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Essays on
Clinical Internship
George M. Slavich,
Ph.D.
McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School
The Clinical
Psychologist
The internship application process is
multifaceted, making it a topic about which much can be said. For this
installment of the student column, I asked three individuals who recently
endured the process to share their thoughts with us. Each selected a part
of the process (applications/ essays, interviews/ site visits,
ranking/ transitioning), and here is what they had to say!
“Writing Essays That Fit”
David P. Lichtenstein
Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico
The internship application is long, and
filled with detail. And everyone has a unique process for applications.
So, rather than dispense advice, I decided to briefly describe my
essay-writing process and distill a few key elements that may – or may not
– be helpful to current applicants.
When I first downloaded the application I quickly scanned through the
essay topics and noted the major areas covered. Then I put the application
down for a few days, during which I talked to colleagues about important
things to include in our essays. Eventually, I made a list of key
activities, accomplishments, and values that I wanted to include in my
essays, which I saw as effectively five opportunities to create a dynamic
picture of myself. Then one night when I felt that the ideas had stewed in
my head long enough, I sat down, poured myself a glass of wine, and
sketched out all four of the main essays. I did it by hand and wrote
quickly, trying to pour out my main ideas and creative framework to hang
ideas on. For each essay, especially the personal statement, I tried to
show as well as tell – that is, I wrote in a style (humor, metaphor,
connecting activities to the big picture) that I thought would convey who
I was almost as much as the achievements I listed. Later, I went through a
fairly extensive review/editing process, reworking the words, making sure
each item from my original list was integrated somewhere in the essays,
soliciting feedback from peers I respected.
For me, I think the key to putting together
a strong application was finding my own comfortable way not only to
complete it, but to represent myself in my writing. Finding this
self-tailored style was critical for the application as well as the
interview process...
“Interviews, Site Visits,
and Suits, Oh My!”
Joyce P. Chu, Ph.D.
University of California, San Francisco
Then comes the happy day when you get
called for an interview. Your application worked, moment of joy!
Unfortunately, that moment passes pretty quickly and your joy meets a
friend: anxious anticipation. It’s time for site visits.
In many ways, the interviews are a
balancing act. You’re trying to get them to like you, but simultaneously
assessing if you like them. I am of the opinion that being honest and
genuine is the recipe for success. Your interviewers are a bunch of
psychologists, after all. Most likely, you won’t be able to pull a fast
one on them, or convince them you believe/want something you don’t! So,
try to relax and be yourself. Portray genuine excitement, and take the
stance of figuring out if that site really fits your needs. If you do
that, the right site for you will like you.
Now, the nitty gritty. Beyond a general
approach of being honest and genuine, there are a few things you should
do. First, get to know the site and why you would want to go there. Do
your research and write a crib sheet about the program details, what
you’re excited about, and possible questions. Second, practice talking
about a couple of cases, eloquently. Many sites ask you questions like
“Tell me about a personally challenging case.” Third, every moment of the
site visit counts. Whether you’re hanging out in between meetings or with
program support staff – be on, the whole day. Fourth, practice makes
perfect. So, go to one or two “less important” sites first. Fifth,
follow-up. Not necessarily the quintessential thank you card, but it’s a
good idea to maintain some sort of contact after the interview – a thank
you, a question, an expression of interest. They’ll be more likely to
remember you, and hopefully rank you.
“Coping Skills for the Match
Process”
Rebecca Silver, Ph.D.
Health Sciences Center, University of New Mexico
Although ranking sites and waiting for
match results can be anxiety provoking, it can also be empowering. You’ve
spent the past several months putting your best foot forward, now you get
to decide the best fit for you.
There are myriad factors to consider when
ranking sites: location, post-doc positions, training experiences,
research opportunities, current interns’ happiness, benefits and salary,
intangible feelings of fit, etc. I found it helpful to talk to my peers,
advisors, supervisors, and family, but ultimately it is your priorities
and your decision. I applied as part of a couple, so that was my priority.
Although we still joke about whether we made the right decision (even now
that we are happily together at internship), we also realize that there
were many sites that would have fit our needs. Indeed, the places that we
knew we wouldn’t be happy, we decided not to rank at all.
The rest was a waiting game. To pass the time, I planned a celebration/
commiseration event for Match Day. Knowing that we would soon be spreading
out to different parts of the country, it felt important to mark the
transition with my friends who had also applied to internship.
Match Day came with positive results, but
also marked the beginning of a significant transition for which I wasn’t
entirely prepared. In the midst of defending my dissertation, moving, and
saying good-bye to friends and colleagues, I didn’t make time to think
about what lay ahead. I’m not sure I could have formally prepared myself
(brushing up on the DSM wouldn’t have helped), but it has been reassuring
to remind myself that transitions are naturally unsettling. So for the
moment, I’m trying to focus on the excitement of my new experience instead
of on my dysfunctional pager or on all the new paperwork.
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In conclusion, I think it is important to
emphasize just how much one’s mindset can affect the internship
application experience. Viewing the process as an opportunity to explore
your professional goals and different parts of the country might just make
the year fun!
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Citation |
| Slavich, G. M. (2006). Essays on internship.
The Clinical Psychologist, 59(4), 12-13. |
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