Two Roads Diverged In a Wood...Applying to Non-Forensic Internship Sites

Happy Monday, everyone! This week's newest blog entry is by Dr. Heidi Strohmaier, PhD. Coming from a traditionally forensic PhD program, Dr. Strohmaier matched to her first choice site at the Tampa VA for the 2014-2015 internship year. Here she offers general internship application tips as well as some advice on how to change gears if you are looking to match at a site that differs from your previous focus area. 

Applying for internship is stressful. There is no way around that. Taking a methodical approach and practicing some good self-care can make this exciting and overwhelming process substantially more manageable. I matched to the general track of a large VA hospital for my predoctoral internship and am now a postdoctoral fellow in primary care/health psychology at a large metropolitan teaching hospital. Although I specialized in forensic psychology during graduate school and was tempted to pursue a more traditional forensic route for internship, I ultimately decided it was in my best interest to seek a generalized internship program to prepare me for a flexible and well-rounded career. Below are a few tips I believe helped me maintain my sanity and achieve success in the dreaded internship match process. Although much of this feedback is broad, some of it will be particularly relevant to those interested in applying to internship sites outside the forensic realm or to sites that otherwise represent a change in direction from your graduate area of focus:
 
SITE SELECTION

• Apply to a large, but manageable number of sites. Beyond a certain number, you do not increase your chances of matching. I found 15 to be a reasonable number.
• On a related note, it does not reflect well on you or your program to turn down an interview. Traveling is expensive, so consider that when arriving at your final application number.
• Include “reach” and “safety” sites in your list; I was surprised at some of the interviews I did (and did not!) get. The process is hardly predictable.
• I had better luck obtaining interviews at sites where alumni of my program had interviewed or matched. Sites that were unfamiliar with my program or the quality of students it produces seemed a little tougher to crack.
• The reverse of the above comment is that some sites (including the one I matched to) have formal or informal policies about the number of applicants from a program who can apply or interview. Especially if you are applying to “reach” sites or those outside your specialty area that are popular among your cohort, this can definitely work against you.
• If you are interested primarily in non-forensic or generalized internships despite being a “forensic person,” make sure to apply to some forensic sites, too. This gave me peace of mind, an opportunity to change course during the ranking process if necessary, and only required very minor modifications to my application.

 
APPLICATIONS/INTERVIEWS

• On applications and interviews remember both to sell yourself and also acknowledge areas of growth that are particularly relevant to the site (emphasize “the match”). Although sites are seeking talented applicants they want to know you recognize areas in need of further training and experience—that’s why the internship exists!
• Have at least three people read over your materials. If everyone has similar feedback, you should probably take it, but try not to lose yourself in the process; come across as genuinely you as possible. I had friends provide feedback before sending my essays to my advisor.
• Absolutely practice interviews with peers or professors. I compiled a list of past questions applicants had been asked, wrote up bulleted answers for each, and practiced them aloud before each interview. Overkill? Maybe, but I prefer feeling over- than under-prepared. Just try not to sound too rehearsed when actually interviewing.
• Budget for travel ahead of time. Some of my cohort-mates opened new credit cards that earned travel points and used these diligently before and during the application and interview process. I should have. It saved them a lot of money.
• Traveling in January is rough. Most people applying my year—myself included—got stranded at least once, which can interfere with interviews scheduled across the country. Be prepared for this to happen. Unfortunately, in my case, the site was inflexible about doing a phone or video interview and wanted to me to book a new flight for a later date. It is easy for sites to capitalize on applicants’ intense anxiety about not matching by making demands like this. Consider whether that is the type of site you’d like to train at for a year. It may be worth withdrawing yourself from consideration rather than spending the excessive money and time it would take to acquiesce to such requirements. 

 
MAINTAINING SANITY

• I heard all about how exhausted I would be with all the traveling and interviews and how I would crash at the hotel immediately following each interview. I took that as a challenge and decided to make it my mission to enjoy a little bit of each city I visited—especially those I had never been to. I don’t know the next time I’ll make it to Nashville, so I sure am glad I checked out a blues bar by myself on a random Monday night in January. It made the whole process so much more enjoyable to do a little sightseeing along the way, even if my feet were sore at the end of it all.
• Statistics are your friend. Chances are high that you will match. Remind yourself of this often throughout the process.

 
Good luck and take care of yourself! You have come so far and are almost at the end of your graduate training. There is a bright light at the end of this tunnel. Congratulations on getting this far.