2018-2019 APPIC Internship Interview Thread

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str63 said:
This will obviously vary by site, but without going into too many details, our staff who interview do use a structured interview with a rating system. We all use the same rating system and the points we assign to each criteria for each applicant are weighed evenly (so that one person's opinion isn't weighed more heavily than others) unless there's a huge red flag with an applicant. Our point system gives us the initial rank order list and then we move candidates around slightly from there.
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I could have given an almost identical response for how we go about the process at my site. I saved the article to read in more depth tomorrow though, just to see if there's anything in there we don't do and should consider.

As for rejections and feedback. I think the other TDs have done a really great job saying what I would say. I wanted to add that we don't put how many we interviewed/applications received as a way to brag or pat ourselves on the back. It's a way of trying to contextualize for you why you might not have gotten an interview. Sending out rejection letters is one of my least favorite things to do. I spend a lot of time making sure that my wording is as gentle as possible while also not wanting to patronize or couch it in a way that makes you think it's an invite only to be suckerpunched. I think that anyone who doesn't match, or who doesn't get interviews this round should absolutely reach out and ask for feedback. I know that I am always willing to provide feedback to my applicants and would even be happy to engage in a more in depth conversation on here (similar to what @WisNeuro offered) once the emotions of the time period have settled down.
 
Spiff333 said:
I also applied to this site, and I emailed a faculty member with whom I would like to work. I received an email back from that faculty member within 24 hours and arranged a phone interview with him. He told me that if I wanted a site visit, I needed to email the TD and specifically state that I wanted to come out for an interview and name the date I could be there. I was already scheduled for interviews during all of their open houses, so I just emailed the TD and indicated I was interested in the site and to let me know if I could answer any questions. Over a week later, the TD responded to my email. He gave me feedback on my application and encouraged me to continue speaking with the faculty member I named. So, perhaps it would be beneficial to email a faculty member and/or tell the TD you would like to visit during an open house. Hope that helps!
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Argh, it looks like I may have followed their directions "too" closely. Their instructions say to contact the TD for a visit, but if we can't make it, then we should arrange for a phone call with our faculty of interest and the TD. I guess, I'm going to send an awkward follow-up email.
 
bigdreamer3 said:
So I was #ultimatedenvered today...

I got the invite to fill out usajobs application from BOP Ft Worth early this month, filled it out, and received the notification I passed on Monday 12/4 (yayayay!).
Got a call from "Ft Worth, TX" this morning (IT WAS HAPPENING), and I was greeted with the fact that I will not be offered an interview. They even gave reasons.
#ultimatedenvered
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waaaaaiitttt whaaat????? why did they offer for you to do USAJobs if they didn't want you to interview!? I understand if you didn't BQ on USAJOBS but clearly you did soooooo..... :shrug:
 
IDaddict said:
waaaaaiitttt whaaat????? why did they offer for you to do USAJobs if they didn't want you to interview!? I understand if you didn't BQ on USAJOBS but clearly you did soooooo..... :shrug:
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Yeah this was a tough one to process. The reason they gave was that I was a part of a subgroup of applicants and because it was such a competitive year I would not be invited to interview (that HURT to hear).

I contemplated it a lot and logic-ed it out to what I figure happened. My best guess is that most sites invite a surplus of applicants to fill out the usajobs app, and the natural weeding out that happens lowers the number to at or below each sites allotted number of interview spots. Thus, Ft. Worth was in a position to have not had enough people eliminated and had to do it themselves. Unlucky me that this was the site I was invited too.
 
Marissa4usa said:
Argh, it looks like I may have followed their directions "too" closely. Their instructions say to contact the TD for a visit, but if we can't make it, then we should arrange for a phone call with our faculty of interest and the TD. I guess, I'm going to send an awkward follow-up email.
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It was certainly different than all my other sites. I did appreciate them saying they knew grad students were not independently wealthy and they did not expect a site visit. None of my other sites said that, and most had required on-site interviews. I understand the reasons for on-site interviews, but it sure was refreshing to apply to a site that considered my maxed out credit card!!
 
On the phone confirming my hotel reservation for next week:
Hotel employee: "Thank you for calling, and we hope you enjoy your stay with us."
Me: "You too!"
Also Me 2 seconds later:
Britney-Cringing-GIF-1435016887.gif
 
Are there any training directors of university counseling centers on this thread that would kindly offer any suggestions for applicants re: preparing for interviews? Or maybe this would be more appropriate for a different thread? Thanks in advance!
 
Internship_Journey said:
Are there any training directors of university counseling centers on this thread that would kindly offer any suggestions for applicants re: preparing for interviews? Or maybe this would be more appropriate for a different thread? Thanks in advance!
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I can offer advice about what my TD looks for - and I am at a UCC. 1) really know what the site offers 2) be aware of your own bias 3)emphasis multiculturalism 4)know the area geographically 5) know the student population 6) know the correct name of the school (major turn off when incorrect) 7) be nice to interns and administrative staff 8) talk about your dissertation in specific ways not too wordy or with $5.00 words and 9) oh and REALLY KNOW THE SITE.

For # 4) some applicants start describing how nice a large metropolitan area is mistaking it for our area and we are rural and desolate and no where close, major turn off. For #2) I have heard horror stories about folks talking in rather bias/microaggression/political way which is too aggressive for UCC (our specifically) For #5) some applicants go on and on about wanting to work with Latino/African-American, etc. students but the university is mostly White/Caucasian (other UCC's may be more diverse). Major no no. For #8) I've heard of interviewees being super wordy and sounding a little too rigid (someone described despising "flowery" words)

I don't know if that helps. My UCC is pretty transparent with students about what they look for to help them in their own internship interviews.
 
Hi everyone! Been lurking for a month ish now but this is my first post as I’m gearing up for interviews! I was wondering if anyone was interviewing at the Indianapolis VA this Friday (dec 15th), I want an interview buddy if you are!!

Does anyone have advice on calming day of nerves? When I get nervous I get quiet and that’s probably the last thing I wanna be on interview day!

I hope you all got invites to your dream sites and that you nail the interviews!! 🙂 good luck everyone!
 
Goosegorp said:
Is anyone else still waiting on Boston Children's Hospital? I saw they have sent out rejections and invites, but I've still heard nothing and it's after the notification date :/
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I haven't heard anything either. No rejection, no invite. I can't find others on here who have received invitations to interview either.
 
bewitched1999 said:
I haven't heard anything either. No rejection, no invite. I can't find others on here who have received invitations to interview either.
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I saw that 2 people posted invites on the 11th (which was BCH’s notification date) and there were rejections on the 8th, and 11th or 12th. So I’m not sure what’s going on with those of us who haven’t heard!
 
I don’t know if this got posted already but here it is!

Alaska VA (Anchorage)
Invite on 12/13
Looks like a mass email, notifying that I was selected for an interview and would be receiving another email on Monday to figure out a time slot for a phone interview.
 
affectiveH3art said:
I can offer advice about what my TD looks for - and I am at a UCC. 1) really know what the site offers 2) be aware of your own bias 3)emphasis multiculturalism 4)know the area geographically 5) know the student population 6) know the correct name of the school (major turn off when incorrect) 7) be nice to interns and administrative staff 8) talk about your dissertation in specific ways not too wordy or with $5.00 words and 9) oh and REALLY KNOW THE SITE.

For # 4) some applicants start describing how nice a large metropolitan area is mistaking it for our area and we are rural and desolate and no where close, major turn off. For #2) I have heard horror stories about folks talking in rather bias/microaggression/political way which is too aggressive for UCC (our specifically) For #5) some applicants go on and on about wanting to work with Latino/African-American, etc. students but the university is mostly White/Caucasian (other UCC's may be more diverse). Major no no. For #8) I've heard of interviewees being super wordy and sounding a little too rigid (someone described despising "flowery" words)

I don't know if that helps. My UCC is pretty transparent with students about what they look for to help them in their own internship interviews.
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Thank you!
 
Any word from the following place?

Duke UCC
UC Davis UCC
UMaryland College Park UCC
 
PsychGradAd said:
In the same boat - eagerly awaiting these two! (And two others!) Wonder if we will have to wait past the 15th!
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I highly doubt they will do that to us... but maybe that’s just my wishful thinking.

I know, according to this thread, that people have already received rejection emails from Duke... so I am keeping my fingers crossed that 1) that already means an invite and 2) that hey are just taking their time composing individualize emails to all of us 🙂. Lol
 
Lenox Hill Hospital
Mass email
12/14
Rejection
Email states I wont be getting a "call" to interview- I take that as expect a phone call for an interview if you didnt get this rejection email
 
Gambit07 said:
I highly doubt they will do that to us... but maybe that’s just my wishful thinking.

I know, according to this thread, that people have already received rejection emails from Duke... so I am keeping my fingers crossed that 1) that already means an invite and 2) that hey are just taking their time composing individualize emails to all of us 🙂. Lol
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I like your optimism! This happened w one of my sites so I feel like I keep prepping for the worst with my remaining four. But hoping to hear on time of course!!
 
So I may have originally double-posted the picture....what can I say, slow internet + I get excited sometimes.

And... a moment later:
Reading Hospital
No track
Rejection
Mass e-mail ("We wanted to advise you as soon as possible so you could focus your energies on your other applications")
The rejection power is low with this one. Saw it coming and not that bothered.
 
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Reading Hospital
Mass email
Rejection
12/14

I had to download a word reader on my phone just to open the stupid attached letter. So much work to get a rejection!
 
A brilliant idea born of horrific procrastination. I'll buy my legitimate winter coat *after* I arrive in the colder climate city. So, where does one buy a good quality winter coat in Salt Lake City?
 
Hawkeye11 said:
A brilliant idea born of horrific procrastination. I'll buy my legitimate winter coat *after* I arrive in the colder climate city. So, where does one buy a good quality winter coat in Salt Lake City?
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😆SLC a cold climate city! You don't need a winter coat for SLC, you need a heavier jacket.
 
Has anyone heard from Florida Golf Coast Univ. ? Oh the UCC waiting game...
 
-Penn State/Hershey
-Rejection
-Mass e-mail ("Many applicants did not meet the highly selective, objective criteria..." blah blah blah)
-12/14

I expected this one. Not super bummed
 
saarloos said:
So I may have originally double-posted the picture....what can I say, slow internet + I get excited sometimes.

And... a moment later:
Reading Hospital
No track
Rejection
Mass e-mail ("We wanted to advise you as soon as possible so you could focus your energies on your other applications")
The rejection power is low with this one. Saw it coming and not that bothered.
Click to expand...
Lol @ "as soon as possible." Sorry about the rejection though.
 
drxa said:
Lol @ "as soon as possible." Sorry about the rejection though.
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Right? I'm not sure if they realize application season is pretty much over. The ridiculousness of that statement made it much more light-hearted, even if they didn't intend that.
 
Does anyone have advice on calming day of nerves? When I get nervous I get quiet and that’s probably the last thing I wanna be on interview day!

I hope you all got invites to your dream sites and that you nail the interviews!! 🙂 good luck everyone![/QUOTE]


I tried to post some links to yoga videos online for confidence building and anxiety/stress relief but it won't let me because I haven't posted enough yet. However - Yoga With Tim and Yoga With Adrienne, both on YouTube, have some good simple at home routines for anxiety relief, self-love, confidence boosting, and so on. I'm doing one a day every day leading up to interviews. It is helping I think.
Cheers and best of luck!
 
sendselfcare said:
Hi everyone! Been lurking for a month ish now but this is my first post as I’m gearing up for interviews! I was wondering if anyone was interviewing at the Indianapolis VA this Friday (dec 15th), I want an interview buddy if you are!!

Does anyone have advice on calming day of nerves? When I get nervous I get quiet and that’s probably the last thing I wanna be on interview day!

I hope you all got invites to your dream sites and that you nail the interviews!! 🙂 good luck everyone!
Click to expand...



I tried to post some links to yoga videos online for confidence building and anxiety/stress relief but it won't let me because I haven't posted enough yet. However - Yoga With Tim and Yoga With Adrienne, both on YouTube, have some good simple at home routines for anxiety relief, self-love, confidence boosting, and so on. I'm doing one a day every day leading up to interviews. It is helping I think.
Cheers and best of luck!
 
bewitched1999 said:
I haven't heard anything either. No rejection, no invite. I can't find others on here who have received invitations to interview either.
Click to expand...

Someone in my cohort received a rejection from Boston Childrens earlier in the week.


EDIT: The rejection from Boston went out on December 8th. We are in Canada though so some strange/special type things are happening with the applications.
 
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I want to give a shout out to the Neuro #ForumFam, because I was talking with my neuro prac instructor (doing the rotation for experience, I'm in counseling psychology) about the ONE intern she will be taking out of 40 applications and then realized how unfathomably strong your training has to be to even show up on the radar.

You'z the real MVPS,
 
psy2019 said:
Gulf Coast VA-Biloxi
Invite!
Interview dates- will send email on 12/20 with info regarding setting up phone interview. Open House dates 1/8 &1/10.
Personalized email (had my name at the top)
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RIGHTEOUS! Do you have an idea of what Open House (if any) you'd go to?
 
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