APPIC Internship Interview Invitation Thread (2020)

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Official Site Name: duPont Childen's Hospital
Date Invitation Received: 11/27
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): peds psych
Offered Interview Dates: 12/13, 01/6, 01/10
(In honor of last year) If & How you're staying sane
: thinking about all the good food tomorrow
 
I just got approved to post, and I want to start by saying how wonderful reading the posts of encouragement have been in helping to prevent me from spiraling down a black hole of despair and low self esteem...we have such a wonderful group of individuals in our field!

I am wondering when it is appropriate for me to panic. So far, I have received 7 rejections out of 17 sites where I applied, and I am beginning to get worried. I know I am applying to competitive sites (predominantly child/adolescent/IBH tracks at academic medical centers), so I am trying to temper my expectations, but should I be considering applying to remaining programs that have a December 1 deadline? I just want to be smart and realistic about this entire experience!

No. I got rejections initially, which is disheartening, but then got invites toward the tail end. If you’ve applied to 17 sites, that is more than enough.
 
Sorry if I missed earlier posts on this topic. Has anyone reached out to any TDs to gently ask if it would be possible to interview at their site on another date that was not offered? If so, how did it go? I am worried that TDs may view this as offputting, but I am trying to avoid flying to the same place first in early Jan and late Jan to attend interviews at two sites located near each other.


Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated!
I would not ask, and here’s why: TDs have to set aside specific interview days and are super busy. So assume that the days /times they offer are set in stone unless you have a weather or health emergency. To ask for them to rearrange their schedules so you can have a more beneficial schedule is inappropriate and would be interpreted really negatively—like “red flag” negatively.
 
Official Site Name: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Date Invitation Received: 11/27/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General Track
Offered Interview Dates: 1/13 - 1/17
 
Sorry if I missed earlier posts on this topic. Has anyone reached out to any TDs to gently ask if it would be possible to interview at their site on another date that was not offered? If so, how did it go? I am worried that TDs may view this as offputting, but I am trying to avoid flying to the same place first in early Jan and late Jan to attend interviews at two sites located near each other.


Any thoughts/advice would be much appreciated!
I wouldn’t do this. I feel like it’s expected that these couple months are going to be super chaotic and stressful, and it’s something everyone just has to deal with. I would worry about coming off as demanding or off-putting to ask for a separate date due to inconvenience. I would only consider doing this due to being double booked or a flight getting canceled.
 
Anyone heard rejections Or acceptance from nemours/DuPont? I saw acceptances for the ped psych track. I’m curious about other tracks also or if those who have heard from the peds psych track also got info from other tracks they applied to.

And happy thanksgiving!!
 
Official Site Name: Samaritan Health Services
Date Invitation Received: 11/27/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Medical/Health Track
Offered Interview Dates: Jan 22 and Jan 23

Same, but for the neuro track! yay!
 
I want to say Denver Health sent out notifications last year on Thanksgiving day. Just going off of last year's history.
 
Us getting a reprieve from incessantly checking emails today! Thankful for federal holidays! (I know it’s not Sunday, I’m somewhat oriented)
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I finally got one, guys!

Official Site Name: VA LA Ambulatory Care Center
Date Invitation Received: 11/27/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): (mass?) email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): NA
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/7, 1/13, 1/16 (same listed in their brochure)
How you are staying sane: by the skin of my teeth
 
@Balenciaga do you have any more info on what "waves by geographical region" means? Is that within the same day or across different dates...?

For anyone who was at the ABCT reception, did McLean mention what date(s) their interviews were? I see 12/14 is listed as "tentative" in their materials but would love to know for sure. They're one of my top choices so I want to make sure I can be available if I get an invite. Heard from almost all of my other sites so schedule is getting full :/

My impression was that the waves were spaced out across different days
 
I guess Denver Heath won't be sending out invites today. Perhaps that's for the best. Wouldn't it suck to get a rejection email on Thanksgiving? Imagine how that would be worded: "Thank you for your application to Denver Health's Psychology Internship program, we received many more applications than we have room for. Your application is no longer being considered for an interview, have a great Thanksgiving, and a happy holiday."

Sadistic. 😛
 
I guess Denver Heath won't be sending out invites today. Perhaps that's for the best. Wouldn't it suck to get a rejection email on Thanksgiving? Imagine how that would be worded: "Thank you for your application to Denver Health's Psychology Internship program, we received many more applications than we have room for. Your application is no longer being considered for an interview, have a great Thanksgiving, and a happy holiday."

Sadistic. 😛

I would like to believe that rejections would be withheld on Thanksgiving, even if interviews were offered. Did Denver Health notify on Thanksgiving last year (11/22)? From what I can see, no invites were reported on the actual holiday. Anything is possible, though, so I guess any day is fair game.
 
I would like to believe that rejections would be withheld on Thanksgiving, even if interviews were offered. Did Denver Health notify on Thanksgiving last year (11/22)? From what I can see, no invites were reported on the actual holiday. Anything is possible, though, so I guess any day is fair game.

I saw 2019's APPIC invite thread and saw this:

"Denver Health Medical Center (11/29, mass email, Adult, Child & Adolescent, HRSA Child & Family, 12/19, 1/4, 1/15)"
 
I saw 2019's APPIC invite thread and saw this:

"Denver Health Medical Center (11/29, mass email, Adult, Child & Adolescent, HRSA Child & Family, 12/19, 1/4, 1/15)"

Thanksgiving was earlier last year, falling on the 22nd. So it's a toss-up between whether that site will stick to 11/29 or if they will notify a week after Thanksgiving.
 
Thanksgiving was earlier last year, falling on the 22nd. So it's a toss-up between whether that site will stick to 11/29 or if they will notify a week after Thanksgiving.

Ah...yeah, I didn't know that lol. I am terrible with keeping track of dates and holidays.
 
Any interview advice from others who have already been through this process? It is intimidating and any advice would be much appreciated!

Breathe.

Prepare answers for common questions (you can find lists in old threads).

Review their site materials and weave their info into your questions or answers.
 
Any interview advice from others who have already been through this process? It is intimidating and any advice would be much appreciated!

I have a powerpoint our program prepared that I would be willing to share with you if you are interested. It has everything from Do's and Don'ts, to what to wear to the interview, common interview questions asked, and what types of questions you should ask the program during your interview. If you are interested, feel free to PM me.
 
I have a powerpoint our program prepared that I would be willing to share with you if you are interested. It has everything from Do's and Don'ts, to what to wear to the interview, common interview questions asked, and what types of questions you should ask the program during your interview. If you are interested, feel free to PM me.
I would love to take a look at this, if you wouldn’t mind sharing!
 
Official Site Name: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System
Date Invitation Received: 11/27/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Health
Offered Interview Dates: 1/13 - 1/17

Official Site Name: Fargo VA
Date Invitation Received: 11/27/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/13, 1/27

Official Site Name: Edward Hines VA
Date Invitation Received: 11/26/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: Jan 3,6,7,13,14,17,21,22,23

Official Site Name: Lexington VA
Date Invitation Received: 11/14/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Phone call & Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: 12/13 & 1/10
 
Got rejected from Central Arkansas VA and Tampa VA neuro tracks just now. They are following a pattern. Basically, any invitations I saw go out about a week ago, if I didnt get one, I am getting the rejection letters now. Out of my 8 rejections, 6 are from VAs. I really don't know what to think anymore. I really am hating this process. It really busts you down in the ego department.
I didn't get my Arkansas invite until 11/27
 
Official Site Name: Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Zucker Hillside Hospital
Date Invitation Received: 11/29/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Neuro
Offered Interview Dates: 1/8, 1/14, 1/16

Posting for a friend:

Official Site Name: Baylor College of Medicine
Date Invitation Received: 11/29/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Neuro/Rehab Psych
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/10, 1/13, 1/17
 
Last edited:
Official Site Name: Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Date Invitation Received: 11/29/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat):
Personal email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/7, 1/9, 1/10 (9am-3 or 4pm for all days)

Did not expect to hear back from sites until Monday, but it was a nice surprise. Hoping everyone posting/lurking on this thread as relaxing of a final month of 2019 as possible!
 
Official Site Name: Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Zucker Hillside Hospital
Date Invitation Received: 11/29/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Neuro
Offered Interview Dates: 1/8, 1/14, 1/16

Posting for a friend:

Official Site Name: Baylor College of Medicine
Date Invitation Received: 11/29/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Neuro/Rehab Psych
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/10, 1/13, 1/17

Anyone hear from Baylor’s OCRD Track?
 
Official Site Name: Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Date Invitation Received: 11/29/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat):
Personal email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/7, 1/9, 1/10 (9am-3 or 4pm for all days)

Did not expect to hear back from sites until Monday, but it was a nice surprise. Hoping everyone posting/lurking on this thread as relaxing of a final month of 2019 as possible!
Same, was not expecting this!
 
Anyone heard rejections Or acceptance from nemours/DuPont? I saw acceptances for the ped psych track. I’m curious about other tracks also or if those who have heard from the peds psych track also got info from other tracks they applied to.

And happy thanksgiving!!

The email from nemours didn't specify the track it just stated it was the "health service psych training program." Anyone else hear anything?
 
The email from nemours didn't specify the track it just stated it was the "health service psych training program." Anyone else hear anything?
I haven't heard anything yet either way. I applied for the Ped Psych track, but someone else in my program heard a few days ago. I'm not sure what to think, but am worrying now it's a rejection
 
I spoke to one of the TDs from a VA I was rejected from. He was super nice and reviewed my whole application package with me over the phone after I had asked for feedback. He said he was surprised I wasn't offered an interview. He said my application was very competitive, and that my score was just below others who were invited. He said he will talk to the neuro director to get feedback for me to see where I went "wrong" that made me not get a higher score. Fingers are crossed.

In my mind...this whole process is just very disheartening. It's depressing, blow to the ego, running over your puppy disheartening. I'm sitting here thinking what would have happened if I didnt apply to so many sites. I've been rejected from 10 now; all VAs (except two). Perhaps being a neuropsychologist will not pan out for me...idk.
 
I spoke to one of the TDs from a VA I was rejected from. He was super nice and reviewed my whole application package with me over the phone after I had asked for feedback. He said he was surprised I wasn't offered an interview. He said my application was very competitive, and that my score was just below others who were invited. He said he will talk to the neuro director to get feedback for me to see where I went "wrong" that made me not get a higher score. Fingers are crossed.

In my mind...this whole process is just very disheartening. It's depressing, blow to the ego, running over your puppy disheartening. I'm sitting here thinking what would have happened if I didnt apply to so many sites. I've been rejected from 10 now; all VAs (except two). Perhaps being a neuropsychologist will not pan out for me...idk.
That’s really great that they are willing to give such in depth feedback. Some folks in prior years have had the same issue where they only receive rejections at first, and I’m sorry that’s happened for you. Hopefully better news is coming down the pipeline for you!
 
I spoke to one of the TDs from a VA I was rejected from. He was super nice and reviewed my whole application package with me over the phone after I had asked for feedback. He said he was surprised I wasn't offered an interview. He said my application was very competitive, and that my score was just below others who were invited. He said he will talk to the neuro director to get feedback for me to see where I went "wrong" that made me not get a higher score. Fingers are crossed.

In my mind...this whole process is just very disheartening. It's depressing, blow to the ego, running over your puppy disheartening. I'm sitting here thinking what would have happened if I didnt apply to so many sites. I've been rejected from 10 now; all VAs (except two). Perhaps being a neuropsychologist will not pan out for me...idk.
I have one rejection and one invitation. I haven't heard back from several sites that have offered interviews to other people. I'm just hoping that this upcoming week will bring lots of good news. I'm really surprised I haven't heard back from more places yet. But I understand how scary this all feels. I don't know if the one rejection was the fluke or if the one offer was the fluke. It's so hard to know which way things will go!
 
It's just very confusing for me. I have one program that wants to interview me for their neuro/rehab track. I have another site that is well-respected and has a neuro site that doesn't want to interview me, but doesn't want to reject me. They want to rank me along with those they interview. I'm like "sort of" competitive. I try to think of this logically: I have zero VA experience, I was told that amongst other rating criteria, experience with veterans is part of their scoring rubric. On paper, the TD tells me I have everything plus more (i.e., reports, hours, quality externship rotations, research, etc.) Basically, this site had 50 applicants alone for the neuro track, of which, 13 were invited for an interview. My application was evidently on the cusp of being selected, but my score was just below what was needed to make the cut. I see that my rejections have come from VAs, and a really competitive program (Dartmouth). Thus, perhaps if I had more publications, I might have had a better chance.

In my mind, I think I am competitive enough for crying out loud. Sure, someone will have more publications, etc. I think we all bring to the table a variety of experiences and skills...and I am not the exception to that. There have to be some more programs who can appreciate me for what I bring to the table. Sorry...I am just doing some venting at the moment. I am very thankful for the two programs I will be able to rank, but being practical, having 1-2 options gives me a 60% chance of matching (if I remember the statistic correctly).
 
I wonder if I should do the same as neurocog, because I wonder if I can get feedback on my application so I have a better chance in phase II to sell myself better

The worst that can happen is they won't give you feedback, and maybe irritated (can't please them all). Some folks may not agree with reaching out, and I get it. But I like to be in control of my future. I am not exactly a submissive type of person. If I need to do more or less of something, I want to know. If I can improve in some area, or in my materials for future applications (whether it be for December applications, phase 2, or for next year), I want to know. I don't like being in the habit of screwing up twice. Before this, I worked as both an agency and corporate recruiter, my mantra was to be a go-getter, to dig, to be entrepreneurial even if I got some doors slammed in my face. Of course, I am always polite and respectful. I think one can solicit feedback in a polite and courteous manner even during this hectic time as to benefit you in some way.
 
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