How do you become a competitive internship applicant?

[anotherriver]

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Hello all, I searched for this topic, but seems like none are available. Can anyone help me out with this? I am a PsyD student residing in NYC. Thanks,

 

[erg923]

This is discussed in numerous threads actually. I would try again using different key words, or simply read through the dozen or so internship and internship imbalance threads we have on here.

But to be honest, the short answer is two fold and is pretty common sense actually. 1.) depends on what your area is and/or what setting you are applying to. 2.) varied clinical experiences/populations, research accomplishments, good essays, not geographically limited, good LORs, good interview skills, not personality disordered.

 

[PerhapsMaybeOk]

1st: look good on paper

2nd: stand out on interview

3rd: rank what you really think is a good fit

 

[haner2]

Fit is definitely important above all. You can look amazing on paper, but if you are just not a good fit for a site, you will know it and the site will know it.

If you have a good idea of what type of site you want, you could look attractive to them by getting experience in the area. For example, if you want to be at a university counseling center, then do at least 1 prac at a counseling center. That won't guarantee anything, but it certainly helps. Also, many sites are starting to set minimum direct hour requirements, usually around 400, so you could also be sure to have enough hours.

 

[AlaskanJustin]

If you have a good idea of what type of site you want, you could look attractive to them by getting experience in the area. For example, if you want to be at a university counseling center, then do at least 1 prac at a counseling center. That won't guarantee anything, but it certainly helps. Also, many sites are starting to set minimum direct hour requirements, usually around 400, so you could also be sure to have enough hours.

I semi disagree with this, ASIDE from counseling centers, I think you can make a VERY good argument for how you WANT to work in a specific population/at a specific site but are LACKING that area and that is why it is so important for the site to take you. It's the "filling in the gap in my training" argument

 

[haner2]

I semi disagree with this, ASIDE from counseling centers, I think you can make a VERY good argument for how you WANT to work in a specific population/at a specific site but are LACKING that area and that is why it is so important for the site to take you. It's the "filling in the gap in my training" argument

Yeah there is some truth to that, but it really depends on the site. I've interviewed at some places where they liked to let you "fill in the gaps" because they had the resources to train/supervise someone. But I've also interviewed at places that didn't want to put that kind of energy into training because they wanted people who were planning to continue at a similar site afterwards (keep in mind my applications were focused on counseling centers, so that's where my experiences come from)

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Yeah there is some truth to that, but it really depends on the site. I've interviewed at some places where they liked to let you "fill in the gaps" because they had the resources to train/supervise someone. But I've also interviewed at places that didn't want to put that kind of energy into training because they wanted people who were planning to continue at a similar site afterwards (keep in mind my applications were focused on counseling centers, so that's where my experiences come from)

Yeah, this type of situation does seem to be particularly strong in the counseling center "world," where prior experience is essentially a necessity.