Desperate Clinical

Hi friends. I know the struggle of not getting SSHRC- I have not gotten it the past two years and this is my last round (fingers crossed). I live in the GTA and it is difficult to make end's meet even on the "competitive" stipend my university gives me. One thing I will share is I make money teaching Chinese students English online from my apartment. PM me if you want to know more about that, I know this is not the place to post things like this, but I thought it was pertinent to the conversation above!

Hi friends. I know the struggle of not getting SSHRC- I have not gotten it the past two years and this is my last round (fingers crossed). I live in the GTA and it is difficult to make end's meet even on the "competitive" stipend my university gives me. One thing I will share is I make money teaching Chinese students English online from my apartment. PM me if you want to know more about that, I know this is not the place to post things like this, but I thought it was pertinent to the conversation above!

DO. NOT. DO IT.
No one cares where you went to school, especially for a career like SLP. It is not worth paying off all that student loan debt. I went to one of the lowest ranked schools in my country (Canada) and not one employer asked where I went to school or cared.
 
Just my two cents...

DO. NOT. DO IT.
No one cares where you went to school, especially for a career like SLP. It is not worth paying off all that student loan debt. I went to one of the lowest ranked schools in my country (Canada) and not one employer asked where I went to school or cared.
 
Just my two cents...

DO. NOT. DO IT.
No one cares where you went to school, especially for a career like SLP. It is not worth paying off all that student loan debt. I went to one of the lowest ranked schools in my country (Canada) and not one employer asked where I went to school or cared.
 
Just my two cents...

Just accepted my offer from Queen’s and releasing my offer from OISE SCCP! I hope this opens up a spot to someone on the waitlist.

I certainly didn't mean to downplay anyone's accomplishments, and I'm sorry that you interpreted my comments that way. I also wasn't referring to 'wow-ing' on paper as the personal statements - as obviously I have not read everyone's statements. What I meant was that some individuals get in who may not have the highest GPA / highest amount of hours of experience. Obviously they have displayed something else that certain schools feel is fantastic/ beneficial / relevant to their program. 
I was not discrediting anyone's accomplishments. I was not minimizing anyone's efforts or dis valuing celebration of hard work. 
ALL I meant was that comparing yourself to others on here will not help anyone 'guess' or determine what their admission status will be.
 
I found your comment to be somewhat personally attacking of my character - however I'm not assuming that that was your intention. I am guessing you felt somewhat defensive of your acceptance. 
 

Thank you so much for your kindness! It is definitely relieving that other people feel the way that I do.

I've got a little bit of a dilemma and I thought maybe someone here would have some insight into this:
I've been accepted into a couple clinical psychology programs which I have been wanting to do all my life. I am extremely grateful so I hope I don't come across as unappreciative but I'm feeling intense feelings of imposter syndrome. I am currently finishing a master's in another field and I'm feeling inadequate when I compare myself to other applicants. I'm afraid my writing is sub-par and that I'll embarrass myself in the program. The supervisor at my #1 choice school has a reputation of being tough and I'm afraid I will disappoint them and get yelled at or feel stupid.
I've applied to some counselling master's degrees and MSW programs and now I'm feeling slightly like I should just do these instead because I'm not good enough/won't make it through the PhD. I'm just worried about looking stupid. To top it all off, I'm a bit older... and i'm worried about having children while being in a PhD. Is this feasible in a clinical psychology PhD program? 
 
I'm aware that this is probably not the place to post these things but I'd love some insight if anyone has any.
 
Edit: my master's did not prepare me at ALL for the rigour that is clinical psychology. Not to be rude but the program I'm in now was likely a waste of time.
 

@Desperate Clinical The best advice I think I’ve received from people with PhDs is to choose the supervisor who will be kind and flexible - don’t choose someone who’s a superstar but not easy to work with. PhDs are hard enough and you’ll graduate as a psychologist all the same, so don’t made it harder on yourself than it has to be. Ideally you can find both qualities in the same person, but if you can’t, choose someone who will support you 100% (you can tell this by talking to their grad students). I’d suggest reconsidering your #1 program if your POI there is known to be tough - particularly if that comment was made during the interview process by a grad student. I’d hesitate to select a POI who had even neutral comments because it’s hard for students to be honest about these things - I’ve been looking for over-the-top “I LOVE my supervisor!!!” comments. 6-7 years is a LONG TIME to be stuck with one boss - make sure you feel really good about them. 
As for imposter syndrome... everybody has it! This will come up over and over again throughout your program for everybody, so get used to the feeling of not knowing what you’re doing. This is a sign that you’re growing and challenging yourself - it should feel uncomfortable! 
Re: choosing another program... don’t do it because you’re scared you’re not good enough for clinical. You clearly are - you got in to two programs! They see hundreds of applications and tens of interviews a year and they know what to do look for - you’ve got it. Plus, MSW is a very different path re: research training and pay. It also has a very different emphasis than psych - SW focuses much more on systemic/structural issues, oppression, and social justice - psych focuses more on the individual. The approach to clinical practice differs as well, from what I’ve seen. Make sure you know which interests you more before choosing several years of schooling in it. 
I’m also older (28) and will be having kids at some point during my degree. Personally, I think having kids is always difficult and there’s never a perfect time - you’ll either be doing it in a regular job or doing it during a PhD, both of which have challenges. PhD has the benefit of more flexible scheduling, at least - but obviously much lower pay. During my years in the 9-5 though, lots of parents struggled with the very inflexible schedule imposed by their company. I think people just figure it out - you’ll find the time, manage your schedule. Hell, I’ve met early career profs with multiple kids and they’re managing it - that career stage seems more challenging for caring for very young children than the PhD stage to me. 
Slow down, take a breath - you’re nearing the end of an extremely stressful process and I’m sure you need some space to process your options. Be kind to yourself - you did it! Don’t let your “bully” brain take this away from you - you deserve to be here. 
Feel free to DM me if you need more support or want to talk further  

I've got a little bit of a dilemma and I thought maybe someone here would have some insight into this:
I've been accepted into a couple clinical psychology programs which I have been wanting to do all my life. I am extremely grateful so I hope I don't come across as unappreciative but I'm feeling intense feelings of imposter syndrome. I am currently finishing a master's in another field and I'm feeling inadequate when I compare myself to other applicants. I'm afraid my writing is sub-par and that I'll embarrass myself in the program. The supervisor at my #1 choice school has a reputation of being tough and I'm afraid I will disappoint them and get yelled at or feel stupid.
I've applied to some counselling master's degrees and MSW programs and now I'm feeling slightly like I should just do these instead because I'm not good enough/won't make it through the PhD. I'm just worried about looking stupid. To top it all off, I'm a bit older... and i'm worried about having children while being in a PhD. Is this feasible in a clinical psychology PhD program? 
 
I'm aware that this is probably not the place to post these things but I'd love some insight if anyone has any.
 
Edit: my master's did not prepare me at ALL for the rigour that is clinical psychology. Not to be rude but the program I'm in now was likely a waste of time.
 

I've got a little bit of a dilemma and I thought maybe someone here would have some insight into this:
I've been accepted into a couple clinical psychology programs which I have been wanting to do all my life. I am extremely grateful so I hope I don't come across as unappreciative but I'm feeling intense feelings of imposter syndrome. I am currently finishing a master's in another field and I'm feeling inadequate when I compare myself to other applicants. I'm afraid my writing is sub-par and that I'll embarrass myself in the program. The supervisor at my #1 choice school has a reputation of being tough and I'm afraid I will disappoint them and get yelled at or feel stupid.
I've applied to some counselling master's degrees and MSW programs and now I'm feeling slightly like I should just do these instead because I'm not good enough/won't make it through the PhD. I'm just worried about looking stupid. To top it all off, I'm a bit older... and i'm worried about having children while being in a PhD. Is this feasible in a clinical psychology PhD program? 
 
I'm aware that this is probably not the place to post these things but I'd love some insight if anyone has any.
 
Edit: my master's did not prepare me at ALL for the rigour that is clinical psychology. Not to be rude but the program I'm in now was likely a waste of time.
 

Same here. Refreshing the SGS page constantly.

I can think of a few reasons why profs might be reluctant to provide feedback. 
(a) lots of requests, very little time. May be harsh to say, but it's not the POI's job to mentor or coach applicants.
(b) sometimes the request is really an attempt at appealing the decision under the guise of asking for feedback. Replying is inviting an argument.
(c) sometimes people actually aren't receptive to candid feedback and respond rudely.
(d) the weakness might be something the candidate can't easily improve over a year like "your GPA is bad" or "you said something offensive in an email, and even if you don't do that next year we won't change our mind."
(e) profs are people too. The reason might be something they feel awkward telling you or that is hard to phrase. For example, being interpersonally awkward at the interviews, or you were good but not great. May also overlap with (d), e.g., "Get smarter" or "have a better personality" isn't terribly actionable and nobody wants to be a dream crusher.
(f) maybe your references weren't glowing and it would breach confidentiality to tell you that.
Some of these reasons overlap with more general reasons why employers don't like to provide feedback to rejected job candidates.
 
 

Hi there! I graduated in June 2016 and had to complete another master's before even receiving ANY interviews or offers. My experience in Clinical Psychology is that graduate students often come with a wide variety of backgrounds and range in age. I am actually one of the youngest admitted this year! I know it's easier said than done but you are not behind in any way!

Honestly, I have never had this experience before. I also graduated from a very lowly ranked institution with circumstances similar to your own and I have never felt that my undergraduate institution played a major role in admissions decisions. I do live in Canada, which might have different admissions procedures, but I have had no problem being admitted into top universities in the country based on my grades, letters, etc. 

Was just about to say I'm also in Canada, and I think its definitely different here. To reiterate, it doesn't matter which undergrad institution you graduated from--ranking doesn't seem to matter in Canada. Basically, an undergrad degree is supposed to be considered equal across institutions here. It's honestly for your graduate degrees that institutional ranking matters (especially if you pursue a career in academia after). 

@Clinicalh0peful I am in a similar boat. Although I haven't been in this particular situation before, I've been through salary negotiations for jobs several times over the years and I think it's a similar situation as we are working as TAs/RAs for these funds. I'd recommend emailing your preferred program / POI stating that you are excited about the offer and feel a strong fit with the program and POI, but that you have received another offer with higher funding that would have a significant impact on your finances over the course of your studies. Be as specific as you were here ("$8,000 per year = $~50K over six years). Ask if there is any flexibility on their end to increase their offer. Do not offer to work more - let them propose options first. They may offer bursaries or scholarships instead of TA/RA'ing more. Feel free to ask about PhD funding if the other program has guaranteed a PhD funding package - if they haven't either, it's not a bargaining chip you can use. Overall, the tone of the email should be polite, professional, and concise.
A few things to consider once funding details are finalized (time to break out the spreadsheet!):
Cost of living in City A versus City B - rent, transit, food, etc.  Tuition costs in Program A versus Program B. Also, do the programs charge tuition on the internship year? Some do, some don't  - could be a difference of $5-8K overall.  Difference between guaranteed funding versus likely funding - speak with grad students about this. E.g., program may only guarantee 15K but students end up with $25K in practice.   To a lesser extent - likelihood of receiving CGS/OGS or other funding in each program. This is often POI-specific, so ask their grad students if they've been successful in the past. I'd only pay attention to big differences - e.g., one POI's students say they never or rarely get external funding, the other POI's students receive it all the time.  If it's still quite a difference, then it's up to you to decide what will be best for you long term. If it's more of a slight preference for the lower-paying program, then perhaps you might be better off taking the  higher-funded offer. However, if you think you'd be unhappy or really regret taking the higher-funded one, then go with your preferred school. 
Hope this is helpful! 
**Edit: one more note - if you're using OSAP, make sure to check if there are differences in your loan/bursary amounts between the schools. OSAP funding is specific to regions/schools I believe. 

Hey all,
I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this but I figured I'd try. I have received acceptances to two clinical psychology programs in Canada. I find that there is a much better research and program fit with one of the programs, but the funding discrepancy between program A and B accumulates to about $50,000 over the course of 6 years. Now, fortunately, the lower-funding program has openly encouraged negotiations with them. Does anybody know how to go about doing this, and politely? I sort of fell in love with the campus and the program when I went for interview day and would love to attend there, but quality-of-life and student loans are a substantial consideration. Should I be clear that I am willing to work more for the funding (whether it be more GAships or other)? Also, can I mention PhD funding as apart of the negotiation? My offer of admission mentions the funding minimum for the first 3 years of the PhD but says more details will be given if I am accepted into the PhD. However, given that they state in their application that they expect students to continue on to the PhD there, it seems reasonable to negotiate the funding contingent on my acceptance (since once I'm there, I'm stuck). But I don't know if this is appropriate.
Sorry, I just feel as though I am up a creek without a paddle here. Nobody in my close or even semi-close friends/family circle has gone to graduate school so I have no idea how this stuff works. I realize this may also be insensitive given that some people on this thread are still waiting to hear back (and I recognize that this is ultimately a good problem to have) - If this isn't the right thread or there is a better one I can delete this post and repost it elsewhere.
Thanks in advance!

This forum is for people applying to grad school. You should try someplace that’s a help forum, or other psychology forum.

Like Psyhopeful mentioned, people on this forum are graduate school applicants, so we’re still on our way trying to become psychologists. You can check out this website below instead, where there’re some psychology professionals on there (although most are clinical/counseling psychologists.
https://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/psychology-psy-d-ph-d.57/
However, the truth is also that you will get biased responses from any online forum. You might want to consider other survery methods such as emailing/calling psychologists.
 
In addition, I know you didn’t ask this, but I took a look at your survey and actually have some suggestions for your questions if you were to really ask these to psychologists:
   1. “How many years did it take you to become a psychologist?” - There is no way for anyone to become a psychologist in less than 4 years, so you might want to change your answer choices. (Reason see below).
   2. “What degree do you have?” - Psychologists are those who have their doctorate degrees in psychology. Perhaps you could ask “How many different types of degrees do you have?” If you really want to ask this question.
   3. “What type of psychologist are you” - In your answer choices, social workers and licensed mental health counselors are not psychologists but mental health practitioners, and psychiatrists are medical doctors not psychologists. I suggest you editing this question or modifying the answer choices.
   4. “Is psychology what you expected?” - You might want to explain what you mean by this.
   5. Another question for you to consider adding is the type of job settings and positions they work at because it’d be really different.
 
Hope this was helpful. Good luck!

I haven't...but I think it's worth acknowledging the fact that this particular thread has been extremely supportive and no one's out here trying to out-do one another ... let's keep it this way! Love you all

Hi there! I heard back last night with an acceptance. I think they are sending them around shortly.

YAY!
School: McMaster University
Concentration: Clinical Psychology (RCT)
Type: MSc/PhD
Date of acceptance: informal acceptance - Feb 12, 2019
Notified by: Personal e-mail from admission!

YAY!
School: McMaster University
Concentration: Clinical Psychology (RCT)
Type: MSc/PhD
Date of acceptance: informal acceptance - Feb 12, 2019
Notified by: Personal e-mail from admission!