Internships in Psychology

This authoritative, hands‑on book provides doctoral‑level psychology students with all the resources they need to successfully navigate the internship application process.

Topics include the most common reasons why people don’t secure a position; how many sites to apply to; rank ordering your list of programs; writing essays, cover letters, and your curriculum vitae; securing strong letters of recommendation; preparing for interviews; sending thank you notes; receiving Match results; and more.
 
Since the third edition of this book was released, the online application process and the internship marketplace have undergone significant changes, such as the growing importance of accreditation. This fourth edition provides updated information that will help your applications stand out to your internship programs of choice. Advice is also offered to directors of clinical training so they can guide and support students during this challenging process.
 
This resource is provided to students by the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students—the premier group committed to representing, leading, advocating, and developing resources for graduate psychology students.

Carol Williams-Nickelson, PsyD, earned her doctoral degree from Our Lady of the Lake
University in San Antonio, Texas, and completed her predoctoral internship at the
University of Notre Dame Counseling Center. She 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. She established many APAGS programs that remain active to this day,
including the Advocacy Coordinating Team, Annual Internship Workshop, several
scholarships and awards, and many others. 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, where she developed progressive
future physician leaders; created programming that filled gaps in medical education;
and led many initiatives advocating for quality, affordable health care for all. In 2012 she
received AMSA’s prestigious Women Leaders in Medicine Award. She went on to serve
as the executive director for an international testing and certification organization and
currently is the principal of a consulting firm providing services to nonprofit education,
health care, and charitable organizations. Dr. Williams-Nickelson has provided services
in a variety of health care and forensic settings, including hospitals, long-term care
facilities, residential treatment centers, community-based organizations, private practices,
and counseling centers. Her background includes chairing and serving on numerous
nonprofit boards of directors and volunteering for many charities that promote
social change. 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, completed his doctoral degree at the University of Miami
and his internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Brown University School of
Medicine. He 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 (see
http://mitch.web.unc.edu/files/2017/02/MitchGradSchoolAdvice.pdf). He has been a
presenter at the APAGS Workshop on the Internship Application Process for the past
18 years.

W. Gregory Keilin, PhD, completed his doctoral degree in counseling psychology at
Colorado State University and his internship at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin
Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC). He 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. Along with his coauthors of this workbook,
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