Tips from 2022 clinical doctorate applicants

As the 2022 application for the clinical doctorate came to an end and most people already have their results, we decided to ask some of last year's applicants to reflect on their journey and give us some tips. Both successful and unsuccessful applicants answered our questions.

How did you prepare for your application and interview?

I found that in terms of formulating the application, it was helpful to really get to know what the universities were looking for. Making sure to be reflective, discussing competencies and I how I meet them or hoping to develop them, and trying to use examples to demonstrate them were the things I mostly focused on.

To prepare for application, I spent time reviewing my previous applications and jotted down any new projects I had been involved in, whether that be clinically or research wise, and what I feel I had learned from them that could be translated to the new application. On a more personal level, I also sat down and did some reflecting on what has changed in my life and within myself since I last applied and what this means for me on an individual level and as a future qualified Psychologist. For interview, I did some mock exams with qualified Psychologists and did lots of research. I particularly looked at NHS related plans, proposals and guidelines already in place as well as those that were being considered at the time. I then also noted down my thoughts about them, pros and cons around practical implications etc. I also tried to brush up on my research knowledge so looked back at my uni material which thankfully, I kept!I also watched videos of current trainees on Youtube. I did not want to overdo this though, as it can get a bit overwhelming. Another thing I did was practice how to speak slower, as I am generally a fast speaker and did some reading around ways to better manage nerves.

If you did several rounds of application, how did bounce back psychologically?

"My experience of the doctorate in clinical psychology so far has been an interesting one. I first applied for the 2022 cohort with 0 success. Really took this to heart and was not going to apply again for the 2023 cohort. I decided in august 2022 I was going to apply again. I spent three and half month writing my application considering what I wanted to portray and chose three specific areas of clinical psychology I felt was the most important and reflected my development. I ended up with two interviews from both universities I applied. First interview was harder than I imagined but received great feedback. Second interview was better and I am waiting on feedback."

The interviews were quite stressful, but the questions were fair. I probably should have prepared better for some of the interviews in regards to the specific university.

I’d say it’s helpful to speak to current trainees, work on being a reflective individual, and try gaining a good range of experience.

This is a good question. I think for the first 3 rounds I was still highly motivated and enthusiastic to keep going. I kept telling myself and people who would ask me how I felt ‘It’s fine, I’ll just try again next time’. I genuinely felt fine and thought by the third go, I would definitely get in. Oh how wrong I was! I think by the time it got to my third application, I started feeling a little defeated and needed some time to reflect on what my motivations were for pursuing this path and whether this is something I should continue doing. What really helped me with this was my faith and talking to people about how I was feeling. I prayed a lot about my career path. Prayer really helped re-affirm my passion for this field and I felt re-charged and motivated again to apply once more.

What changed in between applications? If you had to do it again, what would be your advice for an aspiring candidate?

I’d say it’s helpful to speak to current trainees, work on being a reflective individual, and try gaining a good range of experience.

I would say I matured and I learned more about myself which I think prepared me very well for the course and my future career. There is always something to learn in life, whether that be through work or your personal life, so I think there was plenty of learning that happened in between applications.

"1. Emotional resilience - I never imagined how vulnerable the application process could leave me feeling. I've always found the process and concept of reflection difficult. Maybe because I'm from a traditional Chinese household and it was very important to stay humble and fixate on 'there's always room for improvement'. I found highlighting my strengths and 'selling myself' odd. But I was honest in my application about these feelings, my upbringing and how working in mental health had helped me overcome personal difficulties. Thinking about these things did leave me feeling a bit raw and it's controversial that getting onto dclin seems to require us to feel this way, but it was also self healing to be able to shine a positive light to the part of me that I thought was a big barrier in gaining a place.

2. Having a support network - I was honest from the beginning to the people around me, work colleagues and supervisors that being my first time applying, I felt like a nervous wreck. I worked with other APs that were also applying and it was so powerful to be able to just vent to each other at how much of an emotional and physical toll the process was taking on us. We also helped ground each other by reminding ourselves of the valuable work we were already doing, we talked plan B's and holidays we wanted to go on later in the year, just generally reminding each other there's life outside the process - which is easy to forget when the application process is 6 months long! It was so important to remind each other of the truth - that the doctorate isn't everything. I understand there are people who disagree, but if you follow the mindset that it is everything, you run the risk of damaging your self worth and identity. And I've realised nothing is worth that.

3. Taking the pressure off - Even before I found out I got a place, I told myself if I don't get on this year, I wouldn't place this much pressure on myself for my second round. I was turning down social and family events, went into hermit mode for 2 months and it did more harm than good. It was unnecessary to isolate myself because I spent most of it being anxious anyway. If I had lived life as normal, I would have been in a better headspace and had better concentration. So go to that family meal or night out, binge that TV show. Do not let fear, anxiety and comparison to others question your hard work. No one applying to the Dclinpsy is lazy and blasé about it.

4. Stay off Dclinpsy social media - I am extremely guilty of this. Dclinpsy social media drove me nuts and it did little to calm my nerves. I had my supervisor and one trainee to read through my application and that was it. I tried watching one video on prepping for interviews on YouTube and didn't finish it. It made me feel like I knew nothing and had me questioning myself more than I already was. Best thing I did was keep recording and watching myself answering several potential questions until I felt more confident (and less cringe). People are coming from such different backgrounds, there's no perfect formula to answer a question because the perfect answer doesn't exist"

I would say, don’t be so hard on yourself! You are amazing! In between applications, I would advise aspiring candidates to keep re-evaluating their motivation for applying. Is this something they still really want? If so, why? Is there another career path they may want to pursue? The reason why I think this is important is because it helps you figure out your ‘Why’. Once you know your ‘why’ it’ll, in my experience, motivate you to keep going, no matter how many times you fail. Also, don’t feel like you have to do what everyone else is doing to get on the course. Be yourself! I remember being told that my experience is too niche and that I should try and work with other populations and in other settings as this would give me a ‘better chance of getting on the course’. I didn’t do it, because I didn’t want to do something just because I thought it would get me on the course or follow the trend. So I would encourage you to be yourself throughout your journey towards becoming a Clinical Psychologist.

What does the doctorate represent for you?

The doctorate represents for me the next stage in my development as a clinician working in mental health services. I am looking forward to developing greater competencies in delivering interventions, conducting assessments, and developing greater skills in research, audit and service evaluation. Also, I feel more empowered to make meaningful change to the lives of others, and the services and policies we develop for people who experience psychological distress.

You know I think the landscape of Clinical Psychology is gradually changing. Where previously it felt it was a field solely available to white middle class women, I feel that now change is happening. I am a black, working class (well middle class now, but I very much still identify as a working class woman) woman. I think getting onto the Doctorate with the prospect of becoming a qualified Clinical Psychologist means that I will be in a position to drive change for people who look like me and come from similar backgrounds to me. It will be an opportunity to influence research and policy from the top and bring issues faced by communities that can often feel very much disregarded and ostracised to the forefront in order for meaningful change to occur.

Obviously not everybody will be accepted to the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. There is a tremendous amount of students who apply every year and it is often daunting to think about the numbers. In this post we interviewed both successful and unsuccessful applicants, whether they applied for the first time or many times before the best decision they made for themselves is to apply. Overall, we can conclude from these answeres that it is essential to be resilient, learn to reflect on your experiences and carefully surround yourself.