42ed

I love my field (medical) and I am trying to be very strategic in terms of setting myself for high-demand positions in public/comm. health and policy, along with professorships. Also, I agree with TakeruK, and I will only be doing the things that I feel are rewarding and if that stops, if it goes from "good stress" to too much bad stress - I'm done. Personally, I am loving the journey so far and I don't really have an end-goal per se, but I am privileged in terms of my living and current job situation. I think the worst thing about all of this is that there isn't a lot of flexibility due to a dearth of jobs. You have to always be working towards tenure; you don't have the freedom to take breaks or find another desirable position at the drop of a hat like you can in another position, despite your enviable resume.

Thanks iphi, I certainly won't! And lulubelle, I'm dreading that I will have to wait another week or so, normally not this impatient but future riding on this etc. Hope it's coming tomorrow, will post if it does! Congratulations mochicologa!!! That's awesome and the signs are crazy!! if you believe that sort of thing (which, at times like these, I totally do, lol!)

I was supposed to hear by "the end of [this] week" according to my interviewers. I have received no e-mails or mail. My interview went really quite well (like, at the time I was confident enough to say it was unofficially a done deal) but now I'm going crazy and thinking that maybe I misinterpreted the whole thing, like the whole interview was a stress/fever induced hallucination. For example, when the Professor said X her really meant Y and I am a delusional idiot. This is not doing good things for my blood pressure or self-esteem. This is me everytime I open my e-mail (which is every 10 minutes) and there are only tumbleweeds running through my inbox:

Hi lindzardz, congratulations!!! I would just add that, though you don't need to have a research question figured out, I would still just browse some current abstracts related to your topics of interest if you haven't already done so. You wanna be able to talk about what interests you and why and the "nuts and bolts" are what they want to see/hear I.e feel free to think out loud!! Good luck

I like your outfit. I think that would work well with the black blazer, and it sounds like it will make you feel confident! I also believe in standing out so I wore: red shirt, black blazer, dark grey skirt, v.similar to this image, but more professional. I've also worn red sweater over black or white shirt, black dress pants, black blazer. I like to stick with solids + layering myself, sometime even going for all black and greys but for grad school interviews red is my color, i dunno why but it makes me feel more confident! Good Luck!!!

I would suggest keeping up with developments in your field, reading up on what the profs are into (regardless of the course-based nature of the program) and, if they are available, checking out the syllabi of the courses that you will be taught. As well, usually grad programs have "mission statements" which can indicate the attitude, values of the program and professors. Usually, they want to make sure that you are a good, conscientious person with the ability/potential to succeed in the program. With most programs, I always tell others to cultivate the kind of confidence that will make the interviewers feel that you are a colleague rather than a nervous, shaky undergrad (even though this is actually the case, lol). And I cannot stress this enough: SMILE!

Yeah, that seems...odd. I checked Alberta listings on results from last year and a couple of people were wait listed for couns. Psych on march 26 and 27 so...maybe acceptances will be sent out earlier? Dunno what to think :|

Thank you!! Such reassurance can be quite comforting during the wait.

You should be very proud that you got an interview, no matter what happens, because that is an accomplishment too!! I had to keep reminding myself to that.

During my interview, the Dean said that I should def. apply for scholarships and big funding, and GAs because my grades are really good and my research interests fit really well and other good stuff...but I'm still really nervous. I hear next week and I just don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, so to speak. Okay. So, I think most people would consider these good signs and I would too, I do, but...like everyone else I'm still on the rollercoaster from superstar confidence to eeyore-like pessimism . Good luck to everyone!!

Thanks for compiling this list. It really helped me. My interviews were blessedly to the point and very much short conversations. What really helped was practicing the responses to the big questions - research interests, experience, education, ethics, with a webcam and recording myself. I noticed some important things that I was able to correct (like I frown when I'm thinking which comes off as looking unenthusiastic/disinterested).

Hi Brittany, I haven't heard from Alberta either. A friend who applied to public health there last year heard in April. Of course, each department works differently but i know little else about U of A. Hang in there!

Just finished an interview, they told me I'd hear by end of next week. I know others haven't heard even a peep but oh, the wait.... *sigh*

"Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you." -From a commencement speech by English teacher David McCullough at Wellesley High School Also: Be your own hero!

I had the same dilemma, and I chose Skype because I'm applying to Psych and have a ton of counselling experience - basically, I feel that my body language and communication skills are a strong point and I would like to use them to my advantage. Initially, I thought I should go with phone (I hate important phonecalls) because I could have my notes in front of me . But I'd rather just be myself and be able to see the people I am talking to and observe their body language, as ArtHistory said. Also, in my experience interviewing others over the phone it can be quite an annoying experience as part of a panel. Furthermore, never underestimate the power of a smile!