2021 Clinical Psychology Applicants CANADA

[+ve regard]

On 1/23/2021 at 10:34 PM, Neurotic_Lily said:

Hello! I was invited to attend the McGill clinical interview day and I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to best prepare. The day will involve interviews with several faculty members, an orientation with the clinical training director, a clinical training panel, and a chance to meet with graduate students. What do y'all think will be involved in each part of the day? How many interviews should I expect? What's a clinical training panel? Any help is appreciated (I'm pretty stressed if you couldn't tell)!!

Hi - first off, you will NOT be in an evaluative position for 5 hours straight  Usually the orientation will involve all or most of the successful applicants and you're talked at for a while by the program director. A "panel" interview that I've done involved 4 members of the faculty and 6 applicants, we all took turns answering the various questions. I have also heard of panel interviews being the 4 (or more) faculty members and only one candidate. If your POI is not on the panel, I would also expect to have a one-on-one interview with them at some point. 

While orientations and meetings with current students are officially "non-evaluative" it's always good to put your best foot forward in any and all interactions...this may sound obvious but I have heard wild stories, haha. 

It's a whopper day but make sure to breathe and take short breaks between events to stretch, eat something or jump around a bit. Best of luck!!

[Edge98]

13 hours ago, Regina77 said:

Did anyone here apply to both clinical and counselling programs? and if you did what were your reasons? ..or any current counselling psychology students on here please tell us about the counselling  program? if you like it? how you get practicum sites? does the program help or you have to find on your own? I know it's self funded but any chance of grants? if interested in a PhD later have you done a qualifying paper? what does that entail? I applied to OISE counselling & psychotherapy. And also to OISE clinical. I just wonder if current students who  start the counselling  program later wish they had applied to/or waited to instead get into clinical? especially when housed in same dept like OISE!

I applied to both clinical and counselling programs. I am curious about responses to your questions as well. I'm pretty sure though that if you want to do a PhD in counselling psyc you need a thesis in your master's. I had an interview at a program recently and they said that PhD's are becoming more competitive so it's almost required that you do a thesis component in your master's. 

In terms of the last part of your question, I am also on the fence about this. Contemplating whether it is worth it to continue applying to clinical or if counselling programs would suffice, especially since my research interests are more on the neuropsyc side of things. 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Edge98
spelling error

[xtrahotlatte]

I know this is a clinical thread but has anyone heard from OISE MA Developmental Psychology & Education?

If there is an applicable forum for this program pls link, can't seem to find one. Thx  

[psychgradapps2020]

Does anyone know if OISE MA/PhD in counselling & clinical psychology conducts interviews? I have seen previous years posters saying they were notified around March about acceptances/rejections/waitlists. Any info on this program would be helpful as this is my first year applying!! Thanks so much

[carlrogersfan98]

On 1/23/2021 at 9:01 PM, mphxpsych said:

I took a couple years off before starting my current master's program and I remember starting to apply [to psych lab research positions] around March/early April to avoid the rush of graduating students who will also be looking at the end of April/early May. Not sure what everyone else's experiences have been but I would def recommend applying formally around then. I honestly think any time starting now-ish is totally reasonable to start feeling it out by reaching out to potential places you'd like to work! It's worth it to see if they anticipate having positions/if these places are even a fit for you? 

Yeah it seems reasonable to reach out to the place I worked to see what their availability is like now! I'm wondering if I should actually apply for some of the postings on LinkedIn I'm seeing now. I feel like that might be too early, especially since I haven't actually heard an official verdict from any schools yet (not to mention one of my programs doesn't interview so there's still a chance I may get admitted), but I'm also of the early bird gets the worm mentality so idk haha

[psychapplicant2021]

Hi everyone! Based on UTSC's website, I'm assuming formal interviews are starting today (the 25th). For those who are attending/have attended, any update on the admissions process? Are all core/adjunct faculty involved in formal interviews and should those who haven't heard back yet assume rejection? Also, assuming these are probably some of the first formal interviews of the cycle, if any of you would be willing to share your interview experiences (especially with the online format) that would be great  

Edited January 25, 2021 by psychapplicant2021
spelling

[T.O.hopeful]

1 hour ago, psychgradapps2020 said:

Does anyone know if OISE MA/PhD in counselling & clinical psychology conducts interviews? I have seen previous years posters saying they were notified around March about acceptances/rejections/waitlists. Any info on this program would be helpful as this is my first year applying!! Thanks so much

I didn't think they did interviews because it's not mentioned on their website and the Results page for previous years only has people indicating acceptance/rejection but no interview notifications. However, someone posted on one of the earlier pages that they they do interviews sometime in February and then admissions/rejections go out in March. Considering getting accepted without an interview is odd, I'd say what the poster said makes sense! 

[psychgradapps2020]

13 minutes ago, T.O.hopeful said:

I didn't think they did interviews because it's not mentioned on their website and the Results page for previous years only has people indicating acceptance/rejection but no interview notifications. However, someone posted on one of the earlier pages that they they do interviews sometime in February and then admissions/rejections go out in March. Considering getting accepted without an interview is odd, I'd say what the poster said makes sense! 

Great thank you! Just looked back and saw that post as well. I wonder if any of their POI's have started contacting people for an interview

[clinical_psyc_hopeful]

School: University of Calgary

Program: Clinical Psychology, M.Sc.

Interview type: Formal Interview day/Open House via email from Grad Program Admin

Date of Invite: January 25nd, 2021

DM for POI: Yes! 

[cofffeee]

Does anyone have any updates on Queen's? / Have formal interview invites been sent out yet? Thanks!

[gradclinical]

Does anyone has any updates on SCCP program at OISE?

[Regina77]

3 hours ago, Edge98 said:

I applied to both clinical and counselling programs. I am curious about responses to your questions as well. I'm pretty sure though that if you want to do a PhD in counselling psyc you need a thesis in your master's. I had an interview at a program recently and they said that PhD's are becoming more competitive so it's almost required that you do a thesis component in your master's. 

In terms of the last part of your question, I am also on the fence about this. Contemplating whether it is worth it to continue applying to clinical or if counselling programs would suffice, especially since my research interests are more on the neuropsyc side of things. 

Does neuro psych side of things sort of require research? I am on the health psych side of things...I do not know if I can bear to go through another round of applications, and almost feel like I could settle for counselling to gain the theoretical and practical skills of psychotherapy.......my current employment includes research work so maybe I could work that into an application for a future PhD but obviously I need to get into the counselling too lol lol....from last year's  results it seems it is also quite competitive but I just do not see a lot of discussion or information out there in regards to the quality of the programs and what current students think of their training? And if they get any training in assessments? I have always wondered other than research focus/scientist -practitioner and which regulatory body you register with-what are the other key differences between training as  clinical vs. counselling like at OISE  etc etc....

[Edge98]

21 minutes ago, Regina77 said:

Does neuro psych side of things sort of require research? I am on the health psych side of things...I do not know if I can bear to go through another round of applications, and almost feel like I could settle for counselling to gain the theoretical and practical skills of psychotherapy.......my current employment includes research work so maybe I could work that into an application for a future PhD but obviously I need to get into the counselling too lol lol....from last year's  results it seems it is also quite competitive but I just do not see a lot of discussion or information out there in regards to the quality of the programs and what current students think of their training? And if they get any training in assessments? I have always wondered other than research focus/scientist -practitioner and which regulatory body you register with-what are the other key differences between training as  clinical vs. counselling like at OISE  etc etc....

Counselling is still very competitive. Out of 100+ applicants they usually accept about 10-12 from what I've heard (this is for research-based programs). In terms of quality, you'd be getting strong training for sure, but with less of an emphasis on research. One thing to note is that counselling programs often focus on qualitative research instead of quantitative. The programs I've seen all offer training in assessment, intervention, and also add emphasis on cultural/group therapy. I can't necessarily speak for Ontario, but in western Canada you would register under your provincial regulatory body. So in Alberta that would be Alberta College of Psychologists (which you can do with a master's). I've heard that Clinical and Counselling training and job prospects are becoming more and more similar (this was from a clinical psychologist) and that the biggest difference is the emphasis on research. 

[Psychologystudent2021]

1 hour ago, cofffeee said:

Does anyone have any updates on Queen's? / Have formal interview invites been sent out yet? Thanks!

I spoke to someone at Queen’s who said that they have their admissions meeting in late January and they said everyone should be notified by mid February if they have an interview or if they have been rejected. They didn’t say anything about when interview invites go out though ? Hope this could be of some help!! 

[cofffeee]

8 minutes ago, Psychologystudent2021 said:

I spoke to someone at Queen’s who said that they have their admissions meeting in late January and they said everyone should be notified by mid February if they have an interview or if they have been rejected. They didn’t say anything about when interview invites go out though ? Hope this could be of some help!! 

Thanks for this info!

[Josh.psych]

Hey everyone, hope everyone is doing well! I got an interview from one of the schools I applied to. I’m excited but nervous, any tips for what I should do to prep? What type of questions I might be asked? It’s a one on one not a panel. 

[Psychologystudent2021]

1 hour ago, Irishsnowflakes said:

Hey everyone, hope everyone is doing well! I got an interview from one of the schools I applied to. I’m excited but nervous, any tips for what I should do to prep? What type of questions I might be asked? It’s a one on one not a panel. 

Hey! I did my first interview last week so I was in the same boat as you. My biggest piece of advice is to have a list of questions that you want to ask the POI! They will ask if you have questions and it’s super important that you do. I also found I wasn’t asked nearly as many questions as I anticipated, so don’t stress yourself out too much. Just try and relax, act natural, and be yourself. 

[broski]

1 hour ago, Irishsnowflakes said:

Hey everyone, hope everyone is doing well! I got an interview from one of the schools I applied to. I’m excited but nervous, any tips for what I should do to prep? What type of questions I might be asked? It’s a one on one not a panel. 

Check out the interview resources page on Discord, lots of crowd-sourced interview Qs

https://discord.gg/yMYVJfV8Ts 

[Psychologystudent2021]

Does anyone have a solid understanding on how Ryerson interviews are working this semester? It seems that people are having a ton of different types of interview offers
 

Seems confusing, hoping to gain some understanding for myself and other Ryerson hopefuls! 

Edited January 26, 2021 by Psychologystudent2021

[xtrahotlatte]

deleted

Edited January 26, 2021 by xtrahotlatte

[Jpsych_]

Has anyone heard from Windsor?

[coiael]

Has anyone heard from Western Clinical?

[Josh.psych]

1 hour ago, Jpsych_ said:

Has anyone heard from Windsor?

Windsor will probably release in the next few days  based on the results page and how long they waited to release last time

Edited January 26, 2021 by Irishsnowflakes

[Josh.psych]

1 hour ago, Psychologystudent2021 said:

Hey! I did my first interview last week so I was in the same boat as you. My biggest piece of advice is to have a list of questions that you want to ask the POI! They will ask if you have questions and it’s super important that you do. I also found I wasn’t asked nearly as many questions as I anticipated, so don’t stress yourself out too much. Just try and relax, act natural, and be yourself. 

Thank you so much! That is super helpful

[Josh.psych]

1 hour ago, broski said:

Check out the interview resources page on Discord, lots of crowd-sourced interview Qs

https://discord.gg/yMYVJfV8Ts 

Okay good to know! Thank you so much for letting me know!