wannabeschoolpsych

Hey guys I posted this in the school psych interview thread but I figured I’d update this one as well...
After literally accepting defeat and that I would be outright rejected last night, I received received an invite to interview at University of Memphis which is my top school. I’m in shock but I’m really excited. I guess it’s time to prepare (even though I’ve been watching so many videos and reading so many threads about interviews hahaha). I’m so nervous!

Hey guys I posted this in the school psych interview thread but I figured I’d update this one as well...
After literally accepting defeat and that I would be outright rejected last night, I received received an invite to interview at University of Memphis which is my top school. I’m in shock but I’m really excited. I guess it’s time to prepare (even though I’ve been watching so many videos and reading so many threads about interviews hahaha). I’m so nervous!

got into 3 schools last year (out of 3 interviews) and here is my advice.
-get good sleep the night before. I missed one of the mini interviews the following day after a horrible night with only a few hours of sleep because I misread the interview schedule. I felt that I had destroyed my chance at ever making it into that school. Fortunately the POI wanted me enough that he gave me a spot.
-bring that dam black folio and make sure you're wearing a black suit jacket.
-write up a list of questions
-rehearse your answers beforehand with multiple people
That's about it!

So, here's my advice from my experience 2 years ago when I was in your shoes and applying to Clinical Psych Ph.D. programs. I applied to 10 sites, got 6 interviews, and got into my top choice. This advice isn't a "hard-and-fast" guide for everyone, even in clinical, but I think these tips are helpful (even if they've been stated before).
 
For phone interviews:
Honestly, I dressed pretty casually for these because I personally wanted to feel comfortable. Some will say dress for success. You do you, honestly.  Be in an area, like a bedroom, where there is minimal background noise. I also advice to use a good pair of headphones with a mic, if possible.  Have a note pad and pen to take notes from the conversation. At the top of the note pad, write down before the interview at least 2-3 questions that you have, as well as anything else you think is relevant.  Speak calmly, and take a breath before you answer the phone.   
Skype interviews:
Wear at least business casual. I actually usually wore a suit (I am a male, so that's a wide difference honestly).  Again, I'd advise to skype in your room or somewhere that is quiet. If your room doesn't work, I advise finding a quiet place at work or a library in a private room.  Again, wearing headphones can help with quality of your speech/hearing your interviewer.  Same rules of notepad and pen apply as before.  Look at the camera lens, not at yourself or the PI on the screen. Looking at the camera feels weird, but it means you are making eye contact.   
In-person interviews
The agendas for campus interviews vary WIDELY. Some places will be a short day of interviews with a handful of people; other sites will have 2-3 day extravaganzas with parties, interviews, campus tours, etc. Plan your wardrobe accordingly. Unless stated otherwise, you should be in business formal for all of the interviews, and business casual for all of the dinners/parties.  At the parties/socials, DO NOT (and I mean this) get drunk or out of control. That's pretty much an immediate ax from the committee. Generally speaking, just have a few drinks if you'd like (or don't... nobody cares), and socialize with current students, other applicants, PIs, etc. BE NICE!!! It often helps, especially with other applicants, to talk about pleasantries and stuff going on, as well as shared interests OUTSIDE of psychology. Nobody wants to get into a metaphorical d*ck waving contest with you, and the grad students interviewing you, especially, will not look favorably on that.  This goes with the above, but if you are staying with a host or really whenever you are interacting with grad students, you should be on your best behavior. You should be polite and respectful of your host student's home, and it is often nice to bring a small gift from where you are (less than $5) and a thank you card. While you should and can ask candid questions about life as a grad student, the culture of the city/university, faculty-student dynamics, etc., you should probably think at least a little bit before you ask questions or say things because they can, and do, get back to the PIs. For example, a student I hosted my first year as a PhD student who was interviewing for a lab that was not my own told me about how he had "6 interviews" and my school was his "4th choice." As it was pompous and completely unprompted from me, I relayed that information back to the PI because ultimately PIs want to make offers to students who actually want to come to this university.  Same rules apply for skype/in-person interviews. Try to have 2-3 questions per person you are scheduled to interview with during your visit. These help if you get stuck on questions to ask. You can often ask the same question to multiple grad students if you are, for example, having conversations with every lab member.  Bring a book or something fun, non-academic to do during down time. Depending on the agenda, you can often have hours of down time during the actual interview day, and if you are an introvert like me it can be relieving to just read a book or do something that does not involve talking to people.  It is always good to bring deodorant, gum, and mouthwash in your purse or backpack/satchel to the interview day. If you are like me and sweat bullets when you are anxious (e.g., in interviews), it can be helpful to have these handy.    
This list is by no means comprehensive, but just some thoughts that I have from my experience on both ends of the interview table. Feel free to comment and ask questions or PM if you have something specific you'd like to know about. 
 
Most importantly, YOU DESERVE THIS D*MN INTERVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The PI reached out to YOU, meaning that s/he thinks you'd be a good potential fit for your lab. Keep that in mind and just be yourself. 

I am waiting to hear back from them as well! Every time i got an email notification today I would leap to my phone thinking it would be them ?.  Guess we will have to be patient and hope that they send something out this week! 

You reaching out won’t change anything, so don’t do anything right now. Maybe email Friday if you really need to know, but odds are if you don’t hear by tonight it’s a rejection. 

Thank you! Wow it's a great idea to watch videos on YouTube. I will try it too. I am also trying to connect with my peers who have already been admitted to school psychology program to seek for some advice. Still waiting for their reply. 
Best of luck!!

It’s natural to worry! I’ve been researching interview stuff all week! There are a couple of threads that have been started with great advice for the interviews, I would look them up on the search bar on gradcafe. As far as the attire, I’ve kept seeing that others are getting black suits. I just got a navy blue one for my first day of the interview and two separate pieces, blazer and pants for the second day. I’m also planning on wearing very simple accessories. For my first day, they will be taking us to one of the locations where we would do most of the clinical work so there’ll be a lot of walking. I’m wearing flats or loafers because of all the walking (I’m also terrible in heels ?). Above all, it’s important that you feel comfortable! You don’t want to have to worry about clothing comfort during the interviews when there are so many other things that you will naturally worry about. Wear something that makes you feel like yourself but that it’s also professional. Also, for dinners and socials, I’m thinking of keeping my blouse and blazer/jacket and changing into jeans or khakis since it’ll be a more casual environment. That is if there is enough time to change. They sent me the itinerary for the interview day and it will be a packed day with no breaks! 
Also, I’ve read a lot that you should bring along a black folio? This might be good to hold all of the paperwork you may receive. I’m also planning to bring my questions, copy of CV and any other documents on this as well. 
Good luck on your interview!!! Enjoy the warm FL weather ?

Did anyone else apply to the University of Northern Colorado? Heard anything back yet?
Is it recommended to do an in-person interview instead of skype? Do you think you will be penalized for choosing a skype interview instead of going to campus?
 
I applied to the University of Northern Colorado, University of Oregon, Texas Woman's University, University of Central Arkansas, University of South Florida and Temple University.
 
I picked two of the schools because I would have a strong support system in those locations. The remainder I chose based off of program philosophy (prevention and early intervention), access to diverse populations, faculty research interest and access to my desired population for gathering data. 

I just received an interview invite from UF! Excited but nervous! I'm not sure whether I could go to the campus or do a skype interview since I live in China. It would be a long flight and I worry a lot about the jet lag.
I was also wondering what I should prepare for the interview, the answer for  possible questions, dressing code?
Apart from interview part, there will be luncheon and evening social with graduate students. I guess these two parts will be more casual  but I still feel anxious.
Sorry I worry about the interview too much.

I would do something starting along the lines of "Dear XXX, I am pleased/delighted/etc to accept your offer." and ending along the lines of "I look forward to meeting everyone!" and maybe/probably an extra sentence or two to personalize it but still keep it short and polite

I love this thread! 
Worries: I only applied to two PhD School Psychology programs because they were the only ones I was really interested in and it’s all I could afford. My GRE scores aren’t amazing and I don’t have a lot of research. Will I even get invited for an interview? Will I be able to move out of my parents’ house and be financially okay?
 
Excitements: I am proud of myself for even trying and applying. I know that my strength in my application is my work/volunteer experience. I have had some really good conversations with some professors and a grad student at one of the schools I applied to. I will graduate with my bachelor’s in May!!! If I end up getting accepted somewhere, I will begin a new adventure in a new place and work toward my passion of helping children.

First, it's still very early, you already have one interview invite and you could get more. You're freaking out too early. 
Contacting professors isn't required and likely isn't the problem, so don't worry about that.
Your GRE scores are fine and no one cares about the GRE anymore anyway.
You asked if you should reapply if you don't get enough interview offers, but it should be "should I reapply if I don't get the right admissions offer". You only need to get into one school, and you only need to really like one school. UVA is amazing if you're interested in neuron-glia interactions, and I absolutely loved it when I interviewed. It could be the one.
If you don't get in anywhere: re-evaluate your SOP - that and LORs are the most important component and a lot of people unknowingly throw red flags into their SOPs. 
But again, you're worrying about this wayyyy too early. I continued to get interview invites until mid January. Just because people have started to get them and some people have gotten so many doesn't mean there aren't still so many more to come. Chill. You got this. 

From what I understand, fit is always really important, so I would highlight the ways that your research interests would work with and enhance what they’re doing in their lab, as well as what unique skills, experiences, or research/education you have that will be useful and bring a new perspective.

I just got my first interview invite (UMSL) and I can’t stop smiling!!!

I had one last year and one so far this year. Both times it was explained to me that getting a phone interview means that you meet all the requirements on paper, but the PI wants to ensure a good research/mentorship fit before spending time and resources bringing you out to the in-person. So the questions I was asked were mainly about my research goals/my dream project etc. I didn't feel like I was being tested on my qualifications/rehashing my CV, more just having a two-way convo to determine if there was a possibility that we could have a mutually beneficial mentor/mentee relationship.

Has anyone heard anything from the University of Memphis? I saw one person got an invite through email from their POI, but invites were not sent out this early in the past.
Thanks for any insight!

Happy Christmas Eve to those who celebrate it. Try to take some time to engage in self-care today and don't worry too much about those interview invites! ❤️

Here’s to hearing from our schools he first week of Jan ?? (At least we can hope?)

@wannabeschoolpsych you and me both... I hope we hear back soon! Happy New Year

Hey guys... I keep refreshing the page and constantly checking my email. I’m going insane hahaha. I hope you all have a safe and fun NYE! Happy New Year! Here’s to 2019. ?

Hey guys... I keep refreshing the page and constantly checking my email. I’m going insane hahaha. I hope you all have a safe and fun NYE! Happy New Year! Here’s to 2019. ?

Hope no one’s  like me - refreshing the results page every hour even today, on NYE. 
 
GO OUT AND HAVE FUN! OR STAY HOME AND BE COZY! Enjoy the last day of 2018 with your friends, family, or loved ones. Reward yourself for all your hardwork in the past year. The stressful interview months will come before we know it, so take a break. 
 
Happy new year everyone!

I have heard the current graduate students at my lab talk about how they like to use the time to get to know the interviewees a little bit better, and form a stronger opinion. If you happen to hit it off with a grad student during the home stay, it can put you at an advantage. Opting out of a home stay is almost like giving up an interview. While it is stressful to have to be "on" the whole time, the increased face time allows you to make a better impression and get valuable insight into the program. My lab PI places a huge emphasis on feedback from her graduate students when discussing prospective students after interview weekends, so I would agree with what some other posters said and try and suck it up if you can.  On the other hand, you know yourself best, and if you feel you may be irritable and not refreshed, you might rub your host the wrong way, and that could hurt your chances. Good luck on whatever you decide!