rileyjj

I guess I did great during my preliminary interview because my POI just invited me to an official one next week and told me she was preparing an email to introduce me to her lab if I was still interested AND OF COURSE I AM. I am so shocked. On Monday when we had the preliminary interview, she told me to expect to hear from her in a few weeks..............its been THREE DAYS. I am so happy. 

School: University of New Mexico
Type: Clinical Psychology Ph.D.
Date of invite: 1/11/2021
Type of invite: Email from POI for informal phone interview
Interview date(s): 1/18/2021
DM for POI: Yes

School: John Jay CUNY
Type: Clinical Psychology PhD
Date of invite: Jan 13th
Type of invite: Mass email from the director of clinical program
Interview date(s): Jan 29th via Zoom
DM for POI: No
 
My first invite Yay!!

I get that you are worried, trust me, I am in the same position but crossing off the school from your list now or later won't really make a difference if you are going to be rejected (I hope that you aren't though!). I know it is easier said than done but the reality is that until January end, you just can't know what position you are in. We took months for our applications and understandably, the faculty will take time to send invites, some might send them all at once, some might do it differently. With COVID, even the most predictable things are unpredictable. If you are this worried about not getting in (at least I am haha), what's been helping me is slowly coming up with back-up plans; if you don't hear back from any schools till January end, then ramp up your efforts for the back-up plans. Crossing off the schools right away or later...would it really matter? You can't change your application anymore. It's a tough spot.  Reach out if you wanna rant or get ideas for distraction, not that many people in our lives understand this experience as much as we do. 

To the person who posted about the preliminary interview to the University of Michigan's program, would you be willing to share the PI's initials?

Happy New Year indeed!!
School: Washington State University 
Type: Clinical PhD
Date of invite: 1/1/2021
Type of invite: E-mail from PI
Interview date(s): Preliminary interview for the weeks of 1/4 or 1/11
DM for POI: Yes

School: Washington State University 
Type: Clinical PhD
Date of invite: 12/29/2020
Type of invite: E-mail from PI
Interview date(s): Preliminary interview on 1/5
DM for POI: Yes

School: University of North Texas
Type: Clinical PhD
Date of invite: 12/28/2020
Type of invite: E-mail from DCT
Interview date(s): Choose from 2/5 or 2/8
DM for POI: yes

Merry Christmas for all who are celebrating!
I hope we all get in our top choices!
This came in yesterday for me:
Official Interview:
School: University of Iowa
Type: Clinical PhD
Date of invite: 12/24 (check your junk folders!)
Type of invite: email from POI
Interview dates: 2/5-2/6
DM for POI: yes

Welp this was a nice surprise to wake up to this morning! Best Christmas present ever! 

School: University of Missouri-St Louis
Type: PhD
Date of invite: 12/24
Type of invite: Email from Director
Interview date(s): 1/29 
POI: EG/RWN (I had to list two)

School: University of Missouri-St Louis
Type: PhD
Date of invite: 12/24
Type of invite: i believe it’s a mass email
Interview date(s): 1/29 
DM for POI: Yes!

I found mine by looking at a university's "Career/Jobs Website." Just google desired university with "career/jobs," and you should find a webpage with a list of open RA positions that you can apply for.  

There seems to be such an uptick in anxiety this year, and I just wanted to offer some perspective.
I'm on my third time applying, and each year I've learned something about myself through the application process. It's corny, but I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. In retrospect, it didn't work out in other years because it wasn't meant to be. I had more to learn from my current supervisors and mentors, I had the opportunity to find research labs to apply to this year that were a better fit for my interests, etc. That's not to say it didn't suck when I didn't get in the previous two years - it absolutely did. BUT remember that our careers have already started! We are already doing research and working in the clinical psych sector. Getting into a program is just an extension of that. There are a great deal of factors that influence admission to a program. It's not much solace, but so many qualified applicants don't get in each year. Don't give up!
All that to say, if it doesn't work out this year, take some time to grieve and then reflect on what you've learned, and how you can approach applications differently next cycle. To those that celebrate, Merry Christmas - take some time to be with family and enjoy life! There is much more to living than clinical psych applications. 

School: Louisiana State 
Type: Clinical Ph.D.
Date of invite: 12/23/2020
Type of invite: Email from POI 
Interview date(s): 01/22
DM for POI: Sure!

School: Louisiana State 
Type: Clinical Ph.D.
Date of invite: 12/23/2020
Type of invite: Email from POI 
Interview date(s): 01/22
DM for POI: Sure!

Two invites in an hour, what a day XD
School: Penn State University
Type: PhD Clinical Psych
Date of invite: 12/17/20
Type of invite: Email from POI
Interview date(s): Choice of Jan 29 or Jan 30
DM for POI: Yes

Looks like someone got an informal interview (seen on the admissions results page). I applied there as well- fingers crossed!

I also haven’t heard back from them. Not sure how much we’ll be able to trust prior timelines with the increased apps though 

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

If it's at all reassuring, last year I received interview invites for 6 clinical psych phd programs ranging from December 26-January 22! I also know that due to the increased number of applicants this year that things may be taking longer (inside scoop from a clinical psych phd faculty). I recommend not being too harsh on yourself - it's quite early yet ❤️ 

From what I understand, profs hold prelim interviews with applicants they are on the fence about. So, if they already know you are a good fit for their lab, they might not feel the need to hold a prelim. I wouldn't worry until the formal invites come through. 

School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Type: Counseling PhD
Date of invite: December 14
Type of invite: Email from DCT, 15-minute phone interview
Interview date(s): This week
 

It can be either. When I applied about 50% came from the grad coordinator or DCT, and 50% came from the POI. 

I read on SDN from a faculty member that interview invites might not come until January. Hang tight, and don't worry if you don't get an interview invite this month!

Hi everyone, this is definitely just nerves hitting in but if we do get an interview email is it typically from the general grad application email address or the PI? My email has been filtering some grad emails as spam and even deleting them, so I'm going to play around in my settings to see what's going on, but knowing where to expect them from would be helpful!