“Inside Clinical” Series, Episode 15
Interview with Amanda, MA Clinical Psychology Student at the University of Regina, Bella Chang, Hons. Bachelor of Science, and Shay Sadat
Meet Amanda
Amanda Lima Barros Feitosa is our latest guest on the Inside Clinical blog series. She is a clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Regina whose journey from Brazil to Canada is defined by resilience, determination, and an unwavering passion for research and clinical psychology. Amanda completed her undergraduate psychology degree in Brazil, where she developed extensive research experience in health psychology and anxiety-related disorders while simultaneously preparing for the highly competitive process of applying to clinical psychology programs in Canada.
From the very beginning of her undergraduate studies, Amanda had two clear goals: becoming a psychologist and moving to Canada. What began as a simple Google search in high school quickly transformed into a carefully planned academic journey driven by persistence, curiosity, and an extraordinary commitment to her future.
“I did a Google search, what I need to do to be a psychologist in Canada. And then it says that you need a PhD. So I did another Google search, on how to get a PhD, and you need tons of research experience. Now, the path was really clear for me.”
Amanda’s story highlights the realities international students often face while pursuing graduate studies abroad. From learning unfamiliar academic terminology and navigating funding barriers to adapting to a second language in professional settings, her experience demonstrates both the challenges and possibilities of applying to clinical psychology programs as an international student.
Building a Research Foundation Early
Unlike many students who begin considering graduate school later in their undergraduate degree, Amanda approached university with a clear sense of direction from day one. Shortly after beginning her psychology degree in Brazil, she began researching professors, labs, and research areas that aligned with her interests. She emphasized the importance of exploring research opportunities early, even before formally joining a lab.
“I recommend this for every undergrad student. Talk to students, check their lab websites, check profs’ profiles. You don't need to join a lab in the first year, but I think it's important for you to know who you're working with, like what you like to do.”
By the end of her first year, Amanda joined a health psychology lab with a strong clinical focus. The lab provided her with opportunities to gain independent research experience, collaborate with graduate students, and contribute to projects focused on anxiety and fear-related disorders.
Throughout her undergraduate degree, Amanda worked on projects examining phobias and participated in validating the Fear of COVID questionnaire for Brazilian Portuguese during the pandemic. Although she did not initially plan to specialize in anxiety research, these experiences gradually shaped her academic interests.
Amanda stressed that undergraduate students should not wait until their final years to become involved in research.
“Because if you only think about doing research in your last year, I think you're gonna miss a lot of opportunities.”
The Scholarship That Changed Everything
A major turning point in Amanda’s journey came through the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), a fully funded Canadian government scholarship that allows Latin American students to complete research experiences in Canada.
Amanda had known about the scholarship before entering university and intentionally built her undergraduate experience around becoming a competitive applicant.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many labs were closed, making the process significantly more difficult. Despite repeated rejections, Amanda continued reaching out to professors.
“I already have the no, so what else can happen?”
After contacting a professor at the University of Regina in 2021, she was initially told the lab was closed. Rather than giving up, Amanda followed up exactly one year later.
“I used the reply function of the email, like, ‘Hi. Do you remember me? Are you still interested?’”
Within twenty minutes, the professor responded. Shortly afterward, Amanda interviewed, submitted her application, and successfully received the scholarship.
She arrived in Canada in January 2023 as a visiting researcher and spent six months at the University of Regina before returning to Brazil to complete her undergraduate degree.
“That scholarship changed my life.”
Her experience in Canada provided far more than research exposure. It gave her confidence, clarity, and the opportunity to experience graduate student life firsthand.
Amanda has since dedicated herself to helping other Latin American students apply for the same scholarship, creating guides, hosting information sessions, and assisting students with application materials.
Clinical Training in Brazil
Amanda’s undergraduate experience in Brazil also provided her with substantial clinical exposure before graduate school, something that differs significantly from many Canadian undergraduate programs.
In Brazil, psychology students enter directly into psychology programs after high school and complete a five-year degree specifically designed to train future psychologists. During the final year, students complete mandatory clinical internships.
Amanda provided individual CBT therapy in a psychology training clinic and also completed internships in hospital settings, including emergency and oncology units.
Her training included weekly supervision, protocol training, and direct work with clients experiencing anxiety and depression. These experiences reinforced the connection between research and clinical work for Amanda.
“It provided me the opportunity to see how research is applied to real-life settings. This is what anxiety looks like.”
At the same time, the experience deepened her appreciation for graduate-level training.
“I didn’t think myself was competent to be a clinician. I needed more experience.”
Applying to Clinical Psychology as an International Student
Amanda described the application process for clinical psychology programs in Canada as both exciting and overwhelming. One of the greatest challenges was navigating the process entirely from scratch while learning unfamiliar terminology, expectations, and systems.
In addition to the highly competitive nature of clinical psychology, Amanda faced financial barriers unique to international applicants. English proficiency exams alone cost more than $300 CAD, in addition to application fees and preparation classes.
“For someone receiving minimum wage, they’re gonna spend an entire monthly income to afford this.”
Amanda also encountered universities that explicitly stated they could not financially support international students. Some programs noted that international students were “rarely” accepted due to funding limitations, while others appeared to discourage applications altogether.
Still, Amanda remained strategic in selecting programs that openly welcomed international applicants and aligned with her research interests. Rather than applying broadly to ten or more schools, Amanda carefully researched faculty members whose work aligned with her interests in anxiety and health psychology. She created extensive spreadsheets documenting professors, research areas, lab environments, publications, and program details.
Learning Everything From Scratch
One of the most insightful parts of Amanda’s story involved the hidden challenges of adapting to a completely different academic culture. Many of the terms and systems Canadian students take for granted were unfamiliar to her. Amanda explained how even understanding terms such as “undergraduate,” “graduate,” “honours thesis,” or “letter of intent” required significant time and effort.
“In Brazil, every student needs to do a thesis by the end of undergrad, so I was really not getting what an honours student was.”
She also had to adapt to a completely different academic calendar structure. In Brazil, school starts in January and ends in December. These differences extended beyond academics and into professional communication.
“What is a cold email? How do I start a cold email?”
Amanda acknowledged that international students often underestimate how emotionally exhausting it can be to constantly question whether they are communicating correctly in a second language. Even now, she sometimes spends significant time carefully crafting emails because of anxiety about grammar and wording.
Still, Amanda emphasized that these fears should never prevent students from pursuing opportunities.
Preparing for Interviews
Amanda approached graduate school interviews with remarkable dedication and preparation. At one point, she created a seven-page document containing potential interview questions and practiced responses with members of her research lab in Brazil.
“I really don’t recommend doing this,” she laughed. “I know it was too much.”
She also recorded herself speaking in English to improve her confidence and pacing. Amanda ultimately received two interviews during her application cycle. Although one resulted in a rejection, she viewed the experience positively.
The professor later informed her that fifty-two students had applied to work with her and Amanda ranked among the top four applicants. Her interview with the University of Regina felt less intimidating because of the relationship she had already built through her visiting scholarship. As Amanda explained, these experiences reinforced the importance of persistence rather than perfection.
“You don’t need to be the brightest student in the room. You just need to keep trying.”
Funding, Scholarships, and Advocacy
Funding was one of Amanda’s greatest concerns throughout the application process. As an international student, tuition costs were significantly higher, making financial support essential. Amanda proactively discussed funding concerns with her supervisor after accepting her offer.
As a result, the department adjusted her funding package so she could receive her base funding without mandatory teaching assistant requirements, allowing additional TA positions to increase her overall funding. Amanda also strongly encouraged international students to apply for internal scholarships, even small ones.
“They are so obsessed about applying for tri-council scholarships… but we can’t during our masters degree. One can apply as a PhD student."
Instead, she recommends applying broadly to university-specific awards. Her persistence paid off. Amanda successfully received multiple internal scholarships, including an entrance scholarship that covered her entire tuition. She emphasized that building a strong CV during undergraduate studies not only helps students gain admission to graduate school but also increases scholarship competitiveness once admitted.
Advice for International Students
Perhaps the most powerful part of Amanda’s interview was her message to international students who feel discouraged or intimidated by the process.
“I know how alone international students are feeling and how far the goal seems because it feels kind of impossible to reach.”
She acknowledged the very real barriers international applicants face while also challenging the misconception that Canadian clinical psychology programs simply do not accept international students. Amanda encouraged students to focus less on comparisons and more on building meaningful experiences and applications aligned with their interests.
She advises students to concentrate on the aspects of the process they can control: gaining research experience, clarifying their interests, and continuing to move forward despite uncertainty.
“What I kept telling myself was, if this is what I really want to do in my life, I’m gonna get in. It doesn’t matter how long it’s gonna take.”
Amanda’s Top 3 Tips for Students Interested in Clinical Psychology
Top 3 Ways to Stand Out as an Applicant
1. Get Independent Research Experience
Amanda emphasized the importance of becoming actively involved in research projects rather than only completing small administrative tasks. She encouraged students to gain experience across all stages of the research process, including data collection, writing, analysis, and project development.
2. Contribute to Research Outputs
Whether through posters, presentations, or publications, Amanda highlighted the importance of sharing your work and building tangible research experience.
“If you can have the chance to publish an article, go for it.”
3. Develop Clear Research Interests
Students do not need to know their exact future thesis topic, but Amanda stressed the importance of identifying broader areas of interest that can guide applications and help students find strong supervisor matches.
Top 3 Self-Care Strategies During Grad School
1. Prioritize Social Connections
Amanda believes students need to intentionally create time for friendships and connection, even during demanding periods of graduate training.
2. Practice Journaling and Gratitude
Journaling helps Amanda maintain perspective during stressful periods and reflect on positive moments throughout her day.
3. Stay Active
Running has become an important outlet for Amanda during graduate school, helping her manage stress while working toward personal fitness goals.
Top 3 Things No One Warns You About Before Starting Grad School
1. Imposter Syndrome Can Be Intense
Amanda shared that self-doubt is often far stronger than students anticipate.
2. The Learning Curve Is Steep
Graduate school can feel overwhelming at first, but Amanda reassured students that growth happens quickly with time and experience.
“A few months in you’re gonna notice that you’re learning so much.”
3. Graduate School Requires Independence
Amanda explained that graduate students are expected to become increasingly independent researchers and problem-solvers.
“Don’t expect supervisors to have close supervision all the time.”
Looking Ahead
Amanda completed her practicum at a college training clinic in April while continuing to work on multiple research projects and systematic reviews. Looking ahead, she hopes to conduct cross-cultural validations of anxiety questionnaires in Brazilian Portuguese to improve accessibility and mental health assessment within Brazil.
Her journey is a reminder that determination, resilience, and authenticity can carry students farther than they often imagine. Amanda’s story demonstrates that although the path to clinical psychology may feel intimidating, especially for international students, it is absolutely possible. And perhaps most importantly, Amanda reminds students that anxiety itself can often become the greatest obstacle.
“Your anxiety is your biggest obstacle. So do your job. Build a good application.”
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