Fall 2021 Clinical & Counseling PhD/PsyD

[justacigar]

Also, this might get buried, but has anyone heard back from MG at Washington State U? If so could you DM me? Just wondering if I should assume rejection yet. Thank you!! ❤️ 

[positivepsych51]

Has anyone heard from EB at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)? I saw some posts on GradCafe that people had gotten interview invites, but can't tell if they have all been sent out. 

[Maybe2021]

5 minutes ago, justacigar said:

I mentioned in my statements I wanted to be a researcher, clinician, and scholar (academic). I think a lot of professors, or at least the ones I applied to, also do all three. It's important to me that I leave grad school prepared to wear multiple hats so I don't think there is anything wrong with being honest about that. 

Also, I think it depends on the program and the POI. Some programs are extremely research oriented and some programs are equal emphasis. Personally, I tried to be as forthright as possible in my statements because I don't want to end up in a place that's a bad fit for me/my future career goals.

Edited January 19, 2021 by Maybe2021

[CoffeeErryday]

Has anyone heard from George Mason University (GMU) yet?

[ResilientQueen]

3 minutes ago, EileanDonan said:

Curious to hear what your guys' approaches were to discussing your post-PhD career plans in your statements? I was fairly open about the fact that I wanted to be involved in both research and practice, but I'm starting to wonder if I should have kept my cards closer to my chest. We all hear about programs that might look down on applicants that aren't entirely academia-focused in the long run. Given how sucky this cycle has been, it's easy to wonder if this might be one of the factors that could have worked against me. ?

I think your response is acceptable! If/WHEN you get an interview, I would just make sure you emphasize your enthusiasm for research. The best thing about a PhD in Clin psych is the variety in career paths! During interviews, you should rank them as 1) Research 2) Teaching 3) Practice but what you do with your life is ultimately up to you ? 

[YouNeverKnow]

I saw that some people posted about being invited to a virtual visit/formal interview day on 01/15 for UW-Madison - does that mean that all formal interviews have been conducted already? Seems early but I don't want to keep my hopes up for nothing ?

[PsychBear92]

15 minutes ago, EileanDonan said:

Curious to hear what your guys' approaches were to discussing your post-PhD career plans in your statements? I was fairly open about the fact that I wanted to be involved in both research and practice, but I'm starting to wonder if I should have kept my cards closer to my chest. We all hear about programs that might look down on applicants that aren't entirely academia-focused in the long run. Given how sucky this cycle has been, it's easy to wonder if this might be one of the factors that could have worked against me. ?

I spoke with Clinical Psych grad students at my alma mater about this, when I was deciding between PhD and PsyD. They gave me the recommendation that I shouldn't mention interest in clinical practice in my statement if applying to PhD. Personally, the impression I received was either don't mention it or tread lightly. FWIW, my undergrad institution is an R01 research-focused university, so it might be different at a scientist-practitioner program. 

Edited January 19, 2021 by PsychBear92
typos

[EileanDonan]

Thanks for the comments, guys! Sounds like it's still just a debatable topic as ever. I think I will be more thoughtful about it next cycle though...

[socpsyc]

Rejections always sting! This year is my second time applying after taking almost 10 years to train and work since my last attempt at applying coming out of undergrad. So far I have received 1 interview invitation to one of my top choice programs (great fit with program and POI) and all other rejections/assumed rejections so far. I'm hopeful that one other program that seems like a no-brainer/great fit will invite me to interview (they notoriously invite later, in Feb). It only takes 1! Many doors close, some open, some are ajar.... it takes time and persistence but we will all get to the right places for each us! Oh and you bet that I am preparing to the max for that interview.

Edited January 19, 2021 by socpsyc

[xChrisx]

36 minutes ago, CoffeeErryday said:

Has anyone heard from George Mason University (GMU) yet?

Some People Have. Check the results page

[Dazen]

22 minutes ago, EileanDonan said:

Thanks for the comments, guys! Sounds like it's still just a debatable topic as ever. I think I will be more thoughtful about it next cycle though...

One thing I've said when asked specifically why a PhD compared with other psychology degrees - during two prelims for which I got formal interviews, so it wasn't an immediate negative - is that I am primarily interested in research (the purpose of the degree and what they want to hear, but also true for me), but also interested in forensic assessment, for which a doctoral degree is a requirement. It seems like some of the career goals question is making sure you understand what makes a PhD unique and that you're pursuing the degree that will help you achieve those goals. 

[CoffeeErryday]

7 minutes ago, xChrisx said:

Some People Have. Check the results page

Thank you, I checked and it seems so. I don't know whether they mass emailed or are still extending invites though...

[clinpsychapps]

For people who have interviewed, what's the hardest/most unexpected question you've been asked? I've heard of some programs "grilling" applicants but I've never been too sure what this entails. Thanks for any advice!

[rainydaychai]

1 minute ago, clinpsychapps said:

For people who have interviewed, what's the hardest/most unexpected question you've been asked? I've heard of some programs "grilling" applicants but I've never been too sure what this entails. Thanks for any advice!

"Why didn't you get into grad school last year" [this was on my second app cycle, interviewing for the same program a second time] ?

[NotYourMothersGrad]

5 minutes ago, clinpsychapps said:

For people who have interviewed, what's the hardest/most unexpected question you've been asked? I've heard of some programs "grilling" applicants but I've never been too sure what this entails. Thanks for any advice!

I'm not sure you can really anticipate this unless you're asking about a specific PI or program and ask a current grad student there....I do get the anxiety though and I thought this video was incredibly helpful:

Including pt. 2 which I haven't linked. If you have good answers that feel natural, not too rehearsed for all of these, it will be easy to sail through those more difficult/unanticipated questions.

I'll also say that everyone who has an interview needs to take advantage of their virtual buddies and the virtual videos and tours that explain the program. They can really help you identify your fit with the program and help you formulate your answers when asked why you like the program, PI, etc.

Edit: I'll add that the most annoying question I got was "Why don't you have any publications?" because what sort of answer could make you happy....like it's not my fault none of my undergrad PIs like to publish?

Edited January 19, 2021 by Gavindorf

[EileanDonan]

12 minutes ago, rainydaychai said:

"Why didn't you get into grad school last year" [this was on my second app cycle, interviewing for the same program a second time] ?

"You tell me, buddy!"

9 minutes ago, Gavindorf said:

"Why don't you have any publications?" because what sort of answer could make you happy....like it's not my fault none of my undergrad PIs like to publish?

Not looking forward to this one. Sometimes you just land in a project at a weird phase or your PI just isn't feeling inclined! Or the study is taking 5+ years to come to fruition. I hate how our worth can be boiled down to this with some advisors.

Edited January 19, 2021 by EileanDonan

[FingersCrossed58]

1 hour ago, expensiveswimmer said:

Me too ?

Do you think we can assume a rejection if we didn't get the DCT email from Fordham? This blows

[kch16]

Just now, FingersCrossed58 said:

Do you think we can assume a rejection if we didn't get the DCT email from Fordham? This blows

Probably so. I would like to see schools just go ahead and post the rejection notice in their portal if all invites have gone out and the waitlist has been solidified. It's just emotionally taxing to wait and hear nothing for months.

[EileanDonan]

Just now, kch16 said:

Probably so. I would like to see schools just go ahead and post the rejection notice in their portal if all invites have gone out and the waitlist has been solidified. It's just emotionally taxing to wait and hear nothing for months.

I sincerely wish this were standard practice for schools. I appreciate that some send out rejects earlier, but there are surely some programs that know you stand no chance of being invited no matter what after a certain point (e.g. waiting list of a certain size?).

[Maybe2021]

9 minutes ago, FingersCrossed58 said:

Do you think we can assume a rejection if we didn't get the DCT email from Fordham? This blows

Unfortunately, if we haven't heard by 8pm, I think we can safely assume it's a rejection since they did say they will send all interview invites by the 19th. ?  

[YouNeverKnow]

I wrote to UW Madison's PhD program coordinator to know if all interviews took place on 01/15 and his response was:

"We did have a visiting day last Friday but it was not required that all faculty participate. That being said, I noticed you applied with [PI's name]. He normally receives somewhere around 150 applicants. I just want to be honest about the competitiveness of his lab."

I knew that it was a very competitive lab and that my chances were very low, and maybe he's giving me a hint that invites might have gone out already for this PI? Not sure what to think but I think I can cross this one out ?

[Psy-aye-aye]

Has anyone reached out to/heard from Xavier or Widener about their PsyD timelines?

 

[DrApple]

2 minutes ago, Psy-aye-aye said:

Has anyone reached out to/heard from Xavier or Widener about their PsyD timelines?

 

Xavier has sent out interview invites and their dates are 2/5 and 2/12. I think invites were sent out on Friday, 1/15.

[Psy-aye-aye]

19 minutes ago, DrApple said:

Xavier has sent out interview invites and their dates are 2/5 and 2/12. I think invites were sent out on Friday, 1/15.

Do you know if they sent out all interview invites?

[clinpsychapps]

 

1 hour ago, rainydaychai said:

"Why didn't you get into grad school last year" [this was on my second app cycle, interviewing for the same program a second time] ?

 

1 hour ago, Gavindorf said:

I'm not sure you can really anticipate this unless you're asking about a specific PI or program and ask a current grad student there....I do get the anxiety though and I thought this video was incredibly helpful:

Including pt. 2 which I haven't linked. If you have good answers that feel natural, not too rehearsed for all of these, it will be easy to sail through those more difficult/unanticipated questions.

I'll also say that everyone who has an interview needs to take advantage of their virtual buddies and the virtual videos and tours that explain the program. They can really help you identify your fit with the program and help you formulate your answers when asked why you like the program, PI, etc.

Edit: I'll add that the most annoying question I got was "Why don't you have any publications?" because what sort of answer could make you happy....like it's not my fault none of my undergrad PIs like to publish?

Thank you!! Really appreciate it