Congratulations to everyone submitting your internship applications! I know it feels scary, but it is also an exciting & momentous time in your training & professional journey. A few tips from me to you.../1

The minute you hit that “submit” button, take a brief pause for some self-care. You’ve just done a ton of work searching for programs, crafting your list, counting up your hours (no small feat), writing essays, & getting letters of recommendation. You deserve a break! /2

Next, I recommend scanning all the various brochures of the programs you’ve applied to. Most (if not all) list the interview dates that they will be offering. I recommend collecting these all into one document (all programs, all dates). /3

Next, print yourself these blank monthly calendars. Using the list of programs & dates you just made, start penciling in your first & alternate choice dates for each program. Carry these with you AT ALL TIMES, so you’re ready with a quick answer when you receive an invitation. /4

Did you know that you can create an email alert in Outlook? Most (if not all) of your invitations will come via email. This way, you can be alerted as quickly as possible - and time is of the essence if you want to snag that first choice date. /5

To create an Outlook email alert, see here: https://bit.ly/3e79fdz . If you use Gmail, downloadable widgets can even let you forward emails containing important words like “internship” or “interview” via text msg (see https://bit.ly/3jCA8Hr ). /6

So, as long as you always have your calendars handy, you can respond the minute you are alerted to an invite! This really took the stress out of interview scheduling for me! /7

I think a good motto for interviewees AND interviewers this year is: “expect the unexpected.” Programs know that this is a stressful experience, even in the best of times. And with interviews going virtual this year, we know that some hiccups are bound to happen. /8

So, just try to breathe, relax, and do the best you can. You’ve done the toughest part already - now it’s time to let all your hard work & accomplishments shine! /end

#NeuropsychTwitter: what other wisdom do you have for applicants this year?

PS: if you all find this thread helpful, I will make other advice threads for internship & fellowship interviews!