NYU CompLit - Freaking out about the phone interview

[Graograman]

Hello.

I am new to this place and don't tend to post my worries in random virtual places, but I need some way to vent out, and perhaps even get some advice regarding my (somewhat ridiculous) predicament.

I applied to a number of Ph.D. programs in Comparative Literature for the Fall 2008 term, and I just got an e-mail from NYU notifying me about a phone interview on the 21st of February. NYU is my top choice because my focus is Italian, namely Dante, and NYU's Italian department is quite good. Besides they have Freccero, who is brilliant and with whom I have worked in the past with great results. So far so good.

The problem is that I have social anxiety, and I get extremely nervous at any kind of actual conversation. Worse regarding this kind of high-pressure situation, in which I have to speak coherently about subjects of a certain complexity. I am an extremely punctillious, perhaps even talented writer, and I rely extensively on this ability because whenever I need to communicate orally it tends to turn out for the worst. I cannot concentrate, I don't have the soothing whiteness of paper before me, people start wincing and I want to run away. I also learned that the professors who will conduct the interview are John Hamilton and Gabriela Basterra, two people I had never heard about. You might find this a little irrational, perhaps, but all this adds to my anxiety. I didn't know that this step was required for a Ph.D. application, and I'm really freaking out about this. It doesn't help that English is my third language and I have been living in the U.S. for only two years now, so I still make blunders now and then and my accent is very noticeable. I know that my application is strong, my interest is genuine and my knowledge of my field is more than decent. I also have a good case regarding my application to CompLit instead of Italian, since my focus is rather theoretical and I will be using a huge amount of Heidegger and Derrida. But whenever I think of actually speaking about these things, my mind goes blank.

Of course, it is a huge relief that it is, after all, a phone interview, meaning that I will be able to frantically press my stress ball while I talk, and they will be none the wiser. But I also have thought that, perhaps, preparing conscientiously for the interview will help me relieve some of my anxiety. Therefore I thought of asking if anyone has been through this little process, and if they know what to expect.

I thank you guys in advance for your kind responses to this neurotic post. And good luck to you all in your applications and academic endeavors!

[litch]

I think most grad students have this problem to some extent -- I've noticed that the people who do go to grad school usually aren't the people who dominated discussions in the undergrad classroom. A lot of the professors I meet (and admire) are just painfully socially awkward. Then they get up in front of a classroom and do their own thing, and students love them for it. Remember, these profs are much more like you than most other people in this world are.

I would write out questions you think they'll ask and answer them ahead of time. You'll definitely need to explain any previous research you've done, what got you interested in your field, what got you interested in their program, and so on. Also, be sure to have some questions of your own to ask. You can even practice by talking to yourself...

Mostly you just need to calm down though. The more you stress over it, the bigger of a deal it is..

[ondine]

I had a recent phone interview, also not in my native tongue. My voice does not transmit well over the phone, and especially older people often have trouble hearing me.

My action plan:

First, I went to a nearby family home in the country, where I knew I'd have quiet and access to a land line. Second, I read my interviewer's bio. Third, I decided to stick post-it notes that addressed:

-what had occupied the chief good and market of my time over the past year

-why I wanted to attend that program (here, if you don't already know, emphasize compatibility--remember you are right for the program, your work fits in with what your professor does there)

-plus some good questions that I knew would animate my particular interviewer

To warm up, I spoke with a couple of friends about an hour before to practice speaking in the language, and they gave me pep talks. After the interview, I wrote the person a brief "thank you" email.

You probably know your research better than they will. In my interview, we only spoke casually of my intended course of study, as my interviewer had a different research interest. Couldn't hurt to jot down some potentially relevant phrases about your work in relation to Derrida, etc. My interviewer did most of the talking, which was fine by me--they are also trying to sell you their department.

At NYU I only know a few people in the comp lit department, so I hesitate to give advice... I will say I know a bright applicant who was rather risque, in-your-face who got in all the top places except NYU. Since my writing sample was already pretty racy, I played a very focused application at NYU, and I got in.

You've already made it past the first round. You'll get it. And maybe I'll see you there in September.

[Graograman]

Well, the interview just finished and I think it went well. I am definitely not as fluent when speaking as I am when I write, but still I felt that I did good. Curiously enough, I felt I answered the tough questions better than the simple ones. Now back to the accursed waiting...

[ondine]

Ah, I am glad--let us know how it turns out.

(In the event that it might be useful information for others, the interview I described above apparently went well; I was accepted to that program.)

[byrony]

I also applied to NYU Comp Lit. Is it safe to assume that I will not be accepted because I was not offered a phone interview?

[Graograman]

Well, in the e-mail in which they informed me about the interview they stated that it was needed because I had advanced to "the last round of consideration for admission"; so, in my humble opinion, I do consider it a safe assumption that you didn't advance to that round. However, I wouldn't completely give up hope until you get a letter.

/ramble on

This morning one of the interviewers answered my thank you note briefly, saying that it had also been a pleasure to talk to me. I so, so, so wanna read this as a good sign...

Oh, and, by the way, I'm being so self-centered regarding this that I completely forgot to acknowledge ondine's help. I prepared my interview using all your wonderful advice. I secured a time when the adjunct professors' office at the U where I work was empty, and locked myself in (lol). I jolted a few sentences about my work in post-its that I organized neatly in front of me and even got to use a couple of them (yay). I also tried and answer in writing beforehand some of the most typical questions, which helped me quite a bit. I even studied my interviewers' bios, and therefore reread a lot of my Grammatology, knowing that one of them would be interested in that.

One thing that I didn't do, though, and that I felt hurt me in the end, was to prepare questions for them. When I finished rambling about their last theoretical question, I was told that it was time for me to ask them something, and I had to answer that I couldn't think of anything, which was rather lame.

Man, I'm so charged up about this. I must have opened my e-mail fifty times today already, and it's only 9:00 a.m. Pray with me, folks...!

/ramble off

[SimoneSimon]

Hi Graograman,

I, too had this interview, with the same two people. I don't think it went too tremendously well. I was vague and not enthusiastic enough, I think. I also completely agree about the more complex theoretical questions being easier than the more straightforward ones. They give you more direction, I find. I certainly felt that Dr. Hamilton was more receptive to me than Dr. Basterra, but then I wondered if it was just their personalities (his being more emotive). Please keep me updated on any news you receive! Where else have you applied/been accepted?

[Graograman]

For a number of personal and extra-academic reasons, I had to apply only to NYU (Comp. Lit). and Columbia (Italian - Comp. Lit). Haven't heard from the latter, and I have a bad feeling about it for no particular reason.

I did feel that Dr. Hamilton was a lot more friendly and talkative; but then again, Dr. Basterra's questions were extremely well focused. Also, since we're being specific, it was Dr. Hamilton that answered the thank you note. I guess that it's just that he's more of a people person.

Please keep me posted as well, and good luck!

[Graograman]

In the results page someone posted that not having been notified of an admission yet is an implicit rejection. Is that true? Where do you gather that from? Comments?

I'm depressed now...

[Phedre]

I don't think that's true... I just heard from a friend who got in and was notified a day or so ago, but he also was notified late of his interview. it seems rather haphazard and not organized in any chronological fashion.

Maybe if you are ocncerned, just write an email re-expressing what a pleasure it was to talk to them and reaffirming your interest in the program?

good luck! don't worry!!!

[Graograman]

Well, I'm officially waitlisted and officially depressed. I knew that the interview would substract some points from my application. Now I'm praying, yet again, for someone to prefer another program. And still no word from Columbia...

What -exactly- does it mean to be waitlisted? Should I completely give up hope?

[SimoneSimon]

Ugh!

You've heard??!! I haven't heard a peep (although, to be fair, there's a time difference between here and the states of 6 hours, and you just posted. Nevertheless, not hearing = dumped in the trashbin, I suspect.

[ondine]

You might write the professors you're interested in working with and reiterate your enthusiasm, especially if you know them already and if your work fits in with what they're already doing. Remember that you have to demonstrate that you're compatible, not necessarily that you're the best. That is surely the most important thing when you're applying to humanities programs.

If you think your accent or speech truly belies your obviously strong language ability (and I mean truly--if you feel that is your only/greatest weakness), you might ask them if you can further prove your written level. I probably would not go there, though--not in this country. I had little black marks on my application, but I consciously ignored them when I presented myself. Some applications had a space where you could explain anything you believed the application did not capture, and I never touched those.

If I may, your writing style echoes that of the narrator in Pale Fire by Nabokov. I wonder whether you might have been able to somehow play that up in your personal statement (if you did not already) and bravely make use of the comparison, as English is your third language. You might have been able to use squeamishness of human interactions to your advantage. I'm not sure whether that would have been the right strategy for NYU, but it's a thought. Of course, it's the wrong time to speak of that.

In any case, it's not bad news--don't despair--it just means you're going to have to push your application a bit harder.

Good luck!

[allzumenschlich]

Coming from inside this department, I must respectfully disagree with Ondine--basically, there's nothing more you can do at this point but wait. Hopefully they told you your ranking on the waitlist (right?), and this is not something you can change, insofar as it was designated by the whole admissions committee (which putatively won't be meeting again). Historically, I think the first, second, and often third person on this particular waitlist can pretty much expect to get in, albeit sometimes not until maddeningly late (i.e., after April 15); beyond those, it becomes more a matter of luck.

And speaking of luck, I wouldn't attribute this result to any deficiency in your application, problem with your interview, etc.. The fact that you got to the final round means your application was very, very good, and if you thought the interview went well and got a nice response to your thank-you email, I seriously doubt that it had any negative impact--although this is the first year that NYU used them, these things tend to be more about weeding people out than making fine distinctions among those who survive them, so as long as you seemed minimally cogent, mentally stable, etc., I doubt it had anything to do with the eventual outcome. When only the top 4-5% of an enormous applicant pool gets an offer, it often comes down to completely stupid factors over which you have no control. Maybe they had someone else who wanted to work on Dante and who they liked slightly better because s/he already had several publications, maybe there were several finalists with a background similar to yours in some other salient way (languages, home-country/region, education...), etc.. Whatever it was that tilted things against you, it certainly was *not* that your interviewers returned to the committee and said "ah, he looks good on paper, but such an accent!", and almost certainly *was* something about the constitution of the final applicant pool that has nothing to do with their judgment of your qualifications. And if your app is half as good as your English, I bet you'll get into Columbia no problem.

So, as Ondine said, don't despair. And depending on your waitlist ranking, you are more or less likely to end up with a very difficult choice sometime in April--there are ALWAYS people who say 'no' to these offers.

[Graograman]

Thank you so much for an informative, well-written reply. I am not as pessimistic anymore, but, more importantly, my bruised ego has healed somewhat thanks to your soothing comments

Unfortunately, they weren't specific about my ranking on the wait list. Would it be improper to send an e-mail asking that particular question?

[ondine]

I wouldn't. You might if you need to know for a specific reason (such as, you're otherwise going to accept another offer--but even then, I'd just wait). I know the waiting is awful.

[allzumenschlich]

Hmmm...that is strange. I know that they informed waitlisted applicants of their ranking up through last year, but maybe they've changed their system. I don't think it would hurt to ask--I know John Hamilton only by reputation and a couple of very brief exchanges, but I doubt he would be offended by the question. Just say something like: you've heard that the department has ranked its waitlist in the past, and wonder if they're doing that this year and if so whether he is able to divulge what your ranking is, because of course NYU is still your top choice, etc.. Even in the case that they've changed their system and/or aren't inclined to tell you anything about it, this would be a legitimate opportunity to reiterate that you would be very likely to accept an offer if you get one (and moreover to the most important person in the admissions process) without seeming like a pest, which could very well work to your advantage if they've abandoned the ranking system. But I would expect that he'd reply with _something_ worth knowing, either your ranking or an explanation of what they're doing in lieu of rankings--they want people on the waitlist to say 'yes' if they get an offer, so it's in their interest to be as informative as possible.

Also,

"Thank you...my bruised ego has healed somewhat"

Glad I could help--the simultaneously necessary and patently false premise on which this whole process is based (i.e. that the 'quality' of individual applications/applicants taken in isolation is what ultimately determines their fate) gives rise to far too much undeserved pain.

[Graograman]

Thanks again for the kind and informative answers. I did inquire Dr. Hamilton regarding my position on the waitlist, and it turns out that they haven't been defined yet. He kindly replied that he will inform me of my ranking as soon as he is able to do so.

Furthermore, and confirming that allzumenschlich's points of view were quite well informed, I have been admitted to Columbia. So it does seem that I have a somewhat tough decision ahead of me. But it's the kind of difficult situation that it feels fantastic to find oneself in

Now I find myself inclined to accepting Columbia's offer and waiving my position at the NYU waitlist. But then again, there are many variables to be considered... Any pointers?

[ondine]

Congratulations! That's fantastic!

Only waive your place at NYU if you're really 100% certain Columbia is right for you. Otherwise, go to the visits/meet with the department and students to get a strong idea before you turn anywhere down. They are different creatures, and you should visit before you decide.

I know it sounds bad, but program prestige is one thing to consider, if you want to teach at the university level afterwards...

[allzumenschlich]

Congratulations on Columbia--though of course I am not surprised! You may be compelled to accept Columbia's offer in any case, because if you do get off of the waitlist at NYU, it might not be until after April 15th (and in this case you are allowed to switch even after saying 'yes' to Columbia). But I would DEFINITELY suggest staying on the waitlist--NYU has a phenomenal program both for your interests and for general literary/theoretical training, is generally better regarded than Columbia for CompLit (unless you're doing postcolonial studies w/ Spivak or something similar), has shorter time-to-degree averages, better teaching opportunities, and from everything I hear, is generally a friendlier and happier place to be. Not to mention the fact that Freccero is there.

But of course Columbia has a great program and is a very highly regarded institution as well, and you'll still have total access to NYU through the IUDC, so you really can't lose. I would suggest visiting as much as possible, meeting with/sitting in on the classes of people who you would want to advise your dissertation, talking to graduate students in each phase of the program, and (if this is something you might want) seeing if Freccero would be up for advising your dissertation even if you were at Columbia, and if there would be any administrative barriers there to his being on your committee. It may turn out after doing this research that Columbia becomes your top choice, or it may become clear that you'd still prefer NYU. But this way you'll be able to make the most informed decision possible if you get off of NYU's waitlist, which at this point must still be considered a distinct possibility. Good luck with your pleasantly tough decision and again, congratulations!

[SimoneSimon]

graograman -

Did you discover you were on the waitlist by sending them an e-mail, or did they inform you spontaneously?

[Graograman]

Simone, I was informed spontaneously of their decision to put me in the waitlist. However, I don't know if I would call their decision -decisively- spontaneous, given that, prior to my receiving that communication, I freaked out (yes, I am quite prone to this kind of incident), and I wrote my interviewers a message insisting on my interest. So perhaps they sent that e-mail in order to calm me down.

I assume that you inquire in order to assess whether the other candidates included in the waitlist have been already notified. Given the specifics of my situation, that no one else has reported being wait listed at NYU Comp Lit in any of the sites similar to this one that I obsessively peruse, and, furthermore, that I was told before the rankings were defined, I would dare speculate that the other wait listed candidates are still in the dark regarding their situation, and will be told as soon as they define the actual rankings. But this is all conjecture.

Allzumenschlich, thank you so much for your congratulations and your advice. I will be meeting with a number of students and professors from Columbia in the next few weeks and I will be allowed to sit through a couple classes. I am still very much interested in NYU's program, specifically because of the theoretical tendencies of my work and the greater intellectual freedom of a strictly comparative perspective, so I will heed your advice and postpone my decision. But frankly, Columbia (and Teodolinda Barolini, Dantist extraordinaire) tempt me quite strongly.

[allzumenschlich]

Any word from NYU yet?