Frequently Asked Questions:
Internship Applicants - Participating in Phase II of the Match
Updated June 29, 2023
PARTICIPATING IN PHASE II OF THE MATCH
- What is Phase II all about and why does it exist?
- When does Phase II of the Match begin?
- Who is eligible to participate in Phase II?
- How do I register for Phase II?
- What is the cost to participate in Phase II of the Match?
- What is the timeline for Phase II?
- How do I know which internship programs are offering positions in Phase II?
- What are the characteristics of programs that will have unfilled positions in Phase II?
- What do I need to do to get prepared for Phase II?
- How do I prepare my AAPI application for Phase II?
- Is there a way for programs that are participating in Phase II to communicate with applicants?
- How do I submit applications for Phase II?
- Am I permitted to apply to any internship program that is offering positions in Phase II of the Match?
- How many applications should I submit during Phase II?
- How does the application "deadline" in Phase II work?
- Will internship programs notify me that they have received my applications in Phase II?
- Will internship programs let me know whether or not I received an interview in Phase II?
- What do I do once I have submitted my applications in Phase II?
- Are there any special considerations when submitting my Rank Order List in Phase II?
- Is there anything different about how the results are released in Phase II?
- What is the likelihood of my getting matched in Phase II?
- What happens if I get matched in Phase II?
- What are my options if I DON'T match in Phase II?
PARTICIPATING IN PHASE II OF THE MATCH
1. What is Phase II all about and why does it exist?
"Phase II" of the APPIC Match was implemented in 2011 in order to provide a more equitable, organized, and humane process of placing unmatched applicants into internship positions that were unfilled from Phase I. Phase II replaced the process that was known prior to 2011 as the "APPIC Clearinghouse" (a term that is no longer used).
Phase II is a completely separate Match from Phase I, and includes essentially the same steps in an accelerated fashion: submission of applications, interviews, submission of Rank Order Lists, and receipt of Match results. The process will take about a month from beginning to end, and is expected to fill the vast majority of positions that were left unfilled in Phase I.
2. When does Phase II of the Match begin?
Phase II of the Match begins immediately upon the completion of Phase I - i.e., on APPIC Phase I Match Day, Friday, February 16, 2024.
3. Who is eligible to participate in Phase II?
An applicant who is eligible to participate in the APPIC Match and has not yet obtained an internship position is eligible to participate in Phase II. This includes applicants who (a) did not register for or participate in Phase I, (b) withdrew from Phase I, (c) did not submit a Rank Order List in Phase I, or (d) did submit a Rank Order List but were unmatched in Phase I. An applicant who has accepted an internship position at a program that is not participating in the APPIC Match is NOT eligible to participate in either Phase of the Match.
Applicants who did not match in Phase I, withdrew from Phase I only, or didn't submit a Rank Order List for Phase I, are automatically reinstated as active for Phase II. Applicants who withdrew from both Phase I and Phase II but later decide to participate in Phase II must reinstate themselves for Phase II of the Match. For specific instructions regarding withdrawal or reinstatement, see http://www.natmatch.com/psychint - select "Applicants" and then select "Withdraw from the Match."
All internship positions that were included in Phase I of the Match and were not filled will be eligible to participate in Phase II. Additional positions that become available after Phase I of the Match, such as positions for which funding becomes assured after the Phase I Rank Order List deadline or newly created positions, may also be offered in Phase II of the Match.
4. How do I register for Phase II?
If you already registered for Phase I, you do not need to register again for Phase II. Your Match registration covers your participation in both Phases of the Match.
If you did not register during Phase I, you are permitted to register during Phase II. Please note that applicants are now REQUIRED to register for the Match prior to submitting an application to any internship site. Applicants receive a five-digit "Match Code Number" upon Match registration that must be included in their AAPIs.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You must be deemed eligible for internship and approved to participate in the Match prior to registering for the Match.
Please consult with your Director of Clinical Training (DCT) to confirm your eligibility before registering. The Match registration fee is NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE to future Matches.
Applicants may register for the APPIC Match by going to the National Matching Services (NMS) web site. You are not registered for the APPIC Match until you have completed the online Match registration process and have received your five-digit Match Code Number from NMS. Your Match Code Number must be included on your AAPI before submitting it to any internship site. Registrations that occur after December 31 must be explicitly authorized by the student's Director of Clinical Training.
5. What is the cost to participate in Phase II of the Match?
Match Registration Fee: An applicant's Match registration fee covers participation in both Phase I and Phase II of the Match.
AAPI Fee: For applicants who submitted one or more applications in Phase I, there are no fees to submit applications during Phase II. Applicants who did not submit any applications in Phase I will pay a $50 fee for the first application submitted in Phase II; subsequent applications in Phase II are free.
6. What is the timeline for Phase II?
Here is the timeline for Phase II of the 2024 APPIC Match:
|
Friday, February 16, 2024
9:00 am Eastern Time
|
List of programs with available positions is posted on NMS web site
Applicants may begin submitting applications via the AAPI Service
|
|
Thursday, February 22, 2024
11:59 pm Eastern Time
|
Deadline for submission of applications (some programs may continue to accept applications after this deadline)
|
|
Friday, February 23, 2024
9:00 am Eastern Time
|
Training Directors begin reviewing and downloading applications
|
|
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
11:59 pm Eastern Time
|
Phase II Rank Order List Deadline
|
|
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
|
APPIC Phase II Match Day
|
7. How do I know which internship programs are offering positions in Phase II?
At 9:00 am Eastern Time on Friday, February 16, 2024, a List of Participating Programs in Phase II will be posted on the National Matching Services web site. This list will be updated nightly and will include all of the programs that had unfilled positions from Phase I, as well as any programs that have been added to the Match after Phase I (identified by the words, "Added"). Programs that had unfilled positions in Phase I but are no longer being offered in Phase II are included but are crossed out and are identified by the label "Withdrawn."
The list is initially sorted by location (state or province, then city) but can be re-sorted on any column. The list may also be searched. Each entry will look something like this (please note that this example shows an expanded entry, including the Training Director name and contact information, which may be viewed by clicking on the "+" symbol to the left of the program name):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Training Site / Program(s) |
APPIC Directory |
Accreditation Status |
Location |
| |
|
|
|
|
| + |
Blooming Daisies Mental Health Center |
Link |
Accredited |
California-Anytown |
|
999901 - Pediatrics Withdrawn |
|
|
|
|
999902 - Neuropsychology [1 opening] |
|
|
|
|
999903 - Adolescent Internship [2 openings] Added |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training Director Jane Smith, Ph.D. |
|
|
|
|
E-mail Jane.Smith@BloomingDaisiesMHC.org |
|
|
|
|
Phone Number 222-222-2222 |
|
|
|
|
Address Blooming Daisies Mental Health Center
P.O. Box 10
Anytown, CA 99999 |
|
|
|
|
APPIC Member Status Provisional |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Since this list provides only very basic information about each program and its vacancy(ies), you will need to consult other sources, such as the APPIC Directory or other sources of information to find out more about these programs. You may click on the word "Link" in the "APPIC Directory" column to view the APPIC Directory information for that site.
If you discover that a site to which you previously applied has a position available in Phase II, it is perfectly acceptable to apply again. Some sites may actually prefer applicants who previously applied, even if they weren't previously offered an interview or matched to a position.
8. What are the characteristics of programs that will have unfilled positions in Phase II?
Of course, that varies from year to year. In 2023, a total of 679 positions were available in Phase II, with 70% of those positions accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Assocation (CPA). Complete statistics from Phase II of the 2023 APPIC Match may be found here.
If you are considering attending a non-accredited internship, you should carefully consider the potential risks in doing so. APPIC has developed a separate FAQ on this topic, available here.
Some programs may tell you that they are planning to apply (or have already applied) for initial accreditation, have a site visit scheduled, or are at some other point in the process. While a site may have the best of intentions, you should be aware that the application and/or approval processes for initial accreditation and/or APPIC membership may take far longer (even months or years longer) than a site anticipates. There is no guarantee that a program will ultimately achieve those goals or will achieve them in a timely manner. Thus, while a site in the midst of the initial application process may convey confidence that they will ultimately be successful, you should accept an internship offer from such a site only if you clearly understand the risks in doing so.
9. What do I need to do to get prepared for Phase II?
The first thing to do is consider your options carefully before submitting applications. You will have six full days (until Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 11:59pm Eastern) to submit applications, and internship Training Directors will NOT be able to see any applications that have been submitted during that period. Thus, there is not a "first come, first served" aspect to this part of the process, allowing you to approach it in a thoughtful and reasoned manner.
Most applicants will be best served by taking the first day or two to consult with their Director of Clinical Training, advisor, other faculty members, family, and friends about possible options. Remember that faculty can play a key role in assisting you in this process. In particular, spend some time considering and discussing the following questions:
- Am I willing to consider a broader range of internship options than I was before (e.g., different training emphases, different settings, other geographical locations)?
- Am I willing to accept a non-APA or non-CPA accredited internship position (if permitted to do so by my doctoral faculty)? Discuss the ramifications of accepting such a position with your advisor and other faculty members, and familiarize yourself with the licensing and future employment issues and risks that may be related to this decision. Click here for more information about this important issue.
- Are there ways in which my application and/or interviewing skills can be improved? (Applicants who received few interviews in Phase I may wish to request feedback from faculty on their essays and cover letters, while those who received a number of interviews but remained unmatched may wish to practice their interviewing skills).
Many unmatched applicants from previous years have strongly emphasized the importance of considering these issues in advance of the application process.
10. How do I prepare my AAPI application for Phase II?
The application that you used in Phase I will be available to you in the AAPI service for Phase II. The "core" application remains locked and unchangeable; however, you may choose to use the same vitas and essays or you may upload new ones. You may also choose to use the same letters of recommendation, or you may ask one or more or your letter-writers to upload new ones (see the important note about this possibility, below). There is no need to submit new transcripts.
Here are a few additional things to know about the "core" portion of your application (the locked and unchangeable portion). First, Training Directors understand that the experiences and hours reflected on your Phase II AAPI reflect activities only through October 1, 2023 (same as Phase I). Second, if you wish to correct or addend the information shown in the "core" portion of your application (e.g., correct an error, clarify an experience, provide information about additional experience attained), you may include such information in the cover letters that you submit during Phase II.
In particular, please remember Match Policy #4b which states that "Applicants and their doctoral programs must immediately notify all internship sites to which the applicant has applied in the event of any substantive change to: (i) the applicant's standing with their doctoral program (e.g., disciplinary action, being put on probation, failing a practicum); (ii) the information provided in the application materials (e.g., professional conduct items), or (iii) the applicant's eligibility to apply to or attend an internship."
Here are three VERY IMPORTANT aspects of how you complete your applications for Phase II:
- During Phase II, applicants are expected to tailor their cover letters to each site to which they are applying, describing the fit between the site and the applicant and highlighting the applicant's interests, background, and experience, just as they did during Phase I.
- You should not submit any supplemental materials (assessment reports or treatment summaries) to sites when you initially apply in Phase II, even if a site's application instructions from Phase I instruct you to do so. Sites have been told that that applications that students originally submit in Phase II will not include any supplemental materials.
However, after reviewing applications, sites may then ask selected applicants to provide an assessment report or treatment summary. Students who receive such requests should upload the requested item(s) to the AAPI service and then notify the site via a brief e-mail that they have done so.
- The recommendation letter process in Phase II is identical to Phase I: For each selected internship site in Phase II, enter the names and emails for the recommenders from whom you would like recommendation letters uploaded. Given that most letter writers will have initiated the "re-use" feature in Phase I, their letters will automatically be submitted to the site as soon as you enter their name and e-mail address into the AAPI. Letter writers typically do not modify their recommendation letters for Phase II; however, in the unusual circumstance when a referee wants to update a letter for Phase II, it is critical that they log into the "LettersbyLiasion" portal and disengage the "re-use" feature BEFORE you input their name and e-mail address into the AAPI portal. They will have the option to re-initiate the "re-use" feature once they have uploaded their modified letter for Phase II such that it can automatically be attached to the remainder of your Phase II site selections.
For students who did not create an application in the AAPI service for Phase I: You must create a new application in the AAPI service for Phase II. You should begin this process as early as possible, as it can take a considerable amount of time to put together a complete application. This is definitely not something that you want to undertake at the last minute.
11. Is there a way for programs that are participating in Phase II to communicate with applicants?
Yes. APPIC will operate a "late-breaking news" service during the application period that will allow programs participating in Phase II to make announcements to applicants who are participating in Phase II. These announcements may include such things as special application requirements, selection criteria, information about interview requirements, etc. They may also include information about positions that are no longer available (e.g., due to lost or reallocated funding) or new positions that became available after Phase I (e.g., due to new or stable funding).
If you participated in Phase I, you may recall that such "late-breaking news" announcements were distributed via the MATCH-NEWS e-mail list. For Phase II, those announcements will NOT come via e-mail, and will instead be posted to a "late-breaking news page" on the APPIC web site.
The first set of "late-breaking" news items will be posted no later than Saturday, February 17, 2024, at noon Eastern time. Updates will be made to this page as they are received from internship programs. Since you will have six days (February 16 to 22, 2024, at 11:59pm Eastern) to submit applications in Phase II, we strongly recommend waiting for the initial posting of news items before submitting any applications, just in case the sites in which you are interested post late-breaking announcements.
If you have questions about an internship program or its application requirements, you may contact the site directly with your inquiries.
12. How do I submit applications for Phase II?
Applicants must use the AAPI service in order to submit their applications in Phase II. There is no charge to submit applications during Phase II (exception: applicants who did not submit an application in Phase I will pay a one-time $50 fee for the first application submitted in Phase II; subsequent application submissions will be free).
Please note that you will NOT receive an e-mailed confirmation of your application submissions in Phase II (as you received in Phase I); however, you will receive an on-screen confirmation after successful submission.
13. Am I permitted to apply to any internship program that is offering positions in Phase II of the Match?
Yes, you may apply to any program that is offering positions in Phase II. However, be sure to first do your homework to ensure that you are qualified for the programs to which you apply.
If a site to which you applied in Phase I has an available position in Phase II, it is perfectly acceptable for you to submit an application to that site during Phase II.
14. How many applications should I submit during Phase II?
There is really no "right answer" to this question.
In 2023, applicants who participated in Phase II submitted an average of 12.3 applications (SD = 7.6, Median = 12).
15. How does the application "deadline" in Phase II work?
APPIC has established a uniform deadline for submitting applications in Phase II: Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 11:59 pm EASTERN TIME. This deadline applies to ALL internship sites that participate in Phase II. At that time, the AAPI system will automatically shut off the receipt of applications for ALL sites. Thus, you should be sure that you have all of your applications submitted by the deadline. We strongly suggest all applications be submitted no later than a day before the deadline, just in case you experience technical or other difficulties.
Internship programs will not be allowed to access or view any submitted applications, nor will they know who has applied, until after the deadline has passed.
Each internship program has the option of continuing to accept applications beyond this deadline; some will choose to do so but most will not. Sites that choose to extend the receipt of applications beyond the deadline will be reminded to submit a "late-breaking news" item (see FAQ #11, above) to inform applicants of the extension.
16. Will internship programs notify me that they have received my applications in Phase II?
Probably not. Many sites will receive a large number of applications, and due to the accelerated nature of the process they will not have time to notify you that your application has been received. Instead, you may use the AAPI service to verify that your application was properly submitted.
Please don't assume that the lack of acknowledgement means that they haven't received your application or that they are being rude or discourteous. It can be very frustrating not to receive acknowledgements of your applications or of your status with sites, but please understand that sites are often overwhelmed by the volume of work required to review applications and conduct interviews.
17. Will internship programs let me know whether or not I received an interview in Phase II?
The Match Policy that requires sites to notify you as to whether or not you received an interview is NOT applicable to Phase II. Thus, in most cases, you will only hear back from a site if they are interested in your application (e.g., to set up an interview, to request more information, etc.).
While it is permissible to contact sites to inquire about the status of your application, we strongly encourage you to be judicious in these contacts, as sites are dealing with a large number of applicants and inquiries.
Interviews will generally be conducted via Zoom, telephone, or similar modality. Sites have been asked not to request on-site interviews from applicants who are not in the program's local geographic area.
18. What do I do once I have submitted my applications in Phase II?
Once your applications are submitted, the best thing to do is to stay relatively accessible in the event that sites contact you for an interview. This doesn't mean that you need to clear your entire schedule! Instead, check your voice mail and e-mail often, and return calls and e-mails promptly. Beware of "spam" or "junk mail" filters that can cause you to miss important e-mails from sites.
19. Are there any special considerations when submitting my Rank Order List in Phase II?
In general, the rules for constructing your Rank Order List are the same as for Phase I (see here for details).
One note: In Phase II, applicants may wonder whether or not to rank sites to which they submitted an application but were never contacted. While it is certainly acceptable to rank such sites, it is probably not necessary to do so, as sites will rarely rank applicants whom they haven't contacted or interviewed.
20. Is there anything different about how the results are released in Phase II?
The Match results are released in the same manner as Phase I. Information on positions that may still be available after Phase II will be provided via the APPIC Post-Match Vacancy Service.
21. What is the likelihood of my getting matched in Phase II?
This depends on the numbers of applicants and internship positions that participate in Phase II each year. In Phase II of the 2023 Match, there was a relative balance between applicants an positions, as 636 applicants were eligible to apply for the 679 positions in Phase II.
22. What happens if I get matched in Phase II?
Congratulations! Similar to Phase I, matched applicants and their new Training Directors are encouraged to contact each other after 9:00am Eastern on APPIC Phase II Match Day. Training Directors are also required to send appointment agreements to applicants no later than seven days after the Match results are released.
23. What are my options if I DON'T match in Phase II?
Once Phase II concludes, APPIC will begin operating a Post-Match Vacancy Service in order to inform applicants of vacant positions. This service will operate throughout the Spring and most of the Summer.