 |
AAPI ONLINE
APPIC Application for Psychology Internships
On July 9, 2009, APPIC will launch the AAPI Online -- a dramatically improved approach to submitting and reviewing psychology internship applications via the internet. This page provides news and information about the AAPI Online, along with important information for applicants, academic DCTs, internship Training Directors, and individuals who write letters of reference.
You may quick-jump to the following topics on this page:
NEWS
- A section on applicant fees has been added to this page. (Updated June 16, 2009)
- The AAPI Online will launch on July 9, 2009. Beginning on this date, applicants may create and enter information into their online application (via the "Applicant Portal"), academic DCTs may verify their students' eligibility (via the "DCT Portal"), and letter-writers may upload letters of recommendation (via the "Reference Portal"). The AAPI Online "Selection Portal" (which provides access for internship programs) is scheduled to launch in August. (Updated June 9, 2009)
- It should be noted that the content of the AAPI is substantially the same as last year. While there have been a few changes to the content, students who are eager to get started in tabulating their information can use last year's version of the AAPI as a guideline (see below). When the AAPI Online launches, you will see that there have been substantial changes to how the information is organized, but much of the content will be the same or similar. Regarding essays, there will be NO CHANGES to the four essay questions (autobiographical statement, theoretical orientation, diversity, and research interests) as compared to last year. (Updated June 9, 2009)
ACCESS THE AAPI ONLINE
The AAPI Online has not yet launched. Please return to this page on or after the date indicated in order to access the AAPI Online:
- APPLICANT PORTAL - Available July 9, 2009
- DCT PORTAL for Directors of Clinical Training of doctoral programs - Available July 9, 2009
- REFERENCE PORTAL for individuals providing letters of reference - Available July 9, 2009
- SELECTION PORTAL for internship programs - Available August, 2009
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The launch of the AAPI Online is the culmination of a multi-year effort by APPIC to make the internship application process more cost-effective and efficient for applicants, doctoral programs, and internship sites. The AAPI Online has been a collaborative process with APPIC’s partner, Liaison International, a company that specializes in Centralized Application Services. The content of the AAPI was created with input from APPIC-Member internship programs, APPIC-Subscriber doctoral programs, and doctoral psychology graduate students.
APPIC is eager to hear your feedback and comments about the AAPI Online, particularly in our pilot year. Please direct your feedback, comments, and concerns to Dr. Karen Taylor at taylor.45@osu.edu .
The AAPI Online will be used for the upcoming 2009-2010 selection cycle (for internships taking place in 2010-2011). Here is an overview of the process:
- Beginning on July 9, 2009, applicants will be able to access the AAPI Online via the "Applicant Portal," which means that they will use their internet browser to create an account, enter information into the various fields of the AAPI, and ultimately submit their completed application to internship sites. Applicants may create multiple versions of cover letters and essays (e.g., in order to tailor these items to different sites and/or settings) if they wish to do so.
- Once an applicant completes the portions of the AAPI that need to be verified by her/his Director of Clinical Training (e.g., total hours, dissertation progress, etc.), the student will generate an electronic request to her/his DCT. The DCT will then either approve the information (via an electronic signature) or ask the student to make changes, and provides additional information as appropriate. (This process replaces the previous "AAPI Part II" which is now obsolete).
- The applicant will also request letters of recommendation by generating electronic requests (via e-mail) to individuals of her/his choosing. These individuals will upload their letters directly into the AAPI Online. While the applicant will not be permitted to view the content of the letter, she/he may attach it to as many or as few applications as desired. In other words, the applicant can decide which letters of reference are submitted to each internship site.
- The applicant also submits one official copy of all graduate transcript(s) directly to the application service via regular mail. These transcripts are verified as official, scanned into the system, and attached to each application that is submitted by the applicant.
- Once an applicant has completed all aspects of the application, she/he chooses the "designated" sites to which the application is submitted electronically. The applicant has the flexibility to decide which cover letter, essays, and letters of recommendation are submitted with each application.
- Once submitted, the application is instantly available to the internship site for review. Training Directors and selection committees may review applications online, sort and selection applications based on various criteria, and download application information in various formats.
The AAPI Online will be available to all APPIC-member internship programs as well as those non-member programs that register to participate in the APPIC Match. Virtually all APPIC-member internship programs will use the AAPI Online; however, you should check the APPIC Directory
OnLine (or with each internship program directly) for details on programs'
specific application procedures and deadlines.
For more information about the development of the AAPI Online, including demonstrations and questions and answers, please click here.
APPLICANT FEES
In establishing the fees for the AAPI Online, the APPIC Board was clear in its mission to ensure that the cost of the application process would not increase for applicants. A 2009 APPIC survey of applicants found that the average student paid $256 to submit their paper-based application materials -- including printing and mailing costs (often using overnight delivery services), costs of obtaining multiple official copies of transcripts, etc.
The fees to applicants for use of the AAPI Online will be $35 to submit the first application and $10 for each additional application (up to a total of 15 applications; see next paragraph for costs beyond 15 applications). Since the average applicant submits between 14 and 15 applications (per the 2009 survey), submitting a similar number via the AAPI Online will cost $175, plus the cost of obtaining one official transcript for the AAPI Online service. In addition to the financial savings, we believe that applicants and programs will benefit greatly from the conveniences and features of the service. Plus, we estimate that it will save more than two million pieces of paper that typically get printed and mailed each year.
Data from the APPIC Match consistently show that submitting more than 15 applications does not improve applicants' chances of being matched, and APPIC recommends that most applicants should submit no more than 15 applications. The fee structure has been designed to provide lower costs to students who stay within this guideline. For students who exceed this recommendation, the 16th through 20th application will cost $25 per application, the 21st through 25th application will cost $35 each, and each application over 25 will cost $50 each.
There is no cost to create and develop an application using the AAPI Online service. Fees are charged to applicants only when their applications are actually submitted to internship sites.
It should also be noted that the fees for the AAPI Online are dramatically lower than the fees for similar services provided by other professional organizations. Here are some examples of other fee structures, including APPIC:
- APPIC: $35 for first application, $10 per additional. Cost per application increases after first 15. Total for 15 = $175.
- CASPA (Physician Assistants): $170 for first application, variable amount per additional. Total for 15 = $510.
- PASS (American Dental Education Association): $175 for first application, $45 per additional. Total for 15 = $810.
- CSDCAS (Communication Sciences): $100 for first application, $45 per additional. Total for 15 = $730.
- PTCAS (Physical Therapists): $120 for first application, $30 per additional. Total for 15 = $540.
PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE AAPI
Below is the previous version of the AAPI, which was used during the 2008-09 selection cycle. It is provided here only for reference purposes and for applicants who continue to seek internship positions for the 2009-2010 training year via the Clearinghouse. These versions are obsolete and should not be used for the 2009-2010 selection process.
Applicants who use Word Perfect and other word processors may instead need
to use the "rich text format" version of the AAPI. It is likely there may be some
formatting problems.
NEED HELP?
For questions about the implementation or use of the AAPI Online, please contact Dr. Karen Taylor at taylor.45@osu.edu.
16
June 2009
| |
