2013 APPIC Internship Application Thread

[AcronymAllergy]

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Is anyone still waiting on their DCT to sign off on their hours?

How long ago did you submit your hours to the DCT? If it's been more than a few weeks, I'd likely send off an email just to check up on things.

 

[ResearchGirlie]

Yes! I've heard our DCT doesn't do it until the last minute no matter how far in advance you send it.

 

[nyprincess]

Thanks for the advice - i did send it a few weeks ago, but guess I'll wait some more before following up.

How is everyone doing in this process? Has anyone actually submitted any applications yet?

 

[Dream Chaser]

Hi All-
As I've said before, I didnt match last year. As I'm finishing editing my essays, I realized that they still for the most part seem very much like last year's (sans some significant changes to essay 1). The problem is, one place I applied- which showed marginal interest in me last year- I was planning on reapplying to again. Could this look bad for me, as they'll think "this kid didnt match, and kept his essays nearly the same". Is this potential pitfall a big deal?

Thanks in advance.

I applied last year and also didn't match. I have completed my essays and did not change much from last years to the essays I will be submitting. I had a fair amount of interviews in both Phase I and Phase II last year, so I'm not worried about the essays and felt as though they were pretty wholesome last year. I am also planning on applying to many of the sites I applied to last year, especially the ones that I interviewed with and enjoyed. I am going with the plan that "if it isn't broke, don't fix it".

 

[psypsypsy]

Hi All-
As I've said before, I didnt match last year. As I'm finishing editing my essays, I realized that they still for the most part seem very much like last year's (sans some significant changes to essay 1). The problem is, one place I applied- which showed marginal interest in me last year- I was planning on reapplying to again. Could this look bad for me, as they'll think "this kid didnt match, and kept his essays nearly the same". Is this potential pitfall a big deal?

Thanks in advance.

From what I heard from supervisors when I was on internship, it depends on if you interviewed there before. If you did, it might be worth changing the first essay, which is really the most important one (and really, how much can your approach to diversity change in a year). They said that when they got people who applied a second time (again, and who had interviewed...I doubt they'd remember the applicants who didn't get one) they might go back and look at the old file and see what they had done in the past year to improve (i.e. more assessments, different experiences). They said they might look at the first essay, just to see if they had made an effort to work on the application and do something else or if it was all the same, which might be a bit lazy. Just one thought, and probably, it really varies based on internship program.

 

[psybee]

Hi All,

I was all confident and fine with my essays, and then I have heard that describing your clinical orientation as integrative can be problematic, as folks may think you are not rigorous or have a strong handle on theory. I could also go the "CBT but have worked under supervisors of other orientations have expereince with xyz" approach, but honestly multitheoretical integration is my bag.

does anyone have any thoughts or fb on ways to best frame an integrative orientation, or if it should be avoided in the essays all together?

thanks!

 

[The Hobgoblin]

There was a supervisor at a practicum site we used to have that was fond of doing this. And then he'd still re-type the student's name wrong in the letter (some of these students had worked with him for 3+ years).

I loathe writing about myself. G'luck!

I had to do that. As much as I did not enjoy tooting my own horn, I felt more in control. The supervisor didn't do much more than sign but it allowed me to have one long, detailed, complimentary letter that I knew for a fact made me look good.

 

[The Hobgoblin]

Hi All,

I was all confident and fine with my essays, and then I have heard that describing your clinical orientation as integrative can be problematic, as folks may think you are not rigorous or have a strong handle on theory. I could also go the "CBT but have worked under supervisors of other orientations have expereince with xyz" approach, but honestly multitheoretical integration is my bag.

does anyone have any thoughts or fb on ways to best frame an integrative orientation, or if it should be avoided in the essays all together?

thanks!

I think if you explain how you came to see yourself as integrative and give a case example that shows how you integrate different tools you might be fine. When your orientation essay is moving and shows you like what you do and know your stregnths it should work fine. With that said, if a site is hard core about one clinical approach, you might want to tailor your essay a bit.

 

[VeryHopeful2010]

I don't think describing yourself as "integrative" is problematic, but be ready to explain how you would approach a case they present to you during an interview from an integrative perspective. It can be tough enough to do when you are just pulling from one theoretical orientation.

 

[Member 112911]

I have two questions:

1. Do assessment instruments administered as part of our dissertation count toward the 'number of instruments administered as part of a research project' under the assessment instrument section of the AAPI?

2. Is it advisable to submit two letters of recommendation from the same practicum site? I had two supervisors at my prac site last year, one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester. I was at a UCC and as I am applying to mostly UCCs for internship, I would like to include both.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DynamicDidactic]

I have two questions:

1. Do assessment instruments administered as part of our dissertation count toward the 'number of instruments administered as part of a research project' under the assessment instrument section of the AAPI?

This seems like a weird question. Is your dissertation not a research project?

2. Is it advisable to submit two letters of recommendation from the same practicum site? I had two supervisors at my prac site last year, one during the fall semester and one during the spring semester. I was at a UCC and as I am applying to mostly UCCs for internship, I would like to include both.

Thanks in advance!

I am sure you will have more answers on the APPIC listserv after the weekend but, to me, this seems completely appropriate and very common.

 

[eudaimonPsyD]

1. Do assessment instruments administered as part of our dissertation count toward the 'number of instruments administered as part of a research project' under the assessment instrument section of the AAPI?

I took it to mean assessment instruments you administered for research purposes as required by your practicum. I don't think you would count ones you administered outside your practicum, because then you could include coursework, previous non-practicum clinical positions....

I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure anything that goes on your AAPI must be associated with a school sanctioned practicum/externship.

 

[LETSGONYR]

I took it to mean assessment instruments you administered for research purposes as required by your practicum. I don't think you would count ones you administered outside your practicum, because then you could include coursework, previous non-practicum clinical positions....

I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure anything that goes on your AAPI must be associated with a school sanctioned practicum/externship.

My understanding was that you had to accrue hours in the context of an externship, but that "administrations" of tests, if administered to formal participants for a research project (e.g., not practicing with another student for a class) were to be counted. Not as hours, but just a count of how many administrations. That's why for each test administered there are three columns... given, reports written, and given as part of a research protocol.

EDIT: From the AAPI rules for those sections: In this section, you should indicate all psychological assessment instruments that you used as part of your practicum experiences with actual patients/clients (columns one and two) or research participants in a clinical study (column three) through November 1.

So it's separate from practicum experiences.

 

[Member 112911]

I have two questions:

1. Do assessment instruments administered as part of our dissertation count toward the 'number of instruments administered as part of a research project' under the assessment instrument section of the AAPI?

I originally posed this question because I was unsure if it mattered that it was student research vs. faculty or some other kind of institutional research. APPIC confirmed that instruments administered as part of a dissertation do indeed count in the research column. Thanks for your responses.

 

[Member 112911]

Is anyone having trouble logging on to the AAPI 2013 portal? I keep getting an internal server error. I didn't have trouble earlier in the day...

 

[Miss J]

Is anyone having trouble logging on to the AAPI 2013 portal? I keep getting an internal server error. I didn't have trouble earlier in the day...

Yep, also getting an internal server error. Here's hoping this doesn't happen more often as we get closer to the deadlines. Exactly the reason I'm getting everything submitted sooner rather than later!

 

[Dream Chaser]

Yep, also getting an internal server error. Here's hoping this doesn't happen more often as we get closer to the deadlines. Exactly the reason I'm getting everything submitted sooner rather than later!

I also am getting the internal error. If you can - submit those applications earlier than later. Last year there was a huge problem on October 31 where we could not submit payment information, they did fix it by the application deadline day - but it was still a source of additional stress that could have been avoided by submitting early.

 

[ilikepsych]

Hi all, I have a dumb question about submitting the APPI. I just submitted some of my applications...yay! Anyhow, one thing confused me...do the transcript and DCT letter automatically get sent to every site (assuming the transcript has been received and our DCT has verified the appi)? When I previewed the application PDFs, they weren't part of it and there were no instructions about how to send the transcript and DCT parts. Also, I assume that the rec letters for whoever we specified will be sent automatically?

I just want to make sure there isn't something we're supposed to do in addition to submitting the pdf application thing that we preview, which omits transcripts, letters, and the DCT verification. Thanks for your help!

 

[futureapppsy2]

Very basic question (sorry!), but by when to people usually have their hours "in" to their DCT? In other words, when do hours typically close out for applicants in a given cycle?

Thanks!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Very basic question (sorry!), but by when to people usually have their hours "in" to their DCT? In other words, when do hours typically close out for applicants in a given cycle?

Thanks!

Not basic at all. Part of it is likely going to depend on when the first deadline hits; I think I had mine in to my DCT by the beginning of Oct., as I might've had a mid-Oct. deadline. That, or I had them in by mid-Oct. for a late-Oct. deadline. Our DCT generally has a quick turnaround, but there's always the chance something could fall through the cracks, so I wanted to be sure everything was signed off on and ready to go a couple weeks ahead of time.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Hi all, I have a dumb question about submitting the APPI. I just submitted some of my applications...yay! Anyhow, one thing confused me...do the transcript and DCT letter automatically get sent to every site (assuming the transcript has been received and our DCT has verified the appi)? When I previewed the application PDFs, they weren't part of it and there were no instructions about how to send the transcript and DCT parts. Also, I assume that the rec letters for whoever we specified will be sent automatically?

I just want to make sure there isn't something we're supposed to do in addition to submitting the pdf application thing that we preview, which omits transcripts, letters, and the DCT verification. Thanks for your help!

Yep, the entire APPI is sent all at once, which will include transcripts and whatever letters of rec (and other supplementals) you've selected for each site. I don't know if an actual letter from the DCT is sent; rather, I think it's just a matter of not actually being able to submit your APPI anywhere if your DCT hasn't clicked what's essentially a little "I approve" button to verify your hours.

 

[bmedclinic]

Yep, the entire APPI is sent all at once, which will include transcripts and whatever letters of rec (and other supplementals) you've selected for each site. I don't know if an actual letter from the DCT is sent; rather, I think it's just a matter of not actually being able to submit your APPI anywhere if your DCT hasn't clicked what's essentially a little "I approve" button to verify your hours.

That's interesting. FWIW, I dont KNOW-- but I very much got the opposite perspective from what my DCT said last year. I havent spoken to her explicitly about it this year.. but I'm relatively certain she stated that along with our 3 letters of recommendation, each site gets a letter from her about our progress in the program.

 

[LETSGONYR]

That's interesting. FWIW, I dont KNOW-- but I very much got the opposite perspective from what my DCT said last year. I havent spoken to her explicitly about it this year.. but I'm relatively certain she stated that along with our 3 letters of recommendation, each site gets a letter from her about our progress in the program.

My DCT said that he had to write something about the strengths and training needs of each applicant.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

My DCT said that he had to write something about the strengths and training needs of each applicant.

Well then, I stand quite corrected. Our DCT might just have a fairly canned response that comes across as very button click-ish in discussions.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Well then, I stand quite corrected. Our DCT might just have a fairly canned response that comes across as very button click-ish in discussions.

FWIW, I've not been through the process, but that was always my impression of the DCT readiness for internship letter as well--that it was fairly canned and generic in nature. Maybe it varies by program?

 

[jjrc]

Hi all,

I'm setting up my designations so that I can start submitting, but I can't find Wayne State University in Detroit, MI in the list of options for designations. I want to apply for the Integrated Care Track (136712), but I can't find this site listed at all.

Am I losing it? Is anyone else having this problem? Would anyone else planning to apply there be willing to check and see if they can find it?

I don't see anything on the APPIC website or Wayne State's website that would indicate that they are not taking applications.

I appreciate your help!

 

[rilo]

Hi all,

I'm setting up my designations so that I can start submitting, but I can't find Wayne State University in Detroit, MI in the list of options for designations. I want to apply for the Integrated Care Track (136712), but I can't find this site listed at all.

Am I losing it? Is anyone else having this problem? Would anyone else planning to apply there be willing to check and see if they can find it?

I don't see anything on the APPIC website or Wayne State's website that would indicate that they are not taking applications.

I appreciate your help!

I am not applying there, but I just looked through the designations list for Michigan and couldn't find that site.

What's weird is that the other 2 internships affiliated with Wayne State University are there (Children's Hospital of Michigan and Hawthorn Center), but there's no listing for the General Program.

http://psychiatry.med.wayne.edu/psychology-training.php

I would contact their Director of Training and/or AAPI support right away.

 

[franklyspeak]

Anybody know of a resource online where applicants can find essays that have actually worked in the past? In particular, I'm looking for the autobiographical statement but it can be any kind. 👍

 

[erg923]

Anybody know of a resource online where applicants can find essays that have actually worked in the past? In particular, I'm looking for the autobiographical statement but it can be any kind. 👍

What about students from your program? Are you friendly or familiar with anyone in the cohort above you? We all intermingled alot and shared tips and resources with each other very openly. Faculty facilitated this process between the students.

 

[jjrc]

Hi all,

I'm setting up my designations so that I can start submitting, but I can't find Wayne State University in Detroit, MI in the list of options for designations. I want to apply for the Integrated Care Track (136712), but I can't find this site listed at all.

Am I losing it? Is anyone else having this problem? Would anyone else planning to apply there be willing to check and see if they can find it?

I don't see anything on the APPIC website or Wayne State's website that would indicate that they are not taking applications.

I appreciate your help!

Okay, I just heard back from the training director and Wayne State University is canceling their internship program 🙁. This is not yet reflected on the APPIC or program's website, so I just wanted to let you guys know in case anyone was thinking of applying. It looks like some of their affiliate sites are still continuing.

 

[LETSGONYR]

Okay, I just heard back from the training director and Wayne State University is canceling their internship program 🙁. This is not yet reflected on the APPIC or program's website, so I just wanted to let you guys know in case anyone was thinking of applying. It looks like some of their affiliate sites are still continuing.

Oh man, that's horrible. I hope you didn't spend too much time working on the cover letter or anything. 🙁.

I just checked, and all of my sites are there.

I'm going to try to submit most, if not all, of my applications this weekend. How's everyone else doing in this process?

 

[psybee]

Anybody know of a resource online where applicants can find essays that have actually worked in the past? In particular, I'm looking for the autobiographical statement but it can be any kind. 👍

Apparently the essays in the APA book were sucessful.

 

[psybee]

What affilitated sites are still continuing? Man that was a top site!

 

[jjrc]

What affilitated sites are still continuing? Man that was a top site!

Yes it was one of my top sites, too, and I had already finished the cover letter and everything! I'm from the Detroit area and the site was a great fit. Oh well. In any case, I don't think any of the Wayne State University specific sites are continuing, but I think that a couple of the child internships may be affiliated with Wayne State but they are separate sites.

 

[Smiley615]

How's everyone else doing in this process?

I'm still waiting on my DCT and two letters of recc Is anyone else having this issue?
But I am hoping to finish up my cover letters and essays this weekend so that I am ready to submit when I receive everything.

I am just ready to get everything submitted so I won't have to think about it anymore. At least till it's time to hear back.

 

[nyprincess]

I'm still waiting on my DCT and two letters of recc Is anyone else having this issue?
But I am hoping to finish up my cover letters and essays this weekend so that I am ready to submit when I receive everything.

I am just ready to get everything submitted so I won't have to think about it anymore. At least till it's time to hear back.

Got my DCT today. Waiting on 1 more letter of recommendation, but was reassured today it would get done... If you don't have a deadline/estimated date of completion from them - I'd check in. This also depends on when your applications are due...

 

[nyprincess]

Since I started the post this year - I can volunteer to post which sites/programs send out interview status daily (as was done in previous years) as long as people message me (done by moving mouse over username and selecting to send me a private message). I can then add it to my initial message (page 1, post 1) so people don't have to search the list to get this information...

 

[bmedclinic]

OK fellow hopeful interns- looking for feedback here.
I have two sites in particular where I've had good conversations with 2 separate faculty members at each site. Do I name drop in the cover letter? "In my discussion with Dr. X" ? Do I not mention that in the cover letter and just inform those faculty members when I submit my application? Do I do neither of those? Best way to make sure that Dr X is aware that I've actually turned in my app to his site, basically. BTW, none of these 4 people are the training director, either.

 

[LETSGONYR]

I'm still waiting on my DCT and two letters of recc Is anyone else having this issue?
But I am hoping to finish up my cover letters and essays this weekend so that I am ready to submit when I receive everything.

I am just ready to get everything submitted so I won't have to think about it anymore. At least till it's time to hear back.

I have my DCT approval and all my letters in. At this point, I'd bluntly tell anyone you're still waiting for to get their butts in gear... I have a site due on Monday, and many sites are due soon after that, so there isn't much time to waste. I'm hoping to submit quite a few applications this weekend. Especially with this storm about to hit the northeast, I don't want to take any chances.

 

[Member1928]

OK fellow hopeful interns- looking for feedback here.
I have two sites in particular where I've had good conversations with 2 separate faculty members at each site. Do I name drop in the cover letter? "In my discussion with Dr. X" ? Do I not mention that in the cover letter and just inform those faculty members when I submit my application? Do I do neither of those? Best way to make sure that Dr X is aware that I've actually turned in my app to his site, basically. BTW, none of these 4 people are the training director, either.

I would mention the faculty members in your cover letter, but I might shy away from saying, "In my discussion with..."

I would just express interest in Dr. XX's research or rotation and talk about how it alights with your research or training needs.

 

[coloradocutter]

Can you send your APPI without your letters of reference finished? I have only gotten back one letter of reference!! My DCT said you could send it off without that....

 

[LETSGONYR]

Can you send your APPI without your letters of reference finished? I have only gotten back one letter of reference!! My DCT said you could send it off without that....

My understanding (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) is that you can try to submit the AAPI, and it basically is put on hold until it's complete (i.e., the letters are uploaded). Then, when the letters are uploaded, it's automatically submitted without you having to do anything else. But nothing will actually be sent to the sites without those letters.

 

[rilo]

Submitted all my apps today. It feels great to get this out of the way, but clicking that last "submit" button was pretty nerve wracking. I kept thinking there was some typo somewhere or something I was forgetting.

I know in past years, there seemed to be some glitches with the online submission portal, but luckily it seemed to go pretty smoothly.

 

[LETSGONYR]

Submitted all my apps today. It feels great to get this out of the way, but clicking that last "submit" button was pretty nerve wracking. I kept thinking there was some typo somewhere or something I was forgetting.

I know in past years, there seemed to be some glitches with the online submission portal, but luckily it seemed to go pretty smoothly.

Congrats!! I can't wait until I'm in your shoes. But I really wish the AAPI said, "This site requests a sample report and case summary, are you SURE you want to submit without including those?" I'm worried I'll forget something and won't even be considered.

 

[rilo]

Congrats!! I can't wait until I'm in your shoes. But I really wish the AAPI said, "This site requests a sample report and case summary, are you SURE you want to submit without including those?" I'm worried I'll forget something and won't even be considered.

Exactly!! They should really add that feature.

It sounds like you are ready to submit soon. How many sites are you applying to?

 

[LETSGONYR]

Exactly!! They should really add that feature.

It sounds like you are ready to submit soon. How many sites are you applying to?

Yeah, I'm getting there. I'm applying to 15 sites, mostly peds/neuro, and I have about half of my cover letters written. Essays are done, rec's are in, CV is uploaded. The goal is to submit most of them this weekend, and to tackle those with 11/15 or so deadlines a little later. How many did you apply to?

 

[Smiley615]

Since I started the post this year - I can volunteer to post which sites/programs send out interview status daily (as was done in previous years) as long as people message me (done by moving mouse over username and selecting to send me a private message). I can then add it to my initial message (page 1, post 1) so people don't have to search the list to get this information...

I think that this is a great idea. Thanks for volunteering. How would that work? Can you edit your first post?

 

[Psych030702]

Submitted all my apps today. It feels great to get this out of the way, but clicking that last "submit" button was pretty nerve wracking. I kept thinking there was some typo somewhere or something I was forgetting.

I know in past years, there seemed to be some glitches with the online submission portal, but luckily it seemed to go pretty smoothly.

I agree - it is nerve wracking! I submitted a week ago and felt the same way.
Congrats on being done with the first steps!

 

[rilo]

Yeah, I'm getting there. I'm applying to 15 sites, mostly peds/neuro, and I have about half of my cover letters written. Essays are done, rec's are in, CV is uploaded. The goal is to submit most of them this weekend, and to tackle those with 11/15 or so deadlines a little later. How many did you apply to?

12 sites, mostly VA's.

I agree - it is nerve wracking! I submitted a week ago and felt the same way.
Congrats on being done with the first steps!

Thanks! Congrats to you, too!

 

[Psych317]

Hey everyone-for those of you who are applying to sites that request a sample integrated report but do not say it has to be a signed copy, are you leaving your supervisors name at the end without the signatures? I have an electronic version of the one I plan to submit (without signatures) but want to make sure sites know it was an "official" report and that I did not just make it up....thoughts?