psychasf

UCLA ?

PSA: As acceptances start to roll in, this is just a friendly reminder to everyone from someone with lots of contract experience, NEVER ACCEPT A POSITION UNTIL YOU HAVE YOUR FUNDING PACKAGE IN WRITING (unless, of course, you are not expecting funding). Even if it is your top choice and you've been dying to go for the last 20 years... I cannot stress enough; get that s**t in writing.  

I'm going to chime in with my 2c. I wouldn't call CTL a clinical experience (and frankly, some of these crisis line experiences are more harmful than helpful - don't get me started on 7 Cups. Thankfully CTL has pretty robust training). A lot of that is just supportive listening, in the vein of a peer support. And you're largely talking from a script anyways.
With a bachelor's, you can work as an MHT/BHT, and THAT I would count as clinical experience since you're managing a psychiatric milieu and/or co-running groups. Other things I would consider clinical experience: ABA, internships where you have supervised patient interaction, mental health camps for youth with developmental disabilities. Things that I would not consider clinical experience: "volunteering" at a shelter, shadowing, anything with NAMI

From my experience and from speaking with mentors, you’ll statistically get more interviews and into much better programs when you take time off between undergrad and grad and work on research. I’ve had people tell me they don’t even consider people who haven’t taken time off. Not to say that it couldn’t happen, I know one person who had a near perfect GRE and got in right from undergrad but I would strongly advise to take time in between. You’ll mature as a person, a researcher, a clinican, etc. Additionally, I would describe “clinical” experience as working face to face with patients and/or people with psychopathology. The rest is more volunteer experience and lets the committee know you’re socially conscious, but this isn’t clinical experience in particular. I volunteer with crisis text line and have done service trips, and I would not say that’s clinical experience. 
If you don’t envision research in your future, I would shy away from PhD programs and consider instead PsyD, SW, or MHC degrees. Those all will allow you to be a clinican. 

From my experience and from speaking with mentors, you’ll statistically get more interviews and into much better programs when you take time off between undergrad and grad and work on research. I’ve had people tell me they don’t even consider people who haven’t taken time off. Not to say that it couldn’t happen, I know one person who had a near perfect GRE and got in right from undergrad but I would strongly advise to take time in between. You’ll mature as a person, a researcher, a clinican, etc. Additionally, I would describe “clinical” experience as working face to face with patients and/or people with psychopathology. The rest is more volunteer experience and lets the committee know you’re socially conscious, but this isn’t clinical experience in particular. I volunteer with crisis text line and have done service trips, and I would not say that’s clinical experience. 
If you don’t envision research in your future, I would shy away from PhD programs and consider instead PsyD, SW, or MHC degrees. Those all will allow you to be a clinican. 

Hi all!  I've spent the last two years traveling monthly for work, and spent the first year forgetting at least one essential item.  I created a super generic packing list.  Most of these items are pretty obvious, but I know especially in high anxiety situations, I'm more likely to overlook things.  Anyway, thought I would share the list I've been using for interviews in case someone else would find it useful!

Electronics: 
- Laptop
- Laptop Charger
- Headphones 
- Cell phone charger

Clothing: 
- Suit 
- Blouse
- Back up interview outfit
- X outfits for X days away
- Pajamas (Especially if you're staying with grad students or sharing a room!) 
- Undergarments 
- Socks 
- Professional shoes 

Basics: 
- Toothbrush 
- Toothpaste 
- Floss 
- Deodorant 
- Makeup bag 

Travel Size Versions of:
- Shampoo
- Facewash 
- Moisturizer
- Lotion

In my purse: 
- Wallet
- Passport 
- Driver's License
- Emergency Cash
- Travel Binder including Plane/Train Ticket Printed, Hotel information, Itinerary
- Padfolio with Resume/CV, recent abstracts of POIs work (as well as notepad for list of questions to ask at interview, write notes about program, etc.)
- Lint roller 
- Tide Pen 
- Nail File/Polish 
- Granola Bar 
The last step is remembering to grab my suitcase on the way to the airport!

I ordered some clothes. Hope they get here. 

Thank you fo the feedback, good luck!!! 

I wouldn't count yourself out just yet. I applied to a program and noticed that people were posting interview invites on here. Then a week later I noticed people started posting rejection notifications. I hadn't received either so I called up the department and they told me I'm in an in-between list that they'll reach out to in case someone can't attend the interview weekend. AKA I'm on the waitlist, but they never notified me. Best of luck to you! 

Tell any choice they're your top choice at any opportunity possible. PCE

I had 2 interviews last weekend on the east coast (so it was cold), and many women were wearing dark/black jeans with boots or flats and a sweater or nice shirt, and men generally had on dark jeans as well with a button-up top and nice shoes. It's not very formal! 

Hi! I've had a couple interviews and wanted to share some details that may be helpful to some. As far as dress goes, these were clinical psych phd interviews, and every single person in attendance was in a pantsuit. For women, most wore flats and a wide assortment of blouses.
One interview experience was full of more structured interview questions including:
1. Why should we pick you personally over other qualified candidates
2. What are your greatest strengths and room for improvement
3. Describe a time you had conflict at work and what you did, if anything, to resolve it
4. Describe what role you play in a team
as well as the usual questions to describe my research experiences, what I am interested in, and how I became interested in the field.
 
For the next interview day, nearly every single interview was almost entirely just a back-and-forth dialogue in which I asked most of the questions. 
Some of the few actual interview questions included:
1. What are my research experiences, and in what way do I think these tie into my mentor's research
2. What accomplishment am I most proud of
3. What do I do to cope when I am in over my head
4. What do I think would be the biggest challenge for me in graduate school
5. What would my dream project be if I did not have to worry about funding, resources, etc.
6. Why did I apply to this specific program
7. What experiences do I have with scientific writing (I do not have any publications, so they wanted to know about other experiences such as class papers)
 
 

Yes! Opps I am so sorry I meant Jan 15th

My current job is looking for a full-time Office Manager based out of our NYC location... Great clinical and research experience and I've learned a lot. DM me if you're interested in a job description! 

Just so you know some people don't even know the forum exists! I was exclusively looking at the results page until my friend who is also applying was only looking at the forum and we talked about where we were getting info! I had no idea these posts were even a thing. So they may just not know  

Did anyone else get an email from a Houston PI yesterday saying that they will be making the decisions today?

I've received interviews for the following Clinical programs:
UNebraska Lincoln
UNC-CH
Montclair State
UT-RGV
And prelim interview with UHouston