Schy

I found this google doc on reddit last night with a various different questions and advice! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z6lq4AHhJTcTh3PX_YbN6W1u645Gl_a8gIaOT8bhFY0/edit

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I found this google doc on reddit last night with a various different questions and advice! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z6lq4AHhJTcTh3PX_YbN6W1u645Gl_a8gIaOT8bhFY0/edit

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

Ugh I just updated most of my schools to rejected / presumed rejected because 1) I'm being a pessimistic lil biotch, and 2) they probably are rejections at this point! 
I applied 2 years ago and got interviews at 2 top-30 programs and now I can't get any interviews and my CV is way better??? 
I guess I will just never be a psychologist and will have to start a commune somewhere in the caribbean where we subside off the land just get drunk on the beach every day. Let me know if you want to join!

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

I think academia needs more people like all of us. I sincerely hope each and every one of us reach our goals. I think those of us that stick with academia are going to have to help pick up the pieces.  

THIS! I come from an educationally and economically disadvantaged background. My father basically has an 8th grade education, and I have more extended family who have been incarcerated than have graduated from college. Just getting my Bachelor's felt like an insurmountable goal. Also, having transferred to my university from community college severely limited research opportunities because I only had two years to finish my degree. Not saying that people who have taken out loans for education do so on a whim, but I have it drilled in my head that "people like me" can't afford entry into academia.

Thank you for letting me (and others here applied) know! I'm just glad I can hold on to that little bit of hope ?. 
Yes to all of this! Although this was my first time applying, I don't know if I can financially and emotionally handle going through this process multiple times. Plus I'm an older applicant compared to most, which is also a barrier I feel. It's a shame it is so incredibly competitive and that there just isn't enough programs considering how high the need is for psychologists. 

Right? I thought I was the only one who thought that (I received this email as well). This is my first time going through the process and as I see people on their second, third, and fourth tries become more discouraged I can't help but feel saddened and slightly angry. This entire process needs to be completely scrapped and reevaluated. People with years and years of experience are rejected because there are only 3-10 spots per school? We can either be in $200k+ debt for the rest of our lives or apply once every year until hopefully we get a shot?
The world needs more psychologists, and everyone here has the knowledge, passion, and drive to be one. This process effectively discourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, promotes hyper-competitiveness, and drives away perfectly qualified (and over-qualified) candidates. I hope someone who has any influence has been watching these forums this cycle. I'm out of things to say, and these programs are out of excuses.

Hi, 
I also applied to Drexel- have not heard anything from POI. Was my top choice, but I am sure there's more than their typical 600 applications. 
My POI from Rowan had emailed me a few days ago responding to my initial email saying that applications are now under review. I am assuming nothing has been sent out yet, but would expect people receiving invitations starting next week. 
Really hoping for good news!

Simon Fraser sent out rejections today, unfortunately I was one of them. Came out as a mass email. But that’s okay! Hopefully good news comes soon

It's tough to see so many of us dealing with rejection, but I also just want to normalize that the grief is okay, too. I think after each rejection (or assumed rejection) I let myself feel the grief fully, otherwise it would just take over down the road. We are grieving a future we thought we could have, at that particular school with that particular PI. It's okay to not be okay ❤️ 

Absolutely! Anyone can DM me as well if they want to chat  (Apologies in advance for how long this is)
Since last cycle I ended up maintaining a connection with a PI I interviewed with and was waitlisted for last year (obviously didn't end up getting in) and we have been working together on a research project. I cannot stress enough that if you end up getting waitlisted at schools you interview for and nothing else works out keep those connections and make it clear you are still very interested in their work/program and plan to re-apply for their lab next cycle if they accept a student again. Then mention briefly that you would love to collaborate on research with them should any opportunities be available. If they seem receptive to that, follow up a few months later and show you are truly interesting in that connection/opportunity. 
I also ended up getting really lucky and finding work on a study that is directly related to my research interests, so that gave me a tonnnn of really thorough and focused experience. This really helped me to be more refined in my interests and showed that I had experience in it and know that is what I want to work with.
In this study I was also able to get extensive experience both with research and clinical work, as I conducted 100+ clinical interviews with participants. If you have any opportunities for research work that also allow you to integrate direct clinical work with your population, that is so helpful in showing you are a well rounded candidate for all the demands of these programs. 
Lastly it is allllll about connections. Immediately after finding out I wasn't getting in last cycle I spent months reviewing each and every program and each and every faculty member in every clinical phd program to find the best fits and build a list I could share with my colleagues in the field. I know networking it literally everyone's least favorite thing but it is SO important. I reached out to past and current colleagues/professors, colleagues of colleagues, and shared with them both my potential programs and POIs. From there I was able to form a few connections with faculty in the programs and I feel that gave me a HUGE leg up not only in having a connection but also being able to say I already spoke with someone in the program and have more info on it than just from the website and from that I am really interested in your program for xyz reasons (shows dedication and thorough interest). 
Hope this helps with trying to organize thoughts for your year in between cycles, though I hope it doesn't come to that for you  Wishing everyone luck! 

The grief is definitely starting to seep into this thread  lets all hold our heads high! We've got this *with watery eyes*

First of all 100% in the same boat with having a hard time focusing/staying motivated at work right now. This process is so grueling and going through it during all the current contexts just makes everything so much more difficult and heavy. Everyone reading this please be gentle with yourself and practice what we hope to preach. Prioritize self care right now.
 
I just want to chime in that if this is truly what you want to do, do not give up. I was in the same place this time last year during my second cycle. Truly feeling as though I could not bear this process again; emotionally, financially, all the things. A year later and I feel SO grateful that things didn't work out the way I had hoped/expected last cycle. On my third cycle now I feel so much better prepared (mentally, skills-wise, more focused on my goals for grad programs and beyond) and this year I have SO many more options on the table (4x as many invites for fully funded programs) including my top choice program I've been trying to get into for years. 
 
I know it is so hard in this moment, and backup plans just don't feel like they can stack up yet start to feel like the only option, but if you truly want to pursue this field in this way do not lose hope. If you have to reapply next year inquire about application fee waivers and other financial resources, this really helped me this year. It is easy to feel like life is flying by and that taking another year will be a "waste of a year" but that extra year can be so formative if you make it and can lead to even better opportunities the next cycle. 

Seeing invites go out for Denver PhD is rough. It was my top choice program, and I thought I demonstrated a perfect fit with the lab. I really did do my absolute best - sometimes it sucks when your best isn't good enough. Just feeling a little discouraged right now. Hope everyone else is able to have a good Thursday! 

I don't know if this will help but the best advice I have ever gotten regarding this is not stressing over "if" you will get in. Because it isn't a matter of "if", it is a matter of "when". I know thats its not always feasible to apply multiple times but if you truly love this work and can only see yourself doing this work, you will eventually get there! Keep your head up and continue to utilize this support network we are creating of likeminded individuals here on the forum. Continue to gain experience and know that when you do get in, it will have all been worth it

Hi all, just wanted to throw out some advice that my neuropsychologist coworkers gave me. My one coworker is a very well renown neuropsychologist and she said that at least half the RA's in her lab don't get admitted to clinic psych programs the first round (after working with her for a few years and having pubs). Another neuropsych I work with said that she had to apply twice herself and then she got into Fordham her second round. Depending on your CV, you should be applying to 15+ schools  to hedge your bets. She sometimes even recommends 20 or more depending on qualifications. She told me to apply to about 13 and I have a undergrad in neuroscience/psychology with a GPA of 3.7, I have a master's in neuroscience and psychology (joint), I have four publications, two conference presentations and now five years of clinical and academic experience (me actually performing neuropsych evaluations daily). I applied to 11 schools and have gotten two invites. They continually tell me that not getting an invite or getting in, has less to do with me as an applicant, but likely many other scenarios that are unknown. Please don't give up and believe in yourselves! If you don't get in this round, find ways to bulk up your CV and show that you are taking steps to improve areas for the next round. So many people have to apply multiple times. You all are wonderful and kind and keep in mind that we are applying in a pandemic as well! Sending lots of love to everyone during this insanely stressful time!