speechtopsych

I think this could be a really cool option if two things are present- #1 a mentor who is well suited to your future research interests, and #2 a focus on research. Programs will MUCH more heavily consider your research experience over any clinical experience in the application process. A full Masters thesis won't be necessary as long as you get some good research experience and build demonstrable skills towards your future PIs areas of interest. I would say obtaining a Masters that is mostly clinically focused would not be as helpful as working in a research lab as an RA for a year or two though. 

I believe it is very possible especially for Universities with a large faculty or research centers whose work are similar to your interest. I had about 4 in one University. What I did was to rank them and select no more than 3. It's incredibly expensive applying to graduate schools and I understand people trying to max out the opportunity. I deliberately chose to apply to schools where I had more than 1 POI to keep my costs down as much as possible. Just my 2 cents.

As others have said, it's entirely possible to not have much experience in the field and clearly draw a line between your prior experiences and where you want to go. I think the main issue with you is clarifying your research interest. Even the most competitive applicant will not be accepted if they cannot articulate that which they wish to study and why XYZ program/faculty person is the best choice for studying said interest. I understand wanting to apply to places you want to live, but I highly doubt that it's possible to apply to all of the places you've listed if you actually have a clear idea of what you hope to study in graduate school. Applying to graduate school is a bit about the program, but especially in clinical psychology, it's about the faculty member to which you are applying. 
I had a friend who also applied to programs based on location, and he was an exceptional applicant, but he played the game of applying to multiple people in several programs without articulating any clear sense of what he wanted to study, and he is now at an unfunded PsyD program. I think that's another good piece of advice; if your research interests are specific enough, it's unlikely you'll be able to apply to more than one faculty member in a given program. It's possible two faculty may conduct research adjacent to your own interests, but it's almost impossible that there are three. I think faculty also dislike it when it's obvious that an applicant only applied to multiple faculty to increase their chances of getting into a program. You don't want to be that person.
Also, if you haven't read this already, I'd recommend the Insider's Guide to Graduate Programs in Clinical and Counseling Psychology. 

I didn’t mention any of this in my SOP. We were mostly just tossing ideas around. It’s not my motivation to pursue this career, anyway. The dismal state of mental health in the modern world is...  and, you know, I just wanna know how brains work idk 

Thanks! Yeah, I wish I had a more specific population, but it's really hard to determine that much specificity without having more experience in the field. I think I'll probably try and move to a lab that studies one of the things I'm interested in.
Secondly, I had a close friend commit suicide about a year ago. He was brilliantly smart, but incredibly depressed, and hid it. He was nicest guy ever, only brought joy to everyone around him. Also, it runs in my family. Grandfather attempted suicide before I was born and is now super cognitively impaired. My parents have struggled with their mental health, and now it seems like my little brother is, too. But HOW am I supposed to deliver this sob story in my personal statement? I tried at one point, but it got too "poor me." Also, it feels a little cliche' to be like, my dead friend inspired me to try and solve the depression problem! You know? Maybe it's just me.

I'm non-clinical, but still a Psych major, and I would say yes, narrow this down if you find you have to resubmit next year.  Is there a particular mood/anxiety disorder you want to study?  A specific population, ie minority children? the elderly? college students? And then narrow down to the labs/clinical programs that emphasize those disorders and populations.
Also, you could explain what you mean by, "impacted not only my own life...." - if it makes for a compelling addition to your personal story. However, we are warned a million times to not say things like, "I want to study depression because I'm a manic myself".  Whatever your personal impact has been, find a way to spin it so it doesn't come across as a potential red flag.  

I saw someone post a few days ago that the Coordinator at CU Boulder said that all interview invites have been extended. I was bummed, one of my favorite programs (although let's be real, they're all my fav)

I applied to work with AD, and haven't heard anything yet 

Definitely don't count yourself out yet- UT Austin doesn't send out invites until Feb 1 according to CUDCP and University of Denver is 1/20. I didn't see the others listed, so unsure of their dates... but I would just keep checking results or reach out to the program and ask for a timeline. It's a super competitive process and there are so many wild cards. It's easy to get discouraged, but you still have a ways to go before you should assume the worst. Which, speaking from experience, isn't actually the worst. Let's say you don't get in anywhere, after the season is over, reach out to your top programs and ask for feedback on your application. Some won't respond, some will. Then go with that. I do think working in a relevant lab is key, especially if you can get into one affiliated with a program you're interested in, or that is highly regarded in your target field. You will meet people, make a name for yourself, and for connections. So many people have to go through several cycles- it's an unfortunate truth. BUT! Really don't count yourself out just yet!!! Best of luck! 

I'm lazy and don't feel like reading through this whole thread, so I apologize if this is a repeat post (I know it's been posted elsewhere)... but I think this timeline may be helpful to some of you!! It comes from the DCTs of the schools. 
https://teamup.com/ks952632ef38687f3e

I agree that it’s still early in the cycle.
If things don’t work out this year, I would focus on making sure you apply to labs that are a good fit for your interests and past experience. You don’t necessarily need experience in your POIs’ area, it does make you a more convincing applicant if you can demonstrate why you chose that particular lab. Did you try tying your current/past research into your future interests? For example, you could propose research on speech/language deficit in dementia, or language in depression (just examples, I don’t know these fields). 

I think it's important to show a clear path from what you've done to where you want to go. Agreed with above that that doesn't  mean your research has to be what you want to do---but you have to show why you want to do what you do, what lead you there, what experience you have that sets you apart. Also make sure you have a good research match with the schools you apply to and the POI you want to work with. 

I didn't apply to clinical programs so take my advice with a grain of salt.. but honestly I still think that you have a pretty good chance and I wouldn't freak yourself out just yet. There is also a possibility you may have gotten waitlisted at some programs. I wouldn't start freaking out until February tbh. Also, as far as I know, it's not a requirement to have a psychology degree to be accepted into a psychology doctoral program. 

So, not to freak you out, but you applied to very competitive schools. Even though you have great stats and good experience, the number of applicants all of these Universities receive significantly reduces your chances statistically. 
Most of the feedback I've been given is that while your research experience doesn't necessarily need to line up with your desired directions, it's important to clearly link the skills you've gathered so far with what you hope to do in grad school. Of course it would help to get psych experience, but the amount of time it would take to find another RA job and situate yourself in the new lab so you were in a position to publish might not be worth it. It still sounds like a valuable lab to be in. 
I would probably try to find some less competitive schools to apply to next round, if you end up having to apply again. Also, try to nail down your research interests. anxiety and depression, or aging and dementia, are both super broad. Not sure if you stated them broadly for the purpose of this post, but it's important to find a niche that interests you, not just a general area. 
I hope this is helpful. Also, remember we are a bunch of unqualified applicants, so this can be like the blind leading the blind. I would suggest finding a psych mentor who can help you navigate the process. 

Hi all.
What a stressful time of year!
I have high scores, a near-perfect GPA, and glowing letters of rec, several posters, and an in-progress paper, so a few months ago I thought I had a pretty good shot. After spending more time on this website, I think I might have been very mistaken. I don't have a psychology degree. My degree is in Communication Sciences & Disorders (aka speech-language pathology), and I have only worked with PIs and faculty within that world. In undergrad, I volunteered in an autism lab, run by an SLP with a large background in neuroscience. I presented my own poster at a regional conference. After graduating, I spent a few months working as a nurses' aid in a hospital, where I saw many patients with mental illness. Then, I started as a research assistant in a motor speech lab. My PI is big in the world of speech and is the director of our small school's research program. I have 3 posters (one first author, and more psych-related) and one in progress pub (a collab with people in Brazil) that I am helping write/revise. In grad school, I'd like to study anxiety and depression or aging/dementia. I'm worried I may not even get any interviews because my previous work doesn't line up with this subject matter, since the bulk of my research experience has been in people with ASD, ALS, and face transplant patients. I do have experience with TMS and neuromodulation, but we don't do neuroimaging or psych testing.
I really think what's putting me behind is either my lack of experience in the psych world or my lack of publications. So my question is, what should I spend the next year doing? Do I leave my lab (been here for a year) to find an RA job in a lab that actually researches what I'm interested in? Do I keep this job and focus on doing even more independent work, helping doc students write and publish papers, and running more participants (we're starting a project on kids with autism soon). Do I find an RA job at one of the schools I want to attend and move across the country? I absolutely don't want to live where I am now, but it's a city with a ton of research opportunities - volunteer and paid.
What are your thoughts on how I could make myself more competitive?
Secondarily... what do you guys think my chances are this cycle? I know it's useless to ask at this point, but I'd love the insight because I don't have any clinical psych people around to ask!
My stats:
GPA: 3.94 (at an arts school)
GRE: 166V, 158Q, 5.0W
Psych GRE: 770
 
 

Sad to say all interview invites have gone out for Clinical Psych at UC Boulder. I was told to contact the POI for information about waitlist if interested. 

I still haven’t got the official generic email although I have received an invite from poi so I’m guessing not all invites have been sent out. 

Anyone else want to get their rejections so they can move on with their life? ?

hi! Can the USC Southern California  poster dm me your POI intitials? Congrats!

I would also love to know the POI initials of the people with USC invites!! Also, does this mean that all USC invites have been sent out?

I would also love to know the POI initials of the people with USC invites!! Also, does this mean that all USC invites have been sent out?

School: University of Southern California
Type: Clinical Science PhD
Date of invite: 1/8
Type of invite: email from DCT.  
Interview date(s): 1/23 - 1/24
I applied to a few PIs but the email did not mention any of them. Looks like a generic email sent to all interview recipients. 

Anyone have an idea on the timeline for remaining CU Boulder interview invites?

Hey! Haven’t got any official Invite yet.. I spoke with my poi last week and he told me they faculty are meeting this week to decide who receives an invite.