Qwnpixie-congrats on your APA match! Any suggestions/tips on how to stand out when from a program that does not typically do so well in a match? I'm guessing many people on the forum would benefit from hearing about your experience
Thanks! Yes, I can put in my 2 cents and a little bit of factual information here.
1. I was told that I would most likely only get one or two APA interviews, and they wouldn't be in the field I had interest in because they were very competitive. Well, I simply decided to find out what a competitive candidate looked like. For my situation the sites expected a LOT of testing experience, group and individual face to face hours, and practicum experience in the field.
These were not readily available through the school. I had to work real hard to get all these requirements met. I worked 30+ hours a week in my first practicum because the school only required 12 but I did the math. At 12 hours a week I'd never meet the minimum requirements come APA application time. Instead I ended up with just under 10 interviews. (TAKE THAT!!!!!!)
If they want 10 assessment batteries find a way to get them done. I did those 30 hours, a ran a small business of my own, and at the same time volunteered at a crisis center every Saturday. I also found time to take care of myself. It wasn't easy, but unlike many in my cohort who looked at the site list on APPI the summer before applications, I knew exactly what I was headed for and tried to have a pre-emptive strike.
In other words, look 10 steps ahead and plan, plan, and plan. It's never to early to start.
2. The program wasn't very supportive or on top of the APA process, at least not to the standards I would have expected. My solution (looking many steps ahead) was to ask students a year or two ahead about the process and get on this website and look at all the info I could find about APPI. When most of my cohort was starting to write essays, I had my essays done, my letters of interest completed, and my CV polished. I also had a all the people who had been there before take a look and provide feedback, so the stuff was super fine tuned.
Which, brings me to #3:
NETWORK! you know that young supervisor at your clinical site who's a little quirky and sometimes too talkative... well they just did a grad degree in some other state/city and they know people. Seven degrees of separation= endless information you can use. Find out what sites look for, what the training is really like for interns (this applies to practicum as well!).
I was very frustrated that there isn't a central location where students talk about internship or practicum experiences. One thing CSPP LA does offer is a well documented file of practicum experiences of students at various sites over the past 4 or so years. I made sure I applied to clinical sites that I thought would give me the supportive, rich experience that I needed to excel.
#4 Don't be afraid to learn and admit that you have a lot of learning to do. Ask questions. Not just about APA/APPIC/Dissertation/ Clinical work... about everything. That brings me back to a program that doesn't do so well in a match.... if your program doesn't have good odds ask around, find people who are either at programs that do have better odds or ask practicing professionals: get the answers you need.
Your dissertation chair doesn't think you can publish? Do some asking around. I can't tell you how many times I've been told it's not likely, and I've just picked up and found a way to make it happen.
I know this a long response, so here's my last piece of advice:
#5 I found someone in my program who was just as motivated as me (perhaps more motivated) and we tried to keep eachother on the ball. This was important for me. Maybe because of my personality, but also because the program lacked the support to help me through the process. It was like having a personal cheerleader call my cell a few times a week, "did you finish that personal statement?"; "stop whining!!! work on your CV!"; "Your deadline for preliminary orals is quickly approaching, lets work at starbucks this weekend instead of watching Law and Order re-runs".
doing all these things made me seem more prepared and like I knew what I wanted; which i think is a huge problem in these programs with poor match rates; students have no support, a lack of direction and no sense in what they need to bring to the table.
Let me know if ya'll have any other questions.
)
