The Budding Psychologist 

The Budding Psychologist is a space for first-generation, nontraditional, and future psychology graduate students navigating doctoral applications, research, clinical training, and the messy middle of becoming.

Read the Blog
Start Here

Hi, I’m Sam.

I’m a psychology graduate student, researcher, and future psychologist documenting the journey from doctoral applications to clinical training. After applying to 22 psychology doctoral programs, completing an MPhil focused on early-life adversity, and beginning my PsyD journey, I created this space to share what I wish I had known earlier, what I hope to learn, and what I will learn along the way.

Black women who is in her mid twenties pursuing clinical psychology. A child of immigrants who hopes to improve the lives of children

Recent Blogs

Blog Posts
The Grades That Followed Me: What I Learned About Old Transcripts
The Grades That Followed Me: What I Learned About Old Transcripts

Despite my research experience, graduate training, teaching, clinical exposure, and professional background, my associate degree GPA from when I was 16 really hurt my application cycle.

That is hard to admit.

Because on paper, I know many people would assume my cycle was more successful than it actually was. I had research experience. I had a master’s-level background. I had a clear interest area. I had worked hard to build a profile that showed growth, maturity, and readiness for doctoral-level work.

But old grades still mattered.

And because of that, my application cycle was not as straightforward or successful as people might assume from the outside.

That is one of the most frustrating lessons I learned in the process: old transcripts can still carry weight, even when they do not tell the full story.

Read more →
My Viral Take on Private Student Loans (And Why the Full Story Matters)
My Viral Take on Private Student Loans (And Why the Full Story Matters)

After my TikTok on private student loans went viral, I realized many future psychologists were asking the same questions. Let's break down the facts beyond the headlines.

Read more →
At the Two-Year Mark
At the Two-Year Mark

At the two-year mark, I find myself moving again — this time to begin a new educational journey, a new life, and a new career. This reflection is about leaving community, facing uncertainty, and choosing to keep going even while nervous.

Read more →
View All Posts

Looking for more personalized guidance?

I offer a limited number of free, 30-minute graduate application consultations for prospective psychology students. These peer consultations draw from my experience navigating PhD and PsyD admissions and working in college-access programming.

Book a Free Grad Consultation
Free Resource Library Access
Free

Get free access to The Budding Psychologist Resource Library — a growing collection of downloadable tools for psychology students, first-gen grad students, nontraditional applicants, and future clinicians/researchers. Inside, you’ll find worksheets, trackers, checklists, and reflection guides to support you through grad school applications, research planning, funding decisions, interviews, and the transition into clinical psychology training.

✓ Unlimited lifetime access

Follow Our Fun Journey

Follow Our Fun Journey