Should I apply to PhD programs right out of undergrad?

Not if you want to get in the first time you apply. Most applicants to clinical psychology PhD programs have additional research experience after undergrad, and you will not be as competitive if your only research experience is from undergrad.

I strongly recommend taking two years to work as a lab manager or other research staff in a psychology research lab before applying to PhD programs. Post-bac research is a great way to ensure you are passionate about research and hone your interests. You can also gain advanced data acquisition and analysis skills, work with clinical populations, coauthor posters and publications, and connect with faculty members who can write strong letters of recommendation for you.

How do I find post-bac research positions?

The Harvard page for post-graduate research jobs in psychology is the best way to find post-bac research positions. New positions get posted every week, so keep checking back, and apply to all the ones that interest you. Many take applicants on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

If I want to be a therapist or counselor, is a PhD program in clinical psychology the right choice for me?

No. If you only want clinical training, there are a variety of master’s programs that will get you there in 2-3 years instead of 5-7. You will have to pay them (PhD programs pay you), but the time investment is considerably less, and you won’t have to spend a lot of time doing research that doesn’t interest you. Social work programs where you can earn an MSW or LCSW degree are a good option.

Where can I find more information about applying to PhD programs in clinical psychology?

Right here: Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology.

How do I figure out what my research interests are?

Take some time to write down answers to the following questions:

• What in psychology fascinates me the most? What is my “burning question” that I NEED to answer?
• Which kinds of empirical papers do I feel most excited to read? What are they about? (Reading one empirical paper a day is a great way to explore this!)
• Which methodological approaches interest me the most? (experience sampling, cognitive tasks, longitudinal cohort studies, psychophysiology, neuroimaging, etc.)
• Which populations or communities am I most interested in understanding and working with? (age range, racial/ethnic/cultural background, gender, sexuality, socioeconomic status, psychiatric diagnosis, etc.)
• In what ways do my personal identities or experiences inform my research interests?

How should I choose where to apply?

Only apply to faculty members whose research is an outstanding fit with your own interests, and who will be able to capably mentor you in the methodologies you want to learn. For PhD programs, research fit and match is much more important than the prestige or ranking of the institution. 

How do I write a personal statement? Where can I find examples?

You can read example personal statements in this document from Dr. Jessica Schleider’s lab. The book Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher is a good resource for tips on writing personal statements, and also has example statements.

Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?

Letters of recommendation should come from faculty members (not graduate students – sorry to anyone who wanted one from me). This is a big reason why I don’t recommend applying to grad school right out of undergrad – most undergraduate students do not get enough face time with three faculty members to obtain three strong letters of recommendation. If you do a postbac research position, however, your postbac advisor is a great choice for a letter writer, and you might be able to work with other faculty who could write one for you as well.

What are pre-interviews and how should I prepare for them?

Many faculty members will conduct informal “pre-interviews” (a short phone or Zoom call) before inviting applicants to formal interviews, in order to narrow down their list of applicants. In my experience, pre-interviews are almost entirely about research interest fit and match. Be prepared to discuss your research interests and why you believe they would be a good advisor for you.

What should I do to prepare for grad school interviews?

Find a list of questions you might be asked during interviews, and practice answering them. (You can find a list at the bottom of this page.) Get someone to do a mock interview with you.

What questions should I ask during interviews?

Always show up to an interview with questions! This is part of showing that you are interested in the program and genuinely curious to learn about it! For faculty interviewers, ask about their experience in the department, what they like best about the institution, and what the program’s strongest aspects are. For current grad students, ask about their experience with the program, their work-life balance, how they are treated by faculty, and whether they have the resources they need.

What if I don’t get accepted to graduate school?

Don’t panic! Many people (myself included) go through more than one round of grad school applications before being accepted. Clinical psychology PhD programs are some of the most competitive doctoral programs out there – it’s not that you’re not qualified, it’s that everyone applying is incredibly well-qualified. Have a backup plan ready, and be thinking about whether you would like to apply again in the future, and what you might do differently next time.

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Questions to practice answering for grad school interviews

Why do you want to be a clinical psychologist?

Why did you choose this career? OR Why didn’t you choose [some other career that was mentioned in your application, or that you have a background in]?

Why do you want to go to our program? (This is your chance to show off what you know about their program!)

What do you know about our program?

Why did you choose to apply to our program?

What strengths will you bring to our program?

What areas about yourself would you like to work on?

What are three things you want to change about yourself?

How would your professors/friends/coworkers describe you?

Why should we consider you for our program instead of several other equally qualified candidates?

What skills or abilities do you hope to strengthen through our program?

What do you think will be your greatest challenge in completing graduate school?

Why would you be a good clinical psychologist?

Describe your greatest accomplishment.

What are your career goals? How will this program help you achieve your goals?

What do you want to specialize in?

What has motivated you to pursue this academic field?

What are your short-term and long-term goals?

Why do you want a graduate degree in clinical psychology?

Tell me about a goal you have set for yourself and how you have achieved it or intend to achieve it.

Why did you major in [your undergraduate major]?

Why did you choose to attend [your undergraduate institution]?

How has your undergraduate background prepared you for our program?

Which courses have you enjoyed the most?

Which courses have been the most difficult for you?

Do you feel your academic record accurately reflects your abilities and potential?

Do you feel you have worked to achieve your full potential?

What didn’t you like about [your undergraduate institution]?

Tell me about a professor or supervisor you didn’t like and why. (Be careful answering this!)

Tell me about your experience in this field? What was your contribution? What did you find challenging?

Describe any research project you’ve worked on. What was the purpose of the project? What was your role? What did you find?

Discuss your clinical experience (if any).

Discuss your volunteer work (if any).

Tell me about yourself.

What extracurricular activity has been most satisfying to you?

What is the most significant contribution you have made to your school/community?

What activities do you enjoy most outside the classroom? / What do you do in your spare time? / What are your hobbies? (Make sure your answers are genuine but work-appropriate.)

Tell me about a situation in which you showed initiative.

Tell me about a time when you helped a group achieve a goal. What role did you play? How did you contribute?

Tell me about a time you assumed a leadership role. What went well? What was challenging?

How do you handle stress?

Tell me about a time when you had a number of deadlines to meet at once. How did you make sure everything got done on time and you did a good job?

Tell me about a situation in which you had a conflict and resolved it. What went well? What would you do differently? Why?

Tell me about a mistake you made and how you handled it.

Tell me about a time you got feedback that required you to make a change. How did you receive and implement the feedback? Was the change successful?

NOT OK QUESTIONS: Where else are you applying? / Have you been accepted anywhere? / What is your first choice? (Politely decline to answer these – a confident “I’m looking at multiple options that I’m excited about!” will do the trick)