SocDevMum

My two cents from applying to clinical psychology programs FOUR times and having a wholly different experience this time around:
Selecting Programs Apply to the maximum number of programs for which: You can make a compelling argument for research fit with a faculty member (see below for further fit discussion). You can honestly imagine yourself attending. Do not overthink this one, but don't under-think it either. If you find yourself considering something as a "safety", but when you imagine yourself only getting that offer, you feel like you would consider reapplying, you might want to drop that one from your list. Your individual budget/finances allow. If possible, do not geographically limit yourself. Apply to fully-funded, accredited (APA and/or PCSAS) programs. If you stray from this advice, your mileage may vary and the rest may not apply. Attempt not to "pre-rank" the programs in your mind, either by your own assessment of who/what/where you think you'll like, or by relying on some external ranking system. PhD programs are not "ranked" like undergraduate programs.  Beyond funding, consider the research productivity (quantity and quality) of the particular lab you are entering and the post-docs/tenure-track positions achieved by recent grads. Review program and faculty websites to ensure your intended mentors are considering taking students this round. Unless the faculty member’s web page specifically says they do not want applicants to reach out, send a brief, polite e-mail expressing your interest in applying (and/or inquiring as to whether they are reviewing applications for their lab).  If you find yourself at a conference or talk with faculty members to whom you are applying, you may make a polite, quick introduction there instead (or additionally). You want your name to ring a bell when they read applications. Applications and Interviews Fit is everything.  Research fit. Do your research on your research interest. As others have said above, there is a huge difference between a candidate who can talk about how they want to work with "kids with anxiety" or "study drug use", and a candidate who is familiar with the specific literature in their area of interest (especially that of the faculty member to whom they are applying to work with). It is even better if you can prove your ability to conduct research in this specific area. (More on that in a later section.)  Re-iterating from above, but don't apply to programs you (or others) perceive to be "high-rank" or "prestigious". Apply to work with individual mentors who happen to be employed by specific institutions. Consider the fit of "your list". This is something that I personally really struggled with in my previous application cycles. While it made sense to me why I was applying to so many "different" programs/mentors (I was originally interested in the forensic area, which is admittedly not as well defined as others), I know that it made it harder to tell a clear story about what I saw next in my life. Don't present yourself at a fork in the road--know which path you're traveling down. If an interviewer (or application) asks you to list other programs you are applying to, you want them to say "Oh yeah, that makes sense, my colleague so-and-so is there." Personality and attitude. You will be spending more (waking) time with the folks in your lab than probably anyone else in your life for the next 4-6 years, so both your potential mentors and lab mates are considering this. They want a sure thing. This means walking a fine line so that you're not too stiff and formal and hard to read, but also that you avoid any sort of faux pas.  Be you. Don't be afraid to mention hobbies or interests outside of academia. There are labs/mentors out there who really want someone who has no life outside of their research, but if that isn't you, don't pretend it is. Don't be formal, don't be informal. Be appropriately collegial.  Be the best version of you. My recommendation is to talk to those who know you best. Ask about how you present yourself. Ask for honest feedback about things you typically do and say that may not bother them, but that they can probably see as red flags. My friends and mentor both heard from me, "Be completely honest. Is there anything you see me do or say that you want to say, 'Oh no don't do that in an interview!', even if you really think I know better than to do that." The answer will hopefully be something small, like "you wring your hands when you're nervous" or "sometimes you talk too quickly", but even if it's big business, you'd rather know sooner than later.  Scores open doors, but your CV is the key. I think everyone knows that you need to have a good GPA and GRE to get into grad school--but this is really only important in the first stage of application review. I think (hope) it will become less important there too--and have seen movement towards that as programs begin to realize that these scores (especially those from standardized tests) do not uniformly reflect potential to succeed in graduate school and have systematic biases that work against individuals who have already been marginalized in other ways (i.e. racial minorities, low SES).  Some universities say that they holistically review all applications and have no strict cut-offs. This might be nominally true, but I don’t think it changes the base advice. If one of these scores is particularly low, you're going to want to have an explanation if asked in an interview. You additionally will want at least one of your letter writers to be able to speak specifically to how it is not a true reflection of your performance and potential (more to come below). This is one place where connecting with faculty before submitting your application can also help—essentially you want to have a reason to be pulled from the initial pile of applications into the smaller pile that undergoes full review.  More important in showing your ability to be a productive, successful graduate student is proof that you are already producing and succeeding. While it is possible to gain admission to a Clinical Psychology PhD program without presentations or publications, applicant pools are becoming increasingly, almost impossibly competitive. The vast majority of fellow applicants on my [ten] interviews this season were Master’s degree students/recipients or laboratory managers/research staff in positions which allowed for independent research contribution. Choose your letter writers wisely.  Anyone can write a nice, positive letter that suggests you’re a relatively stable, capable human. Do not include more than 1 letter of this generic quality. For at least two of your letters, you want a writer who can and will go above and beyond to provide specific examples that show your potential and indicate true enthusiasm for your future career. Relatedly, do not choose writers solely based on the prestige of their position or institution, or even their eminence in the field if they cannot speak specifically about you. The admissions committee is reviewing your CV, not theirs. For example, you should choose the pre-tenure, direct supervisor for your undergraduate honors project instead of the famous emeritus professor whose class you took alongside 250 other students.  I’ve got lots of insights on this, but these are the main points. Feel free to PM me with any questions about this grueling process.

Hi everybody
I hope that wherever you are in the world that you are safe and doing okay. This is a stressful time for the world, and to sound very self-focused, it's been also hard to juggle thinking about next steps in our academic careers. March/April time is really when things either come together or fall apart for us trying to get into PhD programs. In the midst of COVID and the world, society, families, friends all preoccupied with it, it does kind of seem to hampers our current academic success or struggles. I guess I am hoping that this message reaches those people who have either figured out where they will be going and to commend you on how far you've come, because it has not been an easy journey. But at the same time, I want to tell those people who are still figuring it out or just, honestly, so frustrated with the system and looking for something to keep you going.
PhD is just one of those things that is very hard to explain to other people why you are working so hard to get into these programs, why you love what you do that you essentially give up a normal life, what it really means to get into a (or many) program(s) that you are really happy to attend, among other things. It's so hard not to give up. It's so hard during undergrad to stay up one more night preparing for an exam or paper, it's so hard caring about the GRE even though there is no place in academia for it, it's so hard not to be named a co-author on a paper even though you did most of the work, the list could go on and on. I hope this message gives you some piece of motivation to keep going, because we all have been there. We all have asked ourselves these questions and felt down, sad, self-depreciating, depressed, anxious, and sometimes all you can do is cry. But I hope that you keep going and don't give up on your dream to do PhD! It's your dream, keep working hard for your dream
Congrats to everybody who has gotten into the program they wanted to get in! And I hope people still pursuing PhD that you don't give up, you can do this!

Hey! I'm also moving across country, though not for the first time.  When thinking about what to pack, my main suggestion is purge, purge, then purge again! Don't move anything you haven't worn, used, etc in the past 12 months (or less). As for furniture and such, do a little research into moving costs - it may be cheaper to replace your furniture when you get where you're going vs moving it. 
If you can, I would say email a current grad student or two wherever you are headed and ask about things like technology requirements, or suggestions about where to live, shop, etc. They are more likely to respond sooner, and have a better idea about how to live on the stipend  
Congrats on your acceptance!

Hey! I'm also moving across country, though not for the first time.  When thinking about what to pack, my main suggestion is purge, purge, then purge again! Don't move anything you haven't worn, used, etc in the past 12 months (or less). As for furniture and such, do a little research into moving costs - it may be cheaper to replace your furniture when you get where you're going vs moving it. 
If you can, I would say email a current grad student or two wherever you are headed and ask about things like technology requirements, or suggestions about where to live, shop, etc. They are more likely to respond sooner, and have a better idea about how to live on the stipend  
Congrats on your acceptance!

Hey! I'm also moving across country, though not for the first time.  When thinking about what to pack, my main suggestion is purge, purge, then purge again! Don't move anything you haven't worn, used, etc in the past 12 months (or less). As for furniture and such, do a little research into moving costs - it may be cheaper to replace your furniture when you get where you're going vs moving it. 
If you can, I would say email a current grad student or two wherever you are headed and ask about things like technology requirements, or suggestions about where to live, shop, etc. They are more likely to respond sooner, and have a better idea about how to live on the stipend  
Congrats on your acceptance!

As a faculty member, this week has been overwhelming and chaotic for us all. Given how scared and uncertain students (and faculty) have felt this week, having recently learned of the existence of GradCafe it occurred to me that hearing from a faculty member might be helpful to some of you and so I planned to start a post expressing my support. However, upon seeing this thread, I wanted to address the initial poster's concern first and then share my thoughts (albeit - I am just one perspective).
My university, like so many, has moved to online-only instruction until mid-April, at minimum. I teach a graduate cognitive assessment class. Even if it were possible to teach test administration online (which I doubt anyone could do well - I certainly cannot), my students have to share some test kits with each other plus given the interactive nature of cognitive testing, it would be impossible for my students to administer a test battery and not touch objects that the testee also touches. #WAISIVCOVID19Outbreak is not the hashtag I want to follow my students or I, because we have an obligation to, above all else, do no harm. The skills-based aspect of my course will be on hold until we can resume in-person instruction. That means I, and my students, will need to be flexible regarding making up the missed classes, but I am willing to give up part of my summer to make sure my students are prepared in the way they need to be.
Let's hope that we're out of the woods by August! That said, as current students, prospective students, and students who will be entering a program in Fall 2020 - it is not your job to worry about how the COVID-19 crisis will affect your education. I understand may of you will worry, and that's okay - but your professors are and will do everything they can to make sure your education continues as planned.
All that said, I hope everyone is okay. For those of you who had to leave campus abruptly, I am sorry. For those of you who had spring-break plans cancelled, I am sorry. For anyone who is scared - you are not alone. For anyone who is angry about this disruption - you are not alone. I can only imagine how hard it must be to be a student or future student right now. Most (I want to believe all of ) your professors are doing the best they can. I realize that may not feel like enough, but it's the best we can do right now. Please take care of yourselves and if you are feeling anxious about the fall, do reach out to current faculty or POIs. We're here.
 
 

Florida International University in Miami - Developmental PhD  Can't wait to get there!

So true.  I'm coming from the Midwest, and what I pay $900 for here is well over $2000 in the less expensive parts of Miami. I have friends out in Cali and in NYC and I would never want to pay those rents! I'm glad it's a positive for you!

If it's past the date they gave you, I would absolutely say it's ok to send a polite follow-up email. Delays happen (especially now with Coronovirus taking a lot of attention in campus leadership), and a gentle nudge might be all they need to send you their answer.  Good luck!

Also starting a Phd program in the fall at 33. No children, but married.  I’m feeling excited about having more direction and knowing exactly what I want to accomplish. 

Hi!  I am 36 and starting a PhD in the fall, dragging my husband to a new city (I am lucky, like many of you, to have a supportive husband willing to uproot).  We do not have children yet but hope to start a family!  This is a crazy, ambitious endeavor for anyone to undertake and any age, but I think being a bit older we are equipped with a special set of life skills.  This is a second career for me, my first was over a decade in a completely unrelated field with long, demanding, pressure-filled hours, and tons of personal sacrifice.  This journey is so much more enjoyable and my end goal is to be a researcher & clinician so this is a necessary step for me.  Just know that whatever you believe you can do, you can do it.  If you have made it to this point, you have already shown you can handle this and more!    

OMG it's so funny you say that; I actually feel exactly the opposite -- it's so cheap in Miami compared to what I'm used to! I've lived in California for most of my life and am currently in the SF Bay Area so rent in Miami is pretty much half of what we pay on average here in California, yikes lol 
Obviously it's still not 'cheap' in Miami by any means, esp. considering the low stipends for most of these programs, but compared to other major cities with research universities (Bay Area and LA in CA, Boston, NY, Chicago, Austin, etc) I think it's not actually that bad! AND the airport is actually accessible/has some decently priced direct flights to the West Coast soooo that's also nice!

How do ya'll deal with waiting to hear back after interviewing?? Is it acceptable to follow up via email if it's past the date they said they'd contact you?

Not sure how other people feel about this, but I would give it a couple days after the expected date (sometimes funding decisions get delayed or something), but ya I think it's fine to contact the PI or program coordinator!

I am almost 40 and just started getting my feet wet by taking the GRE applying to one program this year. I am limited to programs in my city since I have two kids and my husband's job is here, and this is home. I didn't get an interview. So I am trying to decide on my next move, and whether to apply to more programs here next year or apply for an online program based in Europe. As much as I would love to have the full-time, on-campus experience, I am thinking the ship has sailed. 
What I was saying to myself all along was I will go for it, see what happens, and quit if it gets too hard (knowing that I rarely quit anything). If I had an opportunity like you have, I would at least give it a shot!
 
 

I just formally accepted my offer to Michigan!! Still can't believe it! I'm so excited about the program and my advisor and can't wait to get started!! Anyone else headed to Ann Arbor?
Good luck to those still waiting! I'm SOOO thrilled to be done and hope your waiting ends soon (and with the outcome you desire)!!

I've just accepted an offer from University of Miami's Clinical Psych PhD Program (adult track). Feel free to message me if you'll also be attending Miami (or moving to Florida lol) and want to chat! And congrats to everyone -- yay, we're going to grad school!

Do you have a particular field of research interests? Any of those PhD programs would require an excellent match with a PI.

Florida International University in Miami - Developmental PhD  Can't wait to get there!

Do a literature review using Google Scholar to identify the PI's doing research that you find interesting. Then, one you've come up with that list, check out their programs to see who is in a department that fits your goals. For example, some people I found were in Clinical and I wanted to apply to Social/Developmental programs so I removed them. Do not apply to schools just based on their ranking, it's all about research fit. Then once you have that list, over the summer or in early fall, email the PI's and ask if they will be accepting students in the upcoming cycle. Treat this email as part of the interview process (not too long, very professional, and brief sentence or two about why you think it's a good fit). Then one your hear back you'll have your list. Good luck!

The best advice I can give is don’t look particularly at schools. You won’t get interviews that way.
i highly suggest focusing on finding faculty in various programs and finding match. Your research fit is VERY Important. You have to refine it and get it to a detailed focus and find faculty that match well are have ket features that you can adapt to your research interest.
you sound new to this and that’s exciting. Please take time figuring out what programs are looking for in a applicant. If you need further help, just let me know. I’m glad to help while I’m waiting to move to my new program (counseling psych PHD)

Do you have a particular field of research interests? Any of those PhD programs would require an excellent match with a PI.

Do you have a particular field of research interests? Any of those PhD programs would require an excellent match with a PI.

Florida International University in Miami - Developmental PhD  Can't wait to get there!

Florida International University in Miami - Developmental PhD  Can't wait to get there!