Mike_AB

Congratulations!!! Very happy for you, I remember all international students from the interview days. Same situation here. The difference that I got a rejection letter this morning. After an interview with a TOP university, it is a terrible feeling for international students after being rejected (not even wait-listed). International students do not have that many offers from top universities (like US citizens do). Some of my acquaintances who worked hard like me (citizens, I really don't know a single international student who wants to get to a neuroscience program) got into all top schools (this year and during previous years). Still, it is almost impossible for international students to hit 3-5 top schools. If you got one, it is the day of your life! So, I would advise the admission committees not to invite international students to interviews unless they really want them to choose their program. Do they think international students are in the same position as domestic students and have to choose between Harvard, MIT, Yale, and Johns Hopkins? It is such a bummer. I would give a month from my life to turn things back and not being chosen for the interview. Because now it is going to hurt for years. Many UCSD professors told me how great my application is and my personality too, and we talked that I want to join their labs. Then I just got a general (the one is given to students who are not selected for interviews) rejection letter...now I feel like a jerk because of their extremely kind attitude that gave me hope that I did not have in the beginning of the application process, when I was realistic about my chances. Cause I knew if I was given the interview, I will get in, and it was right for all programs that chose me. Why not just interview me in a normal way without all that enthusiasm for my candidature?

Deleting it....apparently I can't do it...

4sdch,you have received offers from all these top universities. Where do you want to go? Just asking, don't get me wrong (If I had an offer from Harvard,I would not think much about my decision). LOL

Yes!!! 40 minutes ago it was not there. I have been checking Slack all day. So, still some hope...

And that fact is killing me...

It looks like they are doing it today...and I haven't received their call...

4sdch, thank you for sharing this! I hope SNAAP still does what it does. I signed for the interview. I already had one preliminary talk with a professor from a program, and I remember I was thinking, "it is so good that I have a detailed answer to the question "why you chose our university and my lab in particular." I think it is crucial to indicate some important distinguishable features of the program and the university. That question, I think, will be asked everywhere. I have done a lot of research in Psychology and Behavior. Also, I did summer volunteering, and I have 1,5 years of research in the neuroscience lab. My problem is to arrange them logically and tell only essential details.

Any tips on how you guys are going to prepare for interviews? Does anyone have suggestions from professors? As long as I know after the interview, the chance you get in is 50%. How do they choose the right person?

I got an interview invitation from UCSD. The email was sent on Dec 28th.

Congratulations!!!