8BitJourney

Plugging for any more news on UNCG or UMass Boston?
Actually I really want to have a pity party/vent about how much I hate this process and how much it wears on my self esteem but don't want to derail this thread or make a new thread just for that (and all of my close friends are non-psych. Would it be creepy to have an NYC clinical psych meetup at a starbucks or something? XD). I did process some of it with my supervisor but its hard to take his words to heart when I think he overestimates my abilities :/ I know this too shall pass but good grief does it mess with my brain in the worst ways. Anyway, this forum has been a great help though, so thanks everyone for their insights and the closure I do get from people posting updates.

Plugging for any more news on UNCG or UMass Boston?
Actually I really want to have a pity party/vent about how much I hate this process and how much it wears on my self esteem but don't want to derail this thread or make a new thread just for that (and all of my close friends are non-psych. Would it be creepy to have an NYC clinical psych meetup at a starbucks or something? XD). I did process some of it with my supervisor but its hard to take his words to heart when I think he overestimates my abilities :/ I know this too shall pass but good grief does it mess with my brain in the worst ways. Anyway, this forum has been a great help though, so thanks everyone for their insights and the closure I do get from people posting updates.

Plugging for any more news on UNCG or UMass Boston?
Actually I really want to have a pity party/vent about how much I hate this process and how much it wears on my self esteem but don't want to derail this thread or make a new thread just for that (and all of my close friends are non-psych. Would it be creepy to have an NYC clinical psych meetup at a starbucks or something? XD). I did process some of it with my supervisor but its hard to take his words to heart when I think he overestimates my abilities :/ I know this too shall pass but good grief does it mess with my brain in the worst ways. Anyway, this forum has been a great help though, so thanks everyone for their insights and the closure I do get from people posting updates.

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. 

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).  

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).  

If anyone on this forum gets off waitlist, you should also share it here so we can all live vicariously through you and feel that there is still hope in this world!!

School: Arizona State University
Program: Counseling Psychology 
Date of Notification: 2/24/17
Method of Notification: Phone call from POI 
Thoughts: To say that I am thrilled is an understatement. This is my #1. I felt such a good fit.
 
School: West Virginia University
Program: Counseling Psychology 
Date of Notification: 2/20/17
Method of Notification: Phone call from DCT 
Thoughts: Hard to say no to such a fantastic program and remarkable faculty.

School: Arizona State University
Program: Counseling Psychology 
Date of Notification: 2/24/17
Method of Notification: Phone call from POI 
Thoughts: To say that I am thrilled is an understatement. This is my #1. I felt such a good fit.
 
School: West Virginia University
Program: Counseling Psychology 
Date of Notification: 2/20/17
Method of Notification: Phone call from DCT 
Thoughts: Hard to say no to such a fantastic program and remarkable faculty.

I wouldn't risk it as you don't know if this professor will definitely accept you in the next cycle or if they'll even have enough funding (weird things happen!). Keep in contact but possibly look for practicum/internship/post-doc opportunities with this professor in the future. You may even be able to consult with them for your masters or dissertation so multiple ways to build an incredibly large network AND keep your admission for the fall. HTH

if your program has a grant specialist then you can ask if you can work with them In your 1st year to try and secure funding for the rest of your time there. But I agree with juhidee, waiting for a better funded program is probably best as external funding is extremely competitive.

School: University of Toronto
Program: Experimental Psychology (Social psych stream)
Date of Notification: 2/3/17
Method of Notification: Email from PI
Thoughts: Feeling so excited and so lucky!  I had a change of heart during this application season because I applied to several clinical psychology programs and only this one experimental program.  After thinking about it for the past few months, I realized clinical psych wasn't for me and my heart was suddenly set on social psychology.  Very glad I realized before potentially starting a clinical program!  
 
Congratulations to everyone on their acceptances!

Fingers crossed for you!
I actually wish the process was similar to match/postdoc days where there was 24 hours to sort out offers, waitlists and rejections. Or at least some non-punitive way of coordinating this entire process. It would suck if 2 applicants were holding offers and waitlists spots for the others schools.

While nervous Nellie could've worded their comment much better I think its believed that if you're on the waitlist of a less preferred program and have an offer from a preferred program then you also should count waitlist as 'offer to let go'. Its kind of murky but I hope you get your funding information soon and you're happy with it!

Fingers crossed for you!
I actually wish the process was similar to match/postdoc days where there was 24 hours to sort out offers, waitlists and rejections. Or at least some non-punitive way of coordinating this entire process. It would suck if 2 applicants were holding offers and waitlists spots for the others schools.

Grown ups recognize when they've made a mistake and they apologize. Well done. This process has all of our nerves frayed.

While nervous Nellie could've worded their comment much better I think its believed that if you're on the waitlist of a less preferred program and have an offer from a preferred program then you also should count waitlist as 'offer to let go'. Its kind of murky but I hope you get your funding information soon and you're happy with it!

I would strongly suggest doing it in-person in a US university if he can afford it. Here is a list from APA of some universities with post-bac opportunities in psychology. Its from 2014 but its a good jumping off point: http://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/2014/09/post-baccalaureate.aspx
He will also have to take the GRE and psychology GRE to prove that he has foundational knowledge in psychology (though I'm not sure if the masters program he's interested in require it but a grad program might) also with how competitive clinical psych is in the US is that for sure what they want to do? Many programs also require strong evidence of research productivity.

Just a quick  plea to everyone out there: please don't hold too many offers at once! I know you want to weigh your options but if you know there are some you definitely like less please release them for the poor unfortunate souls on waitlists.

Just a quick  plea to everyone out there: please don't hold too many offers at once! I know you want to weigh your options but if you know there are some you definitely like less please release them for the poor unfortunate souls on waitlists.

The cudcp guidelines say that it's common practice that applicants can wait till April 15 before accepting any offer but more than 2 offers shouldn't be held at one time. Granted I'm sure you don't want to wait that long to accept any and a kindly worded email thanking admissions/the poi but letting them know that "you're weighing another offer (But still seriously considering theirs) since is still early in the process" should be understandable If you're a competitive applicant. For the wording of this email I highly suggest you get a mentor or faculty to provide input though...
Btw thanks for your concern  I got a late email from the coordinator who's working hard to get me a Skype interview/rectify the situation. It's just messy because so many schools had interviews this week and I already couldn't attend the main day.

Just a quick  plea to everyone out there: please don't hold too many offers at once! I know you want to weigh your options but if you know there are some you definitely like less please release them for the poor unfortunate souls on waitlists.

Because most schools take their time with rejections. There are very few that send them the same time as acceptances. Only one school that I know has rejected me has sent an official letter and acceptances were notified weeks ago.
They position may or may not be filled but I doubt they'd take a student right away (working out funding takes time, setting up space for the lab, they may not even be mentoring faculty).

No - I'm waiting to finish all my interviews before I make a decision. I have declined an offer that I knew for sure I would not attend no matter what, though. 

Just a quick  plea to everyone out there: please don't hold too many offers at once! I know you want to weigh your options but if you know there are some you definitely like less please release them for the poor unfortunate souls on waitlists.