Information for Prospective Graduate Students
Thank you for your interest in my lab and the UBC clinical psychology graduate program! Please feel free to email me with any questions or simply to express your interest in applying. Sadly, I am not always able to reply as the quantity of emails I receive nowadays is overwhelming, but I do appreciate receiving these emails and I do read them. Although stressful, the graduate school application process is an exciting time, and I'd be happy to hear from you if you're considering my lab! Because it has become difficult to give individual replies, I have tried to answer below some of the most common questions.
Who is a good fit for my lab?
I am often asked what kind of applicant is the best fit for my lab. My lab is best suited for students with genuine passion and enthusiasm for research. Those who find themselves naturally eager to take leading roles in various research projects will find the lab to be an exciting and supportive home. Of course all students the UBC clinical program receive high-level clinical training; however, my lab is a poor fit for those driven primarily by interest in clinical practice. Also, we are most interested in applicants who have research interests that match well with one or more of the topics we study here in our lab.
Should I submit my GRE scores?
Applications are given full consideration regardless of whether GRE scores are submitted. All else equal, I prefer that applicants, when possible, include their GRE scores, especially the Psychology GRE, with their application. These metrics are not given excessive weight, but they are useful indicators along with research accomplishments, recommendation letters, GPA, writing samples, personal statement, and all other components of the application. For some applicants who did not have the means or support to attend 'prestigious' universities or obtain high GPAs, the GRE is the quickest way to demonstrate that their application still deserves serious consideration. For others, it may be the opposite, that GRE scores are low, but their record of academic and scientific accomplishment makes their best case.
I want my PhD, but I apply to the Masters program?
One thing that is not obvious to U.S. applicants is that applicants seeking their PhD in clinical psychology apply to the "Master's" program. In the Canadian system, you are called a "Masters student" your first two years, and then you apply to the PhD program here to become a "PhD student". This is just a formality: we only accept Masters students who intend to, and whom we expect to, transition directly into our PhD program.