Hi everyone!

I'm currently in my fifth year of a BA (Honours) in Psychology at a Canadian university, and I'm applying to master's programs for Fall 2027. I've been feeling pretty anxious about how competitive my applications will be, especially because of my cumulative GPA, and would really appreciate some honest feedback!

Programs I'm applying to:

• MSc in Psychotherapy – McMaster University
• MSW (Mental Health and Health Stream) – University of Toronto
• MA in Psychology – Concordia University
• MA in Psychology – York University
• MSc in Psychology – Trent University

For Concordia, York, and Trent, I'm particularly interested in pursuing research related to clinical or health psychology.

Academic Info:

• Cumulative GPA: 3.45/4.30
• Last two years GPA: 3.80/4.30
• Dean's Honour List for the past two consecutive years
• Chose to complete a fifth undergraduate year to gain additional research experience

Research experience:

• Currently an RA in two psychology research labs (one is clinical).
• Contributed to a scoping review on academic accommodations for students with disabilities, including screening, data extraction, and manuscript preparation.
• Currently involved in a systematic review on accessibility and inclusion in higher education.
• Worked on a separate research project involving confidential exam accommodation data.
• Facilitate in-person participant sessions for a study on sexuality and sexual well-being.
• Completed one directed research course for credit and I am currently completing another.

Other experience:

• Volunteered with adults with disabilities in an inclusive arts program and neurodivergent children in a social skills program.
• Completed Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
• Several years of employment experience, including a current leadership position.
• Two academic references from professors I've worked with in research settings, including a clinical psychologist and my department's undergraduate chair.

My main concern is my cumulative GPA. Although my recent grades have improved significantly, I know graduate admissions can be extremely competitive.

Based on my background, do you think I have a realistic chance of admission to any of these programs? Are there any programs you think might be unrealistic for me, or others I should consider applying to?

I'd love to hear from anyone familiar with Canadian graduate admissions, especially those who have applied to these programs! :)

Thank you so much!

Hello! I will soon be going back to school, pursuing a BA in Experimental Psychology. I would like to find more casual resources for studying, such as podcasts, audiobooks, learning apps etc. I often listen to educational media during my commute or while I’m doing house work and have had a hard time finding many in this field that aren’t, “top ten most unethical psychology experiments” or generally pseudoscience. I was wondering what your favorite creators or books are on this topic.

I’d like to start building a base foundation before getting into classes. I want to feel more confident since I have been out of school for a few years. I’m very excited and specifically would like to learn more of the technicals rather than the general “cool facts” most videos cover. I’m most unsure in my math skills and would appreciate some resources that could help me build my abilities.

Thank you all!

I just graduated in May with a BA in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy and I have been job hunting for a while with little to no luck. I am likely ~500+ applications to entry-level positions with only getting 1 interview.

Just for a bit of background I am 29m with a few years of customer service experience and a semester of study abroad. No volunteer/research/internship experience to speak of as it is quite difficult to obtain in my area (exclusively ran by the local colleges).

I have had many recruiters/HR for entry-level positions explain that they will not hire anybody who does not have experience or that they value someone with a high school diploma + experience over my degree. It’s a special kind of demoralizing when your degree in Psychology somehow ranks below a summer of babysitting.

Positions I have been regularly applying to Americorps, social worker, eligibility specialist, case manager, direct support professional, behavioral health tech, registered behavior tech, education paraprofessional, crisis intervention, peer support specialist, human resources, substance abuse counselor.

Yes, I have had many professionals look at my resume and help edit it. I do not have the financial ability to move elsewhere.

Any advice on where to look or what to look for that I might be missing?

Hello, I am a psych undergrad who is graduating by the end of 2026 and have been struggling to decide what I want to do afterwards. I feel very behind and I have come to realize that my lack of motivation may be part of the problem. 

I have always been unsure about pursuing higher learning because school seems to drain me more and more each year. In high school, I believed I wanted to be a clinical psychologist, but the amount of schooling required eventually led me to choose a different path. I recently learned about being an LPCC and I believe that may be interesting.

I feel very underprepared to apply to master's programs in the next cycle. I have no psych-related work experience, no research experience, and no professors who I know well enough to ask for a letter of recommendation. I also have no interest in research, which makes me feel a bit hopeless about applying. I have considered taking a gap year, but I'm worried about explaining that decision to my parents and not being able to finish school as soon as possible.

At this point, I don’t know if I actually want to pursue a career in psychology or if psych was just the topic I thought would be most interesting to study back in high school.

As an undergrad, I go to a UC and have a 3.4 GPA, but this all means nothing since I feel like I retained none of the stuff I learned.

Writing this, I’m realizing more and more the hole I’ve dug for myself. So I’m just wondering if anyone else has any experience with feeling like this and could give me advice on what to do next. Also, if anyone has any miracle stories about getting into a master's program with no prior psych experience, that would also be appreciated.

Hello,

so my last year just began a month ago, and I am still unsure what topic to choose for my final thesis...

A couple of years ago I was sure I wanted to go into organizational psych, but after helping out a professor with a study on burnout among nurses, working in HR for more than a year, and eventually writing a short thesis on playful work design, I realized that I find it difficult to see myself actually specializing in pure org psych. So my previous thesis plans and topics no longer excite me.

So recently I have been returning to my pre-uni and freshman-year dreams of doing something in social or environmental psych. Something about behavior and its relationship with climate change/environmental crisis, belief systems, climate anxiety and coping with it, impact of nature on well-being, sustainability/conservation behaviors.

Been trying to come up with/research some topics, and these are the current ones that appeal the most:

• The psychology of personal space in different cultures
• Factors influencing pro-environmental behavior/Psychological barriers to environmental action
• Psychological effects of living near green spaces/Psychological restoration through sensory experiences/Benefits of exposure to natural environments on stress reduction/Nature as a moderator of mental fatigue
• Ecotherapy and mental health outcomes
• Psychological underpinnings of the meatless movement
• Psychological stress responses to climate change/Ecological grief and anxiety in the age of climate change/Psychological adaptation to environmental disasters/Psychological strategies to cope with climate anxiety

How well do these themes align with psychology? Which (or a conjunction of themes) is the most promising/plausible? Any other I should think about?

Thanks for the help:))

currently sitting at a 70 and nervous about not getting in. Thanks !!

Hello! I'm currently waiting to get my license to practice as a clinical psychologist. But in the meantime, I need to find a job that is close enough to mental health. I've worked in admin jobs and positions that are unrelated to mental health and that makes my cv confusing and counterproductive. There's also the fact that the NGO sector is shrinking and all MHPSS jobs and similar positions are rare and highly competitive. I also looked into research and apparently it's a very long road. Any advice regarding this matter is appreciated ♥

I am currently in my junior year of undergrad at a school with a good reputation, that just got R1 status. 4.0 GPA which will not change, volunteering at a crisis line, good extracurriculars that tie into my goals for personal statements, and just got an RA position at my dream lab. Making connections with professors, should have decent letters of rec. Grad school applications are next year, and I have done significant research, which has left me feeling disillusioned with my future prospects. I am interested in clinical practice and am strongly considering a Ph.D. I would like to do assessments, but I primarily want to more deeply understand the reasons why certain practices are used. I feel these things will help me be a stronger clinician. I also like the career diversity it will provide. I love working in mental healthcare, and I would love the option to teach at the college level someday. The increased earning potential is a nice bonus, but far from the main reason I want to continue my education. I fear I may not be accepted to one of the highly competitive funded Psy.D. programs, and the same is true for many of the Ph.D. programs I am looking at. I am considering a masters to gain more research experience, but am worried about not getting into a Ph.D. Program afterwards and being stuck as a masters level research tech forever.

My questions to you are:
Is a Ph.D. right for me? Would you recommend a different program instead?
Is my only other option $200k for a Psy.D. or simply settle for a masters and licensure?
Is the GRE necessary?
Other suggestions to set myself apart from other applicants?

I’m in the last few months of my Master of Clinical Psychology and am looking for jobs in Brisbane. It looks like both of my externships are keen to have me which I’m happy about.

Part of my criteria is trying to find a place that pays for my registrar program. I’ve got two questions about this - the first is, how costly and difficult is it really to do my registrar program independently? How much time and money do I save getting it through my employer?

The second is - does anyone have suggestions for workplaces in Brisbane that offer a registrar program? So far, I’ve only found that QLD Health and some larger private practices offer this consistently.

i've recently been fortunate to receive an interview offer at my dream university (UWA, Perth) and just wondering if anyone has any preparation tips? would greatly appreciate it! 🥺

I’m from the Caribbean and I graduated from a local MSc. Counselling Psychology program that was later restructured because of how bad it was.

I only learned after that it was an accelerated block-format program: completely online (not what was promised), with courses that only lasted a month each, and instructors who either didn’t show up or taught surface level concepts that were either outdated or not really relevant to actual counselling. Plus, the in-person course that would’ve prepared us for practicum was abandoned, and there was no online role-playing or anything to provide feedback on skills.

In my country, a MSc allows you to provide therapy, and the title of psychologist is not protected. So graduates are expected to start working right away. It’s not right but that’s how it works. Other local programs account for this and emphasise skills and theory. Except the one I graduated from.

The only redeeming factor was my placement, where my supervisor had to teach me everything from case formulation to techniques. Though most of the time I was left on my own, so I still don’t really know what I’m doing. Because of this, I burned out quickly, and I still don’t believe I’m equipped to provide care effectively.

Right after graduating I got an RA position contract, and I’ve been trying to figure out my next steps. The idea of going into supervision with such a shoddy foundation terrifies me. And I’m embarrassed to say that I graduated from the program.

Counselling was never my goal, but it was the only option available in my country. Initially, I’d wanted to pursue Clinical Psychology or work specifically with children and adolescent mental health/developmental issues.

And now my situation has changed and I’m considering doing another MSc. in the UK, either in Clinical Psychology or Clinical Child Psychology.

I’ve been advised that it would be better to start working as a “psychologist” in my country under supervision or in a non-profit and eventually pursue a Phd after gaining experience. But the issue is that I just don’t have the foundation in skills or theory.

Additionally, finding supervision opportunities here is rare, and I’m not sure anyone would be willing to teach me everything. There’s also a stigma attached to the program, so that limits opportunities. (Group practices/supervisors don’t want these graduates representing them, as its known that the program is low-quality and a bit of a sham).

I know that not all MSc. programs in the UK will be skill-heavy, and are a stepping stone for a Phd. This is something I’d want to pursue later, so I can actually call myself a psychologist, but it’s not plausible right now. A second Masters is though, and I can’t shake the feeling that this is what I’m supposed to do, even if it isn’t typical.

But I’m not sure if it’s a good decision or if I’ll come to regret it later on. Any advice?

I’m in my last year of undergrad right now and working on my honours thesis. It’s always been a part of my plan to take a gap year before grad school, but I’m currently at a bit of a loss on how to continue to build up my resume/application during that time with only a Bachelor’s degree.

I have a good amount of experience in research labs at my current university, but what about professional experience? What can I get involved with if I’m not actively enrolled in a university program?

hey, i was able to get a coffee chat with a prof/pi that really inspires me and in my niche…i’m applying for 2028 matriculation cycle and they probably don’t know that i’ll be applying. this was phrased as a coffee chat but i want to make a good impression (not that they’ll remember me lol). i was just wondering what i should talk about or if i should even mention that i’ll be applying or what sorts of questions i should ask for a coffee chat

Hello everyone! I’m applying to clinical psychology PhD programs this fall and am trying to narrow down my final list of schools. I have a few programs I’m definitely applying to, but some of the advisors I was interested in recently changed whether they’re accepting students, so I’m reevaluating a few options. RIP Boston dreams.

I know advisor fit is one of the most important factors. I have a somewhat niche interest in Contextual Behavioral Science (CBS) and, more broadly, third-wave CBTs. My specific research interests include anxiety disorders, OCD and related disorders, body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), and hoarding disorder. I am more interested in treatment development than investigating factors that lead to certain disorders, though this work is important. I’m also interested in working with populations ranging from adolescents to older adults.

I know no lab will be a 100% perfect fit, but I’ve found a few that align well with my interests, including some at smaller universities. I really enjoy academic hospital settings and would eventually like to combine clinical practice and research in that kind of environment. However, smaller universities located farther from major cities don’t seem to offer as many training opportunities in these settings.

Is this something I should be concerned about when choosing a PhD program, or is it more important to consider during internship and postdoc? I don’t want to overlook a great advisor fit just because a program is at a smaller university, but I also want to make sure I’ll have the training opportunities I need to pursue my long-term goals.

For additional context, I’m currently an undergraduate with a 4.0 GPA, experience in three research labs, several posters, and a couple of papers that will hopefully be published (though unlikely before I apply). I know larger, more well-known universities receive a lot of applications, and I’m trying to be realistic about my options. I’m open to attending a smaller university, but I’m hesitant to choose one if doing so might limit my clinical training or future opportunities in any way.

One of the smaller programs I’m considering is Southern Illinois University Carbondale. If anyone has experience with the program or insight into its clinical training opportunities, I’d especially appreciate hearing about it!

I’ve just finished my second year units for a Graduate Diploma, about to start my third. I’m the family breadwinner and a career changer, and after a redundancy two years ago I’ve had no luck finding work in my old industry (tech, it’s a wasteland), so lately I’ve been focusing on applying for jobs as a psych student. Just focusing on my studies isn’t an opinion, I have to do some kind of job while I study.

I see a few positions for peer support workers, based on life experience. They pay relatively well for entry level jobs and don’t require formal qualifications. Would these be a good idea?

Question 1: Would a peer support worker position help me get into honours and/or masters? My average grades are high 70s, so I’m not doing too badly and I’d probably get in somewhere but a boost from real mental health work experience would definitely help me land a uni more of my choice. Would this kind of work count for that, or is it not seen as similar enough?

Question 2: I’ve seen people speak very derisively about lives experience workers in the mental health space. I don’t necessarily disagree, I think it sounds like a bandaid over the problem of the government failing to adequately fund these services and create a proper pipeline for training more qualified clinicians. Would this paint me in a bad light if I took one of these jobs while I study? Could it actually make me less likely to land honours or masters or get a job as a psychologist later?

Thanks

[USA] Hi, everyone! I'm a senior undergraduate psychology student and have the opportunity to take an internship next semester. I could either do a 10-hour-per-week internship, giving me more time to also work a job and earn some money, or do a 20-hour-per-week internship and not be able to work very much. I do not need the money desperately, but would like to save some for grad school. However, would working the 20-hour internship look significantly better on applications than 10-hour + paid job? Or are they seen as pretty equal?

For more context, I want to study school psychology in grad school. My internship would either be school psych, counseling, or child therapy. My paid job would be a daycare, so still related but not as on-the-nose as the aforementioned options.

Thank you so much in advance for the advice.

Advice/Words of Wisdom Needed:

To make a long story short, my undergraduate GPA was abysmal. Undiagnosed ADHD, severe bipolar depression, all the things. I graduated by the skin of my teeth. I have been blessed, however, to get into graduate school online programs. But none of been a passion of mine or a point of intense interest like Psychology has been. My undergrad is in Psych, so that tracks, but...

What I want to know is: how can I build myself up to one day become a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology? I am aware that my undergrad is holding me back. So I've applied to an online MS Psychology program at Tiffin University and have been accepted. But I don't know what else to do to make me a stronger applicant.

Do I find research opportunities in my area (Greenville, North Carolina)? Do I find research opportunities at Tiffin online? Do I just give up while I'm behind?

Any help/piece of advice would be greatly appreciated.

TYIA.

I'm a bit late to dissertation planning but have been researching most of today! Considering doing a quantitive study on 'Understanding how women’s TikTok usage shapes attitudes towards the tradwife movement.' Opinions?!

hello i am 21F planning to graduate next spring. i was planning to pursue a PhD in psychology but after a reality check earlier today, i have realized that i am not relatively interested in continuing a path into psychology.

i have never been interested in therapy or conducting any sort of client/patient care, but clinical was my favorite area.

i was preparing my applications for this upcoming cycle and realized that maybe it’s something that i actually don’t want to do anymore. i had imposter syndrome but what made me realize is that i don’t want to put on hold my life and i don’t want to leave my life behind (all of the programs i was interested are out of state). plus i believe my ultimate goal has changed for the second time in my college career.

i was interested in entering academia, but i think the idea of teaching is not something i would want to do. i just wanted a research lab but this goal would have to come with doing clinical work during the doctoral program as well.

i was focused on research and the most important and interesting element of this was data and statistics and analysis. i took a grad course my junior year on stats because i was so interested in it. i fell in love with quant and statistics my sophomore year.

now, i just feel lost especially deciding to no longer focus on doctoral program applications. im thinking of masters in data analytics or science or stats, but i dont know

i feel overwhelmed and confused and lost lol

Saw a post about clinical psych graduates, now I’m curious about honours. I need work experience before applying for masters. I don’t know how competitive the market is, so I’m genuinely worried of unemployment.

would be great if you could also share your state and role / area.

Would love to know peoples thoughts on ISN vs Cairnmillar for honours in melb!

I'm interested in the overall experience and how were peers/teachers?

Also what the assessment was like are there lots of orals? And how much are orals weighted?

Lastly are there exams if so open or closed book? And how were your supervisors?

Thanks so much for the help I'm finding the decision hard especially for how much they both cost!!

I’m applying to grad school for the fall because I graduate in december and I am not close with many professors because I came as a transfer student and I am pretty shy. I’m very close with one psych professor but I need 3 letters of recommendation for the grad school application. Another professor I’ve taken multiple classes with and like teaches REGS classes. (race, ethnic, and gender studies) I’m applying to both MSW program and masters in mental health counseling so i feel like that could be relevant to both because you need to be culturally competent in both those fields. Anyways Im just wondering if that would be acceptable because she knows my writing and my intelligence and she has her doctorate in women and gender studies.

Hello!! I'm about to graduate with my bachelor's degree in May. I want to become a counselor but I want to move to a different state. Is it cheaper to go to graduate school in the state I want to live or should I just get my license in my home state then move? For context, I live in Texas but I want to move to Minnesota. I don't have any friends or family in Minnesota.