Admission to Clinical psych programs

[Zalty55]

Hi everyone this is a long post so I apologize in advance for the extensive reading. 

I’m asking this question because as of right now I feel somewhat helpless and desperate. 

I’m a psychology student in the faculty of science at the University of Alberta. I’m going into my fourth year but have applied for an honours program for my fourth and fifth year that would allow me to be eligible to apply to clinical psych programs. 

I had a horrible first year as a “pre-business student” (2.0 gpa). I had a multitude of personal issues going on at the time and struggled. I realize there’s never an excuse for bad grades but I just had really bad luck. I switched to psychology for my second year and had a dramatic improvement (3.0 overall). The first semester of my third year I had a 3.15 and the 2nd semester resulted in just (CR’s) due to the decision by the university to remove letter grades due to COVID-19. This means that as of right now I have a low cumulative gpa. 

My first hurtle is just getting into the honours program which according to everyone I’ve spoken to, is seen as vital for potential graduate students in applied psychology graduate programs like clinical. My second hurtle would be clinical psych admission which is famous for being incredibly hard and where my question is based.

In a best case scenario, where for my last two years I do extremely well getting exactly/near a 4.0 gpa and get extensive research/volunteer experience. I know it doesn’t sound believable after what you just read but humour me. I would finish with a AGPA of a 3.2 which is seen as  a dealbreaker apparently even though Canadian admissions prioritize the last two years. Is there a reasonable chance that I’d get in anywhere for clinical psych? Believe it or not I’ve been told by faculty that I’m “probably wasting my time” and that I should “lower my expectations”. 
I have counselling as a back up of course but even those programs in Canada are incredibly competitive. 

I want to have a fulfilling career in this field because I have found a subject I’m very interested in. I also want to avoid being a basement dwelling reject after an admirable comeback. 

I know I sound defeatist and could have had some more foresight earlier on in my university career, but what’s done as done and I want to do what I can. 
 
I was only 17 at the time and had no clue what to do during that time. I just want a reasonable chance to prove myself is all. Faculty members at multiple universities that I’ve spoken to have all been very doom and gloom with their responses. 

Any advice from admitted students or clinicians?

Thanks ? 

[Mickey26]

Hey. Fellow Albertan here Just finished Yr 1 of Clinical Psych at Dalhousie University.

I'm aware of faculty members at my current uni that have verbally stated they actually prefer students who had lower GPAs but then showed improvement in the later years. It shows you can overcome adversity, as such, may translate into resiliency for grad school. So all is not lost!

And yes, for clinical psych you do want an Honours Psych undergrad degree or equivalent. 

I'm happy to chat further if you PM me. Good luck!

[Cantremembermyusername]

Hi there,

I got accepted into a competitive clinical psych program with a cGPA below 3.5 but a last two years GPA of about 3.8/3.85. I like yourself didnt have a lot of direction early in undergrad, which I wish I did. I've had profs actually comment in disbelief about the difference between my earlier and later grades, which is why I think they're not presented with that as often. To give you some perspective, there is a 40 percent difference between my lowest and highest grade. I truly believe there are not that many of us, even when I went to my interview days people would humble brag about their high test scores /GPA ("omg I didn't think I would make it this far cause I got 2 A- in my last year ! !") .

I think it depends on the school and on your own personal background. I had a very extensive CV (which admitting faculty commented on being better than average). But I knew I had to have that given my grades. Basically, I KNOW it is possible, but you will have to put a lot of hard work in, only apply to schools who say they don't look at your earlier years, and be prepared to not get in on your first try (which I would honestly also so to applicants with higher GPAs).

I can only speak from my own experience but I'm happy to answer any more specific questions if you PM me. 

Don't give up just yet!!

Edited April 25, 2020 by Cantremembermyusername

[psytillidie]

Just wanted to add to the positivity about less than competitive undergrad GPAs! I had a 3.30 in undergrad overall and only like a 3.5 for my last two years. I just had a terrible freshman year (like 2.5 GPA) and was relatively average beyond that year (like... my best semester ever in undergrad was a 3.75). But I got serious after I graduated and did a master’s to compensate for my not great undergrad. I’m finishing my master’s with a 4.0 and I got two clinical PhD offers (had 5 interviews and only applied to a total of 7 schools). That being said, I got a ton of posters and picked up a couple of publications in my master’s so that certainly helped me too. 
 

Since you’re early enough in your undergrad to make a difference, like others above me said, just work hard in your final two years and honors is even better! And research, research, research. 

[sparrow123]

There's certainly hope if you do well in your last few years. Most schools I applied to asked for an overall GPA as well as a GPA for the last two years only. There is definitely more of a focus on your more recent years than your overall degree.