Modulus

I'm so with you on this (although the security issues are beyond the pale and should be handled). So many schools with large endowments or great federal/state funding have awful websites.

CUDCP guidelines suggest using this term for an individual who would in a typical year get an offer before April 15th. Not a guarantee for sure, but good news!

I feel like I have a good idea of what is important to me in a program in addition to the basics like funding information, but I'd like to start a thread to crowd source questions to ask oneself before accepting or declining offers. Input from current students regarding questions you wish you had asked or factors you should have considered are especially appreciated. A list to get us started -- Funding including amount, duration, requirements and benefits. Fees and Costs including uncovered program fees and health insurance. Advisor Fit including mentorship style, availability, and research interests. Location including cost of living, housing options, and amenities. Program Fit including clinical vs. research balance, available coursework, and program length/expectations. Outcomes including publication rate, conference presentations, internship match, post doc, and jobs. Those are some big obvious ones to me, but please add yours!

If your goals are clinical practice, 2 seems like a great option to me. As for location, it is very rare to stay in the same location for grad school and career. You can go to location 1 for internship or work after having a great learning and training environment at 2.

I am waiting on other potential offers and to finish out my interview schedule.

Also in the attending-but-haven't-formally-accepted-any-offers boat. I'm winding down things at my current position and making sure things are documented so they don't fall apart when I leave my lab manager post. Somehow I didn't get the relax memo though and I'm working on a manuscript haha. (I don't want a big gap on my CV and I enjoy the work--hence applying for PhD).

If there is any chance you could see yourself attending the other school, you should go to the interview.

I'm in this boat (or nearing it) for 7 of my interviews. It doesn't seem like others have heard either.

I had this decision in a previous cycle. I chose paid research position and I would choose it again 1000x over. PM for more info.

While in my field it is not typical to give any sort of presentation at interviews, and I think it would have been nice for the POI to be a bit more explicit that you would be presenting in front of other applications, it is very typical to bring out 3 candidates for a single spot. I have seen as many as EIGHT for one spot.

I was cold called for my offer but I had heard that if I was going to get an offer then I would receive a call around that date/time. My POI actually called three times in a row--my ringer wasn't on and I guess he didn't want to leave a message! Glad I caught it the last time!

Unfortunately sometimes it can take lot of persistence. It took me nearly 6 months of applications to land my lab manager job, but it was so worth it. Consider looking for other jobs that you can use to pay the bills post grad while you keep looking.

I think this is a good sign! Honestly interviews often are just that, personality checks. So much of this process is a black box and there are so many bureaucratic reasons that one may or may not receive an offer, but it sounds to me like you should feel good about your chances.

I would look into a paid position in a research lab! I was able to switch back to academia after 4 years out by doing this. Lab coordinator/manager positions are often set up purposefully to be post-bacc/pre-PhD experiences.

As someone who thought for a long time that I wanted to do clinical forensic psychology, had research experience, good recs, and experience working in criminal defense, but had 3 round of applications with interviews but no offers, I'll tell you the road to a forensically-focused clinical PhD is long and rough. While I'm sure it is ultimately worth it if your goal is to do research that is specific to the forensic context, know that it is a tiny discipline within an already very competitive graduate program (clinical psychology). In my case, I realized that another subfield within clinical psychology was actually what interested me--sort of the opposite of your situation where it wasn't the legal/forensic aspect that was interesting but rather the sort of psychopathology that is often present in those contexts. I see that you are interested in maybe a more narrowly focused field (like criminology), but I also read that you're very interested in working directly with victims. Have you considered other pathways to clinical/advocacy careers? It is possible that something like an MSW would put you in a better position to reach your goals. Feel free to PM me!

It sounds like you are interested in going abroad for graduate school. If financially and personally feasible, I would look at positions in the country you intend to study in and see if they are able to sponsor a work visa. I understand that this may not be possible at this point in your life and like the other posters say, I think the fact that you're thinking about these things speaks volumes and it sounds like you are motivated to get the right sorts of experience. If you do look at positions in the US or Canada, for example, you may find a research job that better suits your interests and (while you will still be an international student) you will be closer for visits to programs for interviews when you do apply! I would also not limit yourself to a single gap year. I know it can feel like time is flying by and you're ready to get on to the next step in life, but a 2 or 3 year post-bacc position is much more likely to result in publication/presentation than a single year.

As someone whose psychology research career took a four year detour into law (as a public defense investigator), I feel like I might be able to answer your questions, but I have more first. Why do you feel you want to leave law? Why do you want to enter the mental health field? Do you have any experience doing clinical mental health work? The short answer is, depends on where you work, six figures might not be out of the question for a private practitioner who is established and in an affluent area and has a doctoral degree, but it would not be anywhere near the modal salary for a social worker (which is much more like $40k-$70k on the high side). Consider that in addition to the pay cut once re-established in your new career, you would also have 2-6 years of training (possibly needing to pay not only for living expenses but also tuition) depending upon the degree you seek. PhDs are not traditionally the path to becoming a talk therapy clinician either as they focus heavily on research. I'm happy to talk here or in PMs. In my case, I had a passion for research work and wanted to do a Clinical Psychology PhD but for a myriad of reasons also considered a career path including law school. Also, wow! That salary is better than attorney pay where I'm from (though I was in chronically underfunded public defense).

I have no info about the programs themselves but feel free to PM me any questions you have about Pittsburgh!

If we had a specific topic of conversation or they filled me in about a particular part of the program, I mention that, but if it was more generic I go with a thank you for talking about their research and the program as a whole.

I am sorry to hear you are going through a rough time, but I'm glad to see that you are reaching out for support. It can be really destabilizing and demoralizing to hear bad news (or to be left wondering). My DMs are open. Please consider calling a local hot/warm-line or (if in the USA) the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

If you have completed all interviews elsewhere and would accept the offer at the school you are inquiring about, I have been told that you can reach out, just to express continued interest and let them know your situation.

As someone eager to talk about stats and interested in programs with a quantitative bent, there was precious little about stats unless I brought it up. With the critical exception of my published work. That I was asked about. If you have pubs or presentations on your CV you'll probably want to know how to talk about that fluently but I think you can also just be honest and eager to learn. Say "I know what the results from x mean for my work, but I'm eager to gain a deeper theoretical knowledge of x."

I would encourage you to think about what you value. It sounds to me like you are interested in the degree purely for the prestige. Graduate study is a long and expensive undertaking that many who have real passion for their field don't complete. If your goals are to write, you may want to consider MFA programs. Law school also sounds like something that might be a good fit for you. But I strongly suggest you reframe how you are approaching this decision. Graduate school isn't just the next academic rung to climb.

I'm not sure if things are different in your field, but I have had conversations with recent alums for professors who do not have any current senior graduate students who could speak to their mentorship in that time of training.

If you are quite certain of your choice and attending the remaining interviews would be a personal or financial strain, then maybe you want to consider a cancellation, but I think in the vast majority of cases, if you can, you should attend your other interviews. I have been given the advice to not rank programs before visiting them as there are both good and bad surprises!