Navigating the Internship Application Process

Abstract

For many, anxiety regarding the internship application process begins shortly after the excitement of graduate school acceptance subsides. The predoctoral internship is a curriculum requirement in all accredited doctoral programs in psychology, typically occurring during the final or penultimate year of doctoral training. It is not uncommon for students just beginning their graduate education already to feel inundated with information regarding internship opportunities, strategies for improving one's potential for securing a desired placement, and even tales of distress regarding the application procedure itself. Indeed, although an arduous, time-consuming, and occasionally stressful process, the internship application procedure offers many an opportunity to contemplate and organize their career goals, establish a professional identity beyond the walls of their doctoral program, and develop important networking relationships that will last years after internship training has ended. This chapter will review some important facts, strategies, and suggestions to minimize anxiety and maximize success throughout the application process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)