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Prospective Graduate Students FAQs

Last updated on October 2025

Dr. Lui will not be accepting students for Fall 2026.

Why did you post this information?

We recognize that the psychology graduate application process is an uneven playing field. The process is opaque, and applicants without access to mentors or professional connections have less guidance. We hope that by sharing this information, we are helping to “level the playing field” across applicants to our lab.

How do I know if I'm a good fit for the lab?

When reviewing applications, I focus primarily on goodness of fit between your research interests, experience, and goals, and our lab’s mission, research focus, and my mentorship style. Applicants who are likely to be a strong fit typically demonstrate the following:

Commitment to research. This may be shown through independent research experiences (e.g., leading an honours thesis or independent project, or presenting as first author at a conference).
Commitment to the our lab's mission. This can be reflected through your previous research, work, volunteer experiences, and/or articulated in your personal statement and letters of reference. Rather than simply stating enthusiasm for our work, I encourage you to demonstrate alignment through your experiences.
Strong alignment with the lab's research themes. Applicants who excited to pursue research questions that build on our lab's core areas and who can bring their own ideas within those areas are likely to be successful.
Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We value students who are open-minded, self-reflective, and committed to inclusive practices in research and clinical work.
Commitment to a career in child mental health. Students in our lab typically pursue a career in child/adolescent intervention, mental health services, and/or implementation.

I am especially interested in applicants with experience in some or all of the following areas (although none is required):

Working directly with children/adolescents and their families.
Strong quantitative background.
Community-based participatory research or conducting research outside of a lab setting (e.g., homes, schools, clinics, hospitals, community settings).

Please note that I am best suited to support students who are interested in careers that incorporate research in some way. As such, I may not be the most effective mentor for applicants who are interested exclusively in clinical practice careers.

What should I include in my personal statement?

Your personal statement is a key opportunity to demonstrate fit. I encourage you to include:

A clear summary of your research interests and career goals, and how these connect to our lab’s work and mission.
Why our lab is specifically a good fit for you, versus other labs that do similar work.
A synthesis of your most relevant research/professional experiences. Rather than listing them chronologically, highlight:
- Skills you developed (e.g., data collection, analysis, participant recruitment, etc.).
- Insights or takeaways that shaped your research interests and goals.
Any specific research questions you are interested in pursuing in the lab.

Should I apply to external funding?

Yes, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for all eligible external fellowships (e.g., Tri-Agency, FRQ). These awards are important for your academic development and may strengthen your application.

Important: If you are applying for these fellowships and wish to be considered at Concordia, you must list Concordia on your fellowship application. If Concordia is not listed, you will not be eligible to hold the award here, even if you are offered admission.

What potential projects would I work on?

Please see the Research page for more details on current and past projects.

Students will most likely be working with secondary data for their thesis and dissertation. I have a number of collaborations and access to clinical trial data. I encourage students to develop new research that is feasible and aligned with the lab’s mission. I am interested in learning about ideas you may have.

Should I email you in advance?

You do not need to email me before submitting an application! Because I am unable to accommodate meetings with everyone, I do not meet with applicants outside of formal invited interviews or provide feedback on application materials. Applicants are encouraged to review our lab website, which includes answers to many common questions about our research directions and lab culture. If you have specific questions that are not addressed on this page or on our lab website, please get in touch, and I will do my best to address them.

Is it advantageous to list multiple mentors of interest (or just one) on my application?

There is no inherent advantage to naming multiple mentors of interest in your application. I review all applications on which I am listed as the top-choice mentor. Listing two potential mentors is appropriate if your interests and goals clearly fit with two faculty members’ research programs (as described in your personal statement).

Where else can I find guidance for my application?

Beyond our Department website, I recommend these resources:

How to Write a Strong CV from Association of Psychological Science.

Mitch's Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology. A staple for those considering applying to graduate school in clinical psychology.

Getting Into Psych Grad School, provided by the Council of University Directors in Clinical Psychology. This guide is focused more on US-based programs but the principles also apply to most Canadian Clinical programs.

We thank Dr. Jessica Schleider for sharing her Applicant FAQ and inspiring us to join in efforts to make graduate school admission processes more transparent, accessible, and equitable. The information presented here is adapted from Dr. Schleider’s FAQ. Please note that this information reflects our lab’s views and may not reflect those of Concordia University or other faculty in the Psychology Department.