PsyZei

I am married and I have children, it's something I brought up in every interview I had. Point blank, I don't want to be at a program that is going to make it hard for me to live my life in a healthy and balanced way. Also, they do want to know who you are as a person, so while I received many questions about my family, it was not from the point of view of them screening me out. It was from the point of view of them wanting to know who I was. I spent 20 minutes talking/listening to one professor about the indoor and outdoor water parks in the area and how awesome they were and how much fun they are to go to as a family activity and what a great selling point they are for living in the area (and I was accepted to that program). Just be yourself and if they ask about your family just say it's just you and your husband and move on. You don't owe anyone any explanations as to why it's just you and your husband or if it will ever be any different from being you and your husband (in fact, over-sharing and explaining that might be worse than just making the statement and moving on, because could be implicitly identified as defensiveness &/or reaction rather than response). That's been my experience with it, anyways- I'm sure you are right and there are many many who have had the types of experiences you are concerned about.

Good advice! Be collaborative. Especially if you are looking at going for counseling or clinical- I looked at the group interviews as that they were evaluating us to see how we would do in group/systemic therapy settings and on how well we would be able to integrate into a cohort group. So I used a lot of reflection and collaborative language to talk or answer questions, "My answer is related to what Interviewee B was saying in response to Dr. X's question earlier in that...."

I had a zoom interview that was me as the only interviewee but with a couple professors in on it. It wasn't that weird. They asked me what they wanted to know, there was only one part that was weird in that one of the professors asked me what to pretend the other one wasn't there and then tell them what I would want in the other one as a mentor. I just laughed a little and then answered honestly (which turned out really well, because what I like in a mentor turned out to be something that the professor's students either like or get frustrated about- so that I specifically said it was what I knew I was looking for in a mentor was pretty neat). We just talked and it was actually pretty short and sweet compared to interview days (was maybe half an hour). I was accepted to the program, so that wasn't indicative of a bad interview that was cut short, either. I'm not sure if that helps you any, though?

I'm going to be the odd out and say that it's okay to run out of questions. I only asked the questions I couldn't get answers to otherwise. In one case 3 of my professors got their PhDs from the school and I literally just said "I would have a lot of questions but I've been talking to Dr. X and Dr. Z so much, I think I've had them all answered and then some," the response was "Knowing Dr. Z I'm sure that's true" and then the conversation continued). Once they and I ran out of questions it would just progress to a normal conversation topic relevant to research, the program, what living in the area is like, or something else.

I got asked this at every interview and I just answered honestly. I'm already in a clinical masters and had to develop both my clinical theoretical approach for therapy and research theoretical approach for thesis, so it wasn't that bad. This is a good follow up question point, "Generally I am very postmodernist and clinically I fall back on narrative therapy most of the time, while research wise I have been using an intersectionalist and minority stress lens... You are postmodernist too, right?" Or "Oh but you said you use x model of therapy and while I haven't gotten to work with that a lot such and such about it makes a lot of sense to me because..."

6 days with the first (interviewed Wednesday heard Tuesday), 3 days with the second (interviewed Friday heard Monday), and 4 days with the third (interviewed Friday heard Tuesday). I'm coming in from a Clinical MFT masters to Clinical CFT PhDs and related Human Ecology Degrees (Global Family Health and Well-being with a MFT POI)- so my experiences may not be indicative of the norms in non Systemic Therapy Clinical/Counseling programs.

Cold call for two of mine, but I was in sessions for both- so I just emailed and set up a good time for me to call them and talk. One was email only saying they would be sending an official offer soon.

Did you interview for Child Development/Early Childhood Education or Global Family Health and Wellbeing at UNL? I was accepted for the Global Family Health and Wellbeing track, so maybe we will be seeing each other ?

I see both sides of this. I declined the acceptances and interview invites I knew I wouldn't accept once I got an acceptance to one of my top three schools. I knew regardless of financial package I would not end up going to some schools over one of my top three. However, I currently have two acceptances for my top threes and I will not be declining one until I know what the financial package offers are for both of them- which will likely take a few weeks. The same is true if I get notified of acceptance to my final top three school. By all means decline the schools you know you won't be attending, but don't feel you have to be hasty and decline just because you have more than one acceptance, until you have all the information about them. We are going to be in these programs for a bit, informed choices are important.

Can you articulate it now? I agree with 192020, worst case scenario you might be able to start building/networking a connection for applying for next year to the same programs (if you don't go somewhere else). Good luck!

Right there with both of you. I am waiting to hear back about acceptance from my last top three school and then waiting to hear about funding. At this point I just want to know for sure where I'll be next year so I can start planning the move. I'm ready ?

I got accepted! Waiting to hear about the financial package, but very excited ?

School: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Type: PhD Human Sciences, Global Family Health and Well-being Date of contact: February 11th, 2020 Contact Type: Email from Associate Professor and Graduate Director Notes Contact: Financial package info to come!

Just wanted to update that I was offered admission, today, to the program I was talking about here. So I wouldn't assume it's tanking anyone's chances at getting into a program to do a video interview. I made sure to express that I was bummed I didn't get to come to interview day, but I didn't try to justify or explain why- just said that I had been disappointed I missed the interview day and was grateful they had made time to do a video interview with me.

I don't know what the situation is here, but I know that sometimes there are pre-interview waitlists. When I applied to PhD programs a couple years (while also applying to master programs) I was waitlisted this way to one of my schools. I don't know if that the case here, though, so I really don't know what that means either- sorry, can't help more.

This! I got into one of my top three schools last week and I just interviewed with another today and will interview with the last of the three on Monday. I am just beyond stressed by it (and it doesn't help that one of my kids has the flu this week). I was talking to my spouse about everything and made a joke about how "it's not like I'm trying to decide our whole future or anything" and we were both just like... "oh." The weight of this application process can feel crushing at times. Deep breaths!

I just completed a zoom interview today for one of my top three schools. They didn't really seem that bothered by it, though. I've met the professor I want to work with before, at a conference, and I made it super clear how excited I was about applying to the program at the conference. Long story ish, but I had started looking at the application for them before then, but I was probably not going to actually apply at that point. I wasn't sure it was a good fit, despite them being a great school, until after I met and talked about research and the program with him at the conference. I was really bummed about not being able to go in person, and offered to come another time, too (it's only a few hours drive away). They did the same though, so I think the preference might be to do video emails if you can't make it to the interview day. I think it's easier on them, that way. It was a much shorter process than interview days- that's for sure! however, I think it went well, I guess I'll know in a bit.

Good luck with your interviews. My thesis advisor went to App State for one of their masters, I believe, and so have a few others I've talked to- I've heard good things!

School: Antioch University - New England Type: PhD Marriage and Family Therapy Date of contact: February 4th, 2020 (applications closed 1/31/20) Contact Type: Email from Admissions Counselor Interview date: Option of February 18th, 19th, 21st, or 26th of 2020. On campus.

I just wanted to reiterate this again, networking appears to be a key factor in getting interviews. Now that I have all the numbers in and have heard back from all my schools, the way it shakes out is that out of the 8 schools I applied to I had networked with 6 of the schools either personally or through my faculty having connections to them. I was rejected without an interview to the two schools I have no network connection to. I was invited for an interview for all six of the schools that I have some sort of a network connection with (either from me hunting them down and talking to them at conferences, or from one or more of my professors being connected to them). I got lucky because I enjoy connecting with people and am extroverted, but I very much agree with my professors who explained this to me at this point. This would be my biggest advice- to network with the schools you think you want to go to. My "on paper" statistics are good for any of the schools I applied to (4.0 undergrad in psych and 4.0 grad in clinical mft, some research, active in organizations and service, some teaching experience, 165/162/4.5 GRE, some letter credentials after my name, etc...). So, I honestly think networking was one of the deciding factors for where I got interviews and where I did not. This makes sense, if you consider interviews as essentially the faculty trying to decide if they can connect with you or not- that connecting with them ahead of the application process is a good idea.

Good luck to all of you, whether you got an invite or not!!!

Also, I wanted to mention something about this because interview attires seems to be an often asked thing and seems to vary by field. The MFT/CFT field does not seem to be as formal as some fields. The attire I've seen by both faculty and applicants has ranged from business casual to business formal. I don't think anyone could go wrong with suits, but I think there is quite a bit of wiggle room for being yourself. Generally, I've only seen those who present as male in full blown business formal style suits. I've seen those who present as female in everything from khakis and sweaters to dresses and blazers. To my first interview I was in some regular work slacks, a dress shirt (top buttons undone), and a not very formal looking blazer- and I ended up being one of the most dressed up individuals there. My second interview I wore gray suit with a dress shirt (top buttons undone), and was again one of the more dressed up individuals- though not as significantly as as I was about on par with others who presented as male. I don't think you can go wrong by dressing formally by any means, but I do think there is quite a bit of leeway in how you present yourself, clothing wise.

I have several acceptance/rejection updates I'm going to add as one post with dividing lines like this: ----------------------------------------------- ACCEPTANCE School: Adler University (Chicago) Type: PhD Couple and Family Therapy Date of contact: January 21st, 2020 (interview was January 15th) Contact Type: Email offering admission Notes/Comments: The email states that a decision must be received by February 21st. This is problematic with my last interview date being February 19th. ----------------------------------------------- REJECTION School: University of Wisconsin-Madison Type: PhD Human Ecology, Human Development & Family Studies Date of contact: January 24th, 2020 Contact Type: Email from graduate program coordinator Notes/Comments: "Thank you for your application.... Attached you will find our admissions decision." (Filler removed) ----------------------------------------------- REJECTION School: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Type: PhD Family Social Science, Couple & Family Therapy Specialization Date of contact: January 29th, 2020 Contact Type: Email from "The Graduate Faculty Family Social Science University of Minnesota" Notes/Comments: Sent the nicest rejection letter I've received to date saying "We are sorry to say that we could not grant your request for admission... Because our field is very small, we are confident that our professional paths will cross again." (filler removed) ----------------------------------------------- ACCEPTANCE School: Kansas State University Type: PhD Human Ecology, Couple and Family Therapy Date of contact: February 3rd, 2020 (interview was January 31st) Contact Type: Phone Call from POI leaving a voicemail with acceptance news and discussing logistics. Notes/Comments: I had a sick kid, who tested positive for flu, and was in a doctors appointment then at the pharmacy. So I ended up not noticing the voicemail until after hours. Planning to call back tomorrow morning. I am very excited about being accepted to K-State. Logistically they are one of the best locations for my spouse's work (which is an important consideration for us). They also offer a lot of benefits when it comes to entering/continuing in the MFT/CFT field (good research opportunities, AAMFT approved training for becoming a supervisor, great faculty, etc...). -----------------------------------------------

It honestly has the feel of a moving goal post. I think you are right and different professors/programs are looking for different things. I think we just be ourselves during the interviews and do the best we can to think on our feet in order to show willingness to work within/contribute in a positive manner the program and that's the best we can do.

Interesting! I did the opposite in my last interview. The professor asked what research interests I have, and I gave a brief of what I was currently doing for my thesis and what I hoped to do next for research, that would build off the current thesis research. They cautioned that it was a good idea to not be too narrowed in on the research project direction, and I said that I would definitely keep my mind open for suggestions on other ways to approach the research topic. I was offered admission, so it seemed to work okay.