crazygirl2012

I have to disagree with you on this point. For those of us who aren't good at math, it is best to try the "tricks." Not all of us can just learn to answer the question. Math does not come easily to me (compared to everything else academic, anyway) and no matter how much I study, I can't look at a math problem and know what to do with it, even if it's simple like GRE math. Most people I know can read the question and figure out how to answer it. For those who can't, don't discount the strategies entirely!

For me, it worked best to read papers before I left so I could relax on the plane and not think about the interview. To each his/her own!

Wow, I am so sorry to hear that! That's a terrible experience. I don't know what else has happened to you during this process, but I hope you can recognize that this program's behavior is not a reflection on you.

It's true that academia is the "correct" answer to that question, but it's such an important question that I really think you should be honest, even if it hurts your chances of getting in. I hope you'll find a program that will support you in your goals!

I've been sending thank you emails to my POIs after interview days. It's definitely worth doing-- you might get a really nice response!

I chose to sit in the lab at school for my phone interviews because my roommates have a tendency to yell obscene things at random intervals. It depends entirely on your living situation and personal preferences. As long as you don't have something totally weird in the background, your home should be fine.

Update from a psychology Ph.D. applicant: my app status still says "under review." They already had their interview weekend, so I've given up. I decided that moving to Canada isn't a realistic option for me anyway, so it's alright!

I keep getting variations of this one: "So what else is happening in your life other than grad school stuff?" *awkward silence* "Oh... i guess that is your life." Yes. Yes it is.

Way to make me awkwardly burst out laughing in the lab when I have research participants here.

At my interview this weekend, they asked "if you were accepted, how likely is it that you would come here?" because they don't have a wait list. If you decline the offer, it simply disappears. Thankfully they are my top choice, so I didn't have to evade the question! I was honest about my other interviews and admission offer thus far. I wanted them to take me seriously and to recognize that other schools have shown interest in me.

I was hesitant to try social, but I began to explore it because I was interested in clinical topics (like disordered eating and substance abuse) in subclinical populations. Social psychology is a very broad field. For example, I'm entering grad school to study college adjustment. The social environment has an enormous impact on the type of behavior that can (but usually does not) become a clinical disorder. In social psychology, I can study the same behavior as it applies to more people. That line of research can directly influence policy decisions. Some social psychology research is clearly applicable, but I agree that plenty of it is not.

Don't worry about it. Your professor probably emailed you as soon as the decision was made, and the graduate office could still take awhile to update it. Congratulations!

THIS. (And I just noticed the CU-Boulder post on here too. That is also a source of discomfort in my life.)

I hate to admit it, but I am reading the Twilight series on plane rides to and from interviews. If you want a non-TV distraction from all the grad school application madness, I highly recommend it. I had a nice conversation with a sixth grader about it on a plane last week.

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with you wearing sunglasses indoors when you need to. I doubt anyone wants you to be in pain! There's a big difference between a fashion statement and a medical condition.

You could wear a nice sweater, dress pants, and flats or low heels. A dress with tights is another alternative, as long as it's reasonably modest and professional. Contacting a grad student to ask about the dress code is always a good idea.

I haven't been carrying a notebook or folder, and so far it has worked just fine. From what I've seen, most people don't carry that stuff. Some, mostly clinical candidates, do. If it makes you more comfortable and you can keep it subtle and professional-looking, go for it.

Same! I forgot to add that. Collaboration is a great topic to ask about.

I asked a lot of questions related to teaching and TAing. It's important to know when you'll be expected to actually teach in front of a class (one school said first semester!), whether you will be given instruction (such as a teaching effectiveness seminar) before teaching, and what kinds of teaching opportunities you will be given after you have a master's degree. Some programs allow you to essentially teach your own course, if you're interested in doing so. You can ask faculty or students what they like and dislike about living in the area. You can also ask students (preferably without faculty there) if they can live comfortably with the stipend, whether or not most people have roommates, and which neighborhoods are the best for grad students to live in. Ask them about their office spaces too. When there are no faculty around, you can ask the students what they think of their coursework and your POI's mentoring style. Throughout your time with them, pay attention to how well they appear to work together and whether or not they essentially like each other. It's important! In a group meeting, you can ask whether or not the school offers health insurance. You might also want to know their procedure for qualifying/candidacy exams, if they don't go over it with you. For the person who asked about the individual interview with the POI-- yes, definitely have plenty of questions prepared. You can ask what upcoming projects they will be working on. How many students are currently in their lab. How long students usually take to complete the program. I've done two of my interview weekends so far. The one that was a good fit was easy, and we kept talking until we ran out of time. The other one was more awkward, but I got through it. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can think of questions when necessary! But if it's a good fit, you probably won't need to fire off question after question.

Although I sympathize, I think it would be a bad idea to reschedule. In grad school, you will be expected to work at full capacity even when you're exhausted. Rescheduling because it will be 10 pm your time could be taken as a sign of weakness. Get some caffeine in your system if that works for you, take extra notes so you don't have to rely so much on your memory, and get it done. Good luck!