Appsitude

Here is a list of questions that I remember being asked:
 
1) What research did you do as an undergraduate?/Explain your research experience.
2) Why do you want a PhD?
3) Why are you interested in our institution?
4) Why are you interested in this specific program?
5) What are your research interests?/What research do you want to do in the future?
6) Do you have any reservations/worries about entering a PhD program?
7) What interests you about my research?/What do you know about my research?
8) What drives you as a scientist?
9) What other programs are you applying to?
10) What interests you about the city the institution is located in? (and questions related to this!)
11) What do you do in your free time?
 
Of these, #1, #3 and #4, and #11 I were asked at every single interview.
 
Honestly, the biggest part of the interviews are 1) being able to honestly talk about your research, 2) being excited, 3) asking questions, and 4) being able to communicate that there is more to you than just a love for science. My best interviews were interviews where we talked about science for 5-10 minutes than about my background/hobbies for the rest of the time.
 
Also, each PI/student who interviews you will do things different. You MAY get grilled on your research or (very rarely) that specific PIs research. They may expect you to know NOTHING about them. You may get a PI who does not want to talk about science and instead just get to know you.
 
Overall, interview weekends are a blast, and the individual interviews are fun and helpful for deciding your interests and your feelings about the program.
 
Hope this helps!

GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all those suggestions/advice/experience-sharing!!
 
I am actually seriously thinking about this now-before starting this thread I am just trying to postpone the decision as much as I can and avoid the talk between me and my bf (sounds very childish I know).
 
Our situation is a little bit different...because 1) we are both international student; 2) we are gay and still in closet. Those two things together make me feel that it will be easier for both of us if we can just simply stay together. But just as some of you have said, I am starting to realize that this is probably not the way things work. As international students we need to fight together, but each towards my or his own career goal, so that we can ultimately stay in this country, where we can have equal rights and actually get married. I have come a long way to get where I am now, so probably shouldn't give up so easily.
 
So I will definitely talk to him when I can meet him in person, and make a team decision as soon as possible.
 
Thank you all again for your kind advice! I would still appreciate further discussion/ideas. It looks like this is a common issue so I hope this thread can help other people with their decision as well!

As an alternative PSA, I'd encourage people with multiple offers to be patient, make sure the full offer is in, and don't rush deciding where your best fit for the next 5-7 years of your life will be.

I agree with everyone else - WashU is definitely on the same level as Columbia. Research fit + finding a place where you could be happy is 100x more important than the name of the school you attend (or whether it is an Ivy or not). It sounds like WashU would be perfect for you!

A Battle Royale with cheese

I was accepted at MIT Biology today! I have been to NYU, Berkely, UCSF, Harvard and I have to say there is no place like MIT. I am 100% sure I'm going, and I'm 100% sure this is the right decision. I am so happy I finally found the place I will call home for the next 5-7 years

A cautionary tale with this line of thinking:
 
If you go to school with the intention of working with a specific PI, be ready to face the consequences if/when this doesn't work out. Plenty of things can happen which could interfere with this and potentially leave you at a school that really isn't a perfect fit for you.
 
Some of these things include:
1) The PI moves institutions. Northwestern is a great institute, but it is possible a school such as Harvard, MIT, CalTech, Stanford, etc. could poach that PI.
2) The PI stops accepting grad students by the time you want to join the lab. This is less likely, but it has happened before to people I know.
3) You may not be happy working with that PI/in that PI's lab.
4) The PI's research focus may shift away from what you are interested in.
5) The PI may hit a dry spell publishing. Granted, this could happen with any PI but just because someone is publishing a ton currently you do not know what the future may hold.
 
The choice is up to you, but it is important to make an informed decision (which it definitely seems like you are doing). If you think UChicago is the perfect fit for you and could see you spending your graduate career there - then go for it. Besides, I feel like you can find similar quality PIs at UC that could offer you all of the benefits of a prolific mentor without the associated risks. Take the whole package into consideration when deciding -- deciding based on only one factor such as a specific PI or how a program ranks is a recipe for disaster in most circumstances. Regardless, this is a pretty great dilemma to have as you have two great options for a PhD.
 
Good luck with your decision!

A cautionary tale with this line of thinking:
 
If you go to school with the intention of working with a specific PI, be ready to face the consequences if/when this doesn't work out. Plenty of things can happen which could interfere with this and potentially leave you at a school that really isn't a perfect fit for you.
 
Some of these things include:
1) The PI moves institutions. Northwestern is a great institute, but it is possible a school such as Harvard, MIT, CalTech, Stanford, etc. could poach that PI.
2) The PI stops accepting grad students by the time you want to join the lab. This is less likely, but it has happened before to people I know.
3) You may not be happy working with that PI/in that PI's lab.
4) The PI's research focus may shift away from what you are interested in.
5) The PI may hit a dry spell publishing. Granted, this could happen with any PI but just because someone is publishing a ton currently you do not know what the future may hold.
 
The choice is up to you, but it is important to make an informed decision (which it definitely seems like you are doing). If you think UChicago is the perfect fit for you and could see you spending your graduate career there - then go for it. Besides, I feel like you can find similar quality PIs at UC that could offer you all of the benefits of a prolific mentor without the associated risks. Take the whole package into consideration when deciding -- deciding based on only one factor such as a specific PI or how a program ranks is a recipe for disaster in most circumstances. Regardless, this is a pretty great dilemma to have as you have two great options for a PhD.
 
Good luck with your decision!

Asking questions about the program is a perfect way to show you're interested and excited and is the easiest way to impress your interviewers. Doing research beforehand on certain things specific to the program (such as a unique teaching opportunity that would be available to you) and asking well thought out questions about those things will show that you are not only interested in the program, but that you have also done your research on the place you are applying.
 
What I did is ask questions about the PI's/student's research as the questions came up when they were discussing their research. Then, at the end of the interview, when I was asked what other questions I may have I asked my prepared questions about the program to end on a positive note. A lot of the time this segued into the interviewer using whatever specific thing I asked about to try to recruit me into the program. It is a fantastic way to not only impress your interviewer but also to learn valuable information about the program.
 
Beyond all this, however, simply having an intelligent conversation with the PI/student you are talking to is usually enough to get a good recommendation from that person without necessarily wowing them.
 
One other thing while we are on the topic of faculty interviews: Ask your student host about the PI's you are interviewing with. Seriously. UCSF has one or two PI's who like to conduct very thorough interviews and knowing who these PI's are in advance can help you mentally prepare for it when it happens. There is a well-known PI here who put recruits into awkward/stressful situations during the interview to see how they respond. This might be constantly asking questions about a project, questioning motivations to go to grad school, etc. etc. It is a LOT easier to not get flustered by this when you are expecting it.

A cautionary tale with this line of thinking:
 
If you go to school with the intention of working with a specific PI, be ready to face the consequences if/when this doesn't work out. Plenty of things can happen which could interfere with this and potentially leave you at a school that really isn't a perfect fit for you.
 
Some of these things include:
1) The PI moves institutions. Northwestern is a great institute, but it is possible a school such as Harvard, MIT, CalTech, Stanford, etc. could poach that PI.
2) The PI stops accepting grad students by the time you want to join the lab. This is less likely, but it has happened before to people I know.
3) You may not be happy working with that PI/in that PI's lab.
4) The PI's research focus may shift away from what you are interested in.
5) The PI may hit a dry spell publishing. Granted, this could happen with any PI but just because someone is publishing a ton currently you do not know what the future may hold.
 
The choice is up to you, but it is important to make an informed decision (which it definitely seems like you are doing). If you think UChicago is the perfect fit for you and could see you spending your graduate career there - then go for it. Besides, I feel like you can find similar quality PIs at UC that could offer you all of the benefits of a prolific mentor without the associated risks. Take the whole package into consideration when deciding -- deciding based on only one factor such as a specific PI or how a program ranks is a recipe for disaster in most circumstances. Regardless, this is a pretty great dilemma to have as you have two great options for a PhD.
 
Good luck with your decision!

A cautionary tale with this line of thinking:
 
If you go to school with the intention of working with a specific PI, be ready to face the consequences if/when this doesn't work out. Plenty of things can happen which could interfere with this and potentially leave you at a school that really isn't a perfect fit for you.
 
Some of these things include:
1) The PI moves institutions. Northwestern is a great institute, but it is possible a school such as Harvard, MIT, CalTech, Stanford, etc. could poach that PI.
2) The PI stops accepting grad students by the time you want to join the lab. This is less likely, but it has happened before to people I know.
3) You may not be happy working with that PI/in that PI's lab.
4) The PI's research focus may shift away from what you are interested in.
5) The PI may hit a dry spell publishing. Granted, this could happen with any PI but just because someone is publishing a ton currently you do not know what the future may hold.
 
The choice is up to you, but it is important to make an informed decision (which it definitely seems like you are doing). If you think UChicago is the perfect fit for you and could see you spending your graduate career there - then go for it. Besides, I feel like you can find similar quality PIs at UC that could offer you all of the benefits of a prolific mentor without the associated risks. Take the whole package into consideration when deciding -- deciding based on only one factor such as a specific PI or how a program ranks is a recipe for disaster in most circumstances. Regardless, this is a pretty great dilemma to have as you have two great options for a PhD.
 
Good luck with your decision!

The main problem is people getting drunk and making a fool of themselves. If you know you can handle your alcohol, getting a little drunk won't hurt your chances and may help you out with the grad students. However despite what you might think there are always a few recruits who do get drunk and act creepy/sleep with others/pass out or throw up everywhere/get racist and that will almost automatically ruin your chances.
 
But honestly, moderation is key with alcohol at interviews. It is offered a lot so be sure to curb your thirst.

I got accepted to Sloan Kettering!!!! 
 
I just returned from another interview trip in the US so I don't think it has quite yet sunk into my jetlagged brain, because I feel like I should be crying with joy. I've tried to imagine this moment so many times but it's finally here. All the hard work has been worth it. That is such a relief. 

Some things that were brought up...
 
1) Optional drinking times: Honestly, it doesn't hurt if you decide not to go/not to drink. We love getting to know everyone but also understand that interviews are very tiring and that going out to a bar is not everyone's cup of tea. We have two outings (one Friday night, one Saturday night) that we encourage recruits to attend but understand if they do not. It's also not like we keep a list of everyone who goes/drinks/etc.!
 
2) I really think thank you emails are a nice gesture, even if there is a <0.01% chance that they will help your odds of getting it. I sent thank you emails to most of the professors I interviewed with and ended up maintaining an open line of communication with them from the end of the interview, until when I was accepted, and even when I was picking rotations. A simple "Thank you for taking time to talk with me, I really enjoyed hearing about your research" is very courteous, not annoying, and is never a bad thing in my opinion.
 
3) I've gotten a lot of questions about attire and this has been beaten to death on this forum, but I would just like to throw in my two cents. In general, I felt a lot more comfortable erring on the side of too casual rather than too formal. I wore jeans/slacks + a button down with no tie for all of my interviews and jeans + t-shirt for all other events. There are always a couple people who wear suits, but that isn't really the norm on the west coast at least. Unless you look like a slob, we won't be judging what you wear (you will probably be better dressed than most students anyway...).
 
4) Ask your student hosts about the faculty who are interviewing you. There is nothing less pleasant than getting grilled in an interview without expecting it. There are a couple faculty notorious for giving students very rigorous interviews -- most of the students will be able to tell you who these are so you don't go in completely blind.
 
Have fun!

Some things that were brought up...
 
1) Optional drinking times: Honestly, it doesn't hurt if you decide not to go/not to drink. We love getting to know everyone but also understand that interviews are very tiring and that going out to a bar is not everyone's cup of tea. We have two outings (one Friday night, one Saturday night) that we encourage recruits to attend but understand if they do not. It's also not like we keep a list of everyone who goes/drinks/etc.!
 
2) I really think thank you emails are a nice gesture, even if there is a <0.01% chance that they will help your odds of getting it. I sent thank you emails to most of the professors I interviewed with and ended up maintaining an open line of communication with them from the end of the interview, until when I was accepted, and even when I was picking rotations. A simple "Thank you for taking time to talk with me, I really enjoyed hearing about your research" is very courteous, not annoying, and is never a bad thing in my opinion.
 
3) I've gotten a lot of questions about attire and this has been beaten to death on this forum, but I would just like to throw in my two cents. In general, I felt a lot more comfortable erring on the side of too casual rather than too formal. I wore jeans/slacks + a button down with no tie for all of my interviews and jeans + t-shirt for all other events. There are always a couple people who wear suits, but that isn't really the norm on the west coast at least. Unless you look like a slob, we won't be judging what you wear (you will probably be better dressed than most students anyway...).
 
4) Ask your student hosts about the faculty who are interviewing you. There is nothing less pleasant than getting grilled in an interview without expecting it. There are a couple faculty notorious for giving students very rigorous interviews -- most of the students will be able to tell you who these are so you don't go in completely blind.
 
Have fun!

Some things that were brought up...
 
1) Optional drinking times: Honestly, it doesn't hurt if you decide not to go/not to drink. We love getting to know everyone but also understand that interviews are very tiring and that going out to a bar is not everyone's cup of tea. We have two outings (one Friday night, one Saturday night) that we encourage recruits to attend but understand if they do not. It's also not like we keep a list of everyone who goes/drinks/etc.!
 
2) I really think thank you emails are a nice gesture, even if there is a <0.01% chance that they will help your odds of getting it. I sent thank you emails to most of the professors I interviewed with and ended up maintaining an open line of communication with them from the end of the interview, until when I was accepted, and even when I was picking rotations. A simple "Thank you for taking time to talk with me, I really enjoyed hearing about your research" is very courteous, not annoying, and is never a bad thing in my opinion.
 
3) I've gotten a lot of questions about attire and this has been beaten to death on this forum, but I would just like to throw in my two cents. In general, I felt a lot more comfortable erring on the side of too casual rather than too formal. I wore jeans/slacks + a button down with no tie for all of my interviews and jeans + t-shirt for all other events. There are always a couple people who wear suits, but that isn't really the norm on the west coast at least. Unless you look like a slob, we won't be judging what you wear (you will probably be better dressed than most students anyway...).
 
4) Ask your student hosts about the faculty who are interviewing you. There is nothing less pleasant than getting grilled in an interview without expecting it. There are a couple faculty notorious for giving students very rigorous interviews -- most of the students will be able to tell you who these are so you don't go in completely blind.
 
Have fun!

Some things that were brought up...
 
1) Optional drinking times: Honestly, it doesn't hurt if you decide not to go/not to drink. We love getting to know everyone but also understand that interviews are very tiring and that going out to a bar is not everyone's cup of tea. We have two outings (one Friday night, one Saturday night) that we encourage recruits to attend but understand if they do not. It's also not like we keep a list of everyone who goes/drinks/etc.!
 
2) I really think thank you emails are a nice gesture, even if there is a <0.01% chance that they will help your odds of getting it. I sent thank you emails to most of the professors I interviewed with and ended up maintaining an open line of communication with them from the end of the interview, until when I was accepted, and even when I was picking rotations. A simple "Thank you for taking time to talk with me, I really enjoyed hearing about your research" is very courteous, not annoying, and is never a bad thing in my opinion.
 
3) I've gotten a lot of questions about attire and this has been beaten to death on this forum, but I would just like to throw in my two cents. In general, I felt a lot more comfortable erring on the side of too casual rather than too formal. I wore jeans/slacks + a button down with no tie for all of my interviews and jeans + t-shirt for all other events. There are always a couple people who wear suits, but that isn't really the norm on the west coast at least. Unless you look like a slob, we won't be judging what you wear (you will probably be better dressed than most students anyway...).
 
4) Ask your student hosts about the faculty who are interviewing you. There is nothing less pleasant than getting grilled in an interview without expecting it. There are a couple faculty notorious for giving students very rigorous interviews -- most of the students will be able to tell you who these are so you don't go in completely blind.
 
Have fun!

For those wondering, here is what UCSF's interview schedule looks like (in terms of events, not times).
 
THURSDAY:
 
- Recruits arrive, greeted by host students
- Journal club followed by dinner/happy hour
- Tour of campus
 
FRIDAY:
 
- Welcome by program, information session + breakfast
- 4 interviews (30 minutes each)
- Lunch with hosts
- 2 interviews (30 minutes each)
- Housing tour
- Poster session
- Dinner at professor's house
- Bar outing/dessert
 
SATURDAY:
 
- Diversity panel (optional)
- Breakfast
- Q&A with current students
- Mini symposium introducing recruits to faculty research
- Tour of second campus/housing
- Day events: Tour of San Francisco, hiking, or wine tasting
- Student hosted party
 
SUNDAY:
- Departure
 
Most schools have a similar schedule!

To whomever was asking: UCSF BMS has sent out all of its interview invites for this cycle. We are interviewing 81 hoping to accept ~60.
 
Good luck!

To whomever was asking: UCSF BMS has sent out all of its interview invites for this cycle. We are interviewing 81 hoping to accept ~60.
 
Good luck!

If a school wants to pressure you to make a response to them prior the april 15th deadline I'd highly question their motive.
For many of my interviews (even the ones that had multiple weekends) I received an offer of acceptance within maybe 1-2 weeks.  
i waited to finish all my interviews before I made my decision, but was prioritizing and ranking as I went.  
I still made my final decision about a month before the April 15th deadline.
 
every school would love to know prior to april 15th, if they signed the resolution that is about where it stops in what they can do.  If they didn't then I guess they can do whatever they want but again, why?

In general, are there scheduled breaks between consecutive interviews? Even 5 minutes would be helpful.
Are the interviews all held in the same area? I'm picturing a big, open room with many tables, but this is my uninformed imagination's work.
In particularly snowy/raining settings, is there a chance to change after the interviews or should my interview clothes depend on the weather?
 
Here's a vague question that I'm going to ask anyway: how much do I need to know about my interviewers' research?
I am totally fine dissecting the last 5 years of everyone's publications (I have a couple weeks off...) but I don't know if this is necessary, or if understanding a few of their recent papers would be sufficient.
Will I specifically be asked questions about their research, or am I just expected to be able to hold a conversation about it and ask them questions?

Attending the later weekend won't hurt your chances. In fact, getting some interview experience before interviewing at your top choice is a viable strategy. I wouldn't turn down an interview from a great school like JHU if you can reschedule UCSF (if you receive an interview). CCB should be sending interviews on January 5th-January 7th if that helps rest your mind

Attending the later weekend won't hurt your chances. In fact, getting some interview experience before interviewing at your top choice is a viable strategy. I wouldn't turn down an interview from a great school like JHU if you can reschedule UCSF (if you receive an interview). CCB should be sending interviews on January 5th-January 7th if that helps rest your mind

Good job on getting so many interviews!!
 
I personally did 5 interviews and felt that was perfect. I would probably recommend between 4 and 7. With 7 you would be gone essentially every weekend for 7 weeks straight, which could be a little tiring, but it is nothing that it unmanagable. Honestly, do as many as you feel comfortable you can handle. There is no intrinsic negative to accepting more interviews other than burnout, but if you feel like you can manage more then go for it!