Is it bad to not be excited about an interview invite?

[neuropsych76]

So I just had an awesome interview with school A, and even though I don't know if I'm going to be accepted there, I am really excited about their program. School A was towards the top of my list before the interview and now I feel even better about them.

I just received another interview invite at school B that was towards the end of my list. I also just found out that my POI for that school cannot take students now. Furthermore, I was told that the cognitive part of the program (it is a pure neuroscience program in a bio department) has been decreasing in numbers recently. I'm honored they extended me an invite but my first reaction wasn't all that pleasant.

I probably sound like an arrogant jerk complaining about getting interviews but I don't mean to be at all so I apologize if this post comes across like that. I was just wondering if these are normal feelings as getting invited anywhere is an honor.

(I probably will attend the interview weekend anyway because I have zero admits so far. But I just wanted to express my thoughts a bit and see if anyone else has/had similar feelings)

[newms]

That's fine to feel that way - I guess it means that deep down you don't think that this is the place that you really want to be. I'd encourage you to attend the interview and get a feel for the place, especially since you don't have an admit as yet. Who knows? Maybe after you see the place in-person, and talk with students and profs you'll feel better about that program.

[neuropsychosocial]

I just received another interview invite at school B that was towards the end of my list. I also just found out that my POI for that school cannot take students now. Furthermore, I was told that the cognitive part of the program (it is a pure neuroscience program in a bio department) has been decreasing in numbers recently. I'm honored they extended me an invite but my first reaction wasn't all that pleasant.

To me, this sounds like you won't be able to get the kind of training that you want at School B. Right now, we're all so focused on getting in that it's easy to forget that the main goal is getting out with the skills and record to land the sort of job that we have in mind. Going to a school that doesn't support - or value - your subfield is a recipe for disaster, IMHO. I think your reaction is totally understandable. If I were me, I think attending the interview makes sense, because you'll be able to get a better picture of the department, who you would be working with, and how students with cognitive interests are treated. Don't be afraid, though, to turn them down if they can't provide you the training that you need to get a job. This process isn't about an acceptance letter and it's not even about a Ph.D: it's about professional training and the career that comes after the Ph.D.

[neuropsych76]

To me, this sounds like you won't be able to get the kind of training that you want at School B. Right now, we're all so focused on getting in that it's easy to forget that the main goal is getting out with the skills and record to land the sort of job that we have in mind. Going to a school that doesn't support - or value - your subfield is a recipe for disaster, IMHO. I think your reaction is totally understandable. If I were me, I think attending the interview makes sense, because you'll be able to get a better picture of the department, who you would be working with, and how students with cognitive interests are treated. Don't be afraid, though, to turn them down if they can't provide you the training that you need to get a job. This process isn't about an acceptance letter and it's not even about a Ph.D: it's about professional training and the career that comes after the Ph.D.

Very true! Thank you and newms for the response. I just wanted to make sure my feelings were not totally aberrant given the circumstances. I may go to the school and absolutely love it there, but the initial information makes it seem like I can obtain much better training at other schools.

[Matilda_Tone]

I am in a completely different field, but I will say this- when I was applying for my MA I was so sure that I would go to my school “A” over my school “B” if I got in. I ended up getting into both, and wasn’t sure if I even wanted to bother going to school “B’s” open day/wine and cheese event. I reluctantly decided to go anyway (because a free trip is a free trip!) and ended up liking it way more than I thought- in the end, I chose school B and had a great time there. It turned out to be a better fit then I thought.

So I guess my point is- it might seem like a chore, but make yourself go anyway. You never know! Maybe the website or department contact you have had so far hasn't given you a true impression of the place.

Edited February 20, 2011 by Matilda_Tone

[neuropsych76]

Well I do have an official admit now (yay!!) and I feel like the school I was admitted to (School A) would provide much better training than school's B and C who just offered my interview invites. I feel conflicted because on the one hand I think I should go just to see what the school is like. But on the other hand it will be a bit of a pain (the schools are far away but travel would be paid for) and I feel like it wouldn't be all that ethical to go to schools that I'm not that interested in when other students could have gone instead...

I'm mostly just venting, I know I need to make a decision about going (like by tomorrow lol). But any more encouraging words are welcome

I did talk to two of my profs about this and one said to go to the interviews and the other said don't. ugh

[neuropsychosocial]

But any more encouraging words are welcome

I did talk to two of my profs about this and one said to go to the interviews and the other said don't. ugh

You're going to be okay either way! I honestly believe that there's no "wrong" answer - if you don't go, you have a great offer that you're excited about and free time (from both preparing and from going to the interview), and if you go, you have a great offer that you're excited about and can see another place; perhaps the situation will be different on the ground than it sounds. (BTW, did you hear about funding from School A?)

My advice would be to flip a coin. If you're disappointed in the outcome of the coin toss, then you know that you should do the opposite. (This sounds slightly absurd, but I've found that it's a good "gut check" exercise.)

[neuropsych76]

You're going to be okay either way! I honestly believe that there's no "wrong" answer - if you don't go, you have a great offer that you're excited about and free time (from both preparing and from going to the interview), and if you go, you have a great offer that you're excited about and can see another place; perhaps the situation will be different on the ground than it sounds. (BTW, did you hear about funding from School A?)

My advice would be to flip a coin. If you're disappointed in the outcome of the coin toss, then you know that you should do the opposite. (This sounds slightly absurd, but I've found that it's a good "gut check" exercise.)

Thank you for the reply. I did flip a coin (tails = don't go, it was tails, and i felt relieved. )

I think it's more of how this all happened which makes it hard to decide. I was invited to school A (which is one of my top choices) but i still have not heard back from them (i would be receiving funding from them though if accepted) while i'm waiting to hear back from A, schools B and C offer me interview invites (these were my safety schools, literally 11th and 12th on my list out of 12). So i'm like I should go since I don't know about A yet. Then out of no where I get a strait up admit from school X. Who I like significantly more than B and C but not quite as much as A. If I had an admit from A it would be an easy choice to decline B and C. But since X is not quite as much of a no-brainier it makes me hesitate a bit.

I know its a good problem to have but I have a terrible time with decisions!