phdhopeful96

Hey, I am still waiting for OSU results also! My PI told me that they had to have names of who they were going to offer admissions in to the department by Columbus Day....I figured that meant we would hear back way quicker, but I guess not. I also think the person who was accepted may have been a Cognitive applicant, so I am not positive of any developmental results either way.

For anyone who applied to Vanderbilt I just found out that the department isn't meeting until Jan 19th about who to interview!

I found this google doc on reddit last night with a various different questions and advice! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z6lq4AHhJTcTh3PX_YbN6W1u645Gl_a8gIaOT8bhFY0/edit

I’d recommend formal attire — but also watch for whether they give any clues in the invite/the invites to specific events. Personally, I’m really hoping that programs match interviewees with current students (as they would with a homestay). When I interviewed last year the students I stayed with were so helpful in resolving any concerns I had about how formal/not to dress for specific events. I also learned much more about the programs that way that I ever would have otherwise.
As far as showing up well on camera goes, I’ve actually done a fair bit of reading on this just for classes and teaching ? Some recommend wearing solid colors, as cameras generally render them in a way that’s more flattering than patterns. Additionally, I would try to get the lighting right. Setting up your camera so that you’re facing a window is a good, low-cost way to do this. You can also get one of those lighting rings. Basically, you want the light to hit you square in the face rather than raking across it (side lighting) or lighting you from behind (backlighting). You can also put a pillow behind your back so that you naturally lean forward a little. It makes you look more engaged and focuses the camera more on your face than your body. I’ve also noticed that leaning forward has a slimming effect if that’s something you care about. Leaning back does the opposite, and puts more camera emphasis on your chest. I think it goes without saying to make sure your background is clean/presentable. 
 
Anyways, my compulsive need to research everything I do aside, good luck on your interviews! I’m sure you’ll be great ? 
 
 

I’m interviewing for clinical and counseling programs, and I am planning to wear a blazer and slacks. My main tips would be to assess how your planned shirt color appears on camera with your skin tone - I’m not pale, but black shirts make me look like a featureless ghost on camera, especially in full daylight. Also, wear pants! I’ve heard some horror stories of people being forced to get up (maybe they spill their coffee, or the interviewers encourage everyone to get up and stretch) and reveal they are not wearing pants. 

What I noticed during a couple of my interviews last year was some interviewees constantly trying to be "impressive". PI's have already reviewed your application and already know you are qualified, now they just want to get to know YOU, as a person. Focus less on trying to be better than others or trying to prove why you deserve a spot. I recommend instead focusing more on trying to be your authentic self and everything else PsyDuck90 said. When I interviewed I made a document for each school I got an interview at and went through their website and their handbook and write down any questions I had: specific to the program, specific to the PI, specific to graduate student life, and specific to how they address social justice issues. I also added some of my key points I wanted to try and touch on during my interview with the PI (this was more to ease my nerves in case my brain went blank), such as my research interests and research ideas that could complement their line of research. I honestly had a great time during my interviews and I think a lot of it had to do with me just reminding myself that the hardest part was getting the interview, now it was more about getting to know me and about me getting to know them and how my quality of life would be if I were to get an offer. Also make friends with the other interviewees! They will eventually be your colleagues and you might see them at other interviews or future conferences.

1. Make sure you are prepared to discuss anything that's on your CV, especially any posters/presentations. So if you've got something that you presented a few years ago, make sure you refresh your memory. 
2. Be familiar with the current work your POI has put out in recent years. Make sure you have a pitch on what you can bring to their lab. Maybe have an idea or 2 for potential projects, just in case they ask. Why does their work interest you? What skills do you bring to the table? 
3. Be familiar with various aspects of the program overall. Have a good response if/when they ask why this program. Research match is 1 (very) important part of it, but what else about the program do you like? Are there particular practicum placement options you like? Are there specific course offerings that stand out? Outside of the standard curriculum required for APA accreditation that is. Reading through the student handbook (should be available online) is a really good way to assess program culture/policies/expectations/etc. 
4. Have questions. Have questions for your POI, as well as any other faculty, and any current students you may meet with. Make sure these questions aren't easily answered by reading the online written material or the handbook. Use the available information to craft questions that show you have spent time looking into this program and are invested in it. Don't be afraid to ask the same question to multiple people. You can also ask questions about the city/surrounding area, especially to current students. 
5. I cannot stress this enough. Be a person! You are not a robot with 0 personality. While you obviously want to remain professional, be you. You will be in this program for a minimum of 4-5 years. That means the faculty and other students will be engaging with you for a number of years. They are looking for capable, but they are also looking for people they can see themselves working with for 5 years. Being likable goes a long way. I just got my letters of recommendation for my next round of externship applications, and all my letter writers devoted the last paragraph to how likable and responsible and easy to work with I am. I don't think they all unanimously thought that was important to include by accident. People like working with people they like. Be natural and be you, since that's who you'll be for the foreseeable future.

Same! I really have no idea what to do now....

I think Vandy NGP sends their invites on a rolling basis as well as IGP.
https://www.thegradcafe.com/survey/index.php?q=Vanderbilt+neuroscience&t=a&o=&pp=25

well I take that back...looks like a lot of different interview dates maybe it was NGP as well.....
*internal screaming*

I'm wondering this too! It looks like the only invites that have been posted have been for IGP not NGP. 
I applied NGP...hoping that makes a difference for when the invites will be sent out?
(For the record, I also applied to their Cog Neuro track under the Psych PhD (same PI), and I haven't heard of anyone hearing back about that program either - holding out hope for both lol)

Vanderbilt sent me an email yesterday with an invitation to interview. I'm not sure if they're done sending out invites, but the email was sent directly to me and had my name. Also, I applied directly to the NGP, so it could be different for IGP folks. 

@justanotherbutterfly
I've tried to link in this reply a reddit post that I found very helpful for my first phone call interview (which went kind of rough - she asked for my research interest at the school and I said I didn't have anything specific in mind yet and would like to tailor my interests to the needs of the population in the school's state. I had 15 minutes notice for mine so the interests I gave might have been too general!). I think familiarizing yourself with the recent lab projects and publications can also help more than just reading the professor's papers. I would also look on the lab page and check on the goals of the lab students for your PI - you don't want to have a career goal that deviates significantly from what the school can provide (I didn't get a chance to do this before mine and I kind of regret it. My career goals are malleable but I think faculty like to see students who have something set in mind - usually academia is what I answer). A lot of the 30 minutes will be spread between answering questions, general banter, etc. And just be sure you have at least one question to ask them if you can, I think it shows more initiative. Good luck!

I just had my first preliminary interview for Ohio State! If anyone else applied, my PI said they should be sending out formal interview invites within the next week for the second week in January (exact date not specified), and that the department requires them to have their final decisions submitted by Martin Luther King Day?
Wish every department moved this fast lol

Sorry the link did not work!
I decided this time to play it safe and just share it via google docs
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xNBTL9utx8kzyALhD9286tzfslxABrnh/view?usp=sharing

Yay! I'm so excited this thread was made so I can stop creeping around in the clinical threads lol
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Cognitive and Developmental Science track of their Experimental program)
Type: PhD
Date of invite: December 4th
Type of invite: E-mail invite from PI I listed as my top choice
Interview date(s): January 29th (tentative, subject to change as they are in the planning stages)
 

Obsessively looking at programs "admissions tables" where they list their admitted classes  stats. Just making sure I stack up decently, and hoping the applicant pools remain the same size lol (with IUP reporting the highest applicant #s historically). 
One moment I think, oh yeah, I got this. Then I look again, again, and again... and change my mind. I hate this game lol 

Yay! I'm so excited this thread was made so I can stop creeping around in the clinical threads lol
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Cognitive and Developmental Science track of their Experimental program)
Type: PhD
Date of invite: December 4th
Type of invite: E-mail invite from PI I listed as my top choice
Interview date(s): January 29th (tentative, subject to change as they are in the planning stages)
 

Yay! I'm so excited this thread was made so I can stop creeping around in the clinical threads lol
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Cognitive and Developmental Science track of their Experimental program)
Type: PhD
Date of invite: December 4th
Type of invite: E-mail invite from PI I listed as my top choice
Interview date(s): January 29th (tentative, subject to change as they are in the planning stages)
 

Obviously this has been a stressful time and I keep refreshing all the things as sort of a compulsion to deal with my anxiety. However I've been trying to frame this time in this way:
This is a time of opportunity. I have applied to 7 schools I am excited about and because I have not heard either way about anything, there is still possibility for each one. I have my own separate fantasy of the research and I could conduct with each POI and what my day to day would be like at each location. Yes I could get no interview invitations, or if I do I could get no acceptances. However, in this moment my future is full of possibility and excitement and I'm choosing to be in that space (at least today - other days I'm filled with dread.) 
 
I have no where else to express these musings so here we are

Yay! I'm so excited this thread was made so I can stop creeping around in the clinical threads lol
School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Cognitive and Developmental Science track of their Experimental program)
Type: PhD
Date of invite: December 4th
Type of invite: E-mail invite from PI I listed as my top choice
Interview date(s): January 29th (tentative, subject to change as they are in the planning stages)
 

Hello all! I haven't seen a cog thread so thought I would just make one. I copied the template from last year's thread. Gook luck to us all!!
 
Here's a little template we can use:
School:
Type: PhD/MA/MS/etc
Date of invite:
Type of invite: Mass email, email from PI, phone call, etc.
Interview date(s):

Folks, fret not about grad school admissions tonight for our savior TSwfit is dropping another album. Just thought I'd share some good news to help keep our minds occupied ?

I agree with @pomegranateleaves! I did a few informal Zoom interviews before applying just so PI's could put a face with a name when it came time to reviewing my apps. Most of these were super casual, just trying to get an idea of my experiences and what I want to do with those as a doctoral student. The PI's also told me about their upcoming projects (which was super helpful in ascertaining if their research is still going in a direction you want to pursue). A good question to ask is the role of a grad student when they first join the lab (do they jump right in to their own project, begin work on the PI's current projects, or analysis with an old data set?). That can give you an idea of what you might be doing as a student in that program!
Remember, as much as it might not seem like it - these interviews are just as much about you determining fit as them! 

I agree with @pomegranateleaves! I did a few informal Zoom interviews before applying just so PI's could put a face with a name when it came time to reviewing my apps. Most of these were super casual, just trying to get an idea of my experiences and what I want to do with those as a doctoral student. The PI's also told me about their upcoming projects (which was super helpful in ascertaining if their research is still going in a direction you want to pursue). A good question to ask is the role of a grad student when they first join the lab (do they jump right in to their own project, begin work on the PI's current projects, or analysis with an old data set?). That can give you an idea of what you might be doing as a student in that program!
Remember, as much as it might not seem like it - these interviews are just as much about you determining fit as them!