STAGE 1:GATHERING INFORMATION
DETERMINE YOUR INTERESTS
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL
Honours Thesis or Equivalent (e.g., major research project)
GPA
Required Courses
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
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What do I want out of grad school? What are my career goals?
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When do I want to apply? Do I need a break after undergrad? (Many people take a break and choose to work as a research assistant or related job before applying. This can help increase savings and build relationships for good reference letters)
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What are your “non-negotiables” in terms of quality of life (e.g., level of funding, living in a large city, around nature, diverse community), research (specific area [e.g., emotion regulation], population [e.g., LGBT2QIA+]), values, etc.
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Where do you want to attend school for the next 7-8 years?
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List potential programs and supervisors
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Look through program websites and faculty pages, authors of research you’ve read or lists from professional associations
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It can be helpful to narrow down to research interests or geographic locations (e.g. ‘faculty in Canada who study anxiety’)
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What sort of work do I want to be doing?
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Am I (un)interested in research?
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Am I (un)interested in practice?
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volunteer to gauge interest in the field or read up on psychotherapy (e.g., peer counsellor, other clinical-related volunteer) - this doesn’t necessarily bolster applications but helps you decide what you want/like
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Can I afford grad school?
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*Note: many schools provide some level of funding through scholarships, stipends and/or teaching/research assistantships, but even the most generous funding packages will likely be less than a salary for comparable full-time work. Working outside of grad school is difficult and explicitly prohibited by some programs. Many grad students rely at least in part on family support, personal savings or student loans.
A Psychology Honours Specialization B.A. or B.Sc. will be the most straightforward path.
Click here for more information.
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As a brief summary, you will need to complete statistics course(s) and research methods course(s) on top of standard Psychology courses and breadth requirements.
TIP! When we asked clinical psychology faculty members about having low grades and applying to clinical psychology some responded that having an average of 75% or lower will make it unlikely to gain admission. Others mentioned that a low average may be compensated with very strong research experience, like publishing an honours thesis and other research. Additionally, students can retake key courses to demonstrate improvement and increase their average.
To be safe, aim for A-level grades (i.e., mid-high 80's) in the final few years of study + other research experiences.
cognates:
Plan to take courses that meet clinical psychology cognate requirements. Most grad programs give you an opportunity to fulfill missing cognates, but requirements may differ depending on the school. See here for more info.
individual
Individual behaviour (e.g., personality theory, human development, individual differences and abnormal psychology)
biological
Biological bases of behaviour
(e.g., comparative psychology, physiological psychology, neuropsychology, psychopharmacology).
cognitive-affective
Cognitive-Affective bases of behaviour (e.g., learning, sensation, perception, cognition, motivation, emotion).
social
Social bases of behaviour
(e.g., social psychology, cultural, ethnic and/or group processes, organizational and systems theory)
historical + scientific foundations
Historical and scientific foundations of general psychology
Research Experience
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Reach out to labs to volunteer (particular areas that you are interested in and see yourself pursuing).
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See Resources here
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Paid Lab opportunities that are facilitated by the school
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Community or hospital research facilities (e.g., treatment programs, community-based research centres)
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Course based research experience (e.g. course where you work in someone’s lab)
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Academic faculty that you can use as references
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It is important to build these relationships earlier on to get good reference letters!
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Let the PI (prof) know that your goal is to attend grad school.
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After some time in the lab, ask the lab coordinator or researcher if there are any opportunities to help with conference presentations or publications
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**Note: publications at the undergraduate level are rare and not a requirement!
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Typically, acquiring research experience is more important than clinical volunteer experience (e.g., crisis line), as you will be expected to have foundational research skills when beginning graduate school.
TIP! As you volunteer for the lab, remember that you want a strong reference letter - which comes with dedication, demonstrating initiative, and taking pride in your work.
STAGE 3: CREATING & STRENGTHENING APPLICATION
You've taken the required courses, gotten decent grades and gained research experience - great work! At this point you've achieved the minimum requirements to get your name on potential application lists.
But how do you make your application stand out from the crowd? Taking time to craft your CV and personal statement can go a long way.
Preparing Your CV
A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a record of your academic achievements, and should clearly and concisely demonstrate your skills as a researcher.
Your CV should include:
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Any completed or in-progress degrees
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Labs where you gained experience as a research assistant or lab manager, with brief details of your responsibilities or completed projects
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Awards and/or scholarships you've received
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Any publications and/or conference presentations
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Research-related coursework (e.g. where you conducted a research project or analyzed data)
TIP! Western Career Education has resources to help you create a CV. Check them out here.
TIP! A CV is different from a resume! Some students choose to include a very brief section on employment experience in their CV, and some supervisors may appreciate an applicant with some 'real-world' experience. However, this section should be peripheral if it is included at all.
Writing a Statement of Interest
Most programs will expect you to submit a Statement of Interest/Personal Letter/Personal Statement with your application. Your statement is an opportunity to demonstrate your experience and writing ability, and highlight your interest in a potential supervisor and program. Prospective supervisors want to see that you are genuinely passionate about research and your interests align with their program of research.
TIP! When we asked Clinical Psychology faculty what students should leave out of their statement, they unanimously said students should not discuss personal experience with mental illness as their reason for pursuing this field.
Although faculty are aware that students may have lived experience with mental illness, they want to be sure students are not solely motivated by personal reasons, as a Clinical Psychology PhD involves mostly research.
Start with a short introduction stating that your experience makes you a strong candidate for the program, and briefly explain why you're interested in Clinical Psychology specifically.
Your CV provides a list of what you've done; your statement shows how you think!
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Elaborate on how previous experiences shaped your research interests or goals and made you a stronger researcher/student
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Describe the skills you've developed: like your creativity, attention to detail, ability to think critically and your knowledge of statistical/research methods
TIP! The bulk of your statement might stay the same for each program you're applying to, but make sure to tailor your statement to the particular supervisor and program.
The bulk of your statement should discuss your research experience. Rather than listing every project you've worked on, focus on those that best demonstrate what you've learned and the skills you've developed. Give particular attention to independent research projects that highlight your individual capability and competence.
TIP! Double check length and formatting requirements for each program you want to apply to, since they might not be the same!
Your statement could also include:
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transcript highlights, like your stellar mark in a stats course
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extracurricular activities relevant to psychology
In the last section, describe your research interests and explain how they align with the interests of the potential supervisor and the training philosophy of the program. You can also discuss your career goals and the skills or methods you're hoping to learn, and how the supervisor/program will help you achieve these!
Check out some example statements here.
TIP! It is in your best interest to be sincere about your research interests, as you don't want to match with the wrong supervisor!
STAGE 4: APPLYING TO GRADUATE PROGRAMS
So you've decided to apply to clinical psychology grad school? That's awesome! Completing applications can feel exciting and sometimes a bit overwhelming. Organization is key to keeping the application process as stress-free as possible! Below, we've complied some strategies, tips, and advice from clinical faculty at Western to help you while you apply!
DECIDING WHERE TO APPLY
For clinical psychology graduate school, you apply to a supervisor, not a school. What matters most is your match with the potential supervisor, however also take into account what the program is like and if the program goals match what you want!
For instance, clinical science programs operate in a different model than scientist-practitioner programs (e.g., more research-heavy). Know the difference before you apply!
TIP! Make sure that any schools that you apply to in Canada are CPA Accredited!
Look for schools with profs that are accepting students and share your research interests!
If applying to schools outside of Canada, consider differences of being an international student vs a domestic student (e.g., differences in costs and funding).
TIP! There is no right or wrong number of schools to apply to!
Every application costs money (~$100 CAD each), as well as your and your referees’ time. Try to balance applying to enough programs that you have good odds of getting an interview, but keeping in mind your budget and time!
EMAILING POTENTIAL SUPERVISORS
You can email potential supervisors beforehand to ask a question, check if they're taking students, or indicate your interest in applying to them! In more recent cycles, some students are choosing to not email potential supervisors. However, it typically doesn't hurt to send a well-crafted and thoughtful email.
Check their lab website for information/tips about getting in touch and whether the supervisor wants to receive emails from prospective students.
TIP! Some supervisors appreciate student emails and others may find it cumbersome or unnecessary. There is a lot of variability.
If you do choose to email a supervisor, keep it brief and tailored to the supervisor. Do not assume they have the time to engage in a full conversation or meet with you in advance.
REFERENCES
Typically 2-3 Referees
Most of your referees should speak to Academic or Research skills (e.g., honours thesis supervisor, lab supervisor, long-time instructor).
Always double check the format of the reference letter for each application! Some schools require that you submit the entire application before your referee is able to start their reference letter, and you need to make sure your referees have enough time to provide a reference before the application due date.
TIP! Provide your referees with your academic CV, a recent transcript, and a spreadsheet of the references they will be providing, including the schools, programs, format, and due dates.
COMPLETING THE APPLICATION
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Applications are typically not considered complete until all reference letters are submitted.
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You often need to send your official transcript several weeks in advance as they are typically sent by mail. Order these early!
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Consider applying to external funding for the programs you’re applying to! You can find more info here. You may be asked about this in your graduate school applications.
TIP! Advice from Western Clinical Faculty:
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When creating the short list of applicants, research experience, statement of interest, and references letters were all considered very important.
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Generally, first-year grades do not matter too much, particularly in other non-psychology subjects. Your most recent grades (e.g., last 8-10 credits, final 2 years of study, etc.) are important.
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Overall, your grades, the statement, etc. don’t need to be perfect, they just need to be good enough!
TIP! Be genuine in stating your interests! Grad school lasts a long time (~6 years) and you want to spend it focusing on something you’re interested in.
Writing the Statement of Interest
Create a spreadsheet to keep track of the applications that you’re completing. It could be useful to track the due dates, which sections you’ve completed (e.g., submitting transcripts, statement of interest), the reference letters, usernames and passwords, etc.
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When writing about your research interests, strike a balance between having well-articulated/focused research interests and remaining flexible to learning. Supervisors want to see that you are open/willing to expand your interests and adapt.
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STAGE 5: PREPARING FOR INTERVIEWS
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You’ve made it past the first screening process! The invitation likely means that your application materials were quite competitive and caught the attention of potential supervisors. Now the focus is on your interpersonal style, your fit with the program and supervisor’s program of research/lab, and your abilities to articulate your research interests and experiences. Departments are also looking for whether students would be good as psychologists (based on interpersonal style, etc.). Continue below for some resources and tips for the interview process (including some advice from faculty members in Western University's psychology department)!
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Practice answering mock interview questions and describing your interests and background out loud, alone and with others.
This master list of questions is a great place to start, as well as this document:
TIP! Write down answers to questions and practice answering them out loud.
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Review the work (i.e., publications) of who you are interviewing with.
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Review YOUR work (e.g., honours thesis, the general findings, any publications you have) so that you’re able to describe/discuss it generally.
INTERVIEW KNOW-HOW
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Look up the information about the program you are being interviewed for.
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Think of questions that you have for the PI, for graduate students, and for other faculty. Having thoughtful questions in hand for the PI and other interviewers shows that you have thought and looked through their program. If you don’t have any questions ready when asked, it may potentially appear that you were unprepared or disinterested.
It is important for you to learn about supervisors' mentorship style, given that you will be working closely with them for many years. For example, some prefer to be more hands-on (i.e., regular meetings, frequent editing, more supervision, more direction in research topic), whereas others are hands-off (i.e., students take the lead on projects, less regular supervision and/or check-ins).
TIP! Ask yourself:
Can you see yourself working with this person for multiple years?
Do they have access to additional funding?
How ‘hands-on’ is their supervision style and is that what you prefer?
What do their current/previous grad students think?
Do other students seem friendly and cooperative?
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Remember, you are also interviewing the PI and the program to see whether it is a good match for YOU (including your values, desired training experience, community, etc.)
STAGE 6: POST APPLICATION
At this stage, you've heard back from the program(s) you've applied. Generally, you'll receive either an acceptance letter of rejection. You may also be informed that you are waitlisted. See below for some things to consider for your next step:
REJECTION
Having your application rejected really sucks.
However, remember that rejected applications are the norm and that there could be many reasons unrelated to your application for the decision (e.g., limited departmental funding for the year, fit between supervisors and prospective students, luck). It’s normal for students to apply multiple cycles before gaining admissions.
What’s important now is to focus on increasing your chances of gaining admissions in the next cycle. See below for a few tips:
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Review your own application and look for areas that could be improved. For example:
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Application materials (letter of purpose, CV)
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Interview skills
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Research experience
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Letters of recommendation
TIP! Systematic reviews are a good way for students without access to datasets to gain publications. Click here for a guide and here (Chapter 1).
If available, ask your undergraduate supervisor if they have any archival data that you can work with. Look at the measures used and formulate a hypothesis and then test the hypothesis with the archival dataset. for feedback for improvements from graduate students in your own lab.
TIP! Consider asking for feedback for improvements from graduate students in your own lab.
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Gain more research experience, particularly experiences in writing a manuscript for publication and conference posters. This process could help you refine your research interests.
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Work on your interviewing skills. Practice with a friend. See stage 5.
Different training is required for clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, & counsellors.
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Consider applying to a masters research based program in or related to clinical psychology to boost your GPA,CV, research experience. You might also consider more clinical practice orientated programs.
ACCEPTANCE:
Congratulations! It can be a tough decision to choose which offer to accept. If you are given multiple offers, please avoid holding onto more than 2 offers at a time so that offers you are likely to reject can go to other students sooner.
Take some time to celebrate and then consider the following (hover your cursor over each thought bubble for examples):
What is the supervisor's mentoring style?
Do you prefer more hands-off, more involved, or mix? Do they provide opportunities for publications?
Does the program having training opportunities and resources that would align with my interests and goals?
E.g., neuro, physiological measurement technology, training in specific types of therapy, access to certain populations
E.g., media reports of
hate crimes? Predominantly White? LGBT2QIA+ community? Affordability? Access to things important to you (e.g., nature, restaurants)?
What is the environment like at the university and in the city as a whole?
What do the current grad students in the lab view as pros and cons of where they are (lab, city)?
WAITLIST:
Being put on a waitlist leaves you in a state of limbo (which could last 2 months!). Congratulate yourself for getting this far - this means the PI would take you on as a student if they had more space, and they likely will give you an offer if someone else turns theirs down. The best plan is to remember that at this point, the decision is out of your hands. To find out where your application stands, you can call the graduate secretariat/admissions officer to find out more.
Unless you have an offer elsewhere this might be a good time to come up with a contingency plan if you are rejected. If you receive a scholarship (e.g., Canadian Graduate Scholarship- Masters [CGS-M], Ontario Graduate Scholarship [OGS]) at the university where you are waitlisted, it can’t hurt to reach out to the PI to let them know you’ve received this funding.