2013-2014 APPIC (internship) interview thread

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I just found it. I am not in it and i don't know where these folks are from! Very creative!
I think they are from Wheaton, but I'm not sure. Saw it a few weeks ago on Confessions of a Broke Grad Student's tumblr - which I think is run by a Loyola (Baltimore) student, so it's also possible they are from Loyola?
 


And then I found this......shout out to student doctor network?!?!?
 
I really don't mean this as any disrespect to anyone, but I think that APPIC should put a hard cap to the number of sites that students can apply for. I'm not sure what that cap should be, but probably no more than 20 in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I completely understand why people apply to so many sites given the internship imbalance, but I think it would be better for everyone if there was a cap. There would be less competition per site and it would ease the burden on training facilities. It also would be more fair to students who cannot afford to apply to and interview with that many sites. This is just getting out of hand. (Full disclosure: I applied to 14.)


I partially agree with u and agree there needs to be more balance to this process. The first two times I applied to less than 20 places (15 first time, 17 last year) and 25 this year. I decided to be more aggressive based on my experience. This prices really jumped this year but I am ready to graduate. I defended over a year ago and am done with classes, comps etc.. I'm just over this process. So while I agree I guess we all have reasons for why we do what we do.. it's an imperfect process.
 
Also stop breathing. Seriously, I have had a lot of moments of not breathing this week, it's definitely not healthy...
YES! It's the number one thing I'm trying to remember to do. Usually, I'm pretty good at breathing. I'm also a yoga teacher.
 
Updated! Please note that waitlist and rejections are now in post #2. Shoot me a PM if I missed anything.

Btw, the thread is now 21 pages and 4848 words--basically, the size of a good length manuscript! :O Of note, the invites make up 14 of those pages.
 
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Well my furthest site is 2,645 miles away, which would take 38 hours to drive. Luckily I'm flying, even though this will still take 10 hours with two layovers and require me to go through customs. It should be a fun adventure though when I go to interview in January 🙂

Same! Furthest site is 2673 miles away. I think anyone applying from one coast of the US or Canada to the other will have similar furthest sites, so there's probably a lot of us! (e.g., Seattle to Boston or vice-versa is over 3000 miles). And there are no internships in my city, so I definitely don't win for "closest". 🙂
 
Has anyone heard from University of Florida Health Sciences Center for the child/peds track? I saw that invites already went out for behavioral med and neuro...

I received a personalized e-mail invite from that track on 11/15.
 
For people attending Open Houses that are not interviews: are you wearing a suit? I'm wondering because one of mine explicitly says to dress business casual, so I'm wondering if they'd all be like that.
 
Has anyone who applied toPace UCC not heard either way from them? It looks like a mass rejection email went out on 12/2 and personal invite calls went out on 12/2 and 12/4, and I have heard nothing at all. Is this the case for anyone else?
 
Updated! Please note that waitlist and rejections are now in post #2. Shoot me a PM if I missed anything.

Btw, the thread is now 21 pages and 4848 words--basically, the size of a good length manuscript! :O Of note, the invites make up 14 pof those pages.
Thanks for all the hard work on this!
 
Has anyone who applied toPace UCC not heard either way from them? It looks like a mass rejection email went out on 12/2 and personal invite calls went out on 12/2 and 12/4, and I have heard nothing at all. Is this the case for anyone else?
I am in the same situation. Haven't heard either way.
 
Has anyone who applied toPace UCC not heard either way from them? It looks like a mass rejection email went out on 12/2 and personal invite calls went out on 12/2 and 12/4, and I have heard nothing at all. Is this the case for anyone else?
Yep, right there with you. Radio silence.
 
I am waiting to hear from Phoenix Children's Hospital (I know invites and rejections were sent out). I was looking back at their website, which says,
"You will be notified by e-mail when your completed application has been received." I was not notified and worry that this means that they never actually received my completed app. I am wondering if anyone who applied there was actually notified when their app was received. Also, is anyone still waiting to hear from this site?
 
I'm aware that many people on this thread are still waiting to hear back from multiple sites (I'm still waiting to hear back from 4 out of 15). However, I'm also aware many people on this thread are also probably preparing for interviews that they have already received. Just wanted to send out some good vibes and wish people luck as we all continue through this long process.
 
I am waiting to hear from Phoenix Children's Hospital (I know invites and rejections were sent out). I was looking back at their website, which says,
"You will be notified by e-mail when your completed application has been received." I was not notified and worry that this means that they never actually received my completed app. I am wondering if anyone who applied there was actually notified when their app was received. Also, is anyone still waiting to hear from this site?

Me too! I haven't heard anything, and they didn't tell me about a completed app. Hmm. Which rotation did you apply for? I applied for the CL track, so maybe the others were for ped neuropsych?
 
Cara, I say keep your 'A' game on...wear a suit or something close to interview attire. Set the standard here. It's much better to be over-dressed in this situation than under-dressed. (I read 'business casual' as whatever you would wear to work as an intern...and I plan on wearing suits or suit jackets w/ slacks & skirts most days...if not nice dresses. If I were a guy, I'd wear a tie.)
For people attending Open Houses that are not interviews: are you wearing a suit? I'm wondering because one of mine explicitly says to dress business casual, so I'm wondering if they'd all be like that.
 
By no means was I able to "afford" the number of sites I applied to, but I am terrified of not matching, and know how much an extra year would cost me, that paying X much this year in hopes to increase my interview net was worth it. I am sure many people paid more money for any number of applications than they had hoped.
I did something similar in applying to 19 sites. Now, part of this is that I ended up finding a couple of sites late in the game that I wasn't planning on applying to - one of which offered me an interview. But a lot of this was a deep seated fear that I wouldn't get any interviews, so I found myself stretching the fit (largely for VA sites with a more generalist bent). And for some of these sites, I was actually relieved when I didn't get an interview, so clearly, they weren't a good match and it wasn't worth my money. It just became so difficult to step back and see that in the moment, and it's a shame because maybe not spending the time on those letters would have let me strengthen others. I don't think I really managed it until I was nearly done with the process.
 
For people attending Open Houses that are not interviews: are you wearing a suit? I'm wondering because one of mine explicitly says to dress business casual, so I'm wondering if they'd all be like that.

I guess it depends on the instructions you may or may not have received from the site. For one of my open houses (see below) they actually described the appropriate attire. In my opinion, if a site is willing to go to such lengths, then why not just do what they say? You certainly wouldn't look worse off by following their instructions. If anything, people who overdress may come off as too uptight for that sight.

From the email: "The dress code is Business Casual. Some typical examples of business causal include: dress shirt/blouse with slacks/skirt, suit with no tie, jacket with slacks/skirt, or sweater with slacks/skirt. There is no need to wear a formal suit or tie; however, jeans would be too casual. I would suggest bringing a few layers, it can get chilly and then feel warm in our auditorium, and some tours venture outside."
 
Yeah, I got those same instructions, which is what made me wonder if all OHes would be like that. Thanks!
 
Concerning dress for open houses, here's my three rules:

1. Do what the site says, if they explicitly instruct you. This rule trumps the other two. Don't over-dress just to be safe, although it makes sense to dress just slightly more formal than you might wear to a typical work day.
2. If the open house does not involve personal interviews and is explicitly non-evaluative, than feel free to dress "business casual" even if they don't say so (or dress more formally; either way). That's what I will be doing.
3. If the open house does involve personal interviews and/or is evaluative, then dress as you would for a normal interview.
 
Has anyone who applied toPace UCC not heard either way from them? It looks like a mass rejection email went out on 12/2 and personal invite calls went out on 12/2 and 12/4, and I have heard nothing at all. Is this the case for anyone else?

Me, too. Sigh.
 
Has anyone heard recently from Children's National Medical Center? I heard from a friend that they were finalizing their list earlier this week. Which tracks have people heard from at CHOP? This waiting game...
 
I am waiting to hear from Phoenix Children's Hospital (I know invites and rejections were sent out). I was looking back at their website, which says,
"You will be notified by e-mail when your completed application has been received." I was not notified and worry that this means that they never actually received my completed app. I am wondering if anyone who applied there was actually notified when their app was received. Also, is anyone still waiting to hear from this site?

I also applied to the CL track and so did a friend of mine and both of us have not received a rejection or an invite. I was also not notified by them that my application was received. My friend and I are under the hypothesis that neuro has received invites/rejections but that CL has not. Just an assumption tho, fingers crossed!
 
I agree with this, and would add (in my own opinion) that over-dressing can suggest a lack of confidence.

Interesting, I never thought of it like this. I was invited to an open house that does NOT do formal interviews, and only some of the applicants were invited to the open house. The email says that the open house is NOT mandatory, and we will not be evaluated. I was planning on wearing a suit, but now I am not so sure? But since the email did not discuss attire, I feel like I should err on the side of caution and wear a suit. I don't know though!

Edit: The site I am talking about is Western State Hospital. I know I have seen a few others on this thread with an invite as well. How are you planning on dressing if you are going? Thanks!
 
Interesting, I never thought of it like this. I was invited to an open house that does NOT do formal interviews, and only some of the applicants were invited to the open house. The email says that the open house is NOT mandatory, and we will not be evaluated. I was planning on wearing a suit, but now I am not so sure? But since the email did not discuss attire, I feel like I should err on the side of caution and wear a suit. I don't know though!

Edit: The site I am talking about is Western State Hospital. I know I have seen a few others on this thread with an invite as well. How are you planning on dressing if you are going? Thanks!

How can an open house not be influential or evaluative? That seems pretty much impossible.

Plus, what the hell do the two sets of folks talk about there? Basketweaving and sunshine? If you talk about psych, its informative, trust me....
 
How can an open house not be influential or evaluative? That seems pretty much impossible.

Plus, what the hell do the two sets of folks talk about there? Basketweaving and sunshine? If you talk about psych, its informative, trust me....

That was my assumption (how can it not be influential or evaluative?) I actually laughed when I read the line in the email that says "the open house is not used to evaluate you," like yeah, right. Thank you for your response!
 
Me too! I haven't heard anything, and they didn't tell me about a completed app. Hmm. Which rotation did you apply for? I applied for the CL track, so maybe the others were for ped neuropsych?

Thanks for the responses! I applied to CL too. I was just nervous when I looked at the website this morning and read the piece about receiving a confirmation email. Glad to hear at least 2 other people are in the same boat! Fingers crossed we all hear good news out of Phoenix this week!
 
Has anyone heard recently from Children's National Medical Center? I heard from a friend that they were finalizing their list earlier this week. Which tracks have people heard from at CHOP? This waiting game...
I'm not in peds but it looks like you could use some guidance. Here is the access to the list of invites and rejections which was updated yesterday by our awesome moderator: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2013-2014-appic-internship-interview-thread.1041140/
Also you can word search the thread forum. Welcome to the Student Doctor Forum Madness!
 
I agree with this, and would add (in my own opinion) that over-dressing can suggest a lack of confidence.
I don't know about that...I certainly don't lack in the confidence dept and I usually over-dress when attending a work-related function...well, let me clarify...I stylishly over-dress. I always equate this topic of dress to professionalism. I grew up around a bunch of doctors who wore nothing but suits. Also I'm from an immigrant family so perhaps I'm more up-tight than lacking confidence. I say set the bar high and strive for it. Medical residents (our soon to be comrades) are all suiting it up at this stage (and beyond).

Ultimately, I agree to go with the recommendation of the site - no tie, then no tie it is. But you'd find me find me looking well-pressed with some professional flare. And I may seem over-dressed to some because it's a personal value.
 
How can an open house not be influential or evaluative? That seems pretty much impossible.

Plus, what the hell do the two sets of folks talk about there? Basketweaving and sunshine? If you talk about psych, its informative, trust me....

That's what I was thinking. So is it safer to wear a suit unless they explicitly mention the dress code?
 
Dress to impress. Can never go wrong.

I think "open houses" are a joke, frankly. Interview me/don't interview me, but dont screw with me about...ya know?
 
And I would through my hat in the ring for a cap. If we use stats, like we all should as clinical scientists, 3o sites makes you no more likely to match than 20. Capping at a number between 15 and 20 seems perfectly reasonable to me so long as it is support by outcome data. We make policies and laws based on statistical diminishing returns all the time, so I don't know why this should be any different.

Of course, I think we should try to show that there is a benefit to limiting apps beyond a mere convenience factor for the applicants and the reviewers. But still, one of the reason my VA (an academically-affiliated medical center in large urban area) does not have a internship program is because wading through 150 apps that takes away from your clinical time/clinic productivity numbers is not a particularly appealing process to the other 19 members of my service. I am pretty much the only one who is pushing the issue at the moment. Wade through 50 apps on the other hand,would not be nearly as big of a deal.
 
In looking at the main list, I noticed someone had an interview invite for "Lincoln Medical Center" but there are many hospitals in the US with that name. Has any anyone heard from "Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center" in NY (the Bronx)? Top choice so I'm wondering...😉
 
I have not heard from them but was also hoping to either way.
In looking at the main list, I noticed someone had an interview invite for "Lincoln Medical Center" but there are many hospitals in the US with that name. Has any anyone heard from "Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center" in NY (the Bronx)? Top choice so I'm wondering...😉
 
How can an open house not be influential or evaluative? That seems pretty much impossible.

Plus, what the hell do the two sets of folks talk about there? Basketweaving and sunshine? If you talk about psych, its informative, trust me....

Three of the sites I applied to (Seattle VA, Tacoma VA, and Ann Arbor VA) have open houses that they make very clear are completely optional and do not in any way influence how you are ranked. One of the sites, in particular, is very serious about this--it states that they don't believe in the predictive validity of interviews, that you will not be wearing a name tag and they won't even know who you are at the open house, and that their rank lists are submitted prior to the open house. The only reason for the open house is for the sake of the applicant--to ask questions, to get a sense for the staff and facility, etc. I suppose one could cast doubt about whether open houses really don't play a role, but on paper at least it appears that sites really are striving to base it on the application only and thus are not evaluative and informative only to the applicant.

Now, there are other "open houses" for which the term open house is a misnomer, in my opinion, as they involve interviews and are clearly evaluative.
 
I think "open houses" are a joke, frankly. Interview me/don't interview me, but dont screw with me about...ya know?

I think that certain sites that do open houses would say, we are definitively not interviewing you. We simply offer an open house for *your* benefit. Hard for me to see how that's a joke. Maybe it is for some sites.
 
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