LaurenA

Say exactly that to the visiting weekend school--you've already committed to that weekend for an interview, but you v. much want to visit the offering school. I'm assuming it's going to be really awkward now if you've accepted to visit on the scheduled weekend though--was this via phone? If so, the most appropriate time would have been during the call--"I really want to come to the visiting weekend, but unfortunately, i've already committed to interviewing at another program, purchased travel tickets, etc. Is there another weekend I could visit?" I've done this twice so far with no problems, they know that top candidates for them are top candidates for other places. I wouldn't skip the rest of the interview weekend though--that's as much as an interview as the other parts are. Especially since you said the interviewing school is a top choice... As long as you're not cocky about asking the visiting school for another day, but just sincere, not a problem.

bump! I'm looking to live between Riverside and Camp Pendleton, close to the 215 freeway. My husband will be back east my first year, so closer to Riverside is fine at first. Anyone with thoughts or advice?

Me too! I have one suit that I love that I'm wearing to a California interview with a pinstriped skirt, then wearing with pants on three interviews on the East coast...I have a few button up shirts in the same style but different colors that I love, so I'm packing all of those so it's pretty interchangeable. OH--for the actual interview day, wear either flats or comfy low heels--one interview I had a few years ago took us on a campus tour and all the ladies were hobbling around on brick sidewalks, right before the POI interviews....not fun!

I've been told to DEF. have a suit, but one you're comfy in (as possible). This way, if you're overdressed, you take off the jacket and you're done. Maybe you could even just get a jacket that looks like it's part of a suit and wear pants you'd wear with a cardigan? And about the heels, I think a pair of flats would be totally fine...I'm really short and when it comes to intellectual gatherings, I'm very aware that my "superiors" are taller than me. Not a huge deal, but it's something I notice and become a little self-conscious of, so heels level things out. But flats are great too!

I completely understand--you can relax a lot easier in a nerve-inducing situation when you are dressed "right" For everything but the actual interview day, I would wear what you would wear to a nice dinner out with friends. It's casual in that it's not business, but not casual as in t-shirts and shorts. I have worn in the past and plan to wear dark jeans, a nice blouse, and heels to faculty parties, grad student dinners, etc. You want to be comfortable but not sloppy or like you just rolled out of bed. It's going to be different for everyone, but hopefully that helps!

Awesome! Who's your POI? Mine is Juvonen.

Well darn, I applied under Farver and I sure would have gone to the interview

I def. wouldn't give a CD, if I even gave anything. The unspoken rule is that you get hosted when you apply, and you then host when you're in. Someone hosted your host a year to a few years ago, so it's not like they didn't get anything out of the system. I'm all about hospitality, but I truly doubt I'll give any of my hosts anything.

Ack, well guess I'm not in at UNC, oh well

Is anyone else going to the dev psych interview days at UCLA, Maryland, or UNC-G?

Are you looking for MA programs or just a course to take?

It's def. okay to cancel an interview, just be honest and tell them that you've decided on X school and don't want to take up a space that another willing candidate could use. I did this a few years ago and everything was fine, I actually was asked in both situations to critique the program and why I choose another place over it. I think they used that info to relay onto higher powers, as in both cases crappy funding was a big issue.

My MA advisor told me multiple times to NOT contact people after the apps are in. It creates a really awkward situation for them, and if they are reviewing applications currently, it will probably hurt you. My advisor said someone she would have normally taken kept contacting her during the review, and annoyed her enough to toss the application in the No pile. These people are busy, and if you send them an email when you're not hearing back from them, that's just another awkward email they have to spend time on.

Even when they are evaluating you, it *can* be totally appropriate. I don't call any faculty in my dept by their professional name, I've been to bars with faculty, and I babysit for my advisor's infant, and she's told me I am "like family". Of course, every situation will be different (and I'm sure there's a field difference, as suggested above). There's also variability within depts--most of my fellow MAs are totally casual with faculty, but there is one woman who still calls her advisor Dr. X (but she's also intimidated by her shadow).

Duh, guess I should have "hovered for explanation" on the results page

I think it would be v. helpful if there could be a Boolean-type, multi-field search function, in that I could search for "psychology" and "University of Southern California"...

This was really nice of you eucalyptus--I'm sure people who for years to come will reference it and get a lot out of it! I def. could have used info like this for my first interview a few years ago--the structure and planned-out-ness of it all is great once you relax, but if you have no clue what's going on, it can be exhausting!

Partial received= they have your uncompleted transcripts. So they have the transcript from your current school thus far, if you are accepted they'll request final transcripts.

I'm confused--why wouldn't the adcom admit someone with two POIs? You should always state your interest in more than one person, in case Prof 1 doesn't take students or something like that.

Sorry to bring you down digits, but it can take a looooooooong time! The first year I applied, I got rejected everywhere. Some schools sent it maybe March/April (which sucks but is still considerate I think), but one school sent me a letter dated in JULY! I opened it and was like, well duh, I kinda figured.

I was asked this question in a phone interview and didn't have a problem saying, absolutely! I can see how it's morally sketchy, but I also didn't apply anywhere I wouldn't go. Although I can totally see how the "if X accepts you and so do we, what will you do?" question would just strike me dumb, even if the answer was definitely. I feel like that question is a different issue entirely than "would you accept".

Egh, I wonder how true the article is about the process. He's a second-year graduate student, so he probably knows some, but as a second-year master's student, I don't think I know enough to tell anyone anything I'm also REALLY thrown-off about the advice about LORs--my current advisor was very clear in telling me that she chose me over another applicant solely based on my great LORs, even though the other applicant had better grades, scores, etc. And the two faculty I've interviewed with so far have raved about my LORs, and kinda brushed aside things like grades. One faculty member actually talked at length about specific things my advisor wrote in her LOR (she had a baby last year and I had to run her lab for quite some time), and the faculty member seemed thrilled I had that experience, as she's often out of the country. I don't think that kind of thing would have come through any other way (e.g., interviews, CVs, grades)... Based on personal experience and this board, I really have come to the conclusion that every freakin' program and every faculty member has their own way of deciding and that all the stress we go through to try and find the "formula" to getting in is worthless But that doesn't mean we/future applicants will stop trying!

OP, what would you do if people on this board told you either a. you have great chances or b. you have crappy chances? Just curious as to how much you'll take people's opinions into account and what happens after that. Do you have time to up your chances, or are you looking for back-up plans/other options if things don't work out?

Any Human Development/Family Studies applicants? I've applied to three, all the schools of education, and haven't heard a thing....