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Tyler,
Unless you have some severe social skills deficits, be yourself. These folks have seen a lot of applicants over the years and they can spot disenginuity in a second. Think about the reasons your friends like you (e.g., wit, good listener, etc.) and try to highlight those attributes in the interview. If a program doesn't want you for who you are, you don't want to be in their program.
Example: When I applied for clinical internship I read in a guidebook, "Don't accept coffee if offered because it's too much to keep track of, blah, blah, blah.". Bullshit. If I want a cup of coffee and someone offers me a cup of coffee I'm going to accept the offer. If someone doesn't want to work with me because they ask me if I want coffee and I say yes, I sure as hell don't want to work with them.
Try to stand out. If they ask about hobbies, tell them about your obsession with SAAB vehicles or other things that are unique about you. No need to go into freakish detail about bizarre fetishes-- just give them enough to know you're a person with a life outside of academics. I wrote in an autobiographical essay that I grew up in the same hometown as Brad Pitt and Bob Barker. When I saw the interviewer a year later, she still remembered that detail. Read a dozen autobiogrpahical essays and you'll realize it's not difficult to stand out.
Another thing to remember: you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you. Go in with questions specifically about the program. Don't ask questions like, "What are your program's strengths?" You could ask that of any program. Ask questions like, "I noticed in the materials that the program emphasizes x. How will x influence the training I receive?".
If you have questions about specific programs or Clinical Psychology training more generally, I might be able to help you out. You can contact me backchannel at mccle011@mc.duke.edu
Good luck!
Joe
'02 9-3 SE
posted by 24.25.1...
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