2025-2027 APPCN Neuro Postdoc Match

[spirited_casserole]

Hey all! Current APPCN match applicant here looking for moral support, reassurance and company. I am the only one I know of going through this process currently. I've talked to several people who have gone through this process before me and have told me it's less of a big deal/anxiety provoking as internship match, but I am not so sure about that yet!

Anyone else going through APPCN match or have any advice to share?

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[AcronymAllergy]

Just jumping in to say good luck. As it sounds like others have told you, I enjoyed the postdoc interview process significantly more than the internship application process (and I actually enjoyed internship interviews). I felt like more of a junior colleague, and felt that sites were much more interested in getting to know me and to pitch how their site fit with my career goals. I also applied to about half as many sites, which was probably good, because I think I interviewed with all of them. And the fact that many interviews were held at INS was also helpful.

 

[spirited_casserole]

Just jumping in to say good luck. As it sounds like others have told you, I enjoyed the postdoc interview process significantly more than the internship application process (and I actually enjoyed internship interviews). I felt like more of a junior colleague, and felt that sites were much more interested in getting to know me and to pitch how their site fit with my career goals. I also applied to about half as many sites, which was probably good, because I think I interviewed with all of them. And the fact that many interviews were held at INS was also helpful.

Thanks! Your experience sounds very similar to others that I've talked to and that is very reassuring! All my applications have been submitted so I am currently in the waiting period. I think once I start hearing back, I'll start to feel more relaxed and less like I am reliving the APPIC match process 🤣

Any advice for finding postdocs that are not participating in the match?

 

[Freud’sMommy]

I’ve recently finished fellowship apps, too, and all of my sites are non-match. Seems like highly desirable places (whether for geography or training quality/hype reasons) aren’t APPCN. I had only one match site and decided to remove it last minute because its inclusion would’ve complicated the process more than I wanted.

I wish every site was on APPCN!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Thanks! Your experience sounds very similar to others that I've talked to and that is very reassuring! All my applications have been submitted so I am currently in the waiting period. I think once I start hearing back, I'll start to feel more relaxed and less like I am reliving the APPIC match process 🤣

Any advice for finding postdocs that are not participating in the match?

What I primarily did was search through listservs (e.g., NPsych, APA, AACN) and websites (e.g., Division 40). I think I even looked through an issue of the Monitor and found a listing or two. I believe I only ended up applying to one or two non-match sites, but pretty much everyone advertised via one of those methods.

And yes, I also wish every site elected to participate in the match.

 

[PsyDuck90]

If you’re part of ANST, the listserv gets tons of postdoc emailings from both match and non-match sites. The communications officer has been compiling them into a spreadsheet as they come out.

I found the postdoc app process much less cumbersome than the internship one. The interviews were also far more relaxed and collegial.

I applied to a mix of match and non-match, but I ultimately went match. If you decide on non-match, just be meticulous with your documentation and record-keeping of didactics and all your training, as you’ll need to submit that for boarding.

 

[WisNeuro]

If you’re part of ANST, the listserv gets tons of postdoc emailings from both match and non-match sites. The communications officer has been compiling them into a spreadsheet as they come out.

I found the postdoc app process much less cumbersome than the internship one. The interviews were also far more relaxed and collegial.

I applied to a mix of match and non-match, but I ultimately went match. If you decide on non-match, just be meticulous with your documentation and record-keeping of didactics and all your training, as you’ll need to submit that for boarding.

And be ready for shady tactics when interview/offer time comes around. Happened to my trainees every year.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

And be ready for shady tactics when interview/offer time comes around. Happened to my trainees every year.

Yes, it was my (limited) experience that non-match sites made offers pre-match to try to get their top picks, and required an answer from applicants sooner rather than later.

Edit to add: I agree with T4C that I appreciate how the match and its member sites have responded to the non-match offer situation by providing formal guidance (i.e., a way for match sites to respond that helps alleviate some anxiety for the applicant).

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I don’t miss the process AT ALL, but at least the fellowship interviews were much more about fit and early career considerations than trying to sell yourself to an internship site. I too applied to maybe half (6-8) of the sites as internship.

Be thankful they actually have guidance for non-match sites, as I went through when some top programs were opting out (largely bc research fits were a bigger challenge…like at UCLA). We had to just roll the dice to accept early or see if we matched a couple weeks later.

Non-match sites always seem to be pushy, but they mostly seem to prefer to lock up their people before match bc you never know if you’ll find a solid fit post-match. UCLA, Columbia, and a few others programs back then loved to cherry pick early.

 

[Neurocaterpillar]

Hi, I’m also going through the process. I have started to get interview invites! Good luck to all! ♥️

 

[psychpsycho]

Updated spreadsheet link