Hi all,
I'm primarily a lurker here, but I felt compelled to say something after reading the hideous stats yet again, and hearing how many people are feeling utterly defeated right now.
I understand none of this may ring true right now, but I have to say it all the same.
I didn't match last year... the only one in my cohort. Perhaps because no one in the program had really sat down and told us about the very real possibility of not matching, we had all been incredibly open in the department about our applications, interviews, etc-- and so I had to go through the humbling process over and over and over again of telling people that, no, I didn't match, and no, I didn't know what I was going to do. I swear, I've never been an egotistical person, but that process hammered any last bit of self-assurance out of me. This happened despite the fact that I was more educated on the whole process than the DCT (he was just DCT for a single year while our DCT was on medical leave)-- people were all joking about how I would be the one they would have to thank when they matched.
I can't even explain how low I felt. It is so hard to have dedicated your entire life to a pursuit, one that requires putting off every milestone, being broke all through your 20s, one that is supposedly for a great good-- and to feel a helpless failure. I felt I was 16 years old again and just beat myself up in my head. I felt like the match imbalance was just my excuse.
But then two things happened-- one is, I realized how many great people had not matched, both in years before and that year. One of the women in my program went unmatched one year, and got a place at Harvard the next year. These people who didn't match were not in devastating dead end careers-- they were doing great, and not feeling as though an extra year had really made a difference in the grand scheme of things.
I also found a really great opportunity. My partner had already accepted at a grad school, thinking that I would be away for the year anyways, then hopefully be able to join him. We initially thought we would have to be apart for two years, with me staying in the city I did my PhD. But then, on a fluke, I started googling, and found a phone number for an intriguing sounding practicum. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I called the number, and spoke to a woman who said the deadline had passed, but that they weren't that thrilled with the applicants. We spoke for a while; she told me I sounded like a good fit, and while they would probably have to accept one of the students who had applied before the official deadline, I should send in an application just in case. Long and short is that I got the position, and it has been an amazing experience. It also addressed one of the weak spots in my application. I've been able to spend the year getting tons of therapy hours, living with my partner, and writing my dissertation.
Applying for internships was still hugely stressful-- I felt like it took me back to a place of feeling hopeless and worthless again, and it was worse because I hadn't told anyone in my new practicum that I didn't match. But I did it, got more interviews, including at places that didn't offer me interviews the time before. And I got matched at one of my top places from the year before. A friend of mine later told me that they'd told her how happy they were that I'd reapplied, as I seemed much more confident (which I couldn't believe) and as a better fit than the year before.
Ok... yeah, this was long winded. I guess I just want to say that right now really, really sucks. The system is a mess and there is no excuse for it, and I feel as though people who match their first time around really don't understand the true depth of this problem. I still spent all my savings on the first round of interviews, and had to go into debt to do it a second time. But I feel like I was still able to make the best out of a bad situation, and end up okay in the end. It's just a year, I promise, and you will be able to get back on your feet. Right now, just be nice to yourself
), but many programs require the completion of an accredited internship. This means that many trainees are competing with 936 others for 72 sites. I think that the imbalance culprits (programs pumping insane numbers of applicants into the pool year after year) should be restricted to unaccredited sites from the beginning. Or simply put, programs should comply to a max class size (e.g. no more than 10-12 applicants from their program each year) and should have to demonstrate a solid match rate (> 80%) in order for their trainees to apply to APA accredited sites. Or better yet, de-accredit the culprits. So says this panicked trainee.
and am sooo relieved, but my excitement is tempered by empathy for those who did not. 
WE SHALL BE HEARD!!!! 
