2011 APPIC Internship Application Thread

[Therapist4Chnge]

Sites where an interview has been offered

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
A.I. Dupont
American University CC
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
Appalachian State University CC
Applewood Centers
Baruch College Counseling Center
Bay Pines VA
Baylor University (Gerontology Track)
Bellevue Hospital (Adult, Child and Forensic Track)
Beth Israel Deaconess/Harvard
Boston Consortium
Bronx State Psychiatric Center
Brown (Adult & Child & Neuropsychology & Health Psychology Track)
California Polytechnic Counseling Center
Casa Pacifica
Center for Aging Resources
Center for Multicultural Mental Health at Boston Medical Center
Central Alabama VA
Central Arkansas VA (Neuropsychology & Behavioral Medicine Track)
Charleston Consortium (MUSC) - General and Neuropsych Tracks
Children's Hospital of Michigan
Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago
Cincinnati Children's
Cincinnati VA (PTSD Track)
Children's Memorial Hospital
Children's Mercy Hospital
Columbia/NY Pres
Community Healthlink Youth and Family Services
Connections Day School
Cornell
Creedmore
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Dallas VA
Dartmouth (Child and Family Track)
DC VA
Didi Hirsch
Duke (Adult CBT and Child Track)
Durham VA
Emory University (Neuropsychology Track)
FCI Fort Worth
Gouverneur Healthcare Services
Greater Hartford VA Consortium
Harvard Mass General (CBT & Adult Track)
Harvard/McLean
Interfaith
Jacobi
James H. Quillen VA
James Madison University Counseling Center
Jersey VA
Kaiser SD
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Kings County (Child and Adult Track)
LAS*PIC
Lexington VA
Lincoln Hospital
Loma Linda VA
Long Island Jewish/Zucker Hospital (Adult Track)
Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Mailman
Maimonides
Mass Mental Health
Medical College of Georgia/Charlie Norwood VAMC
MercyFirst
Michigan State University CC
Minneapolis VA
Minnesota Children's Hospital
Missouri Health Sciences Consortium
Nassau Medical Center
Nationwide Children's Hospital (Developmental Disabilities & Clinical Child Track)
Nebraska Internship Consortium (Munroe-Meyer Institute Track)
New Jersey VA
Northeast Oklahoma Psychology Program (Forensic Track)
Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
Oklahoma Health Consortium
Oregon Health and Sciences University
Ottawa Hospital
Philhaven
Phoenix Children's
Pittsburgh VA
Rush University (Health Track)
Rusk Institute
Salem VA
Sarah A. Reed Center
Seacoast Mental Health Center
St. Louis Consortium
St. Louis VAMC
St. Luke's Hospital (Adult Track)
Stanford CC
South Texas (San Antonio) VA
SUNY Upstate Medical Center
Syracuse VA
UAMS Little Rock (Adult Track)
UC Berkeley CC
UCLA Semel Institute
UCSD/SD VA
UCSF (Public Service and Minority Track, Assessment and Intervention Track)
UIC (Adult Track)
UMB/VA
UMDNJ
University of Alabama, Birmingham (Adult Neuropsychology Track)
University of Delaware College Counseling Center
University of Florida (Department of Clinical and Health Psych)
University of Manitoba (Adult Track)
University of Michigan
University of Oklahoma Sciences Center (Pediatric Track)
University of Rochester (Adult / PRIDE / DWC Track)
University of Texas Health Science Center
Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute
Utah State University CAPS
UW Madison (Dept of Psychiatry & Rehab Medicine)
VA Seattle Puget Sound
Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Counseling Center
Western Psych
West LA VA
White River Junction VA
Worcester State Hospital
Yale (Consultation Center & Division of Substance Abuse)

Sites where an interview has not been offered
Applewood Center
Boston Consortium
Brown (Health Psychology Track)
Casa Pacifica
Cincinnati VA
Creedmoor
Danielsen Institute
Devereux Institute
Duke University CC
Edmonton Consortium
Ethan School for Boys
FCI Tallahassee
Friends Hospital
FMC Rochester
Geisinger
Johns Hopkins University CC
Metropolitan State Hospital
Milwaukee VA
Nationwide (Neuropsychology & Pediatric Track)
Nebraska Consortium
Northeast Florida State Hospital
NYU Rusk Institute
Oregon HSC
Ottawa
Portland VA
Reading Hospital and Medical Center
Rush University (Neuropsychology and Child Track)
San Francisco General
San Francisco VA
Sarah A. Reed Center
Sepulveda VA
Stanford CC
Suffolk University CC
UC Berkeley CC
UCLA Semel Institute
U of Memphis CC
UIC
University of Pittsburgh CC
Utah State Hospital
VA LA Ambulatory Care Center
VA Syracuse
Virginia Commonwealth University
Westchester Jewish Family Services
Western State Hospital

Updated 12/03/10, 2:00pm. Thanks madeincanada!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, this thread is early, but I thought these dates would be useful to keep in mind and plan around.

I was going over some presentations recently, and I thought this may be useful.

Important Dates For The 2011 APPIC Internship Application Process

July 2010: Updated AAPI available from APPIC
Aug 2010: APAGS Internship Workshop 2010 Internship workbook is made available
Sept 2010: Programs have updated materials
Nov-Dec 2010: Application deadlines
Dec 2010: Interview notification deadline
Jan 2011: Interview, interview, interview
Feb 2011: Rank order lists due
Feb/Mar 2011: Match day

SOURCE: Letsch, E., Kuemmel, A., Sylvester, M. (2010). Skill Building for Internship & Post-Doc Applicants: The Mock Interview. Rehabilitation Psychology Annual Conference.

Resources
Dr. Donna Pincus and Dr. John Otis put together a really useful guide for internship applicants. They do a great job of covering everything from prioritizing sites to writing cover letters.


MOD NOTE: All discussions about the 2011 APPIC Internship Application process should be posted here. -t4c

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[JockNerd]

I've already got my potential sites narrowed down to 20!

 

[aagman01]

I have been meaning to purchase the APAGS book- I think I will just borrow a friends APAGS book for the summer and purchase my own copy once the new edition comes out.

Thanks for the updates/info on applying for internship!

Yes, this thread is early, but I thought these dates would be useful to keep in mind and plan around.

I was going over some presentations recently, and I thought this may be useful.

Important Dates For The 2011 APPIC Internship Application Process

July 2010: Updated AAPI available from APPIC
Aug 2010: APAGS Internship Workshop 2010 Internship workbook is made available
Sept 2010: Programs have updated materials
Nov-Dec 2010: Application deadlines
Dec 2010: Interview notification deadline
Jan 2011: Interview, interview, interview
Feb 2011: Rank order lists due
Feb/Mar 2011: Match day

SOURCE: Letsch, E., Kuemmel, A., Sylvester, M. (2010). Skill Building for Internship & Post-Doc Applicants: The Mock Interview. Rehabilitation Psychology Annual Conference.

MOD NOTE: All discussions about the 2011 APPIC Internship Application process should be posted here. -t4c

 

[futureapppsy2]

I've already got my potential sites narrowed down to 20!

You're already applying for internship, JN? Man, the years just flew by!

 

[JP West]

I found the Rutgers program website helpful since they post samples of their students' past application essays, cover letter, etc.

http://gsappweb.rutgers.edu/cstudents/internshipinfo/Internship.php

 

[JockNerd]

You're already applying for internship, JN? Man, the years just flew by!

Out in 4! It's been a crazy ride. I'm happy that I get to devote this entire next year to research, though.

 

[aagman01]

Thanks! the Rutgers site looks helpful!

I found the Rutgers program website helpful since they post samples of their students' past application essays, cover letter, etc.

http://gsappweb.rutgers.edu/cstudents/internshipinfo/Internship.php

 

[erg923]

I think I would like to just cut and paste someones essay 4, because frankly, i don't know what my "theoretical orientation" is anymore, not sure I ever really have. Not sure I even buy into the concept really, i guess im weird like that. To me, its just a way of making us feel better about the unknown of the job we do on daily basis.

Further, to me, it seems fraught with unintentionally furthering biased feedback to ourselves. That is, I conceptualize Mr. Jones this way. Therefore I do interventions X and Y that are consistent with that orientation, and patient gets better. Therefore, I falsely come to believe that because I treated him that way and it worked, that was indeed the root of the problem. In reality, he probably could have gotten better with about 100 different things.

 

[psychwanabe]

Oye. I have been so busy the last 3 years that I hardly have time to visit SDN anymore. Lo and behold as I procrastinate on dissertation writing today, I come across this thread which reminds me I'm also supposed to be organizing for internship apps!! Thanks for the info though. I guess I'll be skulking around SDN more again as the months pass by.

 

[nd08]

I think I would like to just cut and paste someones essay 4, because frankly, i don't know what my "theoretical orientation" is anymore, not sure I ever really have. Not sure I even buy into the concept really, i guess im weird like that. To me, its just a way of making us feel better about the unknown of the job we do on daily basis.

Further, to me, it seems fraught with unintentionally furthering biased feedback to ourselves. That is, I conceptualize Mr. Jones this way. Therefore I do interventions X and Y that are consistent with that orientation, and patient gets better. Therefore, I falsely come to believe that because I treated him that way and it worked, that was indeed the root of the problem. In reality, he probably could have gotten better with about 100 different things.

Well said, my friend.

 

[QClinician]

I bet you have a theoretical orientation and just don't know it.

How do you structure your first meeting with people? How do you understand human development and symptom development, how do you devise a treatment plan?

All of these things play a role in theoretical orientation. You can have more than one orientation, they just want to understand how you structure your thoughts about people and treatment.

 

[greensky]

Did APPIC ever post this year's match broken down by school? I am interested to see where all of the schools fell.

 

[LM02]

Did APPIC ever post this year's match broken down by school? I am interested to see where all of the schools fell.

They don't release this information annually, but every XX number of years (I don't remember how often).

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I believe the last one was 2000-20006, so it will still be awhile until the next one comes out. You can look at the educational outcome data of each program (required for all APA-acred programs), and included will be their internship match rates, APA v. APPIC v. Other, etc.

 

[WisNeuro]

Thanks for the posting, I'm one of the lucky ones applying this fall! Good luck fellow applicants!

 

[psychgal]

Thanks! the Rutgers site looks helpful!

Thanks this is so helpful! This board is a lifesaver and I am excited to go through the internship process together this fall and winter. I am working on my list and have it down to about 35.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Did anyone else notice that APPIC seems to have taken down the mean Assessment and Intervention hours info they used to have for each site?

 

[erg923]

yep..whats up with that?

 

[ADDICTED2STATS]

I got this through email today, thought it might be of interest to this thread.

APPIC MATCH NEWS
---
NOTICE TO STUDENTS AND DIRECTORS OF CLINICAL TRAINING

We would like your assistance in notifying students who will be
applying for internship this coming Fall about the existence of
APPIC's MATCH-NEWS e-mail list. In the coming weeks and months,
APPIC will be distributing some important announcements about the
Match, the AAPI Online, the APPIC Directory Online, and the APPIC
Clearinghouse, and we would like as many students as possible to be
aware of these changes.

An easy way to notify future internship applicants is to forward them
a copy of this e-mail message. Information about how to subscribe to
MATCH-NEWS is provided below. We recommend that students subscribe
to MATCH-NEWS themselves rather than rely on others to forward the
announcements to them.

In addition to MATCH-NEWS, APPIC maintains a separate, optional
discussion list for internship applicants, called INTERN-NETWORK, and
information about this list is provided below.

Thanks for your assistance.

-----

THE MATCH-NEWS E-MAIL LIST

MATCH-NEWS is a FREE e-mail list provided by APPIC as a service to
Match participants. It is VERY STRONGLY recommended that all
internship applicants (as well as academic and internship Training
Directors) subscribe to this list as early as possible in the process
(i.e., subscribe NOW if you plan to apply for internship in the Fall
of 2010). MATCH-NEWS is an "announce-only" list, which means that
only APPIC can post messages to the list. The volume of e-mail
messages will generally be very small, usually ranging from zero to
five messages per month. As the Match approaches, the MATCH-NEWS
list will be the primary method of communicating important
late-breaking news and information about the Match, as well as tips
and suggestions about how to make the most of the process. Many
applicants from previous years have told us that the messages posted
to MATCH-NEWS were extremely helpful to them in navigating the
selection process.

NOTE: If you previously signed up for the MATCH-NEWS list, there is
no need to do so again.

To subscribe to the MATCH-NEWS list, send a blank e-mail message to
the following address:

[email protected]

You will subsequently receive an e-mail message (with the subject
line, "Your confirmation needed") that contains instructions for you
to follow in order to confirm your subscription. Simply follow the
instructions in that message, and you will soon receive a "Welcome"
e-mail in response. This "Welcome" e-mail confirms that you are
successfully subscribed to the list (please note that you are NOT
subscribed to the list until you have received the "Welcome" message).

PLEASE NOTE: If your e-mail program uses "Spam" or "Junk Mail"
filtering, it is possible that the confirmation message from the
APPIC server will be automatically redirected to your "Junk Mail"
folder without your knowledge. If you do not receive a confirmation
message in your "In" box, you should check your "Spam" or "Junk Mail"
folder to see if the message is there.

See the contact info below if you have difficulty subscribing.

-----

THE INTERN-NETWORK E-MAIL LIST

APPIC also maintains a separate e-mail list, called INTERN-NETWORK,
which is a discussion list for internship applicants. This list is
optional for applicants, though many find it useful. Applicants can
use this list to discuss various aspects of the selection process or
to ask questions about the AAPI, interviews, Match, etc. Since this
list can generate considerable discussion at times, and thus
considerable e-mail, subscribers may wish to use the list's "Digest"
option in order to keep e-mail to a minimum (see www.appic.org, click
on "E-mail Lists," then on "Intern-Network" for more info about the
Digest option). To subscribe to the INTERN-NETWORK list, send a
blank e-mail message to:

[email protected]

and follow the confirmation instructions as described above for the
MATCH-NEWS list.

-----

MORE INFORMATION

For general information about the APPIC Match, see:

http://www.appic.org/

and click on "About the Match" and "Frequently Asked Questions."
General information is also available at the matching program web
site:

http://www.natmatch.com/psychint

by clicking the links in the "Overview" and "Match Process" sections.

For complete information about all of APPIC's e-mail lists, see
www.appic.org and click on "E-mail Lists."

If you have any questions about these lists or about the APPIC Match
in general, you may contact Dr. Greg Keilin at
[email protected] or (512) 475-6949.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

How are hours counted on the APPI?

This was pulled from the APPIC List Serv:

For the Intervention Section:
When counting practicum hours, you should consider the following important information and definitions:

1. You should only record hours for which you received formal academic training and credit or which were program-sanctioned training or program-sanctioned work experiences (e.g., VA summer traineeship, clinical research positions, time spent in the same practicum setting after the official practicum has ended). Practicum hours must be supervised. Please consult with your academic training director to determine whether experiences are considered program sanctioned or not. The academic training director must be aware of and approve of the clinical activity. Academic credit is not a requirement in all cases. Other sections of this application will allow you an opportunity to summarize your supervision experiences, anticipated practicum experiences and support activities. Other relevant experience that does not fit into the above definition can be described on your Curriculum Vitae.

2. The experiences that you are summarizing in this section are professional activities that you have provided in the presence of a client. Experiences involving gathering information about the client / patient, but not in the actual presence of the client / patient, should be recorded in the section, “Support Activities.” Although the field of Psychology is currently discussing distance interventions (telephone, webcam) as viable forms of intervention, for the purposes of this application, such interventions should be noted in the Support Activities section.

3. A practicum hour is defined as a clock hour, not a semester / quarter hour. A 45-50 minute client / patient hour may be counted as one practicum hour.

4. You may have some experiences that could potentially fall under more than one category, but it is your responsibility to select the category that you feel best captures the experience. (For example, a Stress Management group might be classified as a group or as a Medical / Health-Related Intervention, but not both.) The categories are meant to be mutually exclusive; thus, any practicum hour should be counted only once.

5. Only include practicum experience accrued up to November 1 of the year in which you are applying for internship. You may describe the practicum experience that you anticipate accruing after November 1 in the section, “Summary of Doctoral Training.”

6. When calculating practicum hours, you should provide your best estimate of hours accrued or number of clients / patients seen. It is understood that you may not have the exact numbers available. Please round to the nearest whole number. Use your best judgment, in consultation with your academic training director, in quantifying your practicum experience.

7. Please report actual clock hours in direct service to clients / patients. Hours should not be counted in more than one category.

8. For the “Total hours face-to-face” columns, count each hour of a group, family, or couples session as one practicum hour. For example, a two-hour group session with 12 adults is counted as two hours.

9. For the “# of different...” columns, count a couple, family, or group as one (1) unit. For example, meeting with a group of 12 adults over a ten-week period for two hours per week counts as 20 hours and one (1) group. Groups may be closed or open membership; but, in either case, count the group as one group.

For the Assessment section:

1. When counting practicum hours, you should consider the following important information and definitions:

2. You should only record hours for which you received formal academic training and credit or which were program-sanctioned training or program-sanctioned work experiences (e.g., VA summer traineeship, clinical research positions, time spent in the same practicum setting after the official practicum has ended). Practicum hours must be supervised. Please consult with your academic training director to determine whether experiences are considered program sanctioned or not. The academic training director must be aware of and approve of the clinical activity. Academic credit is not a requirement in all cases. Other sections of this application will allow you an opportunity to summarize your supervision experiences, anticipated practicum experiences and support activities. Other relevant experience that does not fit into the above definition can be described on your Curriculum Vitae.

3. The experiences that you are summarizing in this section are professional activities that you have provided in the presence of a client. Experiences involving gathering information about the client / patient, but not in the actual presence of the client / patient, should be recorded in the section, “Support Activities.” Although the field of Psychology is currently discussing distance interventions (telephone, webcam) as viable forms of intervention, for the purposes of this application, such interventions should be noted in the Support Activities section.

4. A practicum hour is defined as a clock hour, not a semester / quarter hour. A 45-50 minute client / patient hour may be counted as one practicum hour.

5. You may have some experiences that could potentially fall under more than one category, but it is your responsibility to select the category that you feel best captures the experience. (For example, a Stress Management group might be classified as a group or as a Medical / Health-Related Intervention, but not both.) The categories are meant to be mutually exclusive; thus, any practicum hour should be counted only once.

6. Only include practicum experience accrued up to November 1 of the year in which you are applying for internship. You may describe the practicum experience that you anticipate accruing after November 1 in the section, “Summary of Doctoral Training.”

7. When calculating practicum hours, you should provide your best estimate of hours accrued or number of clients / patients seen. It is understood that you may not have the exact numbers available. Please round to the nearest whole number. Use your best judgment, in consultation with your academic training director, in quantifying your practicum experience.

8. Please report actual clock hours in direct service to clients / patients. Hours should not be counted in more than one category.

9. For the “Total hours face-to-face” columns, count each hour of a group, family, or couples session as one practicum hour. For example, a two-hour group session with 12 adults is counted as two hours.

10. For the “# of different...” columns, count a couple, family, or group as one (1) unit. For example, meeting with a group of 12 adults over a ten-week period for two hours per week counts as 20 hours and one (1) group. Groups may be closed or open membership; but, in either case, count the group as one group.

 

[dragonstyle]

I'm already getting nervous about the whole process. How many sites are you guys planning on applying to?

 

[erg923]

All 3 military branches (3 applications gets you 10 sites) and 15 civilian sites. So, 25 total sites.

 

[JockNerd]

Nice, erg, the military ones pay great. I'm not an American so you have no competition from me

13: 12 Uni. Counseling centers and 1 hospital

 

[erg923]

outstanding training reps as well....

 

[erg923]

My essays have already gone through 3 major overalls/revisions. Dont get married to anything you write.....

 

[dragonstyle]

yea, the military ones pay very well. i'm planning on doing 25 (i'm going through the couples match with my girlfriend, so I need to cast a wide net). all college counseling centers. I'm still narrowing down; right now my list is about 50.

 

[erg923]

yea, the military ones pay very well. i'm planning on doing 25 (i'm going through the couples match with my girlfriend, so I need to cast a wide net). all college counseling centers. I'm still narrowing down; right now my list is about 50.

Gilrfriend?, geez, if you are guys are willing to do all that, just pop the question already....

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

My essays have already gone through 3 major overalls/revisions. Dont get married to anything you write.....

I changed some of my favorite sentences when I applied. I wrote them early and edited over a few months. My cover letters were so much harder, even though I only had 2 types of sites (VA and Ac. affiliated consortiums). I thought I'd get lucky and use the same exact stuff for every VA, but there was quite a lot of variance. I do feel lucky I didn't have the online app, because while mailing was expensive and stressful, I at least could hold my material and know it got there (w/ tracking).

 

[ADDICTED2STATS]

@erg: Wow, several revisions already. I don't have a single draft to do a revision on yet. Good luck with the military thing. I was an Military officer for several years. It's a decent life... as long as your not married with kids while two wars are going on.

@Jn: I'm surprised that your shooting for counseling centers. I always took you for the research focused type (most counseling centers don't seem very research intensive... to me anyway).

As for me, I have it narrowed down to 20 sites, mostly research intensive medical school type internships.

Good Luck!

 

[psychgal]

I noticed today that the AAPI online applicant portal is set to open next Friday, July 16th. I have trimmed my list to 25 but ideally would like to get it down to 20. I am going for counseling centers and consortiums mainly. I am also starting to get nervous as others have noted. I am dreading writing all the cover letters but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I noticed today that the AAPI online applicant portal is set to open next Friday, July 16th. I have trimmed my list to 25 but ideally would like to get it down to 20. I am going for counseling centers and consortiums mainly. I am also starting to get nervous as others have noted. I am dreading writing all the cover letters but hopefully it will be worth it in the end.

The best advice I can give for cover letters (for internship, post-doc, jobs, etc) is to start them early and edit them often. Some people can nail it on the first go, but most people need multiple drafts. For internship you'll find you'll probably need to customize at least 1 or 2 paragraphs within each letter. I kept my structure the same for all of them, but I tailored my highlighted skill sets to match up with each rotation/program.

 

[dragonstyle]

Gilrfriend?, geez, if you are guys are willing to do all that, just pop the question already....

one step at a time. first internship, then rings.

 

[psychgal]

The best advice I can give for cover letters (for internship, post-doc, jobs, etc) is to start them early and edit them often. Some people can nail it on the first go, but most people need multiple drafts. For internship you'll find you'll probably need to customize at least 1 or 2 paragraphs within each letter. I kept my structure the same for all of them, but I tailored my highlighted skill sets to match up with each rotation/program.

Thanks- that's great advice. I better start writing them this week!

 

[JockNerd]

@Jn: I'm surprised that your shooting for counseling centers. I always took you for the research focused type (most counseling centers don't seem very research intensive... to me anyway).

Counseling psych people tend to do internships at research-focused uni counseling centers (Iowa, UF, Maryland, Delaware)

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Dr. Donna Pincus and Dr. John Otis put together a really useful guide for internship applicants. They do a great job of covering everything from prioritizing sites to writing cover letters. They haven't updated it for the online system, but everything else is spot on. Anyone looking to apply for the 2011-2012 internship cycle should take the time to read through this guide.

 

[zzzz2]

Dr. Donna Pincus and Dr. John Otis put together a really useful guide for internship applicants. They do a great job of covering everything from prioritizing sites to writing cover letters. They haven't updated it for the online system, but everything else is spot on. Anyone looking to apply for the 2011-2012 internship cycle should take the time to read through this guide.

To tag along, this is relatively useful too:

www.cpa.ca/documents/Internship_workbook.pdf

 

[ADDICTED2STATS]

So, how strict is this 500 word limit? I've heard that people stay "around" 500 words. Does the new online app only allow you to use 500 or is the "around" still applicable?

 

[deleted176373]

Out in 4! It's been a crazy ride. I'm happy that I get to devote this entire next year to research, though.

+1 J/N, I am in the same place... 1 dissertation and 1 class to go! I'm off to Portsmouth, VA for my 2011 Internship (unless the Navy has a change of heart after putting me through my Ph.D. program.) 4 years just flew by!

Mark

 

[ClinPsyD917]

So, how strict is this 500 word limit? I've heard that people stay "around" 500 words. Does the new online app only allow you to use 500 or is the "around" still applicable?

I (unfortunately) went through this last year, and am reapplying this year. Last year, my program told us to adhere VERY strictly to the 500 word limit. In talking with both my DCT and a DCT at an internship site, sites are really forced to look for anything to begin to eliminate applications, due to receiving such a high number of qualified candidates. This can be anything from setting minimums for hours/test batteries/ reports to, possibly, eliminating people who write more than 500 words because they did not follow the directions precisely. Perhaps other people have other thoughts/input, but I will not go a word over 500. I don't want something that simple to lead a site to eliminate me! Oh, also, I think you can put in as many words as you want. The AAPI isn't too fancy (as you will see) and I think there is a character limit but not a word limit... so it's at your discretion how much you will follow the 500 word limit.

Good luck to everyone in narrowing site lists, starting essays, etc. I'll be applying to 25 sites this year... trying to coordinate with my husband's residency match, so overapplying a bit for both that reason, and because I'm scared to death I won't match for the second year in a row! I have my site list, but I need to start on those essays...

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I don't think a program is going to count words, but I would strongly advise against making it obviously long (700 words, etc). I read countless essays and the ones that stuck out (for good reasons) were well written and provided a glimpse into the applicant as a person. The essays are the only way a reviewer/site can get to know the applicants prior to an interview, so a rehashing of your CV is not recommended.

 

[docma]

I endorse T4Cs comments. Be concise and be appropriately personal so there is a sense of you in your statements. Don't repeat information that is obvious elsewhere. Edit, edit, edit. For application readers, it is a breathe of fresh air to get a concise direct sense of the applicant that sounds like someone you would like to meet.

Too many statements read like re-worked examples from guidebooks and can read as arrogant/generic. Get feedback from mentors you like and trust to help you sound like yourself.

 

[erg923]

I would just like to comment on how ridiculous I think all this is sometimes. I mean yea, I know essays are important and im sure its refreshing to read good ones, blah blah...but come on. We are all professionals by this point with solid training experiences and I just wish the focus was soley on that....as apposed to all this other stuff (e.g. essays). Dont be too general/generic, oh, but dont be too disclosing either! Let me get to know you, but not too much! Be organized and concise, but dont make it look like it came from a guidebook/template! Dont repeat your CV, but really sell youself too! Dont be boring, but dont be too out there! Please.....

 

[zzzz2]

I would just like to comment on how ridiculous I think all this is sometimes. I mean yea, I know essays are important and im sure its refreshing to read good ones, blah blah...but come on. We are all professionals by this point with solid training experiences and I just wish the focus was soley on that....as apposed to all this other stuff (e.g. essays). Dont be too general/generic, oh, but dont be too disclosing either! Let me get to know you, but not too much! Be organized and concise, but dont make it look like it came from a guidebook/template! Dont repeat your CV, but really sell youself too! Dont be boring, but dont be too out there! Please.....

I totally agree with you. But at the end of the day you are in charge of how you want to present yourself through these application materials.

And regarding your point about applicants being professional, wait till interview days. You will probably come across at least a few freaks that will nevertheless make for good memories.

 

[psych00]

Yes, I have heard that the availability for downward social comparisons can provide some relief in the midst of all the chaos and stress of proving/marketing yourself on interviews!

 

[psychmama]

And regarding your point about applicants being professional, wait till interview days. You will probably come across at least a few freaks that will nevertheless make for good memories.

Lol...this. While in general I found myself among stiff competition at interviews, there were some real outliers.

The internship application process is crazy, but just remember that the internship sites are also competing. They are looking for good people, and the good people can only go to one place for the year. Even if they want their top choices this doesn't mean they'll get them. Likewise, us applicants all do our homework and pick places with the best fit, and then we rank our choices thoughtfully. In the end though, it's about getting matched and getting out of internship.

 

[Zigman]

Hi all, I've got an issue hopefully someone could provide me some advice about. I'm planning to apply almost exclusively to sites which offer training consistent with Div. 40/Houston Conf. neuropsych guidelines (greater than 50% time in NPsych) and I'm curious about the possibility of some sites where this might be obtained but is not explicitly detailed. Specifically, as my "backup" sites, I'm looking for a few places where this training might be obtained (by working extra or using multiple minor rotations) but is not explicitly offered in a "track" or similar type listing. Are there any neuro people on here who have some info on this?? Thanks!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I'm looking for a few places where this training might be obtained (by working extra or using multiple minor rotations) but is not explicitly offered in a "track" or similar type listing. Are there any neuro people on here who have some info on this?? Thanks!

This is actually how I selected my sites, as I got a late start to my neuro training, and my interests straddled multiple areas (cog. rehab, health psych, and neuro). I consulted with a trusted mentor, the program office (which had a list of prior sites where students matched), and of course the APPIC directory. My year was the first year they didn't print a hardcopy book, but I still used the previous year's book to read up on sites while I traveled to conferences, etc. At least 50% of my list turned over between when I started and when I actually applied, so make sure to be flexible.

My final list was a pretty even split between VA hospitals (almost all with academic affiliations), consortiums (with academic affiliations), and a few random hospitals. I had to read a lot of material to try and discern which programs would be more open to flexible training. Some sites are quite rigid about rotations....."you have 3 major rotations and 2 minor rotations.", while others will state that the intern will have the opportunity to design their experience. It can be tricky to get 50%+ at non-neuro specific placements, so it will take some work with your supervisors to make it happen. If you are considering VA hospitals, make sure to know what their expectations are about therapy cases. There has been a bigger push for EBT training and therapy, which can be good/bad depending on the caseload. I did a major rotation in neuro, a primary care rotation where I was funneled a lot of neuro-related consults and cog. rehab cases, and I also did additional assessment cases on my other rotations. By the end of the year I was over 50% for neuro related work, but it took some compromises with my supervisors to make sure I did enough therapy to meet the site's expectations. The non-neuro work really helped me with my differential dx and kept me sharp, which is one benefit to a non-neuro specific placement.

Off the top of my head, here are some of the places I considered.

Boston Consortium (renamed to something else now, some top notch placements)
Vanderbilt Consortium (VA, academic hospital, out-patient, etc)
University of OK Health (Just awesome)
VA Houston (IIRC, 2 boarded neuropsychs, solid staff, good research)
VA Cleveland (solid VA w/ plenty of neuro opportunities)
Cleveland Clinic (good clinical and research opportunities)
Allegheny Hospital (Opportunities for adult and peds neuro work, lesser known, but I liked the neuro staff)

There are a bunch more, but all of those are solid programs. I think what is important is that you'd have the opportunity to work 1:1 with a boarded neuropsychologist and have access to a number of different opportunities. I will say that if you land at a VA, it can be very easy to network into a neuro fellowship at a VA hospital. There are of course Div 40, Div 22 (rehab), NAN, and etc conferences to meet people too.

 

[Zigman]

Nice. Thanks so much for the info. I am definitely planning to apply to Allegheny and OU Health Sciences. I will check out the others.

On a related note, I'm really unsure how competitive I will be. I feel like I've got quite a bit of solid training under my belt. Coming from a PsyD program (and terminal masters first), I've had to be a bit creative to get all the experience I could. Any chance you (or anyone) could give me some feedback if I gave you some stats? Thanks a ton!

 

[NYCPsych]

Does anyone know of APA accredited internship sites in the NYC Metro Area that offer both adult AND child in ONE internship, about equal emphasis? i.e. not 2 separate tracks with choice of applying to 1 only. Hard to search for this type on the APPIC website. Thanks!

 

[Salsybabe]

Does anyone know of APA accredited internship sites in the NYC Metro Area that offer both adult AND child in ONE internship, about equal emphasis? i.e. not 2 separate tracks with choice of applying to 1 only. Hard to search for this type on the APPIC website. Thanks!

The only one I can think of right off hand is the Rusk Institute, which is in the NYC area. It has an adult/child track in addition to a child track and and an adult track.