JW83

I got a fake-out PHONE CALL -- ugh. I had applied to USC and I got a call one day from California, so I stepped out of class to answer. "Hi, this is ___ calling from the University of Southern California, I see that you applied to our graduate program in clinical psychology! Well, I thought you might be interested in learning more about our masters programs..." My soul was crushed. And then I got the rejection email a few days later. T.T

What's worse is when they don't understand how competitive many graduate programs are (<2% acceptance rates?! come on!) and they keep asking you how many schools you got into. "What, you haven't heard from anyone yet? What's the deal? Oh well, you're smart -- I bet you get into every program you applied for!" -___-

To amaa: I'm just wondering, why apply to a program at all if you'd rather work for a year and try again for your top choice? What's the point of filling out an application, paying the fee, and going through interviews if you would rather work than attend that school?

I'm at the top of my waitlist, but at this program the waitlists are POI-specific and he's only taking one student. So unless that one student declines the offer (or the department gives extra funding for another student)...

It depends on the lab/program. I asked this question to the grad students during my interview weekend and they said they had very little, if any, influence in the selection process. They said the most impact they could have is if they noticed something REALLY off about a candidate and reported it (for example: one applicant asked current grad students where to buy weed during the pre-interview dinner a few years back), but other than that they are rarely asked for their opinions. So it really just depends on how that program works. You'll want to make a good impression on them regardless

I applied to both Clinical and Counseling programs. So far I've received 1 invitation to interview and that was for a Counseling program. My POI called me out of the blue to tell me the good news and inform me about the interviews. The program is holding an informal dinner on 02/01 and then the interview day is all day 02/02; they're offering housing and most meals during the interviews, but I'm paying for my flight. They said they may be able to subsidize part of the flight cost later but he didn't want to make any promises. I received the official email invitation a few weeks later.

I've got a question for you guys. I've been watching the results page like a hawk (haven't we all?) and noticed that some schools (specifically Yale) have already sent out interview invitations (Clinical program) but also apparently some people have gotten rejections as well. I haven't heard a word on my results either way. What does that usually imply? Could it imply that I didn't make it far enough to receive such early rejection notice? Could it imply a waitlist position (doubtful)?

Right, and I sent it. But they already had both transcripts on file, they just wanted the official version of one of them "before [they] could progress"; that typically implies some level of interest.

I also got one of these emails a few weeks ago, I'm not sure if it indicates interest or if it was just a formality sort-of-thing for preliminary application filtering. Fingers crossed though!