Applying for the predoctoral internship: Training program strategies to help students prepare.

Abstract

The predoctoral internship signifies the culmination of applied training in professional psychology. With the increasing supply and demand gap, securing an internship has become competitive and has resulted in many students employing a wide variety of steps in an attempt to ensure a successful internship application. However, little is known about how academic training programs assist students in applying for an internship. The purpose of this study was to describe what activities training programs engage in to prepare their students for the internship application process, and to better understand students' perception of their preparedness to apply as well as to understand their experience applying. The results suggested that training programs prepared students well for general aspects of the process but did not adequately prepare them for the more specific tasks related to the application process. Results also suggested that while the students didn't find the application process confusing or difficult they found it stressful and anxiety provoking. Suggestions for programs to inform and assist their students in preparing for applying are presented as well as recommendations for future research.

An examination of applicant characteristics of successfully matched interns: Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty and Leaking Miserably?

“…Applicants spend a great deal of time and energy (Madson, Aten, & Leach, 2007) trying to get the ''right'' experiences. Publications (WilliamsNickelson, Prinstein, & Keilin, 2008) and journal articles (Lopez & Draper, 1997;Mellott, Arden, & Cho, 1997) have discussed options and strategies to help students find the right program for their training.…”

Imaginando el futuro en la práctica de la psicología profesional: un estudio de las representaciones de estudiantes universitarios

“…According to this perspective, trainees have the only objective of finishing the experience as soon as possible and are content to carry out activities, even if these have nothing to do with psychology (Olver et al, 2011). According to Madson, Aten, and Leach (2007), students who devalue their training think that they might have some learning opportunities only if they are offered by the tutor.…”

A Perspective of Taiwanese Interns on Professional Skills and Psychological Preparation for Fieldwork in Criminal Justice Settings

“…The educational purpose of fieldwork in criminal justice is to develop awareness of students' values and attitudes towards the criminal justice system and the community, to learn to work with the agency's clients, and to provide experience that is beneficial for obtaining employment in the future (Taylor, 2012). The ways in which academic training programs assist students in applying for an internship are still largely unknown (Madson, Aten, & Leach, 2007). Few studies have addressed the important elements of professional skills and psychological preparation for fieldwork in criminal justice settings.…”

“…As studies have suggested (Madson, Aten, & Leach, 2007), students find the application process to be stressful and anxiety provoking. Moreover, waiting for decisions regarding field placement is a process filled with anxiety and uncertainty.…”

“…In addition, in both Taiwan and in the United States, most preparation-for-internship courses include visits to fieldwork sites; development of a professional portfolio; and study of a number of topics, including criminal justice and treatment theories, public perceptions of criminal justice agencies, the concept of confidentiality and responsibilities regarding confidentiality, organizational management, decision-making processes of organization, and the process of moving from theory to practice (Sgroi & Ryniker, 2002). Nonetheless, studies (e.g., Madson, Aten, & Leach, 2007) have suggested that most programs do not adequately prepare students for the more specific tasks related to the application process. Students may need more training about professional skills and psychological preparation before they are ready for fieldwork.…”