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Do any guidelines exist for length of cover letters for APPIC applications? One site specifically said approximately 750 words but otherwise have not seen any guidelines.
Typically 1.5-2 pages if not specified. Don’t go beyond 2. But first and foremost, follow the guidelines for each site. They’re paying attention to whether you can follow instructions.Do any guidelines exist for length of cover letters for APPIC applications? One site specifically said approximately 750 words but otherwise have not seen any guidelines.
This.Typically 1.5-2 pages if not specified. Don’t go beyond 2. But first and foremost, follow the guidelines for each site. They’re paying attention to whether you can follow instructions.
LOR are considerably less important than cover letter. LOR are also declining in importance over the last twenty years relative to the other materialsBe kind to the people reading your application and keep it short. Your CV and LOR are probably more important. FWIW, my cover letters were one page in length and I got 15/17 interviews I applied for.
I'd disagree on 2 and 3. Competency exam and coursework never came up on interviews and seemed to be useful only in setting a minimum bar of expectations. Research productivity, externship/practicum experience, and hours of F2F with clinical population of interest to illustrate fit (detailed in the cover letter and CV of course) seemed to matter much more.LOR are considerably less important than cover letter. LOR are also declining in importance over the last twenty years relative to the other materials
In order, internship directors care about:
1. "Fit" - which can be demonstrated in the cover letter.
2 and 3. Completed Comptency Exam and Coursework
4. Cover Letter
...
10. Letters of reference
This perceived importance does not vary by site type (although order may as a function of other things which vary)
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I'm telling you this based on what 1/3rd of training directors said but feel free to disagree. Research (pubs/presentations/essays) are amongst the least important things (this will obviously vary if you are shooting for research heavy sites like Yale.. but that is the minority of sites)I'd disagree on 2 and 3. Competency exam and coursework never came up on interviews and seemed to be useful only in setting a minimum bar of expectations. Research productivity, externship/practicum experience, and hours of F2F with clinical population of interest to illustrate fit (detailed in the cover letter and CV of course) seemed to matter much more.
OK fair enough... My experience was based on applying to research heavy sites like Yale, Pitt, McLean, MGH etc. OP take my advice with a grain of salt if you are applying to more counseling centers or such.I'm telling you this based on what 1/3rd of training directors said but feel free to disagree. Research (pubs/presentations/essays) are amongst the least important things (this will obviously vary if you are shooting for research heavy sites like Yale.. but that is the minority of sites)
Or just non research sites. Its not just about Counseling v other (although that is a huge distinction). Pitt/Yale/etc are as different on one end as counseling centers are on the others. Even then then, the points (2&3) don't really vary - they're important.. which is why everyone has them done. It's also why APPIC shifted to requiring dissertation proposals finished before application.OK fair enough... My experience was based on applying to research heavy sites like Yale, Pitt, McLean, MGH etc. OP take my advice with a grain of salt if you are applying to more counseling centers or such.
I'm telling you this based on what 1/3rd of training directors said but feel free to disagree. Research (pubs/presentations/essays) are amongst the least important things (this will obviously vary if you are shooting for research heavy sites like Yale.. but that is the minority of sites)
I was surprised to, honestly, but thats what TDs said were valued and in what order 🤷♂️Having served on committees for both general sites and neuro specific internship and postdoc committees, research is definitely more important for neuro, even at clinical sites. And, I've never seen the cover letter factor in at all besides someone making a big mistake in the document. Also, another possible specialist difference between general and neuro, as we are a relatively smaller niche, cover letters are more important, especially if we know the writer. Though, that can be either a positive or negative for the applicant...
I was surprised to, honestly, but thats what TDs said were valued and in what order 🤷♂️
yeh, for sure with the checkbox items. thats sort of how I see them as well and part of why i grouped those above - they matter but they don't. i wouldn't expect them to come up on interviews since those with issues would get weeded out before. that doesn't mean they don't matter, only that when they matter is earlier in the consideration process. letters can sink someone but i see minimal value in them to pull them up in most realistic cases (sure, if Beck wrote a letter saying that so-and-so student revolutionized how he thought about cognitive therapy that would probably carry considerable weight.. butttttt). Given the poor utility of clinical interview and clinical decision making, i'm not sure letters should have a ton of weight either honestly. Fit is just a summative way to say something important about the site and the person, which can be used in a cover letter.Well the "fit" piece still jives as most importance from my experience. But some of the others were largely checkboxes or irrelevant. For exam, the competency exam and dissertation proposal completed, simply checkboxes. I've never seen coursework play a role unless someone had failed multiple classes, or had like all Bs. As for Letters of rec, they do decline in importance if we don't know who the person is, though sometimes they play a big role when it's easy to read between the lines that the applicant is something of a trainwreck. I still remember someone saying something to the effect of "applicant is within the top 75% of students I have supervised."
yeh, for sure with the checkbox items. thats sort of how I see them as well and part of why i grouped those above - they matter but they don't. i wouldn't expect them to come up on interviews since those with issues would get weeded out before. that doesn't mean they don't matter, only that when they matter is earlier in the consideration process. letters can sink someone but i see minimal value in them to pull them up in most realistic cases (sure, if Beck wrote a letter saying that so-and-so student revolutionized how he thought about cognitive therapy that would probably carry considerable weight.. butttttt). Given the poor utility of clinical interview and clinical decision making, i'm not sure letters should have a ton of weight either honestly. Fit is just a summative way to say something important about the site and the person, which can be used in a cover letter.
That presumes past experience has allowed for all the opportunities related to interest, which isn't always the case or isn't always clear from a C.V. That doesn't preclude fit of interest or allow for specificity. I have no doubt that the people you would get are good but that doesn't mean those are exhaustively the best fitted. What your saying is consistent with the greater focus placed on prior experience.I still haven't seen committees really get fit from the cover letter though. I've seen plenty of cover letters talk about the fit of certain rotations to their interests, but then their CV shows almost all peds experiences (I've always been at adult-only sites, VAs). The CV is where we got most of our "fit" feelings from. The cover letters were up there with the essays, generally useless, but we just looked them over for red flags.
That presumes past experience has allowed for all the opportunities related to interest, which isn't always the case or isn't always clear from a C.V. That doesn't preclude fit of interest or allow for specificity. I have no doubt that the people you would get are good but that doesn't mean those are exhaustively the best fitted. What your saying is consistent with the greater focus placed on prior experience.
Yeh, that makes sense but is a fairly low bar for what the CV offers (not even uniquely really)At least to us, it was more of an issue that if you had no adult experience, we didn't want to be the ones that got you that foundational knowledge. You may have the interest, but we felt that was beyond our jobs at that particular level.
Yeh, that makes sense but is a fairly low bar for what the CV offers (not even uniquely really)
I'm not sure the evidence supports that greater research involvement makes a better clinician. I'm open to changing my mind, but I haven't seen that data.I'd disagree somewhat. I think a lot can be gleaned from the course of clinical work that one completes in grad school, in addition to the progression of research interests as seen by posters, pubs and conferences.
I'm not sure the evidence supports that greater research involvement makes a better clinician. I'm open to changing my mind, but I haven't seen that data.
Are you a supervisor at an internship training site? If so, would you consider a potential intern for a neuro track if he/she came from a PsyD program and did not have any neuropsych training or much research involvement, but was overall skilled in assessment and motivated to learn?I'd disagree somewhat. I think a lot can be gleaned from the course of clinical work that one completes in grad school, in addition to the progression of research interests as seen by posters, pubs and conferences.
Are you a supervisor at an internship training site? If so, would you consider a potential intern for a neuro track if he/she came from a PsyD program and did not have any neuropsych training or much research involvement, but was overall skilled in assessment and motivated to learn?
Internship TD here (AMC). We assume people have completed quals and their coursework but don't look at these more than to make sure they are marked as done. In my 10+ yrs of reviewing applications, I can't ever recall seeing an applicant who didn't have these complete.LOR are considerably less important than cover letter. LOR are also declining in importance over the last twenty years relative to the other materials
In order, internship directors care about:
1. "Fit" - which can be demonstrated in the cover letter.
2 and 3. Completed Comptency Exam and Coursework
4. Cover Letter
...
10. Letters of reference
This perceived importance does not vary by site type (although order may as a function of other things which vary)
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onlinelibrary.wiley.com
fair. lol. doesn't paint a good picture for trainingWell, we don't have data that more hours, good cover letters, or good essays make better clinicians either, so we go with what we know in the application. And, at least anecdotally, those more involved in research have been far better trainees than those with minimal experience in my neuro rotations. Less likely to rely on outdated "clinical lore."
fair. lol. doesn't paint a good picture for training
I mean, that's one way. there are others which are more feasible. part of the issue is training isn't emphasized by research institutions. this isn't harder than other things we study.True, though getting this data would be quite an undertaking. Tracking somewhat subjective application variables, and then following that person through licensure and then doing meaningful outcome measures on their patients to judge clinical acumen? That's a lot of IRBs and consent forms to work through.
A bit of an aside, but does anyone have tips at tailoring cover letters to sites at which you have already worked (e.g., as a practicum student, or applying to work with a faculty co-mentor on internship who you've only ever done research work with yet to date)?
I feel a bit lost because normally the networking component helps IRL (assuming you are hardworking and not totally bonkers/doing unethical things), but with internship as the process is double-blind to ranking I feel weird applying to sites I've already work at in the past. I know some people are against this and suggest you get a breadth of training, but in my two specific cases there are specific reasons I would like to return to a practicum site for internship or work with my other mentor clinically (vs. in research), as they would both round out aspects of my training that I have not had.
Any tips are appreciated for this type of cover letter! I am trying to be myself and as professional as I can, but it I find writing letters to people I do not know significantly easier.
I mean, that's one way. there are others which are more feasible. part of the issue is training isn't emphasized by research institutions. this isn't harder than other things we study.
Speak to those specifics to make the case for continued growth and fit with the site.there are specific reasons I would like to return to a practicum site for internship or work with my other mentor clinically (vs. in research), as they would both round out aspects of my training that I have not had.
Yup. Highlight what they offer that you haven't already had exposure to as part of your training + how your training prepares you to be well suited (this is the easier part generally given past experience)Speak to those specifics to make the case for continued growth and fit with the site.
Even if you've trained there, people who you have not interacted with will likely be reviewing your application so it's best to presume that everybody is coming in with a blank slate.
Also, it's possible to give off the impression that you know everything about how training/healthcare happens at this site since you've been there, which can potentially read as off-putting. Perhaps having somebody else review this cover letter specifically would be helpful.
I know this is slightly veering from the thread topic, but I just noticed that you mentioned that APPIC has shifted to requiring dissertation proposals completed before application deadline. I have never received this news and I’m a bit worried as my expected proposal date is in November and I don’t know if that will have an impact on my applications. Also, I see some participating sites are not requiring a proposal by application deadline. Just wanted to make sure. If you can clarify, that would be great.Or just non research sites. Its not just about Counseling v other (although that is a huge distinction). Pitt/Yale/etc are as different on one end as counseling centers are on the others. Even then then, the points (2&3) don't really vary - they're important.. which is why everyone has them done. It's also why APPIC shifted to requiring dissertation proposals finished before application.
I know this is slightly veering from the thread topic, but I just noticed that you mentioned that APPIC has shifted to requiring dissertation proposals completed before application deadline. I have never received this news and I’m a bit worried as my expected proposal date is in November and I don’t know if that will have an impact on my applications. Also, I see some participating sites are not requiring a proposal by application deadline. Just wanted to make sure. If you can clarify, that would be great.
I have seen several sites that have stated that if the prospectus is not proposed by Nov. 1 then no later than ~Nov. 30 is fine. This may widely vary between sites and I have not been looking that closely because I am well along in my post-prospectus dissertation work so I have not personally been searching for this information that closely in brochures.
- What are the pros and cons of requiring either the dissertation proposal, data collection, or defense prior to application for internship?
For multiple reasons in addition to the match imbalance, students should be required to propose the dissertation prior to entering the Match. Some may see this as restrictive. However, the internship should be a year of immersion in clinical practice. Even if a student has academic aspirations, this year of training is critical to his or her development. If significant progress is not made on the dissertation prior to internship, that year of training will likely be less effective due to distractions related to dissertation activities. In addition, students who have not been able to demonstrate the skills etc. needed to propose prior to internship may struggle with the requirements of internship. Having proposed the dissertation could also serve as a gatekeeping criterion for internship.
News Article
Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers, Postdoc Interns, Psychology Internships, Psych Internship Matching - APPICwww.appic.org
This is an APPIC recommendation and your dissertation status is (has always) been reported as part of the APPI. Lots of applications are due in late November / early December and so that leaves you plenty of time, but it certainly is becoming a disadvantage not to have proposed. I was trying to find the more specific guidance but struggled/didn't have time. I'll see what I can dig up for you.
That was our program requirement as well. I always figured it was required by most programs.Never knew about any requirement by APPIC. Our program itself always required having your dissertation proposal accepted before the DCT would even sign off on your application, so wasn't even a question for us.
Figured this may be a good place to ask this question -- I am second guessing how I've tracked some of my hours. I worked on an inpatient rehab as a neuro experience. My direct patient care included intake assessments with brief cog measures (cognistat etc), some follow-up testing (BDAE, NAB, etc), and then also psych support. This included evaluating mood + helping support mood with coping strategies etc.
I have tracked the assessments between neuro / psychodiagnostic as appropriate but not sure where the ~1/3 of coping support should go. It feels like incorrect to put it in psychotherapy experience and I'm just not sure!!
Thanks so much for any help!!
Also another question - I want to become a pediatric neuropsychologist and am applying to internships both with pediatric neuropsychology tracks + experiences. For the sites that provide major rotations with neuro as part of a larger hospital based site, can I say my long-term goals are board certification?? Places like Children's National or Dupont? I have supervisors that have truly opposing views... Leaning towards this is what I want bc I have the experience (1 rehab + 2 outpatient testing practicum) to back it up as my long term goal. Curious what you all think!