Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD

[justacigar]

3 hours ago, plantgirl96 said:

Is it a bad idea to write in your SOP about how a certain experience taught you that you DIDN'T want to work with a specific population? 

I just don't see how that would be a useful use of space ya know? Better to spend time talking about what you are passionate about, or redirect that experience in a positive way - how it lead you to your true passion, etc. 

[justacigar]

Does anyone else have moments of sheer panic while working on applications? For the most part I'm trying to stay positive, but once I see something about interviews or about being notified about rejections my heart skips a beat...and not for the cute reasons lol 

[clincal_j]

me - having micro heart attacks every day whenever I get a reminder to submit my app. Can't believe you've had interviews/rejections already, i haven't even submitted my apps yet!Congrats!

[justacigar]

1 hour ago, clincal_j said:

me - having micro heart attacks every day whenever I get a reminder to submit my app. Can't believe you've had interviews/rejections already, i haven't even submitted my apps yet!Congrats!

Oh gosh I definitely haven't even submitted, I more meant when I see interview notification deadlines, or interview weekend information, etc. Just reading about it freaks me out lol 

[SigmeundFraud]

How far along are yall in your applications? There's only 2 weeks left until most apps are due and I still have lots of work left do to in my SOPs so I'm kinda surprised I'm not freakin out yet ?

[pomegranateleaves]

Hey everyone! I'm applying this cycle too and am relieved that all but one of my schools waived the GRE requirement! I'm applying to both counseling and clinical programs because my interests overlap in both fields. I plan to work with the transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive community to study gender euphoria, resilience, intersectionality, and the impacts of gender based discrimination on mental health. Hopefully my work will one day help impact social policy (especially since I also plan to work with advocacy groups). ? nice to meet you all!

[SigmeundFraud]

Is 75th percentile generally considered competitive, or at least good enough for interview offers, for GRE scores?

Edited November 17, 2020 by plantgirl96

[expensiveswimmer]

On 11/14/2020 at 11:17 AM, justacigar said:

Does anyone else have moments of sheer panic while working on applications? For the most part I'm trying to stay positive, but once I see something about interviews or about being notified about rejections my heart skips a beat...and not for the cute reasons lol 

I too am feeling PANICKED. It's so weird that this is all finally coming to a head.

[clincal_j]

who are u looking at for yale?

[justacigar]

Is anyone here applying to UC Irvine? I'm really struggling with the personal history statement...it goes against basically everything I've been taught about PhD statements lol 

[justacigar]

14 hours ago, expensiveswimmer said:

I too am feeling PANICKED. It's so weird that this is all finally coming to a head.

Agreed! Time this year has been such a trip, I feel like it's moving both too fast and too slow at the same time lol. 

[SigmeundFraud]

How many years of research experience r yall applying with? : )

Edited November 18, 2020 by plantgirl96

[SigmeundFraud]

1 hour ago, justacigar said:

Is anyone here applying to UC Irvine? I'm really struggling with the personal history statement...it goes against basically everything I've been taught about PhD statements lol 

I am applying to UC Irvine! Blekh. Exactly. I have received so much conflicting info on what to include. The bottom line is, they ARE asking u to speak about ur personal struggles as a minority... so I'm doing that 

[23208838]

On 11/9/2020 at 10:54 PM, La Cosmopolitan said:

This is exactly my predicament. My AW and verbal exceed the averages but my quant is below by about 4 points.

Remember that the average score is just that, an average. So in theory, half of the students admitted had below the average score reported. Good luck!

[23208838]

On 11/12/2020 at 7:44 PM, EileanDonan said:

Is anyone including experience that isn't directly psych related on their CV? I've done some generic analyst type work, but nothing that's made a particular difference to my career.

I've submitted all my apps, but I did. I've done different types of research and project management - not all psych related. I think different experiences can speak to different strengths, even generic analyst type work.

[23208838]

On 11/15/2020 at 11:56 AM, plantgirl96 said:

How far along are yall in your applications? There's only 2 weeks left until most apps are due and I still have lots of work left do to in my SOPs so I'm kinda surprised I'm not freakin out yet ?

All done! (except one back up, non-psych program app that's not due til Jan or Feb)

Good luck!

[23208838]

10 hours ago, plantgirl96 said:

How many years of research experience r yall applying with? : )

I have a little over 5 years of experience. 1 undergrad, 4 post undergrad.

[pokemim]

On 11/18/2020 at 10:45 AM, justacigar said:

Is anyone here applying to UC Irvine? I'm really struggling with the personal history statement...it goes against basically everything I've been taught about PhD statements lol 

I am! I honestly still don't fully understand the different expectations between the statement of purpose and personal history statement because this is the only school that I've had request both separately. I haven't been able to find more information on their website to distinguish significantly between the two. Especially since their prompt for the statement of purpose specifically says to discuss your background and research experiences. So definitely struggling and procrastinating lol

[pokemim]

23 hours ago, plantgirl96 said:

How many years of research experience r yall applying with? : )

I'm applying with about 2.5 years of full time experience after college and 1 year of college part-time experience

[justacigar]

1 hour ago, pokemim said:

I am! I honestly still don't fully understand the different expectations between the statement of purpose and personal history statement because this is the only school that I've had request both separately. I haven't been able to find more information on their website to distinguish significantly between the two. Especially since their prompt for the statement of purpose specifically says to discuss your background and research experiences. So definitely struggling and procrastinating lol

So they did have this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCItF8yp1I8&feature=emb_logo but to be honest it doesn't really clear things up. I just feel like all the suggestions are so freaking broad! Ugh I am also struggling and procrastinating HARD  

 

[pokemim]

27 minutes ago, justacigar said:

So they did have this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCItF8yp1I8&feature=emb_logo but to be honest it doesn't really clear things up. I just feel like all the suggestions are so freaking broad! Ugh I am also struggling and procrastinating HARD  

 

Oh thank you for sharing! Still seems hard to separate the two from each other due to the pretty intrinsic overlap. I will probably focus more on specific education, research/clinical skills, future research goals, and match with my potential mentor for the Statement of Purpose. I don't really have personal hardships I've overcome that are relevant to the personal history statement, so I will probably focus on more anecdotal things I have learned from working with specific patients and their families through my job, my experience working to expand diversity/equity/inclusion in my job, and tie in how unique work experiences like this can contribute to what I offer as a student. Not sure if that'll go so well but guess we'll see!

[justacigar]

Another statement prompt gripe - UNC Chapel Hill has four separate prompts and you can only use 250 words or less for each one. I'm having such a hard time cutting back on some of the questions! 

Things are definitely down to the wire. Hope y'all are hanging in there!

[BabesDoItBetter]

Just submitted my last application. I am significantly calmer than I was last application cycle! I think 2020 has directed all of my anxiety towards politics and COVID, lol.

[SigmeundFraud]

If you haven't first-authored a paper, what are you all providing as writing samples?

[ColoradoGirl94]

18 minutes ago, plantgirl96 said:

If you haven't first-authored a paper, what are you all providing as writing samples?

I submitted my master's thesis, but I know not everyone did these so I am not sure what else would work best!