fixology

This is a great opportunity to ask more questions about the atmosphere of the program, collaborations between professors, (if the rapport is good) ask how they feel students are doing under the PI you are interviewing with, life in the city, classes they teach, ask about their research interests. Ask about strengths/ weaknesses of the program. If they supervise practicum students, you could discuss clinical work, etc. 

Honestly, divulging this in an SOP can be a kiss of death. I have heard many faculty (in various schools) state that they would not take students who were interested in such topics for personal reasons. The idea is that it can impact your objective stance. If you haven't already, read "Mitch's Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology." If you Google it, it comes up right away. 

I would stay away from your familial and friend connection to suicide. Those self disclosures show a lack of boundaries that is a red flag to many adcoms. It’s one of the kisses of death to a sop. 

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. 

Usually you either have an open bar or get like one or two drink coupons. 
DO NOT GET DRUNK

It’s not a problem to have a drink (many of these events will have free drinks). But like everyone else said, do not get drunk!! I know it seems obvious, but you would be surprised... 
It’s also important to be professional and respectful even if the faculty aren’t there. I’ve encountered some applicants that relax a bit too much and don’t realize that the grad students are evaluating them too. But you can still have fun and show your personality a bit. 

It is appropriate but better to just not. I didn’t drink at any of the social events last year. 

Me thinking about the schools I applied to

What are good questions to ask faculty who are interviewing you but are not the mentor you applied to work with? 

School: UNC Greensboro
Type: Clinical PhD
Date of invite: 1/13/2020
Type of invite: Email from POI
Interview date(s): 2/7 and 2/10
Feel free to DM me for more info!

School: UNC Greensboro
Type: Clinical PhD
Date of invite: 1/13/2020
Type of invite: Email from POI
Interview date(s): 2/7 and 2/10
Feel free to DM me for more info!

1) If you’re taking a flight at the airport, I’d recommend calling the airline and requesting wheelchair escort service – having to walk through long corridors in crutches is going to be a rough time.
2) If you haven’t already, let your interview coordinator/contact person know that you’ll be in crutches so they can arrange accommodations for you. My guess is that you’ll be able to sit down during the social events, and current students will be the ones coming to you to chat.
Also, no need to stress about attending in crutches – if anything, I believe this can work in your favor by showing the interviewers and graduate committee that you were willing to attend and participate to the best of your ability despite healing from an injury or surgery. So, I really think this is will make you stand out *in a positive way* ?

Just spoke with the UPittsburgh psychology grad rep and she said that invitations and rejections will go out next week for the clinical program! Goodluck all!!

I don't think they'd come across as unprofessional, especially if most of your ear piercings have simple studs or bars in. Based on the things I've seen, as long as you stick to minimal jewelry, or only one larger/flashier earring per ear you should be fine. If you have longer hair and wear it down, the people you meet may not see or notice them all anyway. I have several ear piercings as well and am planning to leave them all in! 

As a clinical applicant listening to you talk about getting reimbursed for flights....

It’s typically more advantageous to take the offer to room with a current student, if you think you’ll still be in a social mood after all the interview day events. You’ll have the advantage of getting to ask more specific questions about graduate school life in the program, and an extra opportunity to “butter up” a current student who’s mentored under your prospective advisor (advisors typically ask current students about their opinion of the applicants).
If you really don’t think you’ll be able to keep up a social/friendly attitude after a long day of interview events, though, it’d probably be best to opt for the hotel.

This is a really stressful time. Be kind to yourself and do something nice for yourself just because. This is my third application cycle, and I can say that I have watched so many amazing, qualified, wonderful candidates get rejected, and some candidates with a seriously unique/ atypical background get accepted. It is such a gamble that is often sprinkled with some combo of knowing the "right people", luck, hard work, being the right applicant at the right time, funding, and a million other variables that we aren't even aware of. You were probably confident because you are qualified. But being qualified doesn't always equal getting the spot. It is not about you and your self-worth, even though it is easy AF to feel that way. Look how many people are on here freaking out. And that's just the people who are on here and posting. Think about the thousands of applicants who are in your shoes. This does NOT define you. YOU define YOU. Keep your head up, keep busy, and keep going. Rejection is NOT the worst thing in the world, and sometimes, in a crazy way, it helps put you on the right path. 

Congrats on the bartending gig

I'm just going to leave this here 

I’m thinking of pulling a “George” & just showing up on interview day at my #1 school & acting like I was invited. 

I just got my plane tickets!
To Greece... where I'll be bartending until the next application cycle.

American says invites for clinical are going out “in the next week or two”

For anyone wondering, BU says invites are going out "in the next few weeks".

The money thing is honestly killing me. Very much woohoo for interviews, but money is an issue and flying is too expensive. I've worked out that I'm driving between 3.5 and 6 hours to three of mine, doing a video interview for one, and taking a train to and bus back from the one that's the farthest away.
On top, almost every interview is meaning I'm missing one or more classes this semester &/or work. I'm in a MFT master program and I really don't want to stay into the summer to finish up clinical hours (or thesis). Only one person in the cohort before mine didn't stay through the summer to finish clinical hours, and only I and one other person in my cohort is on track to be graduated by May (instead of August)- so that's a very "in the front of my mind" stress.
THEN I'm also a parent and all of these interviews are on school days and most are going to be overnight trips. Working out the kids being taken care of and getting to/home from school has been stressful.
*I is stressed* is basically my life this semester! *Deep Breath* Just been trying to remember to "trust the process" and trust it will all work itself out.

If anyone is wondering about Vanderbilt, I just spoke to the program coordinator there and they said that the first round of interview invites (Clinical PhD) have already been extended. No official rejections yet, but that sounds pretty definite.