Creating Your PhD Checklist as a Clinical Psychology or Neuroscience Student: A Personal Guide

Authored By: Janet Z. Li, April 10th 2025

Starting a PhD in Clinical Psychology or Neuroscience is a bit like deciding to hike an uncharted trail in the Rocky Mountains—exciting, intimidating, and a little hard to explain to your extended family. After finishing my MSc in Medical Science (Neuroscience) at the University of Toronto, I transitioned into a much smaller joint program at Drexel University, combining Clinical Psychology with Applied and Cognitive Brain Sciences. The change in environment—from a massive research powerhouse to a more tight-knit and interdisciplinary program—forced me to rethink how I approached grad school. That’s when I realized: you need a checklist.

Here’s how I built mine, and how you can too.

1. Start with your Milestones—both Academic and Clinical

PhD programs can be deceptively unstructured, especially in dual-focus tracks. I sat down during my first quarter at Drexel University and outlined all the "must-do" milestones: coursework, comprehensive exams, dissertation proposal and defence, clinical practicum, and internship applications. Since I'm training as both a researcher and a clinician, I split my checklist into two tracks—one for my scientific goals (like getting fMRI data pre-processed and analyzed) and another for my clinical competencies (like learning how to administer and conduct neuropsychological assessments or clocking hours with patients in the psych centre).

2. Build around your Program’s Structure, not Someone Else’s

At the University of Toronto, the research expectations were sky-high and independent study was the norm. But Drexel University’s smaller size means more direct mentorship, more integration across labs, and more flexibility. However, it also meant a much heavier workload, with the expectation almost feeling like full-time research and full-time coursework on top of serving as a teaching assistant and clinical training. My checklist had to reflect this culture: scheduling regular one-on-ones with advisors, staying on top of Institutional Review Board protocols and deadlines for multi-lab projects, and taking advantage of cross-training in cognitive neuroscience methods and clinical skills. For me, most of my PhD challenges have stemmed from a lack of time-management skills and a, “this is too hard” mindset. Once I began to appreciate that being in a PhD is an opportunity rather than a chore, I started to settle into my PhD routine and the continuous workload schedule became less and less daunting.

3. Add Soft Skills and Personal Growth

Imposter syndrome is real—especially when switching programs or disciplines. As such, I included items like, “attend conferences outside my main field,” “lead a lab meeting,” and “start therapy” (yup, therapists need therapy too). This helped me grow in ways that weren’t just academic, but deeply human. Plus, never forget that people around you are likely experiencing exactly the same struggles as you - your community is your resource.

4. Make Space for Flexibility

Neuroscience and clinical psychology are both rapidly evolving fields. A checklist isn’t a contract—it’s a living document and I update mine every term, based on new collaborations, changes in lab directions, or shifts in my own interests (this never stops, no matter how far along you are!).

Whether you’re joining a large, research-driven institution like University of Toronto or a personalized hybrid program like Drexel University’s, having a PhD checklist keeps you grounded. It’s your roadmap when the trail gets unclear and the journey feels endless. In times when you're juggling data collection and therapy hours, this is your reminder that, yes—you’re making progress and you’re doing great.