2015-2016 Post-Doc Thread

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
The 2015 Post-Doc Interview Thread has a list of some dates from last year which could give us an idea of when to expect to hear this year. It's hard waiting but it looks like most aren't until the end of December/beginning of January.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2015-post-doc-interview-thread.1114766/
Members don't see this ad.
 
Keep in mind that I stopped updating the first post of that thread at some point. So be sure to search the entire thread for your site!
 
Just here to say that the only thing I have heard from postdoc sites so far is a confirmation from VA Boston that they received my application. I applied for 11 VA postdocs; 9 used APPA-CAS and 2 did not. Looking forward to hearing more in January!
 
Members don't see this ad :)
psychchica80 said:
Just here to say that the only thing I have heard from postdoc sites so far is a confirmation from VA Boston that they received my application. I applied for 11 VA postdocs; 9 used APPA-CAS and 2 did not. Looking forward to hearing more in January!
Click to expand...
I also got the confirmation from Boston and I thought it was a rejection because it starts with "Thank you for your interest in the VA Boston Fellowship..."! I haven't heard from the other 6 VA post-docs I applied to either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
I got a "completed application" email from the Seattle VA...need to keep telling myself "it's waaaay too early too hear anything!".
 
Is anyone designated to update the original post with new rejections/invites? I sent a PM with invitation info to the OP earlier this week, but I'm not seeing the info anywhere in this thread.
 
mlwg1 said:
Is anyone designated to update the original post with new rejections/invites? I sent a PM with invitation info to the OP earlier this week, but I'm not seeing the info anywhere in this thread.
Click to expand...
I just updated this list!! A bit slow this week....
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Heads up to whoever submitted the Stanford Sleep Medicine rejection - I got a generic rejection from the DCT at the same time, but then a specific invite to my track over the weekend. So it may be a fluke if it wasn't sleep track specific!
 
pittpsych2014 said:
I just updated this list!! A bit slow this week....
Click to expand...

How's everybody doing with this process? I can't tell if I'm apathetic or just healthily not freaked out about this process. I have 3 of 5 apps in, haven't heard back either way from any. I assume I'll just be applying as I see openings that look good. I think I used up all my give-a-f*cks during my internship apps! ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7 users
AppsAintNoThang said:
How's everybody doing with this process? I can't tell if I'm apathetic or just healthily not freaked out about this process. I have 3 of 5 apps in, haven't heard back either way from any. I assume I'll just be applying as I see openings that look good. I think I used up all my give-a-f*cks during my internship apps! ;)
Click to expand...


Haha, I completely agree (re: having zero f*cks left)! This process feels so much calmer than the internship process. I have received a few confirmation emails from sites letting me know that they are reviewing my application, but that is it so far! I imagine that things will start to heat up next week?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
psychchica80 said:
Haha, I completely agree (re: having zero f*cks left)! This process feels so much calmer than the internship process. I have received a few confirmation emails from sites letting me know that they are reviewing my application, but that is it so far! I imagine that things will start to heat up next week?
Click to expand...
I, too, feel apathetic/healthily not-freaked-out. 3/6 apps in! My guess is we'll hear from most sites in mid-January..

Interview question: do more people opt for phone interviews (if the site is not within easy driving distance) this go-around (and more specifically, for VAs)?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Received an interview at the Baltimore VA PTSD track. They offered Feb 4th and 11th interview dates. Interviews are 8-1:30 pm.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Members don't see this ad :)
I'm feeling similarly about not being as anxious/preoccupied by this process compared to how I felt applying for internship. That was a brutal experience and I'm glad to be more relaxed this time around!

On another note, I was wondering if there is a general consensus about the maximum length for cover letters. One VA site is asking for several points to be addressed in a letter, and there are no supplemental essays or other materials requested (besides a work sample). My letter for that site is currently 4 pages and I feel like that is way too long (I've been under 2 pages for all other sites), but does 3 pages seem acceptable? Or is 4 pages reasonable when there are multiple areas to be covered? Thanks in advance for any guidance!
 
DGCali said:
I'm feeling similarly about not being as anxious/preoccupied by this process compared to how I felt applying for internship. That was a brutal experience and I'm glad to be more relaxed this time around!

On another note, I was wondering if there is a general consensus about the maximum length for cover letters. One VA site is asking for several points to be addressed in a letter, and there are no supplemental essays or other materials requested (besides a work sample). My letter for that site is currently 4 pages and I feel like that is way too long (I've been under 2 pages for all other sites), but does 3 pages seem acceptable? Or is 4 pages reasonable when there are multiple areas to be covered? Thanks in advance for any guidance!
Click to expand...
I think I'm struggling with the exact same issue (likely for the same VA)! ;) I've also been told to keep them at 2 pages max, but the requirements for this VA cover letter seem to make that impossible!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
DGCali said:
On another note, I was wondering if there is a general consensus about the maximum length for cover letters. One VA site is asking for several points to be addressed in a letter, and there are no supplemental essays or other materials requested (besides a work sample). My letter for that site is currently 4 pages and I feel like that is way too long (I've been under 2 pages for all other sites), but does 3 pages seem acceptable? Or is 4 pages reasonable when there are multiple areas to be covered? Thanks in advance for any guidance!
Click to expand...

I was told to keep it 2 pages or less, unless a different length was specified by the site. I had one site that states "~3 pages." Hope that helps! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Hey guys. First interview- woot!

-Site: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical
-Notified: 1/4/2016 by personal email
-Invite
-Track: Behavioral Medicine
- Offered 1/7, 1/8, 1/11, 1/14
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users
Thanks for the replies! After what felt like a total slash and burn, I managed to whittle my letter down to ~2.5 pages and I ended up just deciding to submit the slightly longer letter because I didn't feel that I could cut more content and still convey what I wanted to say. This is a super competitive site, so I'm not very confident in getting an interview anyway, but we'll see how it goes! Best of luck to everyone!
 
University of Kansas Medical Center NeuroRehabilitation Psychology Fellowship
-Date notified and notification style (email, phone, etc.): 1/4 via personalized email
-Invite or rejection: invite
-Track (please specify even for general tracks): NeuroRehabilitation
-Interview dates offered: 2/8/16
 
Just got my first interview! Boston VA LGBTQ fellowship. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 users
University of Massachusetts Family Medicine Fellowship
-Date notified and notification style (email, phone, etc.): 1/5 via phone call
-Invite or rejection: invite
-Track (please specify even for general tracks): Barre Family Health Center
-Interview dates offered: 1/15/16, with a backup date of 1/22/15
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
diversitydoc said:
Hey guys. First interview- woot!

-Site: Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical
-Notified: 1/4/2016 by personal email
-Invite
-Track: Behavioral Medicine
- Offered 1/7, 1/8, 1/11, 1/14
Click to expand...

That's not a whole lotta turnaround time, is it!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
-VA Boston Clinical Neuropsychology Training Program
-Thurs 1/7 - email
-Invite
-Neuropsychology
-1/22 or 2/1 on-site. phone / video interview also available.
 
Kaiser Permanente - South Bay Consortium, Santa Clara
1/7/16 - by phone
Invite
Adult Psychiatry
Interviews to be held on Fridays throughout January, on-site
 
First interview invite today! Woo! Sent details to OP but wanted to share my overall excitement :) Happy hour after work for sure!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 users
Thread updated. I'm doing better posting from personal messages so please PM me if you get an interview! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Do most sites send out invitations for all of their tracks on the same day?
 
How long is appropriate to wait to reply to interview invitations? In an attempt to work out travel means, I fear I may need to wait to reply until I can determine if I can travel to a site. Do I have until Monday, or will that give a poor impression? Offer was extended today.
 
cBpsych said:
How long is appropriate to wait to reply to interview invitations? In an attempt to work out travel means, I fear I may need to wait to reply until I can determine if I can travel to a site. Do I have until Monday, or will that give a poor impression? Offer was extended today.
Click to expand...

Did you not anticipate getting interviews prior to applications?

If the site offers multiple dates, one may get filled up before you respond. However, I have heard of instances where someone took a few days to respond. Just make sure you address it in your reply.
 
Just remember, we (sites) are sending out a group of invites all at once, likely. We are filling those slots on a first come, first served basis. The longer you wait, the less flexible your choices may be, in some circumstances.
 
cBpsych said:
How long is appropriate to wait to reply to interview invitations? In an attempt to work out travel means, I fear I may need to wait to reply until I can determine if I can travel to a site. Do I have until Monday, or will that give a poor impression? Offer was extended today.
Click to expand...

I don't think waiting until Monday would be unusual; it'd be akin to getting the offer on Monday and replying Tuesday, essentially. That being said, as WisNeuro mentioned, the slots are usually filled first-come, first-served, so waiting may limit your/their flexibility.
 
- Hampton VA
-notified 1/8/15 via email
-Invite
-Women's outpatient MH & trauma
-2/4, 2/5, 2/8 phone or Vtel only
- chocolate chip!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Kaiser Permanente - Central Valley Consortium, Elk Grove
1/8/16 - by phone
Invite
Adult Psychiatry
Interviews on site 2/1 and 2/9
 
Finally ready to start applying to post-docs! Can anybody talk to the cover-letter part of the app? Similar length than for internships? Similar content, i.e., interests, previous experience, etc.?

Good luck, all!
 
Phipps said:
Finally ready to start applying to post-docs! Can anybody talk to the cover-letter part of the app? Similar length than for internships? Similar content, i.e., interests, previous experience, etc.?

Good luck, all!
Click to expand...

Kinda -- it's depends on your focus (research or clinical fellowships) -- I'm applying to research post docs so I focused more on my research experience, interests and goals. I did mention populations I worked with because that tied into my research. My cover letters (which sites have listed as statement of interest/cover letter) have been about 1.5-2 pages. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Did anyone apply to the University of Michigan-VA Ann Arbor consortium? I emailed my application to Pam per application instructions for the adult track in early Dec. (deadline 12/15), and I never received confirmation from her that my application was received. Did others have the same experience? I emailed her again for a confirmation, but she never responded! I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or if I should follow up again ... Thanks in advance!
 
PsychStudent222 said:
Did anyone apply to the University of Michigan-VA Ann Arbor consortium? I emailed my application to Pam per application instructions for the adult track in early Dec. (deadline 12/15), and I never received confirmation from her that my application was received. Did others have the same experience? I emailed her again for a confirmation, but she never responded! I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or if I should follow up again ... Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Same experience, though I didn't send a follow up email.
 
Has anyone applied to the Trauma Services track at the DC VAMC? Applications were due 10 days ago and still waiting on any sort of news.

No cookies today, but bacon...
 
StarPlusLiving said:
Has anyone applied to the Trauma Services track at the DC VAMC? Applications were due 10 days ago and still waiting on any sort of news.

No cookies today, but bacon...
Click to expand...

I applied to that site for a different track (same due date) and haven't heard anything from them either! Hopefully no news is good news?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Has anyone here applied to any college counseling centers? Some of the ones I applied to had deadlines in early January so I'm not entirely sure when it's likely I'll hear something from anywhere.
 
Indiana University School of Medicine
-Date notified and notification style (email, phone, etc.): 1/11 via personalized email
-Invite or rejection: invite
-Track (please specify even for general tracks): Neuropsychology
-Interview dates offered: Anytime in the next two weeks, INS
 
cara susanna said:
Best of luck to everyone! For what it's worth, although I was incredibly stressed about post doc applications, in the end it was a much better process than internship apps.
Click to expand...
I didn't like this process at all. For internship, sources were able to just upload one letter to the system, and all sites could access it. For this process, I have to ask my sources for individual letters to be sent separately to each site, and I really don't like bothering people so much even if they don't mind. Also, there's no list of all available programs, as you never know if you'll get another email about a program you might like. And since most programs don't use the APPA CAS system, they don't have a set date for notification, interviews, offers, etc. Internship process involved more pressure, as it was required, but it was way more streamlined and organized, whereas this is just pure chaos.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

S
Post Doc
Replies
20
Views
2K
quickpsych
quickpsych
I
Importance of research area for postdocs
Replies
3
Views
626
ivan_alyosha
I
C
  • Question
Post Doc Interview Questions
Replies
8
Views
1K
Catnapped123
C
oldschooliscool
Using Board Certification to replace post-doc hours?
Replies
9
Views
650
SLB-CO
S
psychologynbooks
Postdoc Discussion Thread/Google Sheet
Replies
6
Views
2K
WisNeuro
WisNeuro
Top