peachypie

When you are in an interview for 30 minutes with a prof you are not going to be discussing funding. Here is how it generally goes: "so tell me about what you have been doing?".... this is where you give your elevator speech. Really you should have this stuff down to a science by the end of your interviews. You'll have a quick 1 minute elevator speech that you exchange with anyone you are talking to (i.e. grad student who picks you up from airport, prof at your table for lunch) basically its a 1 minute quick summary of your interest and what you have bee doing. You should have about a 5 minute version that goes into more depth this is the one you'll likely use in your interviews. Now you can go into more details. If you competed for and got funding this is the time to mention it. You give them the meat of your summary and after they listen they'll ask you follow up questions. Typically they want to know about what you did, about the research...they'll want to make sure you can explain what you have been doing to make sure your SOP that says you worked on xyz is supported by what you know about xyz. If they want to know more about funding and your situation they'll ask you. I would mention it in your little speech as "I applied for and was awarded funding from blah blah to work on this." Use it as an introduction, make sure to say things like AWARDED and APPLIED. these are buzz words essentially that says 'hey I applied for something and beat others out" it shows that you didn't just receive something that they give everyone but you had to compete. Some people may want to know more, others won't. That is why you have a summary that gives them information to follow up more with.

Um, definitely do it. you get to put it on your CV, a lot of other grad students don't get to put it on a CV. It shows you can put together a short presentation, also shows you were accepted to present something, gives you experience. Posters are pretty laid back, even at big conferences. I did a talk at a big conference and that is a bit bigger of a deal. I'd do a poster in a heratbeat. Often it is a great time to talk to other people in the field and you hear/learn interesting things no one is publishing. Presentations are more removed, less interaction with your field except for an abbreviated Q&A at the end as well as if they come snag you after your talk. If you can make the trip, I'd highly encourage you to do a poster. these will be something you do frequently in the future, so why not get started now.

No problem, blinkchik....I'm happy to help out, feel free to pm me if you have any further questions. I'm on break now so I've got way more free time to help and I know I had a lot of questions and its good to hear from those people who did this already. No one wants to head into their top pick not knowing anything and having that be the first interview experience they get and feel terrified. We've all been there so at least this information I've accumulated isn't going to waste!

If you can make it...and it is a school of importance to you...you should make every effort to make it to the first interview weekend. Adcoms will sometimes extend invites between weekends, the top picks are offered the first round for a reason, they want to get you before someone else does. I can't tell based on your post if you already got an invite from UCSF....if you haven't I'd strongly consider taking the Johns Hopkins first weekend. I think UCSF has been inviting already? Did John Hopkins give you a "give response by date?" If they did then you can wait, if not then I'd try to make the decision before the holidays this week. You can always reach out to UCsF and express your interest in them to see if they can let you know if/when invites will be sent out so you know how long to wait before you give a response to your other programs. They may tell you then that all invites are out or when the remaining ones should go out. Hopkins is a great school so I wouldn't string them along too long if you are waiting for a UCsF invite that MAY never come. Best of luck.

Interviewing does get to be tiresome, and after a few weeks of if it you will be wondering why did I apply to so many schools. that being said, my top choice that i had wanted to go gave me an invite prior to my finishing my interview cycle (but obviously after i had accepted all these interviews).. I still went because as your PI said, going there and visiting can give you a drastic change in your opinion, this is also why i waited to finish my interviews to select my school on the off chance that the last one somehow blew me away...which who knows, it could! I also felt it was only fair to go while still having not made up my mind.. i would recommend that if you think you can make it, go. One of the schools I interviewed at that i didn't think i would love THAT much, I started to really like. I will most certainly consider this place for a postdoc...which when i struggled to tell them I was going to another school they also reached out and said, we'd love to have you in the future. Now I would NEVER have had this idea in place had I not gone to this interview. You also get a chance to network, see what other places are doing, and research...remember you are going to be a graduate student now...your whole life is going to be devoted to learning and researching! 7 will be a lot to do, I think 5 will be plenty, but if you think you can make it and there is a chance you'd go to one of them...i'd encourage you to go if you can make it. If you feel you've got all your top 5 already and they have the best focus of research and places you'd like to be...then I'd say skip it. I think you'll get into one of the five you are currently scheduled to go to. it is more of what you can handle and how serious you are about these others. I'll also caution that at some point you will ask yourself....what if i had gone to such and such place. Its going to happen I think everyone so far in grad school has at one point thought about what if they picked their second choice school or what if they had chosen to go to this interview that they turned down. Would it be different. This is why its important to pick a place you are really happy with. I've thought about that second choice every so often, but quickly say...no this is my place, and trust me I'm elated at the school I am attending and wouldn't change it for the world at this point. But....you will in at least a brief moment wonder what if.... If you see yourself being bothered that you never interviewed at one of these places, then do it now... My one regret from applying was not going for the top top schools, i had no idea what my chances were so I applied to solid programs but not like Harvard or Stanford...in retrospect I should have at least threw my hat in the ring to SeE...Again though, I love my school....I think it is the school for me. And as long as you get the one that feels like its yours...and you'll know....thats the most important interview to go to! It only takes the one. Best of luck!

it is really hard to guess this number if not nearly impossible without being privy to everything in the department as well as everyone that applied. Here are some things to consider: Funding, previous year's invite/accept ratios...if they typically invite 10 and get 5 and the want 6 they'll offer to 12. Now sometimes that can change and they extend 12 offers assuming they get 6 and wind up with 10 accepting! That means the program is moving up but it means they need to alter their approach. The following year they may need to "make up" that imbalance by extending fewer than normal invites. Typically they have a preferred class size. Also in many larger programs such as umbrellas or even just any program that have rotations they need to balance their classes. this means that lets say as a neuroscience person there is a group that works more on neurochemistry and another that is more neuronal development. Well if you took a class with a bunch of chemists and there aren't a lot of profs taking chemistry focused students then they need to reduce the number of that focused group. Also keep in mind that programs are sometimes alloted a specific number of slots they can offer by the larger departments or graduate school. If that is the case they may not know their number until they go in an fight for spots (I know programs have told me they have to do this and for whatever reason certain programs always get more spots than others). What I'll say is this above all what I have stated: Every interview I went to, I was accepted. i had fun. the interview process is more fun than you realize. After you get your first acceptance...which you will, and it will happen while you are still interviewing....you'll feel so relieved that you have a spot for sure and you'll start to actually enjoy meeting with potential faculty, meeting your potential classmates, visiting around new cities. relax and have fun. Prepare for your interviews, read about the people you are interviewing with, be ready to talk about your research, why you want to go there, what things interest you...and then after that just enjoy it. You'll get in...now sit back and relax because this will be one of the most enjoyable parts of grad school!

oranger- It is I think fine to wait a few days to respond to a request. Typically i'd say maybe 2-3 business days isn't out of the norm at all even if you aren't waiting on another school. i think if there is no deadline noted I'd be ok waiting up to 5 business days. Hope you get it all sorted out shortly.

Farafeelo- what exactly is the idea of NC/Duke that puts you off?

What was the change? made it shorter or longer?

It means it is likely not an issue at this point, but be prepared to discuss it since a particularly low gre or gpa may get discussed in an interview. Basically i would say this, some programs or people may care and they may inquire further about Why if it is an anomaly based on your other application stats why you scored so low or performed worse. my advice is this: be ready to cite personal evidence of why you don't think that adequately reflects you, bring up anything you've done that proves contrary. don't give an excuse such as "I was the first person in my family to go to college, I struggled with adjusting to college, I am not a good test taker (unless you have a diagnosed issue like dyslexia), something happened while i was in college that made it difficult to succeed".I would advise not to bring it up unless it is brought up. Handle it with maturity and remain confident. i think a way to maturely go about discussing it would be to not make an excuse, explain what you can, show how this is different and keep it matter of fact.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it at this point. It is not worth the hassle of trying to get someone to upload an updated version, just let it go. If your whole getting in or getting out of graduate school is hinged on this last sentence, then maybe you weren't the right candidate to start.

@ghostoverground regarding your lengthy in between time I'll say this. Typically the more competitive the school the earlier they send out invites. They are going for top candidates they know are in demand, so you hear from them earlier. That typically means they also had earlier deadlines for applications too. Are the ones that typically invite in January some of your top picks? If so, I'd reach out to them now and ask when they are planning their interview weekends if you want to risk it and pass on another school. I'd also hope that schools that send out in January understand that they will need alternate weekends for this reason as well. You won't be the first or last person that has a conflict. My advice as it was before was to figure your own personal top schools and work from there.

@lana 193 and lilbert 5: Regarding accepting interviews, I posted about this earlier in another thread. I'd recommend you have a list of the programs of most interest to you to lowest and rank them. I'd do the research to find out which, if any of the schools, may have overlapping interviews. If you hear from a program ranked lower to you than another before you hear from a more favorite than I think you have a few options. First, I'd find out when you need to respond to the offer or clarify with them if you are unsure. I understand you want to do it as soon as possible, but remember its in your best interest not to feel pressured to respond immediately. I'd either reach out to the program you think or know conflicts with that one and express your interest, "dear admin person, I remain very interested in your program and hope to get the opportunity to attend your recruitment weekend, I was wondering when the interview/recruit weekend is likely planned for and when you will be notifying recruits/interviewees if you have not already. I have been offered an interview that may conflict with your program and I wanted to touch base with you before proceeding" Or something to that effect. I feel like most programs either post their weekend dates or at this stage in the game would be happy to let you know when it'd be happening. And don't worry almost all programs will have a way to make it work if all else fails and you have to make your own visit or an alternative visit weekend. However, I was in a bind where I had thought my top choice had already sent out all their interviews, I ended up saying yes to another school as a result and within 12 hours was called by my top choice for an interview for that very same weekend. It was disappointing to say the least, however, I did not cancel the other program as that was again..poor form... instead I did an alternate interview for my top choice (unideal I know!). I was still admitted. Don't worry about it but remember this: Its not fair to school's to say yes and then no. They either have already purchased airfare for you, rejected or waitlisted other interviewees etc due to your response. A lot of programs have a budget, meaning your airfare eats into their ability to bring others or limits who they can bring. Remember its not all about you, as much as this is your future, it impacts not only other applicants (some of who may be on this very list just waiting to hear good news) as well as your possible future program. Try to be kind in making your decisions and the responsibility of your commitment. Again as soon as I completed my interviews within a week I had made my decision and sent my accept/reject of offers over a month before the deadline (April 15th)...this was in an effort to allow others on waitlist to hear the news they were waiting for.

@Lana 193 and any others who are considering the plan of accept and then plan to email to switch later this is a big interview faux pas and kind of inappropriate. Once you commit to a weekend you should assume you are unable to move your date especially if its for the reason that another school came along that you want to interview at more. As I have compared it previously, its like cancelling a date because someone hotter came along. Its just a poor move and you'll end up the one looking unprofessional, remember these people are now in your field/you future career. Don't make a name for yourself like that.

I can't say I've sat on an admissions committee but something like that wouldn't necessarily make or break you. I wouldn't worry about it that much really. Now if you wrote the wrong program or another university, that may make me think some negative thoughts but honestly you missed a word and it may even read well enough that no one will notice. They don't read these in depth, they skim as well. I bet I could go back and find a typo or something super minor in my own sop. Don't stress about it, what is done is done.

I'd give the new ones that you know. I had even contacted ETS about it and they say that the percentiles change always and that the schools are very aware that what you report may be different than what they will report. I.e. schools know the percentages change so as long as your numbers are good it means you weren't lying so no issue there. Kind of frustrating though! Goes to show though its more about the number than the percentile, huh?

Yeah it is more than appropriate. As mentioned above, I opted to wait until I had finished interviews and made my decision so I could personally acknowledge my decision with them.

Well as a first year in a program with mandatory rotations..... I just finished finals and have a week of lab time before I am off until mid January-ish. This is my last winter break though, after this I'll only be taking time off for the holidays I think we get 10 days of vacation time outside of normal school holidays. Obviously summer is in the lab as well. The amount of time you take is probably largely dependent on your program and more specifically your PI's policy. '

I am not sure, I seem to recall getting either an invite or an acceptance on a weekend once which was not something I expected. Clearly it was via email and not a call.

Not everyone bring a portfolio but I'm type A and tend to over prepare. You should not assume that your interviewers have your CV. The day I interviewed at one school I had a sub in since my interviewer had a pipe burst in her house so another faculty replaced her. They may not all have your information or it may be difficult to find them (surprise not all PIs are super organized) so I felt better knowing I could pass them one in those events. Again it never happened. Also if you don't have pubs then you don't need to replace it with anything. Some faculty had read my pubs and wanted to talk about it but that is the extent that it went. I also had one publication that had been accepted but was not published yet, so I wanted to have the latest editor draft with me.

This is what I had in my portfolio: multiple copies of my most recent CV multiple copies of my publications 1-2 papers of the profs I was interviewing with (didn't bring this with always but had it for travel days and before the interview). Note pad with pen. None of the profs asked or even got close to wanting the material I had, many had copies of stuff to look at themselves, but always great to have it available for the one prof who doesn't. It is one of those want to have it when they ask but rarely gets asked for scenarios. Most schools give you a portfolio of some kind too, some were nice folders and others were tried and true portfolios. They include your schedule, program information, pen, paper/notes. Some programs gave me a tote, water bottle candy, granola bars etc. As for extra random things to bring with you on interview weekend: band-aids, mints or gum for after lunch, dinner; tide to go stick in case there is a spill on an outfit you'll be wearing again shortly, de-wrinkle stuff, I can't think of anything else yet....

Almost all interviews will occur for the end of the week (wed/thurs to sat/sun). I would say the Sun-Wed are more rare.

The fifth of December?! It will take maybe 1-2 weeks, give it 5-10 business days for the official scores with AW to be posted.

UAB seems to be a classic one. Within a month of taking the gre they were also inviting to me apply. I'd take it with a grain of salt. In some cases you may be a great fit for them but in another scenario they literally are just getting the contact info of any of the GRE test takes who scored to a certain degree. Judging by how many people post about UAB specifically I'd say its working in their favor!

pending.