Shivali Sharma

Clinical Psychology
CSPP at Alliant International University, San Francisco

Q: What inspired you to go into the field of clinical psychology?

A: Psychology has always been something I wanted to do. I am a retired Marine Corps veteran, and during my career, I saw that there was a need for psychologists within the military to help our veterans and our active-duty military do better. As I progressed in my career, I saw the need increase and also where I could be of help.

Q: What do you like about your clinical psychology program so far?

A: I love the engagement with my professors and the content that we cover. I also love the structure of the courses and the pace at which we're going in order to do building blocks on our skills. We’re not pushed into doing something without building the foundation before actually having to apply it.

Q: Can you describe your experience with your professors and mentors?

A: One of the benefits of being at Alliant is having my own faculty advisor, who is also my mentor. We've built a great working relationship that has helped me understand the process of being a graduate student and exploring other options that I might never thought of doing like attending the 2024 Western Psychological Association where I did a poster presentation on female veterans and IPV (intimate partner violence).

Q: What made you choose Alliant over other schools?

A: There were several other programs that I looked at and that I was accepted into. However, I chose Alliant because of the diversity and the fact that Alliant doesn’t just say “diversity” but displays it in their instructors and professors. Being able to see that as a student coming in with a disability makes me feel included and lets me see myself being in their same spot someday.

Q: Was there anything that surprised you about the program?

A: The fact that I was paired with a mentor and that the mentorship would be so enriched. My relationship with my mentor is not just about learning the coursework and what I need to do in order to finish this program, but also building my own skills and finding out the different avenues available to me within this field. I'm not just trapped into one area. There are so many other options, and they're all welcomed. 

Q: What three tips would you give to new students in a clinical psychology program?

A: My three tips would be:

1. Find a good mentor.
2. This is not a race, it's a marathon, so take it nice and slow. Get all the information you need and remember you don't have to do everything all at once.
3. Enjoy the program while you're in it because once you're a psychologist, you're never going to be a student again.