namarie

I'm not an international student for the US, but I did go overseas to study for a time. I had to take out loans for my studies, but if I had the chance to go back and start over, I wouldn't have taken out all those loans. The name of the school you attended may carry some weight, but I think an employer will look at your relevant experiences more than what institution you attended. I think it will ultimately come down to cost/benefit ratio. Is going to Columbia so important to you that it's worth going into loads of debt? Can you go to Hunter, save money, and still have great opportunities for your studies that will help you in your future career? 
It might help if you created a pro/con list of the benefits and drawbacks of each school. I was accepted to Columbia last year but I decided against attending because of 1) the astronomical cost of attendance per year and 2) the cost of living in NYC. It wasn't a smart idea for me to attend, especially since it was a master's program and I was still considering going for a doctorate later on. Personally, I wouldn't choose Columbia, especially since you'd have to take out loans to cover the full cost of education. If a scholarship was on the table, then I would spend more time considering Columbia. But when you take the cost of education, living expenses in NYC, and the average salary of a social worker into consideration, having that name on your CV might not seem like such a big deal anymore. 
It all comes down to which school you think will offer you the best training and practical experiences at the price you can afford. I wish you the very best of luck with this decision and with your future studies. 
 

Thank you. I'm still checking the status updates and waiting. The status remains 'To Dept For Review'

I totally understand... I applied to 5 programs, and have received 3 rejections with no sign of any interviews/admits from the last two either. I am devastated... I should have invested more in a "Plan B"... And it kills me to see people talking about how they are upset that they didn't get into their dream school but got admits from numerous other places when I am desperate for one offer from anywhere I applied to. I am right there with you in the misery category.
During my whole application process everyone was so encouraging that I had a very strong application, and then to come out of this empty handed... It hurts. Badly. I also cannot afford to just wait it out and apply again next year. I have to go get a job. And given bio jobs are pretty limited for people with just a Bachelor's degree, I might have to switch fields if I can't find anything that is relevant to my studies. Talk about having an existential crisis (day after day).
I am so sorry your second round of this has been rough yet again... It is embarrassing to talk about failures (for me at least), especially when people are more than happy to share their numerous successes. But, you are not alone at least. Hopefully you hear good news from your other 3 programs very soon!

It's about that time of year again. Rejection sucks, but sometimes a little bit of black humor helps. Here is one of my favorites from this year. Feel free to add your own!
Stanford University Economics, PhD (F17) Rejected via Website on 28 Feb 2017 I 28 Feb 2017 doesn't matter had sex

Hello!
First, please take care of yourself during the break. If you haven't taken some time off, doing that could be a good idea. 
Next, I think you are right that you will have to do something or there will be negative consequences down the line. I have not been in your situation, so maybe this won't be the best advice but I hope it provides a useful perspective. I think that most of the problems that students have in grad school are due to unclear communication with the faculty. I think it's really important that you talk to the professors about these issues and get their support, if you are able to be comfortable with doing so.
I think it is worth the risk (responding to the "not knowing who you can trust") because there has been and will continue to be more negative consequences for you if you don't get the right support. Again, I'm not in your shoes and I don't know what the situation is like, but I would ask myself what is worse: being labelled as a bad student and not getting nominated by the department for anything, or having people find out about your disability? I feel like the negative consequences of having the faculty know is unimportant if they are already writing you off as a non-successful student. 
But I'm not considering the emotional impact of having everyone know. I can't know how you would feel and I don't mean to minimize this part of your experience either. If you are finding it challenging to bring up, does your school's disability office have people that can guide you through this? If not, I would go to the school's counseling center and talk to a counselor for advice. It might also be helpful to come up with a plan for things that you need in class to actually help you (not just the recorder). For example, you can probably ask for professors to not call upon you in class (if it's part of the evaluation, then they can come up with an alternate way to evaluate whatever they're looking for). Or, if you want to still participate in this way, let them know to give you a little more time to formulate your response if they call on you. 
Ultimately, it's up to you what to do of course and I don't want to pressure you in any way. From the way you describe the situation, things sound like some action needs to be taken, but it's not too late to change the course of your graduate school. It also sounds like the upcoming semesters will go the same way (unless this first semester of your program is special for some reason?) so that's why I think intervention is better sooner rather than later.
Finally, it's not just your responsibility to "figure it out" by yourself. The department should have some responsibility in ensuring you have access to the support you need to succeed. They accepted you into their program, so they bear some responsibility for your success. I think it is okay to let your new supervisor know what's going on---you don't need her to play "mommy" but it's no longer just a personal issue since it's affecting your academic performance. But maybe she can help you identify some professors you can trust and go to first. And if you decide not to tell the majority of professors, if other faculty mention your performance in reviews or other department meetings, you have an ally that can help you (without revealing the personal details). 
Good luck in the new year. I don't think you need to go through this alone. I hope you are able to find people on campus that you can talk to and get support for your disability.

I agree with @8BitJourney. PhD degrees in Psychology are scientist-practitioner focused, so programs are going to be more interested in your ability to churn out research. Clinical experience is going to be their second priority. If you want to incorporate research into your doctoral program, I would look into PsyD programs. Theirs is a practitioner-scholar model, so clinical work is more the 'focus', but you still get to do research. 

I agree with @8BitJourney. PhD degrees in Psychology are scientist-practitioner focused, so programs are going to be more interested in your ability to churn out research. Clinical experience is going to be their second priority. If you want to incorporate research into your doctoral program, I would look into PsyD programs. Theirs is a practitioner-scholar model, so clinical work is more the 'focus', but you still get to do research. 

I might also look at the stats for the programs you're looking into and see how yours compare. Strengthen those numbers, and follow the advice given to you in the above comments about getting more experience and following the labs. Stay positive and work hard! 

When I interviewed for both cycles I applied for my clinical experience was secondary if it was brought up at all. If it was brought up it was in the context of 'how does this inform your application of research, populations you work with, hypothesis you'd like to test in a masters etc. So while licensure would show that you have the aptitude for graduate level clinical work you really need to have an intensive RA-ship (and a recommendation from this position) along with your masters to sway graduate committees, especially if you'd like to go the neuropsych route. Particularly because many schools, especially the juggernauts, want to train researchers more than clinicians (even if they don't explicitly say that).  

School: Georgia Southern University
Program: Clinical Psychology PsyD
Date of Notification: 2/21/17
Method of Notification: Phone Call 
Thoughts: I'm over the moon. I've applied for so many cycles, the first time I applied was in 2008 as a undergrad senior! I can't believe I finally got into a program that provides funding, just feels so surreal. 

I don't know much about your specific universities, but I did live in London for about a year in 2011. It's a beautiful city, filled with tons of culture, art, museums, food, etc. London is very expensive, but how that might compare with the rest of the UK, I don't know. When I lived there, the pound was worth approximately $2; I assume that has changed with Brexit and our own political changes. 
London has great public transportation, they also have an Oyster card you can purchase to use if you are a frequent traveler. It can get cold there, and the humidity can make the cold seep through your bones (I'm from the southeast US, so I know a thing or two about humidity). But I imagine St. Andrews would be even colder than London. It does rain a lot, especially in April. The weather might not be a downside for you, but it is something to prepare for. The culture in London is very different from that of the States. It took me about a month or so before I didn't feel like I stuck out like a sore thumb. The people are always dressed nicely, they speak quietly, they love their football, and when the weather is nice everyone will be outside in one of London's many parks. 
I would compare tuition costs between the universities and see which one is less expensive. US students are often charged upwards of $35,000 for tuition, and scholarships are competitive. The UK also requires you to prove you will be able to afford your education; this is usually done with a tuition deposit. Last application cycle I was accepted into a prestigious school in London, but I was unable to attend because I didn't have the spare $3,000 for the deposit. The UK will ask on your visa application how you intend to fund your studies (privately funded, government loans, etc). If you're going by cost of living alone, I imagine Scotland would be cheaper to live in than London. Definitely look at flat-sharing in the area around the university you're looking to attend. Know that if you go with private housing, many places in London charge rent by the week instead of the month.
If you can comfortably afford living in the UK, I would recommend it. I loved living in London, and if I hadn't run into extenuating circumstances, I would have gone again. You can PM me if you want! Hope this helps and best of luck! 

You're welcome! Best of luck to you! 

@namarie Thank you so much for all your info Although I've visited London a couple years ago, actually moving there for my graduate studies is something else entirely. Thanks for all the tips, you've definitely given me lots to consider!

Is your schizophrenia well managed with some sort of medication/therapy? I read a biography "The Center Cannot Hold" by Elyn Saks, who made it through law school with schizophrenia. She had struggles, but she is now able to teach law at a university in California. 
I wouldn't give up your dream of a PhD. But I would take the time to really get to know your stressors, and make sure that your illness is as well-managed as possible. What makes you feel at ease, and what were events that may have preceded your first episode? Personally, I struggle with bipolar, and being able to handle the stress of grad school is a concern. 
Never forget that it is possible, it just might be a little harder for us than for other people. Good luck, and keep us posted! 

@namarie will surely try to work on it. Thank You  

I was lucky to be offered admission to more than 5 PhD programs and offered fellowships at several of the programs - this was incredibly stressful, as one of the offers came from my letter-writer who pressured me to accept.  I felt so indebted to her for all of her support in the process, and I really like her approach to working with her students generally - that I accepted, (I also had a lot of things going on in my personal life at the time which made things stressful) but am now having very bad buyer's remorse.  I had been offered admission to a more highly ranked institution with someone with whom my research interests more closely matched - an academic idol of mine and I can't stop thinking about having rejected this offer, even though this program seemed to have its flaws, as well.  To make matters worse, my funding package at my current institution where I had accepted was miscommunicated, and it is several thousand dollars less than what I had thought it would be, I have no fellowship at my current institution, and it looks like I will be stuck working on something I do not feel passionate about.  I am wondering what others would do in this situation.  I really feel like I don't want to start the program feeling regretful and like I made the wrong decision due to pressure/overwhelm, but so much work went into the application process, that I also feel like I'd like to make it work if I can.

Most popular questions:
1) So what do you do with X degree after you get your Ph.D.? (tempting answer: become a shamaness and guide the world after the apocalypse annihilates civilization)
2) Wow, why does X degree take so long? (tempting answer: I don't know, how long should it take to become familiar with everything written about the history of European Civilization in the past 50 years or so?)
3) Can you answer X random question about the Nazis? (tempting answer: #notallgermanhistorians)
Please pardon the saltiness. 

I've always had a hard time leaving home. All through undergrad I would cry most of my drives back to school and that was when I only lived a few hours away. Last summer I moved 11 hours away from home to start my grad program. The first year went really fast and I had a few rough patches, but I made it. Now I'm finishing up what will be the last summer break of my adult life and I'm having a really hard time coping with the fact that I won't be home much these next three years of school. My program becomes year round after the first year is done. All I can think about is how much can happen in that amount of time. My grandparents aren't getting any younger and what if this is the last time I get to see one of them? It will also be the longest amount of time Ive gone being away from home. My next visit will be thanksgiving. I'm just really starting to regret going to school so far away. It also doesn't help that I kind of feel alone at school. I have amazing friends at home and I have amazing friends from undergrad, but I really haven't found anyone who understands me at my new school. I have a hard time showing my emotions to my friends and family because I don't want to make my parents and friends worry about me.  It would be really great to have someone to talk to who is maybe going through a similar situation or to just hear some advice on how to cope with this hard time and these thoughts I've been having.
 

I moved to another country at the start of undergrad, and then transferred to another university (and a different major) back in the States a year later. I hated leaving uni in London to move back to the States: I loved the culture, the diversity, and I was worried that I would drift apart from my friends. Some of the relationships I formed in London haven't lasted, but I still talk almost daily with a few other friends I made while overseas. 
It's hard realizing what you're giving up to pursue academia. I cried a couple times and asked myself "what am I doing?" over and over again. I went to my new school filled with despair, because I had left behind so many things I loved. But three years and 3 grad school acceptances later, I know it was all worth it. I found something I'm passionate about, and I'll be able to practice what I love for the rest of my life. Do I miss the things I gave up when I left London? Absolutely. I would move back in a heartbeat if I was given the opportunity. But I've come to realize that I wouldn't have been happy if I had stayed. I would have spent more time with my friends, but I would have been miserable in the program. 
It might be frightening right now, and that's certainly understandable. Grad school is a big change, and it's even bigger when you're moving to another country. Remember that you are getting the opportunity to study what you are passionate about, and not everybody gets the same chance. It might hurt now, but in the end it'll all be worth it. If there are foods you know you'll miss, pack some with you (my mom would send me chocolate sometimes). If you start thinking about a friend or loved one you left, let them know. Snapchat is one of the easiest/best ways I've kept in touch with one of my friends. You can see facial expressions and talk, without the commitment of Skype! Take time to do things you enjoy before you leave especially if you won't have them in the other country. Accept that you might not return with every relationship you left with, and that's okay. The relationships you are able to keep will hopefully be ones you'll have for many years. 

I moved to another country at the start of undergrad, and then transferred to another university (and a different major) back in the States a year later. I hated leaving uni in London to move back to the States: I loved the culture, the diversity, and I was worried that I would drift apart from my friends. Some of the relationships I formed in London haven't lasted, but I still talk almost daily with a few other friends I made while overseas. 
It's hard realizing what you're giving up to pursue academia. I cried a couple times and asked myself "what am I doing?" over and over again. I went to my new school filled with despair, because I had left behind so many things I loved. But three years and 3 grad school acceptances later, I know it was all worth it. I found something I'm passionate about, and I'll be able to practice what I love for the rest of my life. Do I miss the things I gave up when I left London? Absolutely. I would move back in a heartbeat if I was given the opportunity. But I've come to realize that I wouldn't have been happy if I had stayed. I would have spent more time with my friends, but I would have been miserable in the program. 
It might be frightening right now, and that's certainly understandable. Grad school is a big change, and it's even bigger when you're moving to another country. Remember that you are getting the opportunity to study what you are passionate about, and not everybody gets the same chance. It might hurt now, but in the end it'll all be worth it. If there are foods you know you'll miss, pack some with you (my mom would send me chocolate sometimes). If you start thinking about a friend or loved one you left, let them know. Snapchat is one of the easiest/best ways I've kept in touch with one of my friends. You can see facial expressions and talk, without the commitment of Skype! Take time to do things you enjoy before you leave especially if you won't have them in the other country. Accept that you might not return with every relationship you left with, and that's okay. The relationships you are able to keep will hopefully be ones you'll have for many years. 

School: Northwestern (neuropsych track)
Rationalization: 97% rejected, second largest applicant pool to date 
Comment: not surprised (invites went out last week). I think I'm more upset that Bowie and Alan Rickman passed away this week. 
Coping: Expecting the rejection helped me cope with being bummed out about a week ago. On to the next one.

The search parameters are pretty much the same as grad cafe's.
https://grad-cafe-visualizations.herokuapp.com/

I was literally going for a jog and had almost given up on my dream school. Ironically it was a really sunny and beautiful day, so I decided just relax and forget about applications for a minute while going for my run. I'd just been told by my close second that I would probably get an offer that week so I didn't really care. The first song that came on was "Don't Look Back" by Boston, which I thought was kind of ironic but shrugged off. Two days earlier I had turned off Gmail push notifications because every time one came through for something dumb I got angry it wasn't admissions so I didn't really look at my phone. Before leaving for class I decided to refresh my email, and there was my flawless offer letter from my dream school. I ran around my house screaming and then tried to show restraint by waiting 27 hours to officially accept the offer. 

The advice I got was to learn how to study to take the test - it's pretty formulaic. Look through the guidebooks to work out how to answer the analytical sections. If you can structure an essay cohesively, evaluate sources, and construct a balanced argument then you'll be fine, to be honest. I think you can psych yourself out pretty easily but it's not that bad, in all honesty. 
Magoosh was super helpful, especially the free iPhone vocab flashcard app. That saved my butt. I didn't use any of their paid material, but they look pretty good. I ran through the practice tests and found those really helpful. The ETS GRE book was really helpful for practice analytical and verbal questions particularly, plus general tips. For a great free resource for the maths, Khan Academy is unbeatable. This list gives you a good guide for what to look at on Khan, and you'll figure out what needs attention as you go through the practice tests. I just Googled 'GRE quantitative practice tests' for more practice questions - this one was good, for example.
 
What namarie says is correct - limited to four submissions for free (at the time you take your test), and then you can submit others. If you don't know where else you're applying to during the test then don't worry, you can request the additional scores to be sent online later. If you only pick two or three places at the test, you can't use those remaining free ones later I ended up sending a few scoreslike the day the application was due - most places were okay with a short delay in scores being received if the rest of the application was complete. Double check that when you're applying though, some places could be different.  
The whole GRE thing is a scam tbh, just profit generating garbage that you have to buy into!
 
Yeah - I was (and am) working full-time while prepping for the GRE and getting my applications together. I was taking a French paper as well, to try and get my language up, but ended up dropping it to focus on applications - I applied to the UK too so needed more formal research proposals as part of that. In hindsight, if I could have kept up with the French paper at the same time it probably would have helped my applications for some places but who knows, it's so hard to pick where your shortcomings are for some of these places. The US seems obsessed with how well you 'fit' with the department - pretty different to Aus and NZ applications (and UK, to an extent)!! I was luck to get three days off before the GRE to focus on last-minute revision (craming always helps) but that'd be harder to do while keeping up with your classes! 
One of my references is American, and his insights into the US system actually helped with the recommendation itself so you might find that useful. My quantitative score on the GRE was pretty awful (thankfully offset by high verbal/analytical), but he addressed that by saying that we don't get those general education maths courses as part of our degrees that they do in the US (they do a four year Bachelors vs. our three year Bachelors), that I know it's something to work on, and that he's confident I will build up anything that needs it. Worked out okay - my first year of funding relies on a knowledge of calculus, so we'll see how that goes!

I'm not an international student, but there isn't a limit on the places you can apply to. It's just that you pay roughly $200 USD for the GRE, so they give you 4 free scores to send to whichever schools you like (this happens at the end of the test). Take advantage of that, because if you apply to more than 4 (and most people do), it will cost the $27 USD Slagatha mentioned. It's expensive, and honestly the worst part of the process.