ClinicalApplicant07

In the book, the "Insiders Guide to Clinical and Counseling Psychology Programs" (which I highly highly recommend), it lists the percentage of incoming students for each school who have their masters. That can help you decide which programs to apply to. From my interviews, I found that schools with a lower percentage had many more restrictions on what they would accept from your masters degree, and schools with a higher percentage of incoming students with their masters were more open to masters students and accepting courses/thesis from your previous program. That book also has a scoring system to score yourself against prospective programs and that system predicted where I would get my interviews, so I highly recommend that book Good luck!

Thank you so much! My mentor said the same thing about never hearing about this happening so last minute to a student. I'm honestly still in shock.

For everyone planning to apply again next year, I recommend sending feedback request emails to professors where you made it farther than just submitting an application (i.e., email interview, phone/skype interview, in person interview). They can provide very helpful information and advice for your next round. In my case after sending the feedback request twice over the course of two months, it actually resulted in a request to skype interview which has now resulted in an offer just a few days before the deadline of 4/15. It's absolutely crazy how everything worked out, but it just shows that it's not over until it is over, and that persistence pays off.

I will also be attending the university of memphis in the fall and I am looking for somewhere to live that's under 800 a month. There didn't seem to be much on trulia.com, it might just be an off time of year to be looking. How did you all pick your apartments when you were searching?

Awesome advice, thank you for your input!

That's great advice, thank you!

For those of you that didn't get in this year, what is your plan for the next year? I've been recommended to apply to more schools, add in some counseling psychology programs, and some Psy.D programs. Some professors I've spoken to have said some pretty bad things about Psy.D's but I think it would vary by program. I've seen some great Psy.D programs. I'm also going to try to gain more clinical experience and a few more publications.

It's hard enough for me to understand, and I'm going through it, so it makes sense why people think all you need is a good resume to get in. There are so many factors involved so it can never be a sure thing. Next year I am going to apply to at least 25 places if I can find that many with a good research fit.

Yeah I feel the same as you. I'm trying to cope and just stay positive but I was just not prepared at all for this. All of the faculty and students in my program told me I would "have my pick" of schools. I of course, wasn't that confident, but I had hope that I would get into one school. I'm just going to search for a job closely related to research where I can actually make money to fund my applications next year. I am going to apply to many more programs, as well as less competitive programs with fewer applicants. I'm sorry you are going through this. This whole process is just stressful and devastating. I hope that it turns out better for you than it did for me!

That is what my current mentor told me, not to bother retaking them since they fall in the threshold for many schools. I studied so hard the first time, I don't think I could do much better and it would be horrible to do worse. I'm just going to apply to schools that are in my range and below. I think your advice is great! Thanks again!

This is great advice! I can't tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time to write this for me. I hope you get great news soon!

That is awesome! Congratulations on getting an offer! I'm so excited for you! Thanks for the great advice

Thank you so much! I'm just going to keep trying! It's my dream and I won't stop working until I achieve my goal!

Thank you so much! You were so encouraging and I really appreciate your support! I did email the professors and they all cited research fit as the reason for choosing other students, so I need to apply to schools with a stronger fit rather than my specific interests. I wanted to move in a different direction with my research, but that seems to be frowned upon so I'll just have to try again in the area I know the most about (eeg). I'm going to try more like 20-25 apps and add in some counseling psychology programs. I will also be more realistic with the schools I apply to, and cut out my reach schools from this past cycle. I hope you get good news soon!

I applied to vanderbilt, unc, duke, rutgers, memphis, university of greensboro, university of charlotte, university of georgia, auburn, kansas university, west virginia university, and case western reserve. I got skype interviews at wvu, and phone at memphis and greensboro. I got in person interviews at uga, case western, and uncc. I contacted all of the professors and they said I had great products but cited research fit. Unfortunately, I want to switch from what I am doing now (eeg research) but it seems like schools really like you to have specific experience in their area so I may just apply to a few eeg research labs so I can get in somewhere and get my dream degree. Thanks for your input!