PsycUndergrad

As someone who is already in a program, I would prioritize supervisor fit. Specifically fit with their personality, supervision style, approach to research. Your supervisor is one of, if not the biggest determinant of your grad school experience. Practicum opportunities or training can be worked around and supplemented, but things can get BAD if your supervisor is a poor match. 

As someone who is already in a program, I would prioritize supervisor fit. Specifically fit with their personality, supervision style, approach to research. Your supervisor is one of, if not the biggest determinant of your grad school experience. Practicum opportunities or training can be worked around and supplemented, but things can get BAD if your supervisor is a poor match. 

As someone who is already in a program, I would prioritize supervisor fit. Specifically fit with their personality, supervision style, approach to research. Your supervisor is one of, if not the biggest determinant of your grad school experience. Practicum opportunities or training can be worked around and supplemented, but things can get BAD if your supervisor is a poor match. 

I interviewed at Concordia in a previous year. If its anything like in person, it will be multiple shorter interviews with different faculty members and grad students. And potentially an info session about the program. I would be shocked if it’s a single long interview because they def don’t have time to interview every applicant for hours. 

I wrote mine similar to a cover letter, just not in letter format. I focused mainly on describing my past research experience and skills and linking them to the POI’s research/what I wanted to research in grad school. I was accepted and a few people commented that it was strongly written, so I guess it worked. I’m not a fan of the cheesy anecdotes either. They seem unprofessional to me, like something that a high school student would write. 

The sites I’ve trained at generally used measures like the BDI and BAI for tracking progress throughout therapy for most clients. It’s useful for us as therapists, and a lot of my clients have found it very helpful because they can see the reduction in symptoms in a way that is much more concrete. I remember one of my clients being very excited when she realized she was responding “0” to symptoms for the first time and it was a big moment for her. 

The sites I’ve trained at generally used measures like the BDI and BAI for tracking progress throughout therapy for most clients. It’s useful for us as therapists, and a lot of my clients have found it very helpful because they can see the reduction in symptoms in a way that is much more concrete. I remember one of my clients being very excited when she realized she was responding “0” to symptoms for the first time and it was a big moment for her. 

The sites I’ve trained at generally used measures like the BDI and BAI for tracking progress throughout therapy for most clients. It’s useful for us as therapists, and a lot of my clients have found it very helpful because they can see the reduction in symptoms in a way that is much more concrete. I remember one of my clients being very excited when she realized she was responding “0” to symptoms for the first time and it was a big moment for her. 

It’s totally fine to do that. Those questions can be asked in the actual interview. Speaking as a current clinical student, pre-interview contact with POIs is not as big of a deal as it seems. It’s actually not that common to have early meetings like that and I know a lot of faculty who avoid it. 

You can definitely still send an email just to express interest in their work/working with them. Write a few sentences describing your interests and past experiences, etc. 
 
Since you’re an international student, you could also ask if they’re planning or able to consider international applicants. This might actually be an important question since international students are more expensive to fund and COVID has affected university funds and grant competitions. 

I probably wouldn’t rush to submit a paper before applications are due. Having a bad pub or submitting to a poor journal could hurt you more than it helps you. Do you have advisors or co-authors you’ve discussed this paper with? If yes, I would ask what they think.  If no, then it’s going to look odd on your application to have a single-author pub as an undergrad. I would maybe consider submitting some abstracts to conferences instead. 

I probably wouldn’t rush to submit a paper before applications are due. Having a bad pub or submitting to a poor journal could hurt you more than it helps you. Do you have advisors or co-authors you’ve discussed this paper with? If yes, I would ask what they think.  If no, then it’s going to look odd on your application to have a single-author pub as an undergrad. I would maybe consider submitting some abstracts to conferences instead. 

Not the person you asked, but I’m also already in a clinical program. I would personally not request a zoom meeting unless they bring it up first. It’s not that common. I was kind of clueless about this when applying and actually only emailed about half of my POIs, and had a pre-interview meeting with one. I still got 3 (out of 6) interviews, mostly at schools where I’d had no prior contact. The one thing all faculty commented on was the strength of my statement of interest and strong research match with their labs. I think this time is probably better spent on research and refining your application materials. Those will get you to the interview stage, which is when the connection and personality fit come into play.

Not the person you asked, but I’m also already in a clinical program. I would personally not request a zoom meeting unless they bring it up first. It’s not that common. I was kind of clueless about this when applying and actually only emailed about half of my POIs, and had a pre-interview meeting with one. I still got 3 (out of 6) interviews, mostly at schools where I’d had no prior contact. The one thing all faculty commented on was the strength of my statement of interest and strong research match with their labs. I think this time is probably better spent on research and refining your application materials. Those will get you to the interview stage, which is when the connection and personality fit come into play.

It’s totally fine to do that. Those questions can be asked in the actual interview. Speaking as a current clinical student, pre-interview contact with POIs is not as big of a deal as it seems. It’s actually not that common to have early meetings like that and I know a lot of faculty who avoid it. 

It’s totally fine to do that. Those questions can be asked in the actual interview. Speaking as a current clinical student, pre-interview contact with POIs is not as big of a deal as it seems. It’s actually not that common to have early meetings like that and I know a lot of faculty who avoid it. 

I would email later given the current situation. Maybe September-October. A lot of things are up in the air with COVID and I’m guessing that many profs don’t have firm plans yet.

I’m not sure how likely it is that programs would accept a student who does not want to do research and wants to work only on their own terms. It’s not how a PhD works regardless of funding status. 
 
Why not find an online program and buy your PhD? Or do a course-based masters? 

I’m not sure how likely it is that programs would accept a student who does not want to do research and wants to work only on their own terms. It’s not how a PhD works regardless of funding status. 
 
Why not find an online program and buy your PhD? Or do a course-based masters? 

I’m not sure how likely it is that programs would accept a student who does not want to do research and wants to work only on their own terms. It’s not how a PhD works regardless of funding status. 
 
Why not find an online program and buy your PhD? Or do a course-based masters? 

I’m not sure how likely it is that programs would accept a student who does not want to do research and wants to work only on their own terms. It’s not how a PhD works regardless of funding status. 
 
Why not find an online program and buy your PhD? Or do a course-based masters? 

I agree with @Psyche007. Just make sure you carefully word your emails & SOPs when you apply in the future. Of course, mentors aren't looking for drones, but I also think the majority may be hesitant to take on someone with a perceived "higher than thou" attitude (even if that's not the case). Also, a PhD program offers so much more than funding: mentors, connections, and most importantly, a higher education--a privilege most people can't afford. 
My answer to you is to be upfront with what you want, but think about how to word it so as not to put you in a negative light. I would also implore you to not think about PhD programs as "this for that," but rather an opportunity to grow, make connections, and think critically about the prevailing ideas in your field.

Okay let's try to be helpful instead of responding to other people, because a lot of your comments are just an attack to others and not helpful to OP. You obviously were triggered, but the way you go after people is not OK. 
 
OP seems to want to do a PhD and people have their own reasons for doing one. I agree with @Psyche007 (sorry @CeXra) that OP may give the impression that he/she did not want to go 'all in' to get the PhD. OP nuanced that in the second post though, and honestly feels what a lot of grad students may be feeling (and professors). The comment about what OP brings to the table was IMHO prematurely formed, but 'perceived motivation' may be one of the strongest assets a potential student brings. However the response was disproportionate (Plus you also call someone full of themselves, how are you not doing the same thing back?!). I think the response were helpful such that OP can maybe see how talking about a PhD in such terms can really rub people, particularly in academia the wrong way. Is that right? No. But so many things in academia are not right and problematic, but it's also a matter of choosing one's battles wisely and getting in is a whole different discussion. Yes, many people don't do a PhD out of a deep passion for the field, but very few would express that. That being said, I don't think its wrong to ask people whether they're really want to do a PhD. There are a lot of undergrads that I work with who want to do a PhD who would probably have better options around to suit their needs and goals, yet are just really suck into this grad school mindset. I don't think its wrong to raise that question.
Anyway, yeah I also got a nice sum of money backing me up, but still my department requires me to teach, do 'professional services' as they call it (100% mandatory, although not found in the grad handbook), expects me to come to colloquium and 'support' the academic community in other ways. This is 'despite' the money I have, such that my advisor has money 'to buy me out', but the department won't let him. Even if not official requirements on paper, I'm sure I'll get issues if I don't do these duties. And I'm at a top-tier too and transferred from another top-tier. And I HAVE seen students being booted out of the program for not being 'integrated in the department enough' and 'cutting corners' in such services, even if they HAD money. Some schools may let you get away with it, but it will still set bad blood with other advisors and/or students, who just may as much 'harm' or 'help' you. 
Do I like going to every colloquium? No. Am I expected to go and do faculty make issues if we dont? yes. It's really considered a form of respect or something. Are they program requirements, officially no. But the department still uses them as an evaluative standard.
OP may therefore really need to figure out what departments AND PIs do not have such expectations, and they'll probably be scarce. Such expectations may also be other things (e.g., who manages undergrad RAs? Who does certain paperwork), is there a lab manager who could take duties of?
Having money doesn't mean one is always able to use it too, some places have (unofficial) requirements that they may still enforce. However, I've seen it in the EU a lot more often since you often won't take many classes and have fewer duties and expectations. That said, a Master's degree is required for mainland Europe, which will generally include more hours on campus. If you an EU citizen I would definitely look into places there and just start applying to things that interest you or see if there is any prof you can help to get into the academic network (lot more important there). If you were to common to the US or potentially another non-EU place, you'd also run into potential visa issues for family if you'd like to bring them and their ability to get a workpermit. Furthermore, getting a student visa is often contingent on proof of funding. Similarly, work on campus (TA etc) is often the way you don't have to pay tuition.
I would be very mindful of how you frame things, and also whether you let your previous experiences influence what you expect graduate school to be. It is not normal, and shouldn't be normal to do certain 'chores' for your PI. That says more about the PI and is not something that I have seen happen a lot. If your friend can't do research because of that, he needs to discuss things with his PI. This is not common.
 
Nonetheless, other things that have been raised. Academia may look like a cult, but I've been warned so many times by faculty and my advisor that it is really a small community in which everybody knows everybody (particularly evolutionary psychology, with their (in)famous SPSP party and so on).  The fields you mention DO function like this. Furthermore, part of being part of the community is doing services (e.g., unpaid peer review, etc.; organize symposium for which you even have to pay to attend). Bottom line, who do you know, who do you work with, who likes you (and who doesn't) is a big part. 
Another thing to be mindful of is also how you frame your future goals. Particularly in psych (and those areas in psych), many advisors expect their students to be the 'next generation' of academics (although I know some exceptions in Social Psych). Some people in my program strategically frame it to their advisors as not being 100% sure about academia yet, while most grad students know they don't have that interest at all. Even if the advisor is OK, the admission committee may also make a fuzz/problem. 
That being said, there are also good things about being on campus a fair bit. Other grad students can be the best collaborators, there are many interesting people to be met. Even if you don't like the colloquium, you may still learn something (and usually good food afterwards). 

I think the fact that I, like @Psyche007, and probably others are getting a negative tone from this post is just a point of awareness I think we wish to helpfully raise about how things *might* come off. I wanted to echo this because I think it’s an important point that got driven off course by other posters. 
 
My two cents: if your current career isn’t going t substantially change by pursuing a PhD, why spend 4-5+ years of your life pursuing one? Will it change your earnings potential at all; if you are already established and writing, will “PhD” at the end of your title really change things? These are actually valid questions I’m curious about. 
 
There are programs that probably would take you on with no mentor, let you do your own thing, etc., but for what it’s worth these institutions are probably not viewed as legitimate by most academics. If academics aren’t your audience for your books, though, I doubt the general public will been keen enough to investigate your exact credentials. 
 
Tl;dr: why spend your own money unless it’s really going to change things financially for you? 

I wonder if agreements with other funding agencies affect the order that we’re notified... I just noticed my letter said that the results would be communicated directly to the provincial funding body (FRQSC) because SSHRC winners are required to turn down FRQSC if we get it. Don’t know if that makes sense but it might explain why a lot of Quebec students are getting emails/results?