So, I’ve been diving deep into this whole psychology internship thing at Cal State Fullerton, and let me tell you, it’s been a journey. I figured I’d share my experience, start to finish, in case anyone else is wading through the same waters.
First off, I started by hitting up the Career Center’s website. I had heard they had resources for CSUF students looking for internships. I scrolled through a bunch of pages, trying to find anything related to psychology. It felt a bit like a maze at first, but I managed to find a section dedicated to internships.
Then, I stumbled upon something called Titan Connection. Apparently, it’s this special portal thingy where they list pre-approved internship sites. Sounded promising! I logged in, created a profile, and started browsing. Honestly, it was pretty overwhelming. There were so many options, but I kept my eye on the prize – a psychology-related internship.
I also attended a virtual workshop about the PSYC fieldwork requirements. It was actually pretty helpful. They walked us through the whole CICE placement process, which, let me tell you, is a whole thing on its own. But after that workshop, I felt a bit more confident about navigating the system.
During my search, I learned that Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at CSUF is a big deal. They’re open most days and even have a 24/7 crisis hotline. I made a mental note of that, just in case. I even checked out their Instagram page – they post some useful stuff there.
I also found out that there are tons of opportunities to get involved in the psychology department itself – student organizations, research with professors, you name it. I signed up for a couple of student organizations, thinking it might help me network and maybe even find some leads for internships.
Oh, and I also looked into scholarships. There’s a whole list of them specifically for psychology majors. I applied to a few, even though it was a long shot. Hey, every little bit helps, right?
While doing all this, I kept in touch with the Psychology Advisement Team. They have both in-person and virtual sessions, which is super convenient. I booked a couple of virtual meetings to ask some specific questions about internships. They were really helpful and pointed me to some resources I hadn’t even considered.
One advisor advised me to take my internship during a semester when my course load is lighter. That way, I’d have enough time to actually do the internship without getting completely swamped. It made sense, so I decided to aim for a summer internship.
After all that, I finally started applying for internships through Titan Connection. I tailored my resume and cover letter for each application, trying to highlight the skills and experiences that were most relevant. It was a bit of a grind, but I eventually landed a few interviews.
Getting the Internship
After going through the whole application process and a few nerve-wracking interviews, I finally got an offer for a psychology internship! It was such a relief, and I was so excited to finally start getting some hands-on experience.
So, yeah, that’s my story of navigating the psychology internship process at CSUF. It’s definitely a lot of work, but if you use all the resources available and stay persistent, it’s totally doable. Good luck to anyone else out there trying to find their perfect internship!
