Clinicalh0peful

Hello! I did this last year, but instead of emailing the professor specifically I emailed the graduate secretaries, asking them if they could point me in the right direction of who would be best to ask. I feel like some POIs might answer, but some might consider it annoying, so I'd rather not get a response from the secretary than annoy the professor I want to work with. Additionally, in some departments it may be the graduate coordinator of the program who is most likely to answer those questions, depending on how they go about their decisions. I was very unassuming in my emails, said (more eloquently) hey, my application was unsuccessful this year, I am very interested in the program and plan on reapplying, if it were possible to get feedback from someone in the department I would very much appreciate it; of course I know you receive many applications so if this is not a possibility I completely understand blah blah blah. I got feedback from two places with this method; it was general, but it helped a bit.

Hey! So I applied last year and was rejected also, graduated in 2018, and then re-applied this year. From my experience and from talking to others, it seems as though the overwhelming majority of individuals have to apply at least twice, if not more. And reiterating what someone already said, it seemed as though at least half (if not more) of the individuals in interviews were working on Master's degrees, which was quite a surprise to me. That said, it clearly isn't necessary - people take time off to work or volunteer in labs, etc. I know at my home school the average age of the first year cohort this year was like, 27. So don't despair! As the end of the day, you're going to be 31/32/33 one way or another - might as well be that age with a PhD. At least, that's how I chose to look at it!

You are so GOOD at phrasing things! That is exactly what I am going to say ? I obviously wasn't going to phrase it like that but I didn't know how to word it without coming across as presumptuous. THANK YOU!

@Mickey26 and @gillis_55 thanks so much for your advice. With regards to PhD funding, of course in clinical psychology it is expected that all students move onto the PhD and it's discussed like that at interview day (program B told us what we would receive in MA 1-2 and PhD 1-4)... but it doesn't appear to be discussed like that in the funding packages - so program B only mentions MA funding in their offer. But they tell students if they don't plan on continuing to the PhD here, don't bother apply. But then you can't talk about what PhD funding looks like between the two programs, because they haven't technically offered you admission to the PhD, only the MA... So what gives?! LOL. I think one of my biggest dilemmas is that one program only guarantees PhD funding for 3 years, whereas the other guarantees it for 4, and that makes up a good deal of the discrepancy. As for the email, I started off with a very polite "hi so I was encouraged to contact you if I received an offer in which there is a financial discrepancy and I'm wondering how best to proceed" and offered to send them my official offer from program B or any other information they need to get the ball rolling. Do you think it's appropriate to ask if grad students typically negotiate PhD funding at this stage (acknowledging that it's contingent on my acceptance to the program), given that [insert concerns here]? Or for the PhD do I basically just have to take what is offered, since 2 years from now I wouldn't have any bargaining power in terms of other schools?

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!

To add on to Neurophilic, in my final year I took 2 courses first semester and 3 courses second semester. I had taken courses in the summer, so I still graduated in 4 years, but received acceptance to two programs this year. I was never questioned about it in interviews. Given that LOTS of first-year Master's students are 25, 26, 27, etc... I don't see why they would care how quickly you got your undergraduate degree done! If you do 4 courses a semester and it takes you an extra year and you get better grades and retain more information, I'd say that's the way to go. My understanding is that most people apply more than once anyway, so usually even if people aren't taking 5 years to complete their degree, they're taking a year off in between anyway (as I did). Hope that is helpful!

Hey all, Anyone who received an acceptance & is thinking about/planning on attending Guelph's CCAP program in the Fall who feels like chatting with someone in their soon-to-be cohort, feel free to shoot me a PM! I am so freaking excited and cannot wait to meet everyone!

Does this include child clinical? I haven’t heard about anybody getting an interview from them yet, it appears that they do them separately. Unless I am wrong?

Hi all, new here. I have two questions: - I did a Skype interview with Waterloo about a week ago. My POI said it was more of a screener interview, to see if my research interests lined up with his and that my career goals lined up with the school prior to be interviewed in person. I thought it went so, so well; I pitched a few ideas that he seemed to really like, and I thought I made it clear that my interests mapped on perfectly to his; he said that he was really impressed by my application. I've read here that some other people have been invited to the in-person interview, but that profs seem to be on their own timelines. At the end of the interview he said he'd be in contact by the end of the week, and I am pretty sure I remember him saying he would inform us either way. If he doesn't get back to me by, say, Thursday, is it appropriate to send an extremely polite follow up email? If so, how do I word it to avoid coming across as annoying? - I got invited to Western's interview day yesterday - woo! I have never attended a full interview day though, and it's 9-6. Has anyone attended something of this nature and could give myself (and any others) some insight as to what to expect? I know I will be meeting with my POI as well as one other clinical faculty member, then the graduate students and the faculty. There's also a reception for the last two hours. But what else goes on? That doesn't seem to be enough to fit a 9-hour day. Thanks all! And best of luck to everyone!