humanisticPOV

John Jay sent out about 30 interview invites this morning for a virtual interview day at the end of January. It is unlikely they will extend any other interview offers for this cycle.

Use as much of it as possible, but I would not by any means go over 500, this is a practical skill as grant applications and paper abstracts are also usually word limited.

I've never heard of either of those programs, but your interest sounds more clinical to me (especially the forensic emphasis). There used to be better distinction between the two routes: "The field of clinical psychology was meant to address serious mental illness, such as any of the disorders that might be found in the DSM. In contrast, counseling psychology sometimes was referred to a field that addressed “normal people with normal problems,” often including vocational counseling." The distinction remains somewhat true but is more fuzzy now. My understanding is that clinical programs will have a heavier emphasis on research than counseling programs, and as far as outcomes, clinical people tend to work in academia and research positions more often, and counseling people are less likely to work with severe forms of mental illness when compared to clinical. I also understand there to be a heavier emphasis on multicultural competence in counseling programs when compared to clinical (though both programs are required incorporate diversity training by the APA). As a final comment, I can think of countless clinical psychologists who are involved in forensic work, but I don't know of any counseling psychologists in that area of the top of my head (though I'm sure they exist). You can read more about the distinctions in this guide: http://mitch.web.unc.edu/files/2017/02/MitchGradSchoolAdvice.pdf (this is where the quote from above came from) and on the APA's division of counseling psychology website https://www.div17.org/

Since this site was so helpful for me while applying for programs, I wanted to reach out for advice applying to my first round of externships! What should I look for in sites and interviews? What are things other people included in their letters of interest? Is it better to do just therapy site, just assessment sites, or to find a site with a combination of both?

Ask for skype/video interviews but ultimately go to the one that you care most about

Hi everyone, I am currently attending a forensic clinical program and am just finishing up my first semester. I wanted to drop by to give words of encouragement and offer to answer any questions about interviews/applications/etc. since I now have a bit more time. I was in your shoes last year (and 2 years before that) and remember how nervous I was during the whole winter season. Please remember to take care of yourselves during this VERY stressful time! Even getting to the point of submitting these applications is a HUGE accomplishment that takes a lot of determination and grit. Remember to be proud of yourself for getting to this point! Lastly, as interview offers roll in, consider checking out this guide, specifically "Section 3. I Just Got an Interview for a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program What do I do?!" I found it to be incredibly helpful; it talks about what to expect, how to dress, and what kinds of questions to ask. http://mitch.web.unc.edu/files/2017/02/MitchGradSchoolAdvice.pdf Don't hesitate to reach out for advice/encouragement or with questions about psych programs in NYC. Warmth and light for you all this season! ❤️

Hi Nikita, Unfortunately funding in PhD psychology programs is very competitive and often insufficient for living (especially in NYC area). I think the average funding amount across the board is about $25,000 per year before taxes, but this varies based on geographic location, school, and whether or not the location is urban. Many students also teach classes as an adjunct professor, babysit on the weekends, take out loans, or receive other grants/familial support. I myself am not aware of any PsyD programs that are funded (not to say they don't exist). As I understand it, PhD's are funded from the money/publications/accolades you bring into a department because of your research. Since PsyDs are more clinical focused and few have research requirements, they are unlikely to offer much funding. My recommendation to you would be to 1) apply to outside grants/fellowships that may support you for a few years; and 2) (if feasible) apply to schools in areas with lower costs of living, so even if you are funded in a PhD, the money will go further. Many schools/foundations are happy to fund international students and may offer special packages for them, so make sure to cover all bases on extra-departmental funding opportunities.

CLINICAL APPLICANTS: For those applying in the current cycle, make sure you have read this guide! I found the advice invaluable for preparing my applications and going on interviews. It gives great advice on how to choose schools, writing your statements, interviewing tips, and ultimately, making a decision. http://mitch.web.unc.edu/files/2017/02/MitchGradSchoolAdvice.pdf

Refugee mental health is a very niche interest, so I would recommend looking at schools that are located in areas with high immigration rates and diverse populations (New York City, Houston, Miami, San Francisco). Also, since refugee status is often a legal issue, programs with a forensic/legal psychology track or emphasis might be a good fit for you. I know John Jay has some professors with this kind of interest that could be a good match (Initials: CR, KN, MA, VJ https://www.gc.cuny.edu/Page-Elements/Academics-Research-Centers-Initiatives/Doctoral-Programs/Psychology/Training-Areas/Clinical-Psychology-@-John-Jay-College/Clinical-Psychology-@-John-Jay-College-Faculty). Other programs worth looking at would be University of Miami, Sam Houston State University, Texas Tech. You could also track down professors from research papers you are really interested in or have used for classes/projects in the past. Find out where that professor is located, and if they are accepting students for the upcoming year. Your standardized test scores appear pretty average in terms of competitiveness for Clinical Psych (THE most competitive graduate program) but your research experience looks excellent and above average! Most applications are considered on a broad basis, one area can certainly make up for another. But keep in mind that many programs receive 200-600 applications a year and only accept 2-5 students each, GRE scores are *sometimes* used as a filtering mechanism to weed out under-qualified applicants before reviewing other materials. It is not uncommon to have 2nd or 3rd rounds of PhD applications. Anything you can do to boost your application is well worth it!

For John Jay there is no specified limit but I wouldn't recommend anything longer than 2 pages single spaced. Last year we also had a separate 250 word prompt on experience with diversity in education. Also, just in case you don't know, you can only apply to one Graduate Center PhD program (either John Jay or Hunter, not both). Those two programs are VERY different in terms of classes, practicum experience, and research focus. Match yourself with a program that is in line with your interests/previous experience. Good luck!

My advice would be to wait a year and bulk up your experience for an application. Try to get higher scores on the GRE, you are most competitive with about 160 each on verbal and quant, and minimum 4.5 on AW. Try to publish a paper or do another kind of conference presentation that is not a poster (i.e. paper presentation, teaching workshop, etc.). Most importantly, narrow your research interests. Match with a PI/school is the most important thing at the PhD level. In my experience, it is unlikely that you are a good match for 18 programs if you have sufficiently narrowed your interests. I had a hard time even finding 10 that I matched with well. Taking a year to work on your application can give you an advantage in the long run and will give you more time to articulate exactly what it is you want to study.

What is your area of interest? Some area applications tend to be longer/more intensive than others I applied to 10 schools and probably spent 100 hours overall. Keep in mind that you should personalize your statement of purpose to each school and show how you align with their teaching model and faculty (it's okay to have a backbone for it, but you certainly should not be submitting the exact same one for all 20). Some applications require short/long answer questions while others just want a resume and SOP. I think 5-10 hours per app is a good estimate for most fields.

You seem like a very strong applicant. The most important aspect of clinical applications is matching with a PI and demonstrating well-articulated interests. I was accepted with 0 publications, though I do have substantial experience presenting workshops at various conferences in my field. Applications are considered a whole package, so being stronger in one area certainly makes up for lacking in another area.

Someone in my current cohort got in after their 2nd interview the next year. I don't think it will hurt! It is also okay to say that your interests have changed... It is natural for interests to evolve and to have more than one interest.

For most funded PhD programs, you are automatically considered for internal fellowships/funding and they do not require a separate application to be considered. For government-sponsored fellowships, they all close before the end of the government fiscal year (September) so you would have to wait until next year to apply for those. Other options would be to look through APA funding search engines, and other professional organization sponsorship. Best wishes!