Dylia

I just got another interview so yes, at least this one. There is no magic secret - I just got more research experience, some more conference posters and submitted manuscripts, better letters. I also spent more time figuring out which POIs were really a match to me and not just on the surface. As a consequence, I think my research interests are more defined and it was slightly easier this time around to articulate what work I'd like to do in the future. I also think there was a dose of luck involved too. Difficult to pinpoint something specific. 

School: University of Victoria
Type: Clinical Masters
Date of invite: 1/7/2021
Type of invite: Email from POI for official interview
Interview date(s): Week of Jan 18
DM for POI: Yes 
Posted on results page 

Yes, I certainly see why this is frustrating. My personal two cents here - I'm a current clin psych student but speaking as to when I was in my applying, I think I was hesitant to put too much specific information about my application components because I wanted to preserve my anonymity as an applicant - this is especially relevant to when I was going in for interviews and probably running into other grad cafe users. In retrospect I don't know why it mattered to me much, but I just felt weird about the whole thing. If i remember correctly, I was more comfortable with DMing people my POI though. But I do agree, it is very valuable information to pass on..
There's just something weird about being on this platform, like even as a current student I want to share more inside details about my program but I don't feel comfortable announcing it here, versus if I ran into you one on one in person.?‍♂️

Hi sorry I should have added that it was before the pandemic (so for Fall 2018, 2020 admission cycles) so I don't think I can be of much help re: post-pandemic interview process.
That said, not sure if it would help, I did have skype formal interviews at 2 schools back then. One had shifted to virtual interviews for everyone before pandemic considering those who can't travel (thus for fairness). For one I could not attend in-person and had no choice but to have skype interviews. For both these schools, I had interviews with POI, clinical faculty, and grad students. It was all via skype but I assume it would be via zoom this year?
 
Best of luck!

Hi sorry I should have added that it was before the pandemic (so for Fall 2018, 2020 admission cycles) so I don't think I can be of much help re: post-pandemic interview process.
That said, not sure if it would help, I did have skype formal interviews at 2 schools back then. One had shifted to virtual interviews for everyone before pandemic considering those who can't travel (thus for fairness). For one I could not attend in-person and had no choice but to have skype interviews. For both these schools, I had interviews with POI, clinical faculty, and grad students. It was all via skype but I assume it would be via zoom this year?
 
Best of luck!

Here's my understanding of how my admission process worked...

1 - The applications are briefly pre-screened to check for minimum requirements and then these applications are forwarded to the faculty member(s) mentioned in the letters as POIs. 
2 - The POIs review them and then reach out to candidates they would like to interview (other programs have a "formal" interview day, sometimes with meeting multiple faculty, former students). I just interviewed one-on-one with my POI in early Feb. 
3 - the POI will send their top pick(s) to the admission committee. The committee deliberates and debates which POIs should be getting a candidate that cycle and look at the top applicant apps in closer detail. Sometimes you have a POI who really wants to take you but there isn't space that year (this happened to me in application attempts #1 & 2). This happened in Feb-early March. 
4 - my POI contacted me again to say that I was a top pick and the final decision about my acceptance rested with the admission committee depending on funding. 
5 - an official email came through the portal indicating that a decision had been made regarding my application. It linked to my acceptance letter, which came the first week of March. 
This was my experience at OISE, I hope it helps a bit!
 

^^^ I second this. From my experience, most universities conduct a similar admissions process. 
 

My best advice is a) to google the questions they might ask you (why their program, why their lab, what is your research experience, where do you want your research to go, etc.) For this, it's good to have a decent working knowledge of the program and what your goals might be if you go there (if they have a graduate handbook, look through that). Are there any classes you particularly want to take? Certificates you might want to earn? Demonstrate excitement about the program and what you could accomplish there! 
Then, I recommend having an endless list of questions. You're interviewing/assessing them too. Having questions also helps to show how excited/interested in the program you are. (I only applied to programs I was really interested in, as I think most people do, so it was just a matter of showing that). Here are the ones from my list last year, in case you/anyone finds them useful
What past/present datasets are available? How much has been published from them previously?  What about present projects? What measures do they contain?  How much input do current students have on lab projects?  How is the lab structured? Do you have group meetings with students?  How often do you meet with students individually? How do you have students prepare for meetings?  How many current students do you have? (I wanted to be part of a lab with 4 students or less, because I felt that professors often get overwhelmed/give less personal attention after that point -- but that's just me).  When do students start leading their own projects/papers?  What has made students a good fit for your lab in the past?  Do the students in your lab collaborate?  How is authorship determined in your lab?  How would you describe your mentorship style?  How do you manage student projects? What level of involvement do you expect to have?  How do you react to delays (e.g., if I were learning a new technique)?  Where have you seen students go after finishing the program?  What excites you about the program/department?  Good luck! You've got this
edit: typeo

UVIC is Faculty of Social Sciences I believe

The December 1st closing date for many programs is fast approaching! I know I was in a tizzy the whole last week myself last year, waiting for LORs and holding myself back from throwing away existing SOPs and writing whole new ones. So I just want to let this year's applicants know - you got this.  You have done all the prep work you can. You've written and rewritten, edited and edited and then edited some more.  If you still need to upload a CV or SOP, it's time. Hit submit and breathe. Then take the week and enjoy life, because soon it will be time for hard core interview prep, since some schools start interviews as soon as the 3rd and 4th week of December! 
Good luck all!

Protip I tell all my mentees: if you perceive something as being a shortcoming on your application (GRE quant scores, etc), always ask at least one of your references to address it explicitly and say WHY its not a shortcoming (eg explain away the perceived shortcoming). For example, have the referee say in their letter that although you scored lower on the GRE quant, you have demonstrated mastery in stats based on your performance in your stats classes (A, A+ etc). 
I say "perceived" bc as applicants, we're v critical about our own application! So honestly a 56th quant score might not actually be a shortcoming to faculty (I think thats one of the best quant scores I've personally seen/heard of), but you can still get a referee to address it in their letter regardless.

There’s no real “matching” process. Professors generally choose the students they want to admit. If they aren’t accepting a clinical student it’s usually because 1) clinical admissions has a strict limit and they don’t have priority to take student this year, or 2) they want experimental students because clinical students have more courses/less time for research. 

University of Victoria, Clinical Neuropsychology. Very excited!

University of Victoria, Clinical Neuropsychology. Very excited!

Great advice & reflections so far.  Many of the points mentioned by @imemine @Modulus @Randi S are solid and don't require reiterating, however, I would like to elaborate a bit on one piece I think has been overlooked thus far, and that is clinical experience. I've also included some reflections from my own experience.
For some background, this was my second time applying to clinical psych PhD programs.  I was a drastically different candidate this time around and I can attribute that and my success to several key improvements I made in the two-year gap I took between application cycles.  I hope this is helpful & adds something to this thread!  I admittedly have many more tricks & reflections and I am happy to chat in more detail if anyone has questions-just PM me.  
2 Key Improvements worth noting: if you read nothing else, read this  
Clinical Experience!!! - I found as many ways as possible to get formal clinical experience.  If you are applying to CLINICAL psychology programs, the top programs that specialize in training scientist-practitioners want to see that you have experience working with some type of clinical population or in a clinical setting.  Candidates with substantial clinical experience absolutely have a leg up.  This can be in any area or with any population, as long as it's valid, relevant clinical experience.  There are creative ways of doing this--e.g., I work in a neuroscience lab based in a research hospital, and I put time into networking with the neuropsychologists connected to our unit which led to incredible opportunities to be involved in patient clinical care in ways I didn't think possible at my current level.  I loved it, I learned a ton, and as a bonus, it really impressed interviewers.    
Majorly beefed up my research experience - I took a full-time position in an academic hospital setting. I interviewed at several very highly competitive programs & in mingling with other candidates found that almost ALL of the most competitive candidates had full-time research experience outside of an undergrad, casual/volunteer position.  Not only does this demonstrate your skills in data collection, grants, data analysis (whatever the case), but this gives you a real life introduction to what a life in research would look like, and a chance to think about what type of questions you want to try to answer as a researcher--THAT'S what future PI's are looking for.    
Also of Note:
>> Fit, seriously, fit.  You don't realize it until you are in it, but fit it so powerful.  This is also not just fit, as in them accepting you, but also fit, as in you accepting them.  I have a quite specific clinical neuroscience/imaging/specific-clinical-population background that finding a good fit for while applying was a challenge, but during interviews I started to see where I would be happy and flourish and where I would feel confined and limited; that was very important for me.  One last thing to consider in this realm, specific to clinical psych people, do you want to be primarily a clinician (who conducts secondary research) or a researcher/academic? Choose your program wisely...         
>> Don't overlook the importance of your CV!  Your CV should be organized, succinct, detailed, and highlight all of your best features.  Send it out, have people read it, make comments, change things, and shape it up. My CV came up over & over again at interviews- POI's, interviewers, and students all referred to my CV.  Your CV should work in conjunction with your personal statement-don't be redundant.    
>> Another tip re: grades (GPA), GRE scores, & other formalities such as writing samples; these are the things that get you in the door-put the work into it.  Many top R1 programs receive between 300-650+ applications for, on average, 7 spots; they make cuts from the jump and that's just the way it goes.  If you score in the 70th+ percentile on the GRE you are in the clear & you can rest knowing your application should at least get reviewed- you owe it to your mental state & your wallet to ensure you get this far. 
>> Finally, on interview day-yes, dress & act professionally (clinical programs are evaluating your capacity to be a professional, so demonstrate that), but don't be afraid to show your real self (within reason ?).  In addition to all of the important points made by other posters, I will just add a couple of thoughts  
Chat with other candidates, get to know their interests and backgrounds (even if you are interviewing to work with the same POI).  If you are both there, you are both qualified, there is no need to act as if they are your opponent.  I ran into a few people at multiple interviews & I have stayed in touch with some candidates I met along the way about acceptances, plans, etc.  THESE ARE YOUR COLLEAGUES!  Some may even be in your cohort.  Start making connections now.  As mentioned above, assume you are being evaluated throughout your entire interview (social events, lunches, everywhere--all the time).  Ask thoughtful questions, listen to current students when they talk, make small talk with other PI's during lunches (ask about their work, what it's like to live there..ect.)--showcase the many shining parts of your personality-it goes a long way.   **This process is definitely stressful & so much of it is out of the applicants control.  Find things about it that make you laugh or smile, find people to lean on and commiserate with when things get tough, i.e., peers who are also applying or recently admitted grad students.  Feel proud when you submit your apps- it's a lot of work!  Get excited about checking out new cities during interview time.  Take time to get a massage, or go to the park, or just shut your brain off when you need it (and you will need it!!!).  In fact, the question of how you cope with pressure and stress will come up at interviews, demonstrating that you have already started working out these skills is bonus! Lastly, good luck to all!  Remember, if it doesn't work out the first time, that's just an opportunity to come back 10x stronger the next time.      

My two cents from applying to clinical psychology programs FOUR times and having a wholly different experience this time around:
Selecting Programs Apply to the maximum number of programs for which: You can make a compelling argument for research fit with a faculty member (see below for further fit discussion). You can honestly imagine yourself attending. Do not overthink this one, but don't under-think it either. If you find yourself considering something as a "safety", but when you imagine yourself only getting that offer, you feel like you would consider reapplying, you might want to drop that one from your list. Your individual budget/finances allow. If possible, do not geographically limit yourself. Apply to fully-funded, accredited (APA and/or PCSAS) programs. If you stray from this advice, your mileage may vary and the rest may not apply. Attempt not to "pre-rank" the programs in your mind, either by your own assessment of who/what/where you think you'll like, or by relying on some external ranking system. PhD programs are not "ranked" like undergraduate programs.  Beyond funding, consider the research productivity (quantity and quality) of the particular lab you are entering and the post-docs/tenure-track positions achieved by recent grads. Review program and faculty websites to ensure your intended mentors are considering taking students this round. Unless the faculty member’s web page specifically says they do not want applicants to reach out, send a brief, polite e-mail expressing your interest in applying (and/or inquiring as to whether they are reviewing applications for their lab).  If you find yourself at a conference or talk with faculty members to whom you are applying, you may make a polite, quick introduction there instead (or additionally). You want your name to ring a bell when they read applications. Applications and Interviews Fit is everything.  Research fit. Do your research on your research interest. As others have said above, there is a huge difference between a candidate who can talk about how they want to work with "kids with anxiety" or "study drug use", and a candidate who is familiar with the specific literature in their area of interest (especially that of the faculty member to whom they are applying to work with). It is even better if you can prove your ability to conduct research in this specific area. (More on that in a later section.)  Re-iterating from above, but don't apply to programs you (or others) perceive to be "high-rank" or "prestigious". Apply to work with individual mentors who happen to be employed by specific institutions. Consider the fit of "your list". This is something that I personally really struggled with in my previous application cycles. While it made sense to me why I was applying to so many "different" programs/mentors (I was originally interested in the forensic area, which is admittedly not as well defined as others), I know that it made it harder to tell a clear story about what I saw next in my life. Don't present yourself at a fork in the road--know which path you're traveling down. If an interviewer (or application) asks you to list other programs you are applying to, you want them to say "Oh yeah, that makes sense, my colleague so-and-so is there." Personality and attitude. You will be spending more (waking) time with the folks in your lab than probably anyone else in your life for the next 4-6 years, so both your potential mentors and lab mates are considering this. They want a sure thing. This means walking a fine line so that you're not too stiff and formal and hard to read, but also that you avoid any sort of faux pas.  Be you. Don't be afraid to mention hobbies or interests outside of academia. There are labs/mentors out there who really want someone who has no life outside of their research, but if that isn't you, don't pretend it is. Don't be formal, don't be informal. Be appropriately collegial.  Be the best version of you. My recommendation is to talk to those who know you best. Ask about how you present yourself. Ask for honest feedback about things you typically do and say that may not bother them, but that they can probably see as red flags. My friends and mentor both heard from me, "Be completely honest. Is there anything you see me do or say that you want to say, 'Oh no don't do that in an interview!', even if you really think I know better than to do that." The answer will hopefully be something small, like "you wring your hands when you're nervous" or "sometimes you talk too quickly", but even if it's big business, you'd rather know sooner than later.  Scores open doors, but your CV is the key. I think everyone knows that you need to have a good GPA and GRE to get into grad school--but this is really only important in the first stage of application review. I think (hope) it will become less important there too--and have seen movement towards that as programs begin to realize that these scores (especially those from standardized tests) do not uniformly reflect potential to succeed in graduate school and have systematic biases that work against individuals who have already been marginalized in other ways (i.e. racial minorities, low SES).  Some universities say that they holistically review all applications and have no strict cut-offs. This might be nominally true, but I don’t think it changes the base advice. If one of these scores is particularly low, you're going to want to have an explanation if asked in an interview. You additionally will want at least one of your letter writers to be able to speak specifically to how it is not a true reflection of your performance and potential (more to come below). This is one place where connecting with faculty before submitting your application can also help—essentially you want to have a reason to be pulled from the initial pile of applications into the smaller pile that undergoes full review.  More important in showing your ability to be a productive, successful graduate student is proof that you are already producing and succeeding. While it is possible to gain admission to a Clinical Psychology PhD program without presentations or publications, applicant pools are becoming increasingly, almost impossibly competitive. The vast majority of fellow applicants on my [ten] interviews this season were Master’s degree students/recipients or laboratory managers/research staff in positions which allowed for independent research contribution. Choose your letter writers wisely.  Anyone can write a nice, positive letter that suggests you’re a relatively stable, capable human. Do not include more than 1 letter of this generic quality. For at least two of your letters, you want a writer who can and will go above and beyond to provide specific examples that show your potential and indicate true enthusiasm for your future career. Relatedly, do not choose writers solely based on the prestige of their position or institution, or even their eminence in the field if they cannot speak specifically about you. The admissions committee is reviewing your CV, not theirs. For example, you should choose the pre-tenure, direct supervisor for your undergraduate honors project instead of the famous emeritus professor whose class you took alongside 250 other students.  I’ve got lots of insights on this, but these are the main points. Feel free to PM me with any questions about this grueling process.

Do literature searches to identify your potential PI's and apply based on research fit, not rankings. There is no school that should be viewed as out of reach or a safety school, it mostly comes down to fit so apply with intention.

York Update: I got invited to the Open House, it takes place on February 14th. I received the invite directly from my POI. If anyone else is going, send me a message! 

Waterloo is doing their in person interviews this week.

Congrats !!

Talked with my mentor the other day about back up plans if I don't get accepted this year, and she reminded me of something: so much of this process is out of our control and out of our realm of understanding. I've been spending the last week frustrated at myself for how my first application round has been going. But the only thing I should really be doing is forgiving myself, acknowledging that I've been working hard, and channeling all of those frustrations into having a successful interview process.
I don't really believe in destiny or the idea that there's a reason for everything that happens to us. But I do believe that life will work out just fine. We're all driven enough to do well in undergrad, obtain relevant experiences, apply for one of the hardest grad school programs out there, and be so actively invested in the process that we post on this forum. That drive will get us somewhere. Will it be grad school for psych or something completely different? Will it be this year or in five years? I don't know, but I'm sure it'll all work out. We'll be fine.

Hi all,
I'm a current phd student in the York Adult clinical stream. If anyone has questions about the program, please feel free to message me!

This so great to hear. Thank you for sharing !

York: do POI's send their invites independently?

Ryerson and York short-lists sent out today.