SocialPsych2018

School: UT Austin
Type: PhD
Date of invite: 12/19
Type of invite: Email from POI
Interview date(s): 2/6-2/9
Feel free to DM for POI!!

Congrats to you!!!
 
School: NYU
Type: PhD
Date of invite: last Friday
Type of invite: Email from PI
Interview date(s): Two options provided for in-person interview

I usually read 2-3 papers, 3-5 abstracts, like 10 article titles, and prepare answers to questions I anticipate being asked.

School: UC Berkeley
Type: Social/Personality Psychology PhD
Type of invite: Email from social/personality area head
Date of invite: 12/18
Interview date(s): 1/23-24
Feel free to DM me for POI

School: UC Berkeley
Type: Social/Personality Psychology PhD
Type of invite: Email from social/personality area head
Date of invite: 12/18
Interview date(s): 1/23-24
Feel free to DM me for POI

School: UC Berkeley
Type: Social/Personality Psychology PhD
Type of invite: Email from social/personality area head
Date of invite: 12/18
Interview date(s): 1/23-24
Feel free to DM me for POI

Congratulations to those who have received interview invites! Sounds like 12/20 will be a big day for us ? it's nerve-wracking for me when I see my schools pop up here/in the portal of interview invites and I have not received news from them, I'm sure I'm not alone though!

That's great info! Thank you. This is my first round, so I was just curious what to expect. I hadn't heard about the informal interviews until after submitting applications and finding this site. I haven't applied to any of the same schools, so the general questions are perfect. 

Treat yourself to something nice that you know you enjoy.  You've come a long way to say that you're a grad school applicant--that's for sure--, and that alone should be celebrated.  Take time to appreciate how far you've come, and then buy yourself a special small something (favorite snack, extra toppings on pizza or ice cream, etc.!).  Treating myself to something small during a not-as-awesome moment helps me a bit & is a nice pick-me-up so I can continue to move forward.

Anyone has any new information about UCLA? I am wondering if they finished sending out interview invitations (or will only choose interview candidates from those who received preliminary interview offers) and am just being slow with updating rejection status on the app...

I think even for social psych, the invitations will be most likely sent by the end of this week  according to previous years' record on GradCafe. Until now I hear nth though...

I don't think things seriously start ramping up until about Dec 16 - 23. Really, dec 20-22 is when a lot go out (and for the west coast, a lot of invites aren't until January). I know "don't worry" isn't super helpful advice, but I really don't think it means anything yet. Good luck and try to distract yourself!

I applied to social psych track at NYU too...still hear nth. BTW congrats SocialPsych2018 on getting the formal interview invite from NYU! Best of luck!

I usually read 2-3 papers, 3-5 abstracts, like 10 article titles, and prepare answers to questions I anticipate being asked.

I don't think things seriously start ramping up until about Dec 16 - 23. Really, dec 20-22 is when a lot go out (and for the west coast, a lot of invites aren't until January). I know "don't worry" isn't super helpful advice, but I really don't think it means anything yet. Good luck and try to distract yourself!

I always send a thank you! Just something simple and short, but I like to mention one specific thing that I appreciated (e.g., "Thank you so much for taking the time to thoroughly answer my questions").
 
Good luck to everyone! 

No. some schools also don't look at applications till after winterbrea.

Worry if you don’t hear anything by the 2nd week of February 

I always send a thank you! Just something simple and short, but I like to mention one specific thing that I appreciated (e.g., "Thank you so much for taking the time to thoroughly answer my questions").
 
Good luck to everyone! 

Go ahead and send the CV with the first email. Not presumptuous at all. In fact it allows them to immediately look into your background if they are interested in you. 

...and don't copy/paste from their website, which is more common than people would think.

My new advisor never got back on my do-you-plan-to-take-students-etc-email. However whenever i email him now he gets back to me within the hour. 

Also don't be too discouraged if you don't get a reply, some professors prefer not to correspond with potential students or they're just simply too busy.

> Be professional and prepared. Don't make inappropriate jokes, don't discuss things like politics (particularly if you are very conservative, psych is a liberal stronghold...), don't act sexist (the last two I've seen happen). Dress the part, but don't worry about it too much, you will not be judged on your outfit unless it is very misplaced.
> Be prepared to talk about the topics you are interested in, maybe a recent paper that came out, your work style, your strengths, etc.  
>Obviously read some things about the PIs research, but also see what his/her grad students are doing. You will probably spend quite some time with grad students and they can also make or break you (if they really dislike you) - and may be your future collaborators. It doesn't mean you have to be super extrovert, but do take time for people during lunch break etc. 
> Although you want to let the school know you are interested in them, no need to be tooooooo enchanted
> Do not talk bad about other people/schools, this is unprofessional. 
 
Also make sure you have questions to ask; what do you want to know about the school? PI (work style etc.)? It is also a way for you to show that you understand what graduate school is about. It is as much an opportunity for you to interview  them as it is for them to interview you
 

Any sensible professor will know that having a functional webcam doesn't correlate with academic / research success I'm sure you're fine.