How does the applicant describe applying cultural competency in internship?

• A. Gained through experiences with minority and low-SES students in LA, with plans to apply in internship.
• B. Cultural competency is not needed in school psychology.
• C. Cultural competency comes naturally and doesn't require effort.
• D. Only theoretical knowledge, no real-world experience.

Answer: (A)

Understanding cultural competency in school psychology means showing how you’ve actually applied awareness of diverse backgrounds in real settings and planning to continue that work in internship. This description fits best because it highlights hands-on experience with minority and low-SES students in Los Angeles and explicitly plans to bring those lessons into internship practice. It shows you’ve engaged with communities different from your own, recognized how culture affects learning and access, and intend to adapt assessment and intervention approaches accordingly. This kind of evidence—real-world experience plus a concrete plan to apply it—demonstrates how cultural competency is put into action.

Cultural competency isn’t something you simply have or don’t; it requires ongoing effort, reflection, and growth, not just natural ease. Statements that dismiss this need, or claim that only theory matters without real-world experience, don’t reflect how internship work operates, where you must respond to students’ lived experiences.