From Setbacks to Success: Josh’s Journey into Clinical Psychology

“Inside Clinical” Series, Episode 5

By Elena Flores, B.A. Psychology Alumni from Loyola Marymount University

With Joshua Budge, MSc/ Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology (Western University)

Meet Josh

Our fifth guest on the Inside Clinical series is Josh Budge, a first-year master’s student in Western University's MSc/PhD clinical psychology program. Having attended Waterloo for his undergraduate studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) in psychology, Josh discusses his path to his current program and the many ups and downs on the way there with the hopes of demystifying the application process for others.

“It feels like everyone’s just kind of figuring it out on their own, and that makes it really hard to know if you’re even doing the right things.”

Josh has been heavily involved in research since his early years at Waterloo, taking on as many research opportunities as possible across a range of topics. He continues to participate in research at Western. His interests lean toward neuropsychology and evidence-based clinical training.

Application Navigation: The Ups and Downs

Pursuing clinical psychology was more challenging than Josh had anticipated. Despite a breadth of research experience, he quickly realized it took many components to produce a successful application. His first time around, he wasn’t contacted for any interviews.

“I had a lot of research experience at that point. And so I didn't expect to be getting zero interviews. But as I look back, there's a lot of stuff you've got to figure out in your application.”

Rather than giving up, Josh used this as motivation to improve his understanding of the application process and gain additional experience. He researched programs thoroughly and applied to schools that aligned with both his career goals and personal preferences. Among the schools he interviewed at were University of Victoria, Western, UBC, and more.

“If you're going to apply somewhere, like if you got in, would you go? If you say no, then what's the point of applying?”

He emphasized that finding a good fit, beyond just prestige, is essential. Josh looked into program funding, residency track records, and available neuropsychology training to ensure he would gain relevant skills.

“Every place I applied, made sure that they were a funded program, they had a good track record for residency, and especially neuropsych training available.”

Josh also acknowledged systemic barriers that make clinical psychology a difficult field, especially in Canada. These include financial constraints, unpaid work expectations, and the lack of centralized resources for applicants.

“It is a very concerning change, given that it's going to be reducing the training capacity of clinical psychologists by over 60%... I think there are a lot better ways to go about increasing access to psychological services.”

Through these challenges, he learned that early alignment with clinical experience and strong references is crucial. Understanding the landscape early allowed him to plan strategically and maximize his chances of success.

Building Experience

Research experience is a foundational component of a competitive clinical psychology application. Josh recommends actively seeking opportunities early and diversifying one’s experiences to build a strong CV while maintaining genuine engagement in the work.

He notes that applicants often face the depth vs. breadth dilemma: focusing deeply on a single lab to develop strong expertise versus exploring multiple labs to gain broad exposure. Josh suggests choosing what aligns with both your interests and your career goals, acknowledging that different approaches can provide different kinds of value.

“I said yes to basically every research experience that presented itself to me during undergrad and and so got involved in a lot of different areas that then gave me a good insight into what research was like."

Josh emphasizes the importance of mentorship in graduate training. While a well-connected supervisor may seem appealing, he cautions that personal compatibility and support are often more critical over the long term. Mentors who prioritize your growth and provide hands-on guidance can enhance your development far more than someone who is influential but difficult to work with.

Balancing paid and unpaid experiences is another challenge. Josh recognizes that while unpaid clinical roles may enhance your CV, financial constraints can make these positions unattainable for many. Strategically combining paid work with volunteer or research roles can be a practical approach.

“There’s also this huge financial barrier, especially if you can’t afford to take on volunteer roles for months at a time.” 

Importantly, Josh stresses the value of self-awareness when assessing fit. Not all experiences will be enriching, and knowing when to step away from a misaligned lab or role can prevent burnout and allow for more meaningful growth elsewhere.

At Western, Josh’s research continues to focus on neuropsychology and evidence-based clinical practices. His projects aim to combine rigorous methodology with clinical relevance, reflecting his commitment to training that directly informs patient care.

Would you rather...with Josh!

Student Strategies & Course Selection

Maintaining strong academic performance is a component of a competitive application, but Josh stresses that GPA is not the sole determinant of success. He emphasizes resilience and strategic decision-making when courses do not go as planned.

Josh advises careful course selection, recommending that students assess workload, professor reputation, and alignment with long-term goals. While challenging courses can demonstrate rigor, intentionally avoiding courses designed to be unnecessarily punitive can help maintain motivation and balance.

Responding to academic setbacks thoughtfully is critical. Josh recounts experiences with poor grades and emphasizes that a single low mark is unlikely to derail graduate aspirations if addressed proactively.

“If you can drop it and it's not removing any requirements for your degree, and it's not going to show up on your transcript, I would drop it. If it does show up on your transcript, you got to stick it out and do the best you can.”

The approach is not only practical but also strategic: understanding which courses are essential for your degree, which can be leveraged for research or skill development, and which may pose unnecessary risk to GPA allows students to navigate academic decisions intelligently.

Overall, Josh frames academic strategy as a balance between achieving high marks, demonstrating competence, and maintaining wellbeing. Resilience, planning, and thoughtful engagement with the curriculum are central to navigating undergraduate and graduate coursework successfully.

Navigating the Application Process

Josh underscores the importance of broad and well-researched applications. Applying only to a small number of “dream” programs may increase risk due to the competitive nature of clinical psychology admissions.

Each program should be evaluated for funding, residency track record, specific training opportunities (such as neuropsychology), and alignment with personal and professional goals.

“Every place I applied, made sure that they were a funded program, they had a good track record for residency, and especially neuropsych training available.”

Josh highlights that admissions are influenced by multiple factors beyond applicant control, including timing, program capacity, and elements of luck. A broad application strategy helps mitigate these uncontrollable variables while maximizing opportunities.

Preparation for the application process also involves practical steps, such as connecting with program alumni, researching faculty interests, and ensuring alignment between your skills and program requirements. These actions increase the likelihood of interviews and successful offers.

“Fit is one of the most important things. If your interests align with the supervisor, that’s what they care about.”

Josh also notes the value of persistence. After an initial round with zero interviews, he revisited applications, refined his approach, and secured interviews at multiple programs the following year.

“I was very curious to hear specifically what other successful candidates were doing and there just wasn’t a lot of information on that.”

Applying broadly and strategically is essential. Careful research, understanding program-specific expectations, and persistence allow applicants to navigate the high-competition landscape more effectively.

Personal Growth, Fit, and Evolving Interests

Graduate training is a time of personal and professional evolution. Josh highlights that interests and priorities often shift as students gain exposure to diverse research areas, clinical experiences, and mentorship styles.

Not every opportunity will perfectly align with initial passions. Josh notes the importance of being open to new experiences, even if the work isn’t immediately exciting, as long as it contributes to skill-building and understanding of the field.

“It’s an exciting time…Try to enjoy it as much as you possibly can. Make new connections, make new friends.”

Equally, self-awareness and reflection are critical. Recognizing when an environment, project, or mentorship relationship is not conducive to growth allows students to make informed changes rather than remaining in stagnation.

Josh emphasizes the role of community and support systems in personal development. Staying near family and loved ones, when feasible, provided emotional grounding throughout his graduate experience.

“In the end, when you're looking back on your life, it's the time you spend with the people you care about, and not necessarily the things you did by yourself off somewhere else.”

Flexibility and curiosity are vital. Josh encourages students to explore varied research experiences, clinical roles, and professional opportunities while remaining mindful of long-term goals and personal wellbeing.

Personal growth in clinical psychology involves reflection, adaptability, and awareness of fit. Opportunities are valuable not only for their content but for the insights they provide into what environments, projects, and approaches work best for each individual.

In Closing

Josh’s experiences emphasize that success is not solely about grades, credentials, or number of experiences; it is about strategic choices, persistence, self-awareness, and leveraging support systems. 

Aspiring applicants can learn from Josh’s journey to approach research and clinical experiences thoughtfully, apply broadly, remain adaptable, and prioritize personal and professional fit. Reflection on your own goals, values, and limits is as important as practical preparation. There is no perfect path, only a series of considered decisions that align with both short-term actions and long-term ambitions.