the ideas from his primary interests would be important. Gotcha, will do! I have also applied to the CIHR DRA with one of these which is an extension of my masters thesis. So maybe he'll see that as a good sign. Im nervous that the fact that i didn't push more to volunteer in his lab may throw him off a bit. I met with his grad student to get started but the project didn't pick up and then he told me he would keep me on file, but then I got a paid job where he did his post-doc and in the field he studies anyway. So I let it go. Overall, still freaking out lol. Probably will until I get this over with. And then will likely say hi to him at the open house, just to have him continue to see my interest and remember me. Lets hope these efforts pay off! *fingers crossed*

This is definitely helpful. I was thinking since it is the PhD level I am applying for, that I would have to have a more specific interest than just to say "I want to study X in the Y populations (through Z methods)". This is the only part that makes me a bit anxious. I dont want to come across as someone who doesnt really know specifically what they want to do. And I have been told by two other collaborators that maybe I should try to be more specific. Maybe that doesn't apply to the grad school application scenario though. I dont know

that is excellent advice. I hadnt thought of it that way! Thanks I'll keep that in mind

thanks for this! And I definitely agree. But I'm wondering how specific I would have to be. I have a few ideas for my primary interest and research with him but I don't know how much detail he would expect some Im applying for the PhD level

I thought no one would understand my worry and nerves better than this community so I decided to post here. Esp for those doing their PhD or accepted into clinical psych already! I applied to this POI last year and he showed a lot of interest in me. I interviewed with him last year. We have kept in touch and I almost began to volunteer in his lab as well. I asked him for a meeting again to discuss my interests and he sent me a long email with info on how to apply, how to make my chances stronger, saying he hopes I will come to the open house and so on (trying not to read too much into this; maybe he's just nice guy lol). And we are meeting next week! So I am nervous.. Questions: - for PhD level apps, how prepared should I be to talk about a proposal for my dissertation etc? I will be honest, this area of research is not my top choice but I still enjoy it. So I want to figure out how much I should do my research and know my stuff in this field going into this meeting. My top choice and real interest of research in an area that he MAY be interested in but I will only bring that up as a secondary in order to not turn him off to my application. - What are some techniques you guys use to calm your nerves?? I understand this is all a good sign and such but... I am human. I want this bad enough to make me nervous anyway haha. Any tips, advice, good vibes will be greatly appreciated!

I thought no one would understand my worry and nerves better than this community so I decided to post here. Esp for those doing their PhD or accepted into clinical psych already! I applied to this POI last year and he showed a lot of interest in me. I interviewed with him last year. We have kept in touch and I almost began to volunteer in his lab as well. I asked him for a meeting again to discuss my interests and he sent me a long email with info on how to apply, how to make my chances stronger, saying he hopes I will come to the open house and so on (trying not to read too much into this; maybe he's just nice guy lol). And we are meeting next week! So I am nervous.. Questions: - for PhD level apps, how prepared should I be to talk about a proposal for my dissertation etc? I will be honest, this area of research is not my top choice but I still enjoy it. So I want to figure out how much I should do my research and know my stuff in this field going into this meeting. My top choice and real interest of research in an area that he MAY be interested in but I will only bring that up as a secondary in order to not turn him off to my application. - What are some techniques you guys use to calm your nerves?? I understand this is all a good sign and such but... I am human. I want this bad enough to make me nervous anyway haha. Any tips, advice, good vibes will be greatly appreciated!

I agree now. Thanks everyone for your input!

You shouldn't.. in my opinion Can't say much about your personal situation because I don't have a full understanding of your family but if you had a driving force within you that wants it, I would atleast give it a shot. You only regret things you don't do

I agree. The only reason I asked my current PI to do it last year is because he tends to leave everything to me. He had me complete all my references and he signed it off last year (which I know is how it was done in the past but I rarely come across this now). This time, I will insist that he send it himself because he likes my work and would likely do a better job at talking me up than with me using my imagination of what he must feel about my work. With regards to the department head, I think he is a very supportive person and even though he doesn't know me too well, he has always pushed for me to have better opportunities, so it is worth a shot there. Thanks so much for your fair eval of this situation!

Ah, thanks! I apparently was not aware of that portion- I thought we would have to ask! Hmm, in that case, maybe I'll just let the department head know that I will be applying to his ex-postdoc and see what comes up?