Sites will vary in their response to a “yes” on the professional conduct part of the application. Some sites though, will truly value your explanation. Be sure it is well written and detailed.

Sites do not expect you to have every competency and experience, but they do expect you to be hungry to learn new things and to be open to new experiences. Sites look at the breadth of the intern applicant’s professional and life experiences and the extent to which those experiences fit with what the site offers.

• “A variety is going to be key. I don’t think there’s going to be any exclusionary sites.”
• “We are looking for someone who comes in believing two things: 1) that you have a lot to offer and 2) that you have a lot to learn.”
• “I think how our training site fits into your long-term goals is just as relevant, if not sometimes more so, than what experiences you’ve had thus far.”

What do you look for in an intern applicant’s reference letters?

• “No major red flags. I am also looking for people that previous supervisors found teachable–not just open to hearing feedback, but implementing it.”
• “Reference letters stand out when the person is described as building rapport with clients, faculty and fellow students/colleagues. Also, the applicant stands out if the supervisor/professors indicate the person can work independently, take good feedback and use it, ask good questions and has a desire to learn.”
• “I look for strong endorsements by recommenders and review specific limitations they describe for the applicant’s professionalism, maturity, clinical skills, or ability to work well with others. I prefer to read specific examples of the positive attributes referenced by a recommender and judge that to be a stronger recommendation than more vague letters.”
• “I am looking for your reviewers confidence that you can perform well in a medical setting or the ability to adapt to new settings, evidence of self-directed learning, and a growth trajectory across a rotation.”
• “I’m looking for information about how the intern handles feedback, what their supervisors and references have to say about them and their work ethic. I’m looking for more personalized feedback and not just a generic reference letter. I also want to see that they highly recommend them and would want to work with them.”
• “Referencing the prospective interns character and ethical strengths, how they relate clients and fellow professionals (staff included) is helpful. Mention of strengths and areas for growth are helpful. I prefer brevity vs. a lengthy letter.”
• “Information relevant to their future goals, experience, strengths, and growth edges. We also look for insight into the applicant’s professionalism, interpersonal style, and openness to supervision.”

What do you look for in an intern applicant’s personal essay?

• “We look for insight into the applicant choosing this career path and anything that might relate to a passion for community mental health or serving the underserved. The personal essay is also an opportunity to be vulnerable yet professional, which is a balance we value and see consistently in successful interns. The essay is also an opportunity for us to connect with the applicant and get to know them on a more personal level.”
• “And most importantly, let your personal essay be genuine; it’s your chance to connect and show who you are beyond the application.”

“Self-Awareness and Reflective Capacity

• Thoughtful reflection on strengths, growth edges, values, and any pivotal moments in their life or training.
• Highly ranked essays often share authentic, non-generic self-reflections that show depth, not just polish.

Clinical Experience with Meaningful Integration

• Not just a list of what they’ve done, but a reflection on what they’ve learned from it.
• Ideally, their experiences and reflections match (or complement) the site’s values.

Strong Writing

• Clear, concise, and professional tone.
• Proper grammar, punctuation, and organization.
• Avoid overuse of jargon or overly academic language—we want authenticity and clarity.

Personal Yet Professional

• Share personal experiences when relevant, especially if they shaped their clinical identity.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries—do not overshare.

Growth Orientation

• Acknowledge areas of continued development in a constructive way.
• Strong applicants are aware of what they need from supervision and training—not just what they offer.”

Applicants to all regions are required to have completed a combined 300 Intervention and Assessment hours.

What do you look for in an intern applicant’s cover letter?

• “I’m looking for a little bit of personality, and an interest in working in a primary care setting with underserved populations.”
• “Applicants’ cover letters which include how their previous experiences have prepared, and made them a great fit for our site are appreciated.”
• “Professionalism, evident through appropriate grammar and minimal typos. Ability to describe why they are interested and what experience they bring to my site and specific rotation.”
• “I look for mention of an interest area that aligns with our setting and the populations we serve. The cover letter also provides my first impression of the applicant’s writing, so I pay attention to their level of professionalism and whether their materials appear to have been carefully proofread before submission.”
• “The potential intern outlining their training goals and how our site will be able to match the goals.”
• “It is vital to create a story in your cover letter that is coherent (makes sense to any person reading it) for why you are applying to this particular site. You probably have more experiences that can explain your interest than you realize. It is also important to convey your excitement about the internship and why specifically you are excited. “
• “If there are areas you don’t have expertise but are really interested in, mention those interests in your cover letter so the site knows you’d be excited for experience in those areas.”

What do you look for in an intern applicant’s resume?

• “Resumes that demonstrate a consistent interest and pursuit of psychology. Either previous work, volunteer experiences, or engagement in academic services to promote psychological growth.”
• “I look for consistency across their application in write-up of past practicum and clinical experiences. I assess for any gaps in dates for academic or clinical experiences. I look at extracurricular or employment activities that may bolster their application and make them more competitive for my rotation.”

NPTC sites generally rate this section lower in importance on the application, but do expect the applicant to address their desire to work with populations they haven’t worked with before in other areas of their application. For example, suppose an applicant has only worked with adults but is applying to a child rotation. In that case, the sites expect the applicant to address that discrepancy of experience and the desire to develop in that area, where applicable, in their application.

• “We are looking for someone who comes in believing two things: 1) that you have a lot to offer and 2) that you have a lot to learn.”
• “I think how our training site fits into your long-term goals is just as relevant, if not sometimes more so, than what experiences you’ve had thus far.”

What do you look for in an intern applicant’s example report?

• “I look to see if they asked relevant questions in the interview, selected assessment materials that targeted the referral question and if they made an effort to integrate the findings of each source of data into the final report. (We can teach them how to do those things and make good recommendations based on it, but it is good if they have the specific skills for interviewing and test selection.)”
• “Whether they are using an organized, evidence-based assessment strategy, including use of measures familiar to those used at our site. Strong reports demonstrate their ability to synthesize data coherently, articulate a clear diagnostic conceptualization, and provide practical, person-centered recommendations understandable to both clients and interdisciplinary team members.”

This section of the application is generally rated lower amongst NPTC sites. Some sites, however, do place more emphasis on assessment in their training. If it is the interest of the applicant to gain more assessment experience, it is beneficial for them to mention their desire where applicable in their application materials. 

• “I think having a general set of basic skills is more important than being great at any one thing: clinical interviewing, case conceptualization, diagnoses, CBT/ACT/DBT/Behavioral skills, awareness of screeners, and some assessment knowledge to read and interpret results, and most importantly a self-reflection and awareness of what your strengths and weaknesses are.”

• “My favorite intern is the one who has an above average skills set with a variety of experiences who is anxious to learn and can incorporate feedback.”
• “I want adaptable, coachable interns who can step into new settings, take feedback without defensiveness, and connect theoretical modalities and mechanisms to targeted interventions. You should be emotionally willing to enter same-day visits with minimal background, tolerate uncertainty, and work the problem with the team to find the next effective step.”
• “I look at their clinical and assessment hours, the kinds of assessments they’ve done, and whether assessment seems to be an area of genuine interest. I pay attention to the overall quality of their materials and typos always catch my eye. I also consider whether their interests align with the populations we serve and if they seem like they’d be a good fit overall.”
• “Completion or near-completion of dissertation prior to starting internship is a plus! If applicant is applying to my site from far away, it helps to outline in cover letter any geographical or personal reasons why you may be interested in relocating.”

• “Do not wait for the hour before the deadline to submit your materials.”
• “Learn about the organization to which you are applying and determine what it is about that organization that makes you a good fit.”
• “Ask sites about their culture and ask for examples of how they promote intern and employee well-being.”
• “Do not over-share about your own personal mental health diagnoses, treatment, medication in your essays; it can easily be misconstrued and make reviewers question your boundaries. It is important to stand out with your essays in personal or impactful ways, while also not appearing too kitschy. Let your story stand out without using too obscure of metaphors to overshadow your message.”
• “Dont overthink it, you have already done the work, now it is time to shine. Be creative how you share your experiences, try to individualize materials to sites and advocate for yourself to indicate why you are the best choice. Lastly, if you know you have a growth edge which is an area offered at a site, speak to that. Speak to your desire to grow and develop in that area throughout the internship year. “