Applications:
- Start the internship application process this summer! You will thank yourself later!
- Want to apply to 12-15 sites - Apply to a wide range of sites in a wide range of areas.
- Start with the list of clinical science internship programs recognized by the academy (http://acadpsychclinicalscience.org/members/).
- Approach the application process as a mini version of graduate school, looking for sites with specific rotations of interest and research mentors you'd be interested in working with.
- Focus on sites that would complement your graduate training, places that would provide new clinical and research experiences that you haven't gotten elsewhere
- For students who are interested in research-oriented internships: keep in mind that those sites will look more closely at your CV than at your list of clinical hours.
- Make sure you get the bare minimum number of clinical hours required by your graduate program and spend the remainder of your time focused on research.
- As long as you can demonstrate that you are a competent clinician, no need to accrue hundreds of extra practicum hours.
- The application process is an opportunity to discover what type of therapist you want to be!
- Go to the website of each internship you are applying to – find out as much as you can (do this the summer before you plan to apply for internship)
- Make sure you tailor your cover letters and essays to each internship site
- Look at examples of cover letters and essays from older graduate students in your program, they will provide you with good guidance!
- DO NOT check out APPIC’s discussion forum – it will just cause you unnecessary anxiety!
Interviews:
- Do as many practice interviews as you can!
- Prepare a case presentation – come in with info about at least 1 client, be able to provide a frame quickly and then expand
- Have examples of breakthroughs, struggles, transference/counter-transference, errors you’ve made
- Be prepared with lots of questions – but DO NOT ask information that is on their website
- Try to have a mix of broad and specific questions
- Need to be able to think critically on the spot – need to be able to demonstrate clinical competence and confidence!
- Should definitely visit all of the sites you are applying to – some will have open houses, some will offer a visit if you want to
- Ask questions of the post-docs and graduate students about what it is like there – how is supervision? What type of collaboration is there?
- Some travel tips: o Remember, there are many ways to get around (plane, car, bus, train, etc.). Check all options when traveling to a city, within a city, and between cities. Travel is expensive, so check your options. Sometimes flying into a nearby city and renting a car is a cheaper option.
- For the best hotel and car rental prices, visit online forums that help you get the best quotes from Priceline.com – this can help you save a lot of money on car rentals and hotels!
- Midweek is usually the cheapest time to buy airfare and also the cheapest airfare is on midweek days.
Rankings:
- When you rank rites, things to consider:
- Quality of life, both inside and outside of internship
- What do you want to do long term?
- Where do you want to live?
- What is a good fit for me?
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