elephantbird

Would anyone who has heard from CU Boulder post interview (either rejection or acceptance) mind PMing me your POI? Thank you in advance!

Has anyone heard from CU Boulder post-interview? I haven't seen anything on the results page, but the interviews were quite a while ago.

All very good points. Thank you for helping keep things in perspective for me!!

So sorry to hear that it's also happened to you! Crossing my fingers for you as well. Good luck!!!

Hi all, I'm first alternate at my top choice school (which has been my top choice since before I applied) and I'm super disappointed, especially considering it's extremely rare for people to say no to this program/PI. Also, I got extremely positive feedback from the POI at the end of the interview as well as by email after the interview, so it came as a bit of a surprise as well (the POI literally said "I could not possibly feel better about you"). I'm trying to just have faith that everything will end up like it's supposed to, but also, this sucks! Any tips on how to cope? Right now, I'm basically putting the idea that I could get off the waitlist out of my mind altogether, since it is so rare...

I actually have had a vastly different experience in terms of interview offers-- my prior research experience is extremely unrelated to what I want to do in the future, but I've gotten interviews at most of the places I applied to. My (3 so far) interviews have all been almost 100% focused on what I'm interested in doing in graduate school rather than what I have done prior to grad school. However, I have been able to clearly explain how my research interests developed based on the experiences I have had so far, and that is what I wrote about in my personal statement, which several PIs have commented on-- so I do think that was probably the factor that got me to the interview stage. So... I guess it depends (perhaps on how easy it is to get experience in the subfield/research area before graduate school)?

I just finished my second interview and I have to say that so far, everything has been much more relaxed than I was expecting. It really seems more like (at least at these two schools, I can't speak for others) they are trying to get to know us as people rather than grill us. As long as you can communicate enthusiasm for your mentor's research projects and why you want to work on them, as well as have specifics about the program that you really like and be able to talk about that, I'm sure you will be fine! The other thing I'd say is to read the graduate student handbook before your interview if you can find it online. That helped me a lot and I used it to think of more specific, informed questions to ask during my interviews. I've also been trying to calm my nerves by just telling myself that these are just conversations. These PIs/faculty members/students WANT you to succeed, and are ultimately looking for someone who will fit best with their lab. So if you feel that it's a great fit and can communicate it, that's a leg up! And if you end up not feeling like it's a great fit, then that's good information to know as well, because you won't want to go there if the fit isn't there. Good luck on your interview - my top choice is in 3 days too! I'm sure you will do well!

At least one POI (not KAL) is not giving out interview invites until Thursday, not sure about others.

Thanks so much for the info! That definitely helps.

Does anyone happen to know if all of the UCLA invites have been extended? I'm assuming they probably have been at this point, but wondering if anyone knows that for sure. Thanks!

I think getting a job as an RA is good for multiple reasons. You're making money instead of spending it and you actually end up with more research experience this way than through a masters most of the time if you're doing 40+ hours of research per week (in my opinion). More broadly, I think having experience working rather than being in school is extremely helpful in learning how to manage time when you may not have deadlines like homework/projects being due, and is more broadly good for personal development/life experience. Feel free to DM me if you want to know more/get tips on how to find positions! (I've been working in research full-time for 2.5 years after graduating- will be 3 by the time I start school).

I just checked mine, and gmail had the gall to say "Hooray, No spam here!"

I just called Stony Brook's grad office and they said that invites are coming from PIs directly and the grad program coordinator doesn't know if all of them have been extended yet. Just a FYI for anyone who has also been waiting on them

I would agree that the interview is probably the most important part of the process. What I'm curious about is, what happens when it's not a clear choice after interviewing? I.e. two candidates both get along with the lab spectacularly on an interpersonal level, have interesting ideas to bring to the table, etc.?

Of the (clinical) interviews I've received this cycle, I know that one POI invited 7 for an interview (which seems really high) and another invited 4. I'm not sure for the other places I'm interviewing; those two POIs told me unprompted.

Hi! Would whomever got the interview at Boulder mind messaging me your POI or at least what day the interview is? Congrats and thank you!

Thank you!!!

Does anyone happen to know whether all of Stony Brook's invites have been extended? It seems like they've been trickling in. Thanks!

To the person who recently posted about an interview at UNC Chapel Hill - congratulations!! I thought their interview date was 2/10 (according to their website and a PI I've been in contact with)? Are there actually two dates? Trying to figure out the logistics of potential conflicts. If you wouldn't mind PMing me, I'd really appreciate it!

Hi! Would whomever got the phone interview with UNC mind PMing me your POI? Thanks so much (and congrats)!

Bummer! Thanks for letting us know, though. I wish places would send out rejections closer to the same time as the interview offers (although perhaps they want to make sure people accept?). Nothing worse than holding out hope only to be let down later.

Hi all! First time posting here. I had a brief phone call with my POI at USC on Thursday morning, and since then, three people have gotten in-person interviews & I haven't heard anything. I don't feel like I did very well in the phone interview, so I'm kind of assuming I'm out of the running, but would one of the USC interviewees mind messaging me details of their invite (it looks like it came from a program coordinator)? I'd be super grateful! Thank you!