ilobebrains

I do think you should postpone. I think the most important thing clinical psych PhD programs will be looking for is research experience/publications. In the short-term, waiting a year or two seems rough, but time passes by quickly and this will immensely improve your application if you wait. Think of it as an investment rather than wasting time. 

One thing I wish I had done was started much earlier, and really spent time researching programs and figuring out exactly what I wanted to study. I was late to the party in understanding that sometimes the people doing the research you want to do aren't in the department you think they're in. It was in the process of writing my statement that I started to see more clearly what I wanted to focus on and then I realized that some of my initial application choices weren't the best fit, and I needed to look elsewhere. It was near the end of the application season when I found that many of the people studying media effects on children were psychologists in communication departments. I'm so glad I discovered this because I was very successful with those applications, but I see all of the programs I could've applied to that might have also been great opportunities if I'd had more time.

As an update for the folks who helped me (and for future applicants who may be in my situation): I got a full-time job as a research coordinator in an extremely productive lab at an amazing institution (which I frankly didn't think I had a shot at getting into). I'm honestly more excited about this "acceptance" than the three non-funded PsyD acceptances I had earlier this year, which really solidifies 1) the fact that I'm passionate about research, and 2) that I've made the right choice by declining offers and planning to reapply to PhD programs in a few years.
Yaaaay

Yeah. Personally what was my top choice during application submissions/after receiving interview offers changed drastically after interviewing in person and meeting the department. Gut feeling was important for me.

Yeah. Personally what was my top choice during application submissions/after receiving interview offers changed drastically after interviewing in person and meeting the department. Gut feeling was important for me.

I was relaxing at my boyfriend's place when I got the call! I was super excited, and he started dancing around when I started thanking my POI for the acceptance. I called a bunch of my friends and family, and while I did, he ran out to grab cookie dough and flowers so that we could bake cookies and watch a movie. Best night ever!

I was at work (a residential treatment center for at-risk and adjudicated youth) and had to contain my excitement! It may have been plan B, but I'm going to grad school guys!

School: University of Texas at Austin
Concentration: Counseling Psychology
Type: PhD
Date of acceptance: 2/15
Notified by: Phone call from POI.
Officially going to this program this fall!

School: University of Tennessee
Concentration: Cognitive and Developmental Science (Experimental Psychology) 
Type: PhD
Date of Acceptance: 3/12/2019
Notified By: Email from Admissions 
 
Very Excited! Will be accepting:) 

Good Afternoon,
I was recently waitlisted post interview at my top choice.
I have confirmed I would like to stay on the waitlist. I would like to stay relevant in my POIs mind.
What would anyone suggest emailing for a status update?

Whatever you do, don't spam them like you're spamming us. (P.S. congrats!)

I was relaxing at my boyfriend's place when I got the call! I was super excited, and he started dancing around when I started thanking my POI for the acceptance. I called a bunch of my friends and family, and while I did, he ran out to grab cookie dough and flowers so that we could bake cookies and watch a movie. Best night ever!

I have not yet. I received an official letter today, after being extended an informal offer over the phone 1 week ago, but they said information about scholarships and assistantships would be sent later. I'm assuming it's because this program (clinical psych PhD) has specific scholarships and awards that they need to figure out who to give to after official offers have been given. 

I just wanted to say that this story is adorable and made me smile. 

I was relaxing at my boyfriend's place when I got the call! I was super excited, and he started dancing around when I started thanking my POI for the acceptance. I called a bunch of my friends and family, and while I did, he ran out to grab cookie dough and flowers so that we could bake cookies and watch a movie. Best night ever!

I was relaxing at my boyfriend's place when I got the call! I was super excited, and he started dancing around when I started thanking my POI for the acceptance. I called a bunch of my friends and family, and while I did, he ran out to grab cookie dough and flowers so that we could bake cookies and watch a movie. Best night ever!

I was relaxing at my boyfriend's place when I got the call! I was super excited, and he started dancing around when I started thanking my POI for the acceptance. I called a bunch of my friends and family, and while I did, he ran out to grab cookie dough and flowers so that we could bake cookies and watch a movie. Best night ever!

DePaul University.
Clinical Psychology, Community Track.
Feel free to PM if you’ll be attending DePaul as well. I’d love to connect

I think I've forgotten how to not be stressed.
I have all my results from programs now and I'm still checking the results page obsessively. I don't know what I'm trying to find lol.

Sorry for multiple posts but just checked the portal for my top choice and noticed that it has been switched from "Pending" to "Admitted" and I'm freaking out trying not to get too excited until it's email-official.  For all I know somebody checked the wrong box in some system...!

My landlord reached out to find out whether I wanted to renew my lease which expires at the end of next month. I informed him he is on my wait list. 

SMU! 

This question may be better suited for a different thread.

Everyone else has given you great advice so I don't have anything to add, but I just had to LOL at this. I've run into some bizarre interests of professors before but this takes the cake.

I'll be at Cornell in the Department of Human Development!!