cardamom

This is the sort of thing you're supposed to think about before you apply, not after they accept you, unlike with undergrad. That's part of why many of us did take a year or two off before applying (not to mention raising our odds of admission by doing additional research). I know every school I applied to says that you cannot defer acceptances--either you accept or decline. If they are accepting you based on your match with a specific professor (which is how it typically works in my field), that professor may be taking a student this year but not next year (and next year is probably unknown at this point), so they can't just assume they would even be able to take you next year.

Do either of them offer the substitute of phone interviews, and if so, say how they will be weighted compared to in person ones? Some schools, especially ones that do not fund airfare, know it's unrealistic for students to visit everywhere, and make it clear they weight both equally, some offer them but it seems to put you at a disadvantage. You could contact the programs and say it may not be feasible (no need to say why) and ask if there are other options. If you don't go, you can always visit later if you get an offer. Otherwise, I'd go with the factors I'm using to make my decision in general, mainly how much does the advisor and the program fit me? Location is a distant third concern for me (though I also didn't include schools I absolutely wouldn't go to because of that), but it's also something that can be important to see in person. So can all of it really, so I'm glad for the most part, my interviews don't conflict (had some close calls though!), but I have also found that I could learn a lot through phone interviews (some places do those first anyway).

Just wanted to say that as far as CBT-based programs on the east coast, I know of a bunch off the top of my head, including one that does a lot with BPD/DBT, and those are just in my city, so I don't know that that's a dead-end. CBT is gaining momentum everywhere these days it seems, so I doubt you're limiting yourself in that sense, and getting good training in DBT (which I'm guessing you are, based on what you've said), can make you an attractive candidate. I think the advice about giving yourself some space and then a deadline to re-evaluate is a great one, as might be talking directly to your advisor, but you probably know best how a conversation like that might go over with her, and if she could take it ok. Is there any possibility that there's someone else within the program you could work with who might be a better fit personality-wise, even if the research match isn't perfect?

Has anyone heard from WUSTL yet? I saw the listing for Dev Psych on the results page, but nothing for clinical anywhere.