09 Feb 2022

Stanford University

Clinical Psychology, PhD (F22)

Interview via E-mail on 09 Feb 2022

Note

to the stanford poster below and whoever else this may benefit: hi. I can give you some insight. i have gotten 9 clinical phd interviews this year at top schools. I would try not to rush this process. you said you were a senior last year? or last time you applied recently? i have over 18 publications because I took 3 years to do post bacc research. in that time, i've published first author papers, presented at conferences, and learned A LOT. I've really honed in on the work i want to do research wise, and know that wherever i end up i will be ready to hit the ground running in my projects and papers, etc. I would advise since you're SO close to getting in (waitlisted/short list), if it doesn't work out again... do more research. email P.I.s....find a research job that is in line with your future research goals and go for it. make it known you want a position in their lab (even if it unpaid. i did this and worked part time to get the experience in that lab). i have over 5 years of full time paid research experience (2 while i was in school working full time in a NIMH funded lab, i got very lucky). This is most important for these schools. I attribute my getting so many interviews at top schools to my research experience. and also life experience. i also have several years of clinical but obviously the research is more important and i've got that, too. if it doesn't work out this year, continue on the path. get a full time NIMH or equally funded research job, if you have one.... tell your PI you have an idea and write papers, present posters, do side projects/ side work, learn pre processing and how to analyze data, etc. it will shine through in your interviews and CV. it will pay off as it has done for me. and i've seen many people through the years of being in labs go through this process and you're right - it is grueling and frustrating, but what i saw was that they didn't get as many options (3-5 interviews tops) because they were rushing it. the fact i've taken the time has allowed for so many options this year. just stay the course and it will work out. that's the best advice i can give.

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