PhD_Psych_Hopeful

This is a forum to discuss everything application related for the cohort for fall 2022 to clinical psychology graduate programs in Canada. This is my second cycle applying to PhD, and have decided to also apply to second Master's programs (I already have a Master's degree in applied psychology) as it seems that most schools take their own Master's students to PhD first. I wonder if anyone else has been in a similar position?

This is a forum to discuss everything application related for the cohort for fall 2022 to clinical psychology graduate programs in Canada. This is my second cycle applying to PhD, and have decided to also apply to second Master's programs (I already have a Master's degree in applied psychology) as it seems that most schools take their own Master's students to PhD first. I wonder if anyone else has been in a similar position?

Hi all,
I'm a current PhD clinical psychology student at York U. If anyone has any questions about the application process or York U specifically, they can feel free to reach out to me!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and suggestions!  Great work persisting through 3 cycles. It is so tough to get into these PhD clinical psychology programs. I have pretty amazing grades, publications, conference presentations, and so so much more..... and I did not even get an interview this year. Just crushed me. That is why I am considering a second master's. Perhaps an MSc instead of MA. And, hopefully they may take some of my credits [fingers crossed]. Best of luck to you too. Hopefully this thread will be of some help to everyone this cycle!

One of the best things my master's supervisor ever told me was that getting into the PhD is a matter of "when" and not "if". We just have to be persistent because one year we may be more competitive in applications than in others! Clinical psychology is a tough program to get into (more so than med and law school) and so we cant take it personally when we get those rejections ❤️ Good luck! Hopefully this forum will be a good tool for suggestions and recommendations throughout the application process!

Hi everyone. I'll be applying to Master's programs for the first time this year (both Clinical and Counselling). I am completing my 4th year in Honours Applied Psych. So far, I plan to apply to: Ryerson U, Concordia U, York U & U of T (Counselling and Clinical Psych - OISE).
I think like many other posts I've read so far in the forum, many of us question whether we're competitive enough to get in (i certainly question it 24/7). Makes this whole process that much more nerve-wracking. 
Any advice about these grad schools and their processes? Would be greatly appreciated!
 
 
 

Hey everyone. Is there anyone here who typically applies to US clinical psych programs but is intending or has applied to one or two in Canada and has any advice or resources? I am from the US. Thanks!

if you do not mind terminal Master's program, then 100% i would apply to Laurentian Like I said, you can still apply to be a psychological associate (masters level psychologist) with the CPO with that degree. I work in private practice with competency in clinical psychology with children, adolescents, and adults. I really want to get into research again though and perhaps teaching so that is why I want to go back. 
A lower GPA may not be too bad with all of the extracurricular activities. That was smart to redo a year to improve your grade and research experience! Fingers crossed for you. I too am not applying to schools that require GRE, but most have forgone it this year thankfully. 

Thank you, I will keep that in mind! I don't mind getting into a terminal masters program but yeah it sucks that there's a low chance for other schools to accept you into the PhD programs! And nice! I wanted to apply to McMaster RCT as well but I think I will just apply to their neuroscience program instead  and ohhh the GRE! I've never had to study for it or take it thankfully! I'm only gonna apply to the schools that don't require it I think (to my knowledge, most have cancelled it because of covid). Regarding my app, I have pretty good extra curriculars and volunteering experiences but the downfall for me will be my GPA unfortunately, which is why I am taking an additional year to increase it and get more research experience- although it is still worrying that it won't be enough..

I hope we will both get in eventually, it would be so amazing!  and wow Laurentian! I totally forgot about that university, I will add that to my list now! The courses you took also sound very interesting and relevant to clinical psych, their program looks great, although I do not yet have 3 references unfortunately. I also want to get my PhD! I guess we're gonna be in school for a while lol. I'm so glad you had a great experience doing your masters and had wonderful supervisors- it's the best thing we can all hope for!
For now, the schools I am looking at are: Windsor, maybe Western, Queens, Waterloo, Dalhousie, UPEI, Laurier, York, McGill, McMaster, and maybe Acadia (I will also add Laurentian to the list!). I might end up not even applying to some of these though as I do not have some of their requirements... Also, for some I will just apply to their cognitive neuroscience programs instead of clinical psych lol I feel like getting into clinical is almost like winning the lottery at some schools- they really take such a low amount of people!
And what schools are you looking at (if comfortable sharing)?

Clinical psychology is also my dream <3, that is why I feel like I will apply to master's if needed...even though I've already done one that was pretty much clinical in nature! I did my master's in applied psychology at Laurentian University. We took courses for psychopathology and psychodiagnosis, psychological intervention, individual differences, statistics. I graduated in 2018 and have since been deemed eligible to begin registration as a psychological associate with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. However, I REALLY want to be a PhD level psychologist. I really enjoyed my master's experience. I found that the 2 years just flew by! I was lucky to have wonderful supervisors who helped me conduct an experiment of my creation and helped me complete my thesis in a timely manner. I enjoyed it enough that I am willing to do another ? hahaha. Can I ask where you are thinking of applying? 

Oh I see, that makes sense! That's kind of nice of them actually, but I still worry haha because I know a lot of admission into grad school is dependent if you have a faculty supervisor supporting you or not. I have not emailed faculty at waterloo or western yet, but thanks for the heads up about that.
Clinical psych is honestly my dream program, but since it's so competitive, I'm thinking it may also be a good idea to branch out and apply to other psych masters programs as well! Can I ask how was your masters program experience? ?

I am also wondering if it is too early?! Same here, just wanting to be prepared haha. Mind you, some of the potential supervisors I emailed last year (UWaterloo and Western) said they don't return emails as they dont want to be biased in assessing applications. So if they did not reply I maybe that is why? 

Thank you, I hope so too! It's great to talk to others who are going through the same process!  And yes I have but unfortunately, not much luck so far! Either I get no response, they are retiring, or they are not taking new students lol however I still need to email a bunch more at other universities! I wonder if it's still too early to inquire though, not really sure. I just wanna be prepared

Good luck! It is quite the process, exhilarating and anxiety inducing at the same time. Hopefully this will be a great forum for support through the process. Have you started looking at potential supervisors? 

Hi everyone! Thanks for making this haha, I was literally just looking for a 2022 thread! This will be my first time applying to clinical psych programs so I'm super nervous, I guess we can all struggle together though lol  

? Hello there,
This is my third time applying. From my experience, there are at least a few number of people in similar positions - with a master from someplace else and then getting a second master's. I am one of them ? 
I got an applied master's quite some time ago and currently doing a research master's - recent research experience and references was what was missing from my application, since I worked a lot of years in clinical roles. My current master's has the option to continue on to a research PhD, however, I will be instead applying to clinical psych PhDs. 
What I do know is that many programs will be willing to work with you to see if you can transfer in some classes/ your previous thesis so they might advance you to the PhD sooner, but it really depends on the program. They usually talk to you about these things once you've been admitted. For clinical psych, they prefer their own master's students indeed, but that is how the program is designed. But you don't necessarily need to gain another master's along the way.
And a shocking tangent - one of my lab mates who applied last year was interviewing at the same time for a clinical psych lab with a person who already had their PhD ? I do hope I can get an offer this application season, because things just seem to get more and more competitive.
Best of luck!

This is a forum to discuss everything application related for the cohort for fall 2022 to clinical psychology graduate programs in Canada. This is my second cycle applying to PhD, and have decided to also apply to second Master's programs (I already have a Master's degree in applied psychology) as it seems that most schools take their own Master's students to PhD first. I wonder if anyone else has been in a similar position?

I have been working towards my registration as a psychological associate since I graduated with my Masters in Applied Psychology from Laurentian University in 2018. I put in the application and was deemed eligible by the college of psychologists of Ontario.  You have to send in an application and they go through all of your courses to see if you have the requirements for the competencies sought. Feel free to DM for more info.  
Edited to say that I have just applied to PhDs this year, but am still finishing registration in the meantime. 

I have been working towards my registration as a psychological associate since I graduated with my Masters in Applied Psychology from Laurentian University in 2018. I put in the application and was deemed eligible by the college of psychologists of Ontario.  You have to send in an application and they go through all of your courses to see if you have the requirements for the competencies sought. Feel free to DM for more info.  
Edited to say that I have just applied to PhDs this year, but am still finishing registration in the meantime. 

I have been working towards my registration as a psychological associate since I graduated with my Masters in Applied Psychology from Laurentian University in 2018. I put in the application and was deemed eligible by the college of psychologists of Ontario.  You have to send in an application and they go through all of your courses to see if you have the requirements for the competencies sought. Feel free to DM for more info.  
Edited to say that I have just applied to PhDs this year, but am still finishing registration in the meantime.