APPIC Internship Interview Invitation Thread (2020)

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Official Site Name: University of Kansas Medical Center
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Underserved Populations
Offered Interview Dates: 1/10/20 & 1/17/20

Official Site Name: Massachusetts Mental Health Center
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: 12/16/20

Keep hope everyone, these were my first invitations after a LONG two weeks of hearing nothing. Sure great things are coming everyone's way!
 
I just received a rejection from Primary Children's Hospital, and then an interview offer from the same site (for the same track) an hour later. Has this happened to anyone?

Not for an internship, but I was rejected by a PhD program and then received an invite to interview the next week. I now attend that program and my advisor swears up and down it was a clerical error and I was his first choice student. I suspect I was actually lowkey waitlisted but either way alls well that ends well.
 
Thanks! Did you apply last year? Any idea of how long it takes to hear back about USAjobs eligibility/official notification for interviews?
Yes, I did. From what I can recall/piece together from emails, it took about 2 weeks after the USAJobs application closed.
 
I ran into my adviser yesterday and she asked me why I looked so worn out. I responded "internship applications." She laughed and said "you just turned those in a minute ago! A lot of sites haven't even finished looking through applications."

This is absolutely the case. Our materials specify the dates by which we will send out invitations as well as notifications that an applicant will not be invited. We adhere to these dates and do not send out information ahead of time. Hang in there, everyone!
 
Just got a rejection for Utah State Hospital. When the slightly less competitive sites reject you, it’s hard to stay positive about the more competitive ones you haven’t heard back from 🙁

Please remember that it is about more than "competitiveness." Sites are looking for people with training experiences, needs, and goals that appear to be a good fit for the site's program. Hang in.
 
Official Site Name: UCLA Semel Institute
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Pediatric Neuropsychology
Offered Interview Dates: 1/10 and 1/17
 
Official Site Name: University of Oklahoma Health Science Center / OKC VA Consortium
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): personal e-mail
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): HRSA funding
Offered Interview Dates: 12/04, 12/09, 12/13, 1/07, 1/09
Hi! I'm still eagerly waiting for a response from this site. May I ask what HRSA funding entails? I applied for the neuro VA funding. Seems like they're sending emails as they review rather than in bulk (or at least I hope). Also, CONGRATS!!
 
Hi! I'm still eagerly waiting for a response from this site. May I ask what HRSA funding entails? I applied for the neuro VA funding. Seems like they're sending emails as they review rather than in bulk (or at least I hope). Also, CONGRATS!!

I applied to both funding sources for neuro. Hopefully, it's as you say, that they are sending out notifications after they review each applicant vs. a mass email.
 
I saw people post a couple of days ago that they got email invitations to the Minneapolis VA and Phoenix VA. I applied to these and havent heard anything. I assume I didnt get an interview, but has anyone gotten a rejection email from either of these? Otherwise, I might hold out a little hope that I just wasnt wave 1 of invites!
 
Just got access to post! Hi everyone 🙂
I got rejected from University of Chicago Medicine - child track last week Friday. This week bore better news!!


Official Site Name: University of California San Francisco
Date Invitation Received: 11/18/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Eating Disorders
Offered Interview Dates: 12/9


Official Site Name: Duke University Medical Center
Date Invitation Received: 11/20/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): CBT track
Offered Interview Dates: 1/10
 
I saw people post a couple of days ago that they got email invitations to the Minneapolis VA and Phoenix VA. I applied to these and havent heard anything. I assume I didnt get an interview, but has anyone gotten a rejection email from either of these? Otherwise, I might hold out a little hope that I just wasnt wave 1 of invites!
I think a lot of sites offer interviews on a rolling basis or in waves. I'm assuming I still have a chance unless I get an actual rejection.
 
Official Site Name: Sacramento VA
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): mass e-mail
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Health Track
Offered Interview Dates: 1/6, 1/8, 1/14, 1/17
 
Official Site Name: Utah State Hospital
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal email (with .pdf attachment)
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums):
Offered Interview Dates: 12/9 - 12/12

Which track did you apply to?
 
Posting for a friend! Not my invite.


Official Site Name: California Pacific Medical Center
Date Invitation Received: 11/21
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): personal email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Neuropsychology and Educational Testing
Offered Interview Dates: 12/13
(In honor of last year) If & How you're staying sane: desserts and naps
 
Official Site Name: UCLA Semel Institute
Date Invitation Received: 11/21/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Personal email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): Pediatric Neuropsychology
Offered Interview Dates: 1/10 and 1/17

Congratulations! Anticipating yet another rejection coming my way very soon! Eeeeeek
 
I saw people post a couple of days ago that they got email invitations to the Minneapolis VA and Phoenix VA. I applied to these and havent heard anything. I assume I didnt get an interview, but has anyone gotten a rejection email from either of these? Otherwise, I might hold out a little hope that I just wasnt wave 1 of invites!

If you look at last year’s list, the Phoenix VA sent out invites on 2 separate days a week apart so I definitely wouldn’t count them out. Also, I know a lot of sites send out different track invites on different days (Though the ones last year a week apart we’re both for neuro so this isn’t always true!). I got an invite for the Health Psychology track but know several others who haven’t heard back that applied to different tracks. There is still lots of hope! I wouldn’t count yourself out yet
 
Which track did you apply to?
I listed forensics as my primary rotation and neuropsychology as my secondary! Rotations were not denoted/specified in the interview invitation, though.
 
Official Site Name: VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS)-University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM)
Date Invitation Received: 11/22/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): UM School Mental Health
Offered Interview Dates: 1/9/20 and 1/16/20
 
Official Site Name: VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS)-University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM)
Date Invitation Received: 11/22/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): UM School Mental Health
Offered Interview Dates: 1/9/20 and 1/16/20

Got this one too! Congrats
 
I know it's a little late in the game, but I think it can be helpful to check sites' APPIC entries to determine whether they have or have not matched with applicants from your program. Faculty and alumni can also shed light on which programs have extended interviews to applicants from your program, even if students haven't matched there.

Most of my peers have used this approach to determine which sites are worth applying to (e.g., have a history of interviewing/highly ranking students from our program), or to at least gauge whether a site is more of a long-shot or not.

I doubt that the data readily exist, but I'd be interested to know how many applicants match at institutions where other trainees from their programs have previously matched vs. how many match at sites that have not previously matched with a trainee from their institution. Or, if that's too wide of a net, how many applicants match at institutions, where other trainees from their programs have matched within the last 5 or 10 years, etc.
 
Official Site Name: VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS)-University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM)
Date Invitation Received: 11/22/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): UM School Mental Health
Offered Interview Dates: 1/9/20 and 1/16/20

Me too! For the VA Comprehensive track.
 
I doubt that the data readily exist, but I'd be interested to know how many applicants match at institutions where other trainees from their programs have previously matched vs. how many match at sites that have not previously matched with a trainee from their institution. Or, if that's too wide of a net, how many applicants match at institutions, where other trainees from their programs have matched within the last 5 or 10 years, etc.

Sounds like a nice research idea for anyone who wants to take it up!
 
I doubt that the data readily exist, but I'd be interested to know how many applicants match at institutions where other trainees from their programs have previously matched vs. how many match at sites that have not previously matched with a trainee from their institution. Or, if that's too wide of a net, how many applicants match at institutions, where other trainees from their programs have matched within the last 5 or 10 years, etc.

Honestly, at my site unless you’re from a diploma mill school having an applicant previously interviewed or matched from your school doesn’t help our decision making process. Unless that previous matched applicant was awful (or more likely a pattern of matches were awful in the same ways) then it hurts your chances.

If you are from a diploma mill school and we’ve had a good intern from that program we’re more likely to give a little benefit of the doubt to your application.
 
Honestly, at my site unless you’re from a diploma mill school having an applicant previously interviewed or matched from your school doesn’t help our decision making process. Unless that previous matched applicant was awful (or more likely a pattern of matches were awful in the same ways) then it hurts your chances.

Likewise, we don't have preference for schools that we've had previous applicants. I will say, though, that if we have had a bad experience from a student, we may rate students from that program lower in subsequent years. So, we're pretty similar.
 
I know it's a little late in the game, but I think it can be helpful to check sites' APPIC entries to determine whether they have or have not matched with applicants from your program. Faculty and alumni can also shed light on which programs have extended interviews to applicants from your program, even if students haven't matched there.

Most of my peers have used this approach to determine which sites are worth applying to (e.g., have a history of interviewing/highly ranking students from our program), or to at least gauge whether a site is more of a long-shot or not.

I doubt that the data readily exist, but I'd be interested to know how many applicants match at institutions where other trainees from their programs have previously matched vs. how many match at sites that have not previously matched with a trainee from their institution. Or, if that's too wide of a net, how many applicants match at institutions, where other trainees from their programs have matched within the last 5 or 10 years, etc.

Honestly, at my site unless you’re from a diploma mill school having an applicant previously interviewed or matched from your school doesn’t help our decision making process. Unless that previous matched applicant was awful (or more likely a pattern of matches were awful in the same ways) then it hurts your chances.

If you are from a diploma mill school and we’ve had a good intern from that program we’re more likely to give a little benefit of the doubt to your application.

If we've had consistently strong interns from certain programs, this often factors into our ranking decisions, because we trust that the program is training their students well. This isn't to say that they would automatically be ranked higher than other applicants, but could likely get ranked higher than applicants that we view are from weaker programs. We wouldn't reject someone just because a student hasn't interviewed or matched with our program before. I think it could be helpful for students to see which programs have interviewed students from their program before. If students have consistently applied and not received interviews, it seems likely that the site would be a long shot. If students often receive interviews, it suggests that the program is likely to consider applicants from that program. I wouldn't just look at where they matched though, because a lot more goes into that (i.e., perhaps the applicant could have matched there, but matched with a higher ranked site).
 
I'm beginning to think either 1. I did something wrong in my application, 2. that I did not disburse my applications in an efficient manner.
 
Official Site Name: The Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology (CMTP) /Boston University School of Med
Date Invitation Received: 11/22
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): N/A
Offered Interview Dates: 12/5
If & How you're staying sane: Staying in complete denial. Mental avoidance of thinking about any consequences. Compartmentalization... :dead:
 
Same -- got a rejection from Albany Consortium today. No invites. Starting to question everything.

It sucks...rejected from 3, an invitation from 1. If I don't get at least 4-5 interviews by or before December 1st, I have a couple of sites I've already prepared to submit, all I have to do is pay the fee.
 
If we've had consistently strong interns from certain programs, this often factors into our ranking decisions, because we trust that the program is training their students well. This isn't to say that they would automatically be ranked higher than other applicants, but could likely get ranked higher than applicants that we view are from weaker programs. We wouldn't reject someone just because a student hasn't interviewed or matched with our program before. I think it could be helpful for students to see which programs have interviewed students from their program before. If students have consistently applied and not received interviews, it seems likely that the site would be a long shot. If students often receive interviews, it suggests that the program is likely to consider applicants from that program. I wouldn't just look at where they matched though, because a lot more goes into that (i.e., perhaps the applicant could have matched there, but matched with a higher ranked site).

My thought on this was more that "degree granting institution" might serve as a proxy for other characteristics (e.g., # of pubs, direct contact hours, research training, quality of prac sites, supervision, etc.) -- If a site has not extended interviews to students from a particular program in the past, then I'd imagine that those applicants might be relatively homogenous in some salient characteristic.

Or, as others have mentioned, the site has been repeatedly disappointed by previously matched interns from that institution.

Typically, I've seen peers use this approach to discuss perceived competitiveness for research-heavy sites.
 
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At least you have one! That's good.

Hate to say this but I'm pretty much over this process; I don't want to spend 200-250 dollars to be rejected 4-5 more times. I have 12-13 left (depending on where one application is, not sure) so I'll just see how it all plays out. If I get no invites I'll just try in Phase II with an improved focus (although I felt I did everything I could this time).

I added in Minnesota children's and another and got rejected from both and I was like good thing I wasted 100$!
 
Official Site Name: VA Tennessee Valley HealthCare System
Date Invitation Received: 11/22/19
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): General
Offered Interview Dates: 12/6, 12/12, 12/19, 1/7
 
Official Site Name: The Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology (CMTP) /Boston University School of Med
Date Invitation Received: 11/22
Method of Invitation (Phone call, personal/mass email, snapchat): Mass email
Specialty Track or Site (e.g., for consortiums): N/A
Offered Interview Dates: 12/5
If & How you're staying sane: Staying in complete denial. Mental avoidance of thinking about any consequences. Compartmentalization... :dead:

Wow, congrats! This site looks wonderful.

I applied there as well but have not heard anything. What does it mean if a site is sending out interview notifications but I haven't heard either way? This question is for anyone, not directed towards you specifically!
 
Wow, congrats! This site looks wonderful.

I applied there as well but have not heard anything. What does it mean if a site is sending out interview notifications but I haven't heard either way? This question is for anyone, not directed towards you specifically!
For my own sanity's sake, I am assuming it means they aren't done reviewing / are just sending out mass email invites in waves...
 
Wow, congrats! This site looks wonderful.

I applied there as well but have not heard anything. What does it mean if a site is sending out interview notifications but I haven't heard either way? This question is for anyone, not directed towards you specifically!
Hi dear, this site does look interesting but their website really doesn't provide much of a picture on their clinical training, which is why I'm excited to learn more about them. My thoughts on their interview notifications is that they are sending them out on a rolling basis because 1) they didn't offer me ANY alternative interview dates, 2) the interview date they offered me is vastly different from the one quoted in their information (12/19), and 3) in their original mass email they ended it with "Please respond to this invitation for an interview. If we do not hear from you, a non-acceptance for interview will be listed for your application." so I'm wondering why they feel it's necessary to include that one line, do a lot of people just not reply?

so hang in there! I try to comfort myself by reminding myself that this is all about fit. They are not the only ones "shopping around" for you, you are also doing the same and if they don't invite you for an interview then it probably wasn't a good fit anyway!
 
so hang in there! I try to comfort myself by reminding myself that this is all about fit. They are not the only ones "shopping around" for you, you are also doing the same and if they don't invite you for an interview then it probably wasn't a good fit anyway!
Yes! So challenging when in my mind I have convinced myself that we're a perfect match, but obviously they know their site and training opps better than I do!
 
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