Internships in Psychology

Carol Williams-Nickelson, PsyD, is former and first associate executive director of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students (APAGS), where she oversaw all operations for the organization as their chief executive from 2000 to 2008. Before that, she served in several APAGS leadership positions, including APAGS chair. APAGS honored her work by establishing the Annual Carol Williams-Nickelson, PsyD, Award for Leadership and Scholarship in Women’s Issues. She was also executive director for the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) and the AMSA Foundation. In 2012 she received AMSA’s prestigious Women Leaders in Medicine Award. Her many publications, keynotes, and presentations at various medical and health care conferences relate to topics that encompass her research and expertise in the areas of mentoring, leadership, women’s issues, the application of psychology in nonclinical settings, the education and training of psychologists and physicians, and behavioral health. She has been a presenter at the APAGS Workshop on the Internship Application Process since its inception in 2000. Mitchell J. Prinstein, PhD, is currently John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Director of Clinical Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Prinstein’s developmental psychopathology research examines interpersonal models of internalizing symptoms and health risk behaviors. He has been strongly committed to professional service and professional development for many years. Dr. Prinstein was first invited to speak about the internship application process in 1995; he served as chair of APAGS and as a representative to the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers in 1997. He also served as the chair of the American Psychological Association (APA) ad hoc Committee on Early Career Psychologists and on several committees and boards within and outside the APA. He has been president of the Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology and the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. In addition to this workbook, Dr. Prinstein’s professional development volumes include The Portable Mentor: Expert Guide to a Successful Career in Psychology, and several online resources, including his Uncensored Advice for Applying to Graduate School in Clinical Psychology. He has been a presenter at the APAGS Workshop on the Internship Application Process for the past 18 years. W. Gregory Keilin, PhD, served as internship training director at the UT Austin CMHC until 2014, and currently has a part-time private practice and provides consulting services in the areas of internship development and electronic health records. He is past chair of the board of directors of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internships Centers (APPIC) and, in 1999, led the effort to implement the computer-based internship matching program. He currently serves as the APPIC Match coordinator, oversees the APPIC Post-Match Vacancy Service, and responds to concerns submitted by students and others via the APPIC Informal Problem Consultation process. He was involved in the development of the APPIC Directory Online and the AAPI Online service, and over many years worked to bring the internship supply and demand imbalance to the attention of the profession. He is a Fellow of APA Division 17, and in 2012 received the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology. He has been a presenter at the annual APAGS Workshop on the Internship Application Process since its inception in 2000.

Preface
Acknowledgments 
Chapter 1. Getting Started: General Overview of the Internship Application Process  The Predoctoral Internship
Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers
What Is Accreditation?
The Increasing Importance of Accreditation
Changes in APPIC Match Eligibility
Internship Supply and Demand
Why Do Some People Have Difficulty Getting Matched to a Preferred Internship?
How Many Sites Should You Apply To?
Internship Milestones
Moving Forward
The Next Step Chapter 2. Completing the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships
What Is the APPIC Application for Psychology Internships?
AAPI Online Overview
Completing the AAPI
Summarizing Your Practicum Experiences on the AAPI
Chapter 3. Goals, Essays, and the Cover Letter
Setting Goals
Goals, Essays, and the Cover Letter
Guidelines for Writing Essays
Autobiographical Statement, Essay 1
Theoretical Orientation, Essay 2
Diversity Experience, Essay 3
Research Experience, Essay 4
Cover Letter: “Sell” the Fit
Chapter 4. Curriculum Vitae and Letters of Recommendation
Your Curriculum Vitae
Letters of Recommendation
Additional Site-Specific Materials
Chapter 5. The Interview
Scheduling Interviews
The “Big 3”
Ask, Ask, and Ask Again
Purpose and Goals of the Interview
Thank-You Notes
Chapter 6. The Match
An Overview of the APPIC Match
Match Registration
Phase I of the Match
What if I Don’t Match?
Other Things to Know
Phase II of the Match
The APPIC Post-Match Vacancy Service.
Chapter 7. Frequently Asked Questions From Prospective Interns
Getting Started
The APPIC Application for Psychology Internships
Goals and Essays
CVs and References
The Interview
The Match
Chapter 8. Advice for Directors of Clinical Training of Students in the Internship Application Process 
Step 1. Orienting Students to the Application Process
Step 2. Helping Students Complete Their Applications
Step 3. Preparing Students for Interviews
Step 4. Debriefing and Rank Order Lists
Step 5. Helping With Phase II of the Match, if Needed
Conclusion
Appendix: Additional Resources
About the Authors