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School: University of California Riverside Cognitive Neuroscience Type: PhD Date of invite: 12/2/2020 Type of invite: email from PI that I had already been in contact with. Recommended for admission Interview date(s): 1/15/2020

I have done two informal interviews with one POI and I came super prepared. They asked me to present at their lab meeting about research I have done in the past, and then asked me a lot of questions. I had like a 30 slide powerpoint with figures and examples of tasks just in case. They definitely weren't expecting that, but it is always better to be more prepared. The second informal interview was primarily making sure our work flow would match up and then the POI pitched me various studies that she could see me working on and how she pictures the trajectory to be specifically for me.

Hello, I have interviewed twice with a PI at one of the schools I applied to and at the end of my second interview she informed me that she would be recommending me for admission. I know this isn't an official, but I am a bit confused because there is a virtual department interview in January. Does anyone have experience with this and know what it means? We were already planning first year projects, but then there another interview? Thank you!

Hello, I am in a similar boat. The two schools I am applying to don't require the Personal History Statement (the Statement of Purpose is required) and they want me to discuss my diversity and how I would help others with my degree. Ideally, I would want to discuss my learning disability but they are so taboo in schools that I worry about how a PI would take this. I would discuss how I ultimately want to work in academia and help formulate course materials that are appropriate for neurodiverse students and how I have worked with students diagnosed with learning disabilities and used skills I've learned for myself to teach these students. Overall, I see it as a positive, but I am worried that I'll be stigmatized based on this even though I don't plan on asking for any accommodations. I would love anyone's opinions or thoughts on this!