I got into Columbia’s psychology master’s program — and I declined their offer. For a long time, I thought an Ivy League acceptance would give me the validation, access, and security I had been chasing. But after admitted students day, hard conversations about funding, and a lot of reflection, I realized I had to choose the path that actually aligned with the psychologist I want to become.

I went into the clinical psychology application cycle thinking I knew exactly what I wanted. I applied mostly to PhD programs because I loved research and wanted to continue building a scientist-practitioner career. But after 22 applications, 2 interviews, and 1 offer, I learned that this process is about more than numbers, prestige, or degree type. It is about fit, funding, timing, resilience, and finding the path that still gets you where you want to go.

I did not choose psychology because I had everything figured out. I chose it because I kept asking why: why people become who they are, how early experiences shape us, and what helps people heal. In this post, I share the story behind The Budding Psychologist, my journey as a first-generation student and researcher, and why I created this space for students navigating psychology, graduate school, and higher education.