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Late to this topic, but I was and will be a disabled applicant for 2021 again. It's tricky having medical disability that is so unpredictable and costly. I have noticed that most of the accessible programs/campuses are up-front about it (e.g. it does not take a great deal of work or research to find accommodation services, they have diversity programs that exist etc...) I have had the most success with being upfront about my circumstances with professors/supervisors/housing etc... 
The feelings of inadequacy, of "being behind" linger but I remind myself of how much I have accomplished in different realms than my peers. My path is going to look different, and I am okay with that. 

It sounds like it would make the most sense for you to only apply to programs that you are serious about attending. Why apply to programs that you have no desire to attend and move to, and feel like are not a good fit. That would end up being money spent without any return for you.
I think it depends on whether you really want to attend THIS program or if you feel it is more important to attend any program and begin sooner (sort of weighing the short term and long term outcomes for you.)
The counselor in me would also say it is not crazy and seems both logical and high-risk but with some expected positive outcome attached to the risk. I am doing the same whenever I apply again. It is more important for me to have a good fit and meet my research goals rather than start sooner with a program that does not match. I think of PhD programs like marriage in that way. Why marry a program if I know it won't be a good fit for me?

Late to this topic, but I was and will be a disabled applicant for 2021 again. It's tricky having medical disability that is so unpredictable and costly. I have noticed that most of the accessible programs/campuses are up-front about it (e.g. it does not take a great deal of work or research to find accommodation services, they have diversity programs that exist etc...) I have had the most success with being upfront about my circumstances with professors/supervisors/housing etc... 
The feelings of inadequacy, of "being behind" linger but I remind myself of how much I have accomplished in different realms than my peers. My path is going to look different, and I am okay with that. 

It sounds like it would make the most sense for you to only apply to programs that you are serious about attending. Why apply to programs that you have no desire to attend and move to, and feel like are not a good fit. That would end up being money spent without any return for you.
I think it depends on whether you really want to attend THIS program or if you feel it is more important to attend any program and begin sooner (sort of weighing the short term and long term outcomes for you.)
The counselor in me would also say it is not crazy and seems both logical and high-risk but with some expected positive outcome attached to the risk. I am doing the same whenever I apply again. It is more important for me to have a good fit and meet my research goals rather than start sooner with a program that does not match. I think of PhD programs like marriage in that way. Why marry a program if I know it won't be a good fit for me?

It sounds like it would make the most sense for you to only apply to programs that you are serious about attending. Why apply to programs that you have no desire to attend and move to, and feel like are not a good fit. That would end up being money spent without any return for you.
I think it depends on whether you really want to attend THIS program or if you feel it is more important to attend any program and begin sooner (sort of weighing the short term and long term outcomes for you.)
The counselor in me would also say it is not crazy and seems both logical and high-risk but with some expected positive outcome attached to the risk. I am doing the same whenever I apply again. It is more important for me to have a good fit and meet my research goals rather than start sooner with a program that does not match. I think of PhD programs like marriage in that way. Why marry a program if I know it won't be a good fit for me?

It sounds like it would make the most sense for you to only apply to programs that you are serious about attending. Why apply to programs that you have no desire to attend and move to, and feel like are not a good fit. That would end up being money spent without any return for you.
I think it depends on whether you really want to attend THIS program or if you feel it is more important to attend any program and begin sooner (sort of weighing the short term and long term outcomes for you.)
The counselor in me would also say it is not crazy and seems both logical and high-risk but with some expected positive outcome attached to the risk. I am doing the same whenever I apply again. It is more important for me to have a good fit and meet my research goals rather than start sooner with a program that does not match. I think of PhD programs like marriage in that way. Why marry a program if I know it won't be a good fit for me?

Last year my best and craziest back-up plans were as follows:
Best: continue working my government position
Craziest: move to Costa Rica and help rehabilitate baby sloths

Best: Stay on my working holiday in Asia a bit longer. Publish some manuscripts that I have in preparation, work with a local professor here (will try to do that in spring anyway), apply again  Travel in the region. Then either go back to my own country next winter or get a different visa to stay here.
Craziest: Start my own 'Dutch' coffee & tea place here in Seoul where I make fresh stroopwafels and other Dutch treats. Actually confident there is a market for this hahahaa

My wife and I always talked about combining raising corgis with a coffee shop. Coffee and Corgis. 
We'd have a big amphitheater-like pen with pillows and corgi puppies, so people could get coffee and then go play with the puppies. Ideally right off campus somewhere. 

Hey everyone, wanted to do a post here about choosing grad schools for licensure very carefully. If you are thinking about going for a PhD or masters in the mental health field please give this a read! I use California examples but this information translates to other states as well. All states have their own licensing boards for masters level and doctoral level practice. Accreditation organizations for professionals like COAMFTE for MFTs or CSWE for MSWs and the APA for Psychologists are the same across all states, so that said, lets begin.
Many people seem to sign up for PhD and masters programs without doing enough research into them, and it costs them a fortune and wastes their time because they can't practice with the degree they got. For example, I know someone who got a masters in clinical psychology who thought that could lead to a career in therapy. There are also many online programs that offer degrees like this which are not actually accredited programs. Don't just jump into a grad program, be careful, do your research!
Another common mistake is thinking a masters degree one earns while working on a PhD could lead to licensure, this is also often wrong. For example, I'm in an MSW program at UCLA, we have a PhD in social work as well. The PhD is a totally different curriculum than the MSW, and it's not accredited. So if I got a "masters" as part of that PhD it would not be something I could get a license with because it's not CSWE accredited and it's not the same as an "MSW." In fact, the MSW is actually called a "professional degree" it's not a "masters" in reality, it just uses the term "master of" in the title, similar to how a law degree is known as a "Juris Doctor" JD - they aren't doctors, it's a 3 year professional degree.
So don't make the mistake of thinking there are 2 birds with one stone deals, or loopholes, where you get a PhD in something and pick up your masters along the way and get a masters level clinical license, do your research. Another mistake is getting into a masters degree program like masters of clinical psychology and thinking, I'll just do this now and it will save me time later when I "finish" the PhD in clinical psychology at some other school or another time. This isn't like transferring from community college, many classes may not count, and you join into a cohort usually, it's not often the case that you get a masters and then merge into a PhD program for the last few years of the PhD, that's not how it works. You either go for the PhD in full or you go for the masters in full.
If you want to be a "therapist," you need a license to practice therapy or any other interventions with people, you will need to first go on the state's website for licensure. In California that is the BBS board of behavioral sciences website https://www.bbs.ca.gov/ for masters level degrees like the MFT master of marriage and family therapy, MCP master of counseling psychology, and MSW master of social work and a few others. The MFT leads to the LMFT license, the MCP leads to the LPCC license, and the MSW leads to the LCSW license.
When you go on the BBS website or the licensing board of whatever state you are interested in working in, they explain what the educational requirements are and part of that is that the university you earn the degree from must be "regionally accredited" in most universities in the Western U.S. that's WASC, or Western Association of Schools and Colleges https://www.acswasc.org/. Furthermore, the program "masters program or doctoral program" itself must be accredited by an "accrediting organization."
For MFT programs that's COAMFTE https://www.coamfte.org/ for MCP programs thats CACREP https://www.cacrep.org/ and for MSW programs thats CSWE https://www.cswe.org/.
To sum it all up, for example: I go to UCLA's MSW program. UCLA is a university that is regionally accredited by WASC. The MSW program itself is accredited by the CSWE. UCLA's MSW program is on the list of approved schools by the California BBS which issues licenses. Because everything is accredited, I can earn the LCSW in California to practice in private practice or advance my career, and all these accreditations also mean I can get licensed in other states outside of California if I decide to move.
For those interested in a PhD or PsyD or who wish to become "licensed psychologists" California and other states have licensing boards for this as well. In California that would be the California Board of Psychology https://www.psychology.ca.gov/. They explain the requirements in this state. Like the masters degrees, the title of the doctorate is important. They say the degree name must fall under this description which you can access here https://www.psychology.ca.gov/applicants/license.shtml"Section 2914 of the Business and Professions Code (Code) provides that individuals who possess an earned doctorate degree in psychology, educational psychology, education with a field of specialization in counseling psychology or education with a field of specialization in educational psychology from an approved or accredited educational institution meet the educational requirements for licensure."
Here is what the California Board of Psychology says about accreditation https://www.psychology.ca.gov/applicants/schools.shtml"Applicants for licensure that apply after on or January 1, 2020, must possess an earned doctorate degree in psychology, educational psychology, or education with the field of specialization in counseling psychology or educational psychology from a college or institution of higher education that is accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education."
Doctoral programs that lead to licensure in the U.S. are generally PhD in psychology or clinical psychology or a PsyD degree, and it must be from a regionally accredited university and an "APA" accredited university program. https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/programs/
Beware of online programs, many are not properly accredited here is an article about that https://www.geteducated.com/careers/534-apa-accredited-online-psychology-programs Any programs you research, always look into their accreditation status, make sure they are regionally accredited and that the program itself is approved for licensure in your state AND that it is accredited by the accrediting organization for the profession that degree is associated with. If you don't make sure your program is legit, or if it's not properly accredited and approved by your state, you get a very very expensive degree you can't do anything with. This happens ALL THE TIME. Don't let it happen to you, do your research!!!

Late to this topic, but I was and will be a disabled applicant for 2021 again. It's tricky having medical disability that is so unpredictable and costly. I have noticed that most of the accessible programs/campuses are up-front about it (e.g. it does not take a great deal of work or research to find accommodation services, they have diversity programs that exist etc...) I have had the most success with being upfront about my circumstances with professors/supervisors/housing etc... 
The feelings of inadequacy, of "being behind" linger but I remind myself of how much I have accomplished in different realms than my peers. My path is going to look different, and I am okay with that. 

What is your end goal? A PhD in School Psychology would likely offer more specified training in terms of studying/assessment for ASD, as well as the population age focus. The University of Houston's School Psychology program has some research on ASD, depending on what area of ASD you want to focus on. I think it would be prudent to look at Clinical programs, but the time to completion might be longer as well as the potential conflict of career areas (unless Licensed Psychologist or academia is your focus.)
I am also looking at School Psych PhD programs with emphasis on assessment of ASD and PDD, so best of luck to you!

Rising MSW student this fall! I'm deaf and also doing my program 100% online. I'm a little scared to see how the professors will handle this experience. At my undergrad they had a HUGE disability office and were fantastic about providing access to online materials. I'm keeping my fingers crossed but this school seems to be very understanding. One thing that scares me is I won't be able to make any friends in my cohort since I can't call or videochat with them.

Late to this topic, but I was and will be a disabled applicant for 2021 again. It's tricky having medical disability that is so unpredictable and costly. I have noticed that most of the accessible programs/campuses are up-front about it (e.g. it does not take a great deal of work or research to find accommodation services, they have diversity programs that exist etc...) I have had the most success with being upfront about my circumstances with professors/supervisors/housing etc... 
The feelings of inadequacy, of "being behind" linger but I remind myself of how much I have accomplished in different realms than my peers. My path is going to look different, and I am okay with that. 

Mine have changed slightly, so reposting:
Director in research and evaluation within the county department of mental health Director for the evidence-based practices center within the county department of mental health Director in any area within my county which finds ways to research, evaluate and implement evidence-based practices more effectively the mental health provider network SAMHSA doing any of the jobs listed above.

I would like to become  an avaitor. It is my dream job. LOL!

My all time dream job would be to practice animal therapy for people with disabilities and mental illness as a social worker.

I'm curious about your transition from psych to counseling! (I'm making the opposite move). What about counseling was a better match for you?

I am going to be studying school counseling at Fordham University in their masters program.  

Hate the US and their weird ass tax system and determination of residency (with the only other country in the world basing 'residency' based on nationality being eritrea). Like for real.. why you folks always have to be special with your weird non-metric system, weird president, and also these things..

Ahh that's awesome! I am sure I will PM come closer to application time!

I wanted to see if anyone here has a Master's in Psychology and has worked in research, and if they enjoyed their experience. I am graduating next year with a Master's in Clinical Psychology (license eligible) and am passionate about psychological research, with the goal of a PhD. I know that I wouldn't be independent, but was curious about the quality of research jobs with a Master's degree.

I currently work as a project manager on a study at NYU School of Medicine after receiving an MA in Clinical Psych (license eligible).  I think it's hard to say whether you will enjoy it without knowing you, but there are definitely jobs out there, whether doing coordinating, clinical/diagnostic interviewing, or something in between.  If you are passionate about research, I say go for it.  For the record, I love research and the majority of my job - the reasons I don't enjoy my job have more to do with my lab than research as a whole.  That said, I do also miss clinical work.  

That makes sense, thank you so much!

I have had to write just a few diversity statements in addition to an SOP. My SOP highlights experience, education, interests blah blah blah. My diversity statement describes the characteristics that make me "unique" and a positive contribution to the program and vocation. 
Yes to life experiences, personal characteristics, hardships, in the personal/diversity statement.