Edge98

The MEd is an in-person program (with Covid it has been online but this is changing). There's also an MC program with intake every 2 years (next is 2023 I think). That program is part time primarily online with some in person sessions that run for a week or more at a time. In terms of online in Canada, I think your options are Yorkville, Adler, and Athabasca. Athabasca is a professional program that is part-time and designed for working professionals. I'm not familiar with Adler, but Yorkville might be an option to look into if you can afford the tuition fees.

Fellow Alberta student here... I am currently attending U of L's MEd Counselling Psychology program and was admitted directly after undergrad. Based on what you've said here (and what others have mentioned), I think your heavy research focus may be more directed at clinical programs, rather than counselling. For example, U of C's counselling program is heavily oriented towards social justice and many profs there focus on qualitative research. So if your interests and experience don't align well in this area, it may be a reason you haven't been selected for an interview. I would also recommend expanding your application geographically and apply outside of Alberta. When I applied, my supervisors told me to apply to 10+ programs if I had the ability and funds to do so. Additionally, I would spend time focusing your statement to each school and potential supervisor (if the program is thesis based). In my program, it is so interesting to see how some people have come straight from undergrad while others have 5+ years experience in the field. You seem to have more than enough experience, so it might be your statements or letters of recommendation that are holding you back here.. I'm not sure. I'd be happy to chat over private message if you have any other questions! Best of luck in you future applications

This is because Athabasca's program, along with other MC programs (as opposed to MEd, MA, etc.) are focused on practice and professional development. They primarily take those who are in the workforce and are looking to become practitioners (e.g., teachers). Those who take MC programs typically work full or part time and complete their masters part time, hence why it takes longer for these programs to be completed. But like psychmaybe said, a lot of counselling programs do take longer than 2 years to complete. Those that do a thesis-based program may be closer to the 3 year mark for some programs.

I am currently a student in the MEd program, feel free to PM me if you have any questions! Congrats on your acceptance!

Calgary is not requiring the GRE (forever). They listed this on their website as well Clinical Psychology - MSc - Thesis | Faculty of Graduate Studies | University of Calgary (ucalgary.ca)

If you have the money to apply, I would say there is no harm in submitting applications especially if you know your career goal. Echoing what psychmaybe said, some programs do state they want 1-2 years of experience but it sounds like you've acquired quite a bit of relevant work and research experience in your undergrad already. Speaking from personal experience, I applied to 5 programs this year (3 clinical, 2 counselling) and was admitted into one counselling. It only takes one offer, hence why many people recommend applying broadly so you have a higher chance of being admitted.

I got SSHRC for 2/3 programs I applied to, one being a counselling psychology program and it's also for the school I was accepted at! I hope my decline for the other school opens up for someone else on here! I was so surprised I burst into tears! Congrats to everyone else who got offers/alternates! The only thing I'm a bit confused about, since I'll have it for my first year I assume it okay if I don't start my research till winter/spring 2022?

Congrats on your acceptances! I just wanted to add a small anecdote: About a year ago I had a meeting with a clinical psychologist for a class I was in, and they have been working in research/practice for over 40 years. They said that, as a client, if you were to walk into a clinic to get counselling nowadays you would not know whether you are seeing a counselling psychologist, clinical psychologist, or social worker. Their point was there is so much overlap between the fields that often all three lines of education can end up with the same/similar professions!

You could reach out and indicate you are planning to apply for programs in fall 2022 and ask them to be a reference (and state you'll reach out again closer to the application deadline next year). I don't see how this could hurt!

For your first question, it is not uncommon for professors to be asked to be a reference 1+ years after a student has graduated. You would reach out and remind them who you are, what classes you took with them, grades, etc. as well as provide your CV and transcript. Secondly, I would recommend directing clinical questions here: 2021 Clinical Psychology Applicants CANADA - Psychology Forum - The GradCafe Forums - The acceptance rates are very competitive for most clinical programs (around < 5%)

Most programs have your references upload their letters to an online system, so they would read them that way. It's unlikely the programs reach out to each referee one by one.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but when you refer to "you would only have to worry about that if you were applying to clinical PhD programs from a non-clinical masters program" does the GRE still matter even if isn't required by the school? I would assume if they don't need it for masters level admission then they wouldn't for PhD? But if they require it at the masters then incoming PhD students would need it too.

There are many master's programs in counselling psychology that can lead to the route to be a psychologist if you continue on to finish doctoral work. In Alberta specifically you can register as a psychologist with a master's degree, although I believe they are the only province that does this.

I received an email from U of L today that their courses are going to be online. I thought this was very early to announce this, and given the small cohort size I was quite surprised (and sad to hear this). I'm curious how other programs will approach this.

Has anyone heard whether courses are going to be in-person or online this fall?