PhD/PsyD Internship application review - When do programs begin?

[pumpkinsoda]

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Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any insight into when programs begin to review applications for the APPI internships? For example, if the deadline for applicaitons is November 1st, do programs begin to look over applications November 2nd?

 

[WisNeuro]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone had any insight into when programs begin to review applications for the APPI internships? For example, if the deadline for applicaitons is November 1st, do programs begin to look over applications November 2nd?

Extremely variable both between programs and within programs any given year. Not something I would devote much mind space to.

 

[PsyDuck90]

There is a lot that goes into reviewing applications, so even if they do, you are still going to be waiting a bit before they send out invites. TDs, at least at sites I’ve been in, will pull all the apps, screen them for any major red flags, then divvy them up amongst training committee staff for review, and then TC meet to decide who is being invited for interviews after all the apps have been reviewed. I know the waiting feels like forever on the applicant side, but it’s a fast-paced process on the site end.

 

[RxPsych]

Similar to what Wis said, it isn't helpful to think about it much. It is out of your hands now. I matched this most recent cycle, and my first invite was November 9th and my last was December 23rd. You never know when they come in.

 

[PsyDr]

Imagine you’re a psychologist at a training center. 3-4 days of the week, you’re seeing patients, writing notes or reports, answering emails from billing, and portal messages from patients. Maybe 1day of the week, your doing research, writing grants, filling in IRB nonsense. and/or managing your research assistant. In between all that, you get hit with “administrative tasks” which add up to half a day of work.

Administrative tasks can mean:

1) some stupid meeting about billing, new billing requirements, overall financials and budget of your department, how Susan at the front desk is upset because Mary the psychometrician didn’t invite her to her office hours birthday party, or some random interest du jeur of someone in the department.
2) answering emails from someone about something from the C suite
3) a reminder to get your flu shot, and give evidence to the pharmacist. (I don’t know why it’s the pharmacist).
4) reviewing applications for interns.

You’re asking for certainty in that context. There’s probably no certainty. Maybe one place is run by the person who gets everything done immediately. Maybe another place is run by someone who just had Covid and is desperately behind on everything. Maybe another place is run by someone who really didnt want the job and just got assigned it, so he’ll do it on the last day possible.

I think seeing that type of thing is an important transition for students. Schools have deadlines and structure. Most of clinical practice doesn’t.

 

[Sanman]

Imagine you’re a psychologist at a training center. 3-4 days of the week, you’re seeing patients, writing notes or reports, answering emails from billing, and portal messages from patients. Maybe 1day of the week, your doing research, writing grants, filling in IRB nonsense. and/or managing your research assistant. In between all that, you get hit with “administrative tasks” which add up to half a day of work.

Administrative tasks can mean:

1) some stupid meeting about billing, new billing requirements, overall financials and budget of your department, how Susan at the front desk is upset because Mary the psychometrician didn’t invite her to her office hours birthday party, or some random interest du jeur of someone in the department.
2) answering emails from someone about something from the C suite
3) a reminder to get your flu shot, and give evidence to the pharmacist. (I don’t know why it’s the pharmacist).
4) reviewing applications for interns.

You’re asking for certainty in that context. There’s probably no certainty. Maybe one place is run by the person who gets everything done immediately. Maybe another place is run by someone who just had Covid and is desperately behind on everything. Maybe another place is run by someone who really didnt want the job and just got assigned it, so he’ll do it on the last day possible.

I think seeing that type of thing is an important transition for students. Schools have deadlines and structure. Most of clinical practice doesn’t.

This. I will also add it depends on when I have time outside work hours. Reviewing apps is generally unpaid night and weekend work. This weekend I have a family obligation.

 

[Justanothergrad]

Imagine you’re a psychologist at a training center. 3-4 days of the week, you’re seeing patients, writing notes or reports, answering emails from billing, and portal messages from patients. Maybe 1day of the week, your doing research, writing grants, filling in IRB nonsense. and/or managing your research assistant. In between all that, you get hit with “administrative tasks” which add up to half a day of work.

Administrative tasks can mean:

1) some stupid meeting about billing, new billing requirements, overall financials and budget of your department, how Susan at the front desk is upset because Mary the psychometrician didn’t invite her to her office hours birthday party, or some random interest du jeur of someone in the department.
2) answering emails from someone about something from the C suite
3) a reminder to get your flu shot, and give evidence to the pharmacist. (I don’t know why it’s the pharmacist).
4) reviewing applications for interns.

You’re asking for certainty in that context. There’s probably no certainty. Maybe one place is run by the person who gets everything done immediately. Maybe another place is run by someone who just had Covid and is desperately behind on everything. Maybe another place is run by someone who really didnt want the job and just got assigned it, so he’ll do it on the last day possible.

I think seeing that type of thing is an important transition for students. Schools have deadlines and structure. Most of clinical practice doesn’t.

This transition and the shift to not focusing on grades but expertise is critical to understanding the real purpose of clinical professionalism.

 

[NHPsy97]

Similar to what Wis said, it isn't helpful to think about it much. It is out of your hands now. I matched this most recent cycle, and my first invite was November 9th and my last was December 23rd. You never know when they come in.

I had an even wider spread, with my first being around November 18th, and my last in the first or second week of January. My top choice, and the site I ultimately matched with, didn't send out interview invites for my track until December 13th. I'm mentoring some current applicants in my program, and I often tell them that they have no idea what process their site(s) follow to review and invite applicants. As someone who spent too much time obsessively reviewing the interview spreadsheet that circulates every year, it's really not beneficial to think too much about it.

 

[jdawg2017]

Echoing everything said here already and also hopping in to say that even within programs you’ll see different response times by different tracks. Some programs send out all invites at once (I think ones where internship directors are either highly organized and/or highly controlling). Other programs, like the one I went to, had vastly different notification dates by track, which I think was a function of some tracks having one slot, vs. other tracks having 3-4+ slots.

 

[PsyDr]

This. I will also add it depends on when I have time outside work hours. Reviewing apps is generally unpaid night and weekend work. This weekend I have a family obligation.

"unpaid"..."work""?????

That's like saying "slow sportscar", "low interest credit card", "liberal religious zealot", "fat free pizza", or "emotionally stable stripper".

 

[ThatPsyGuy]

"unpaid"..."work""?????

That's like saying "slow sportscar", "low interest credit card", "liberal religious zealot", "fat free pizza", or "emotionally stable stripper".

Best I can do is a "lean pizza".
- zero-fat crust is possible.
- Use turkey sausage.
- Low fat mozzarella
- Could also make a fat free pizza sauce. Just don't add oil.