PhD/PsyD Where to focus to become competitive for clinical internship?

[livethruthis]

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Many thanks!

 

[WisNeuro]

I'd be thinking about a clear trajectory. For example, I am a neuropsychologist. I got broad training in both assessment and intervention early on, but as I got to the tail end of graduate school, I was much more focused on neuropsych assessment. My CV showed that. So, when you are applying and interviewing, will you be able to tell a story about how your grad school career makes sense for the career you want. I.e., don't do only or mostly child work in your last couple years and then apply to a bunch of VAs. Think about what you want to do in a career, and make sure that is evident in your choices these last few years. May not be as important for true generalists, but can be important if you want to specialize in anything.

 

[psych.meout]

I'd be thinking about a clear trajectory. For example, I am a neuropsychologist. I got broad training in both assessment and intervention early on, but as I got to the tail end of graduate school, I was much more focused on neuropsych assessment. My CV showed that. So, when you are applying and interviewing, will you be able to tell a story about how your grad school career makes sense for the career you want. I.e., don't do only or mostly child work in your last couple years and then apply to a bunch of VAs. Think about what you want to do in a career, and make sure that is evident in your choices these last few years. May not be as important for true generalists, but can be important if you want to specialize in anything.

Is that the ideal path for neuropsych, broad generalist assessment training to begin and then neuropsych later on? My program has quite a few very good neuropsych external practica, including adult AMC, peds AMC, and VA neuropsych clinics, so my inclination is to take them for my assessment hours, but should I replace one of them with a more general assessment site for my first assessment practicum?

 

[WisNeuro]

Is that the ideal path for neuropsych, broad generalist assessment training to begin and then neuropsych later on? My program has quite a few very good neuropsych external practica, including adult AMC, peds AMC, and VA neuropsych clinics, so my inclination is to take them for my assessment hours, but should I replace one of them with a more general assessment site for my first assessment practicum?

Having a clear trajectory is a good idea for anyone, especially if you want to specialize in a certain area. As for assessment, I think it's always a good idea for all students to get a good basis in psychological assessment. This should be one of our strength areas and something that separates us from other mental health clinicians.