And finally from my time attending the APPIC Board meeting as the CUDCP liaison, it is clear that most internship sites are NOT selecting only those students with the highest number of hours, and that number of hours is one of the final things sites look at when making decisions regarding who to interview. The most important thing is the picture of the student that one gets from the packet of materials the students sends. Are the essays well-written and coherent? Do they give the impression of someone who would fit well at the internship site? Is the grammar acceptable? Is the overall presentation, including the letters of recommendation, one that gives a positive impression of the student? If the student presents her/himself well on paper and is from a decent program with a good reputation, she/he is more likely to be asked for an interview, and that is the first step. Then the student must act appropriately during the interview and be able to talk about his/her experience, research, future goals, and so forth in a manner that inspires confidence and communicates the existence of clinical skills. "Odd" or "problematic" behavior during the interview is the next thing that will decrease your student's chances of getting an internship.
