Interviewing for Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology

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Hosted by Student Affiliates of Seventeen (SAS)

January 20, 2020

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Presenters:

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Ceewin Louder, MA, University of Miami Gloria McGillen, MA, University of Missouri

Colleen Eddy, MA, University of Missouri Sandra Gomez, BA, University of Missouri

Leticia Martinez, BA, University of Missouri (facilitator)

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Student Affiliates of Seventeen Webinar Series

APA Division 17 (Society for Counseling Psychology)

• A professional home for all counseling psychology professionals and affiliates (e.g., students)
• Committed to a holistic psychological perspective that is strengths-based, contextually aware, multiculturally inclusive, socially just, and integrative of vocational and lifespan issues
• Promote this perspective within psychology and the public sector through practice, research, education and training, advocacy, consultation, and leadership

Learn more: https://www.div17.org/about-scp/

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Student Affiliates of Seventeen (SAS) Benefits

• Networking opportunities
• CPC 2020, April 2–5 (New Orleans, LA)
• APA Convention, August 6–9 (Washington, D.C.)
• Travel awards & other funded annual awards
• Early registration deadline: TOMORROW, 1/21!
• CPC funding award application due FRI, 1/24!
• Campus event funding
• Publication and presentation opportunities
• Leadership positions
• SAS membership is automatic when you join Division 17! Join today for $17: https://www.div17.org/about-scp/membership/

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Overview

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• Introductions
• Purpose of the Interview Process
• Preparing for Interview Day
• What to Expect
• Good Questions for Faculty and Students
• Tips for Calming Nerves
• After the Interview
• Q&A / Debrief

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Q&A and Debrief

• Stay tuned for our Q&A (recorded) and debrief (not recorded)
• The session is currently being recorded; all but the debrief will be made available online
• Thank you for your questions! Please feel free to continue to submit them through Zoom throughout the webinar to be addressed at the end.

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Presenters

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• Ceewin Louder, MA, University of Miami�cnl54@miami.edu

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• Colleen Eddy, MA,

University of Missouri�colleen.eddy@mail.missouri.edu

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• Leticia Martinez, BA, University of Missouri�leticia.martinez@mail.missouri.edu

• Gloria McGillen, MA, University of Missouri�ggm2gf@mail.missouri.edu

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• Sandra Gomez, BA, University of Missouri (facilitator)

snghmh@mail.missouri.edu

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Where Are You in the Process?

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Respond to the poll to let us know!

1. Are you currently completing interviews or planning ahead for a future application cycle?
2. If you’re currently interviewing, do you have interviews in person, online, or both?

Purpose of the Interview Process

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• Further confirm mutual fit between your goals, skills, and interests and those of the program and, in most cases, your potential advisor
• “...Students are evaluating and selecting programs as much as vice versa.” —Mitch’s Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology (2017)
• Remember: You’re qualified!

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Preparing for Interview Day

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• Review program information (including emphasis), program handbook, faculty member interests and recent scholarship, and your statement of purpose and CV
• Draft potential questions for advisor, other faculty, and students
• For in-person interviews, plan travel, including the possibility of inclement weather and flight delays

Preparing for Online Interviews

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• Secure internet connection
• Make sure your phone is on silent
• Find a quiet spot
• Still do your homework!
• Express gratitude

What to Expect During Interview Day

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• Program overview
• The actual interview(s)
• Current and prospective student social

Good Questions for Faculty & Students

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Faculty

• Clinical, research, funding opportunities
• Mentorship style

Students

• Lifestyle
• Partners/families
• Program culture
• Financial

Tips for Calming Nerves

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• Try not to be too critical of yourself
• INSTEAD remember to be invited for an interview means you are already an excellent applicant!
• Try not to think about whether the interviewers think you’re a fit
• INSTEAD focus on how the program fits for YOU
• Try not to compare yourself to other applicants
• INSTEAD consider your strengths and the unique experience you would bring to the program
• INSTEAD also consider making conversation with other applicants—you likely have a lot in common!

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After the Interview

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• Immediately following the interview day
• Take some notes on positive and negatives of the program
• Take care of yourself
• Following up with interview day
• Thank-you emails
• Handling responses from programs
• No thank-you’s
• Waitlist
• Offers

Q&A

• We welcome your questions!
• Please stay for the debrief post-Q&A for the unrecorded portion of the discussion

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Additional Resources

• Mitch’s Uncensored Advice: http://mitch.web.unc.edu/files/2017/02/MitchGradSchoolAdvice.pdf
• Has some falsehoods about counseling psychology, but the info about the interview process is very helpful
• Program guide from Joseph Hammer, PhD: http://drjosephhammer.com/psych-�grad-school/best-doctoral-programs-in-counseling-psychology/
• Grad Cafe Results Search: https://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php

Stay Connected

• Joining APA and Division 17/SAS as a Student Affiliate: Visit https://www.apa.org/members/your-membership/graduate for instructions on joining APA as a student affiliate. During the sign-up process, you will be provided an option to join Division 17 (membership dues: $17).
• SAS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/APASCPSAS
• SAS Twitter: https://twitter.com/SAS_apadiv17
• SAS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SAS_apadiv17/
• SCP Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/division17/
• CPC 2020 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CPC2020/

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Debrief

• This portion of the webinar is not being recorded and will not be shared
• Please continue with your questions!