Interview @ JHU tomorrow

[msdostoevsky]

I've had interviews so for for biology Ph.D programs, and have enjoyed discussing my research with faculty and hearing more about their research--they've been pretty laid back---but I'm a little nervous about my final interview tomorrow since it is at a prestigious school and for a competitive program (Johns Hopkins). I've heard that the research atmosphere at JHU is somewhat cut-throat and competitive. Any advice and should I be nervous?? Any comments would be helpful!!

Thanks!!

[bionerd]

I probably couldn't have helped you if I'd seen this yesterday, but... sorry nobody replied. How did it go??

[ringo-ring]

hi there

I would love to see some advices on that topic too, since I have an interview at JHU on Thursday

[msdostoevsky]

That's ok bionerd! I think it went well-It certainly wasn't as cut-throat as I imagined it would be, but that might differ across departments I was surprised!

Hi ringo-ring! Sure, not a problem--I was surprised that my department was rather collaborative and welcoming. I was soooo nervous before my first interview, couldn't eat much breakfast lol, but after the first one it was pretty laid back--they expect you to know all the details of your research, and will ask you questions, but if you know your research you should do fine. Good luck on your interview ringo-ring, I'm sure you'll do fine! If you wouldn't mind me asking, which program are you applying for? I applied for their Genetics program

[ringo-ring]

Hi msdostoevsky! I'm happy for your interview went well.

I applied for Neuroscience program, and to be honest I didn't like my interview that much, it had such an arrogant and aggressive tone

In my case, I was asked to elaborate on some points in my SOP - about project ideas rather than previous research experience.

Next, the interviewer started interrogating me in which papers had I read, on the topics of my interest. That was very confusing and I wasn't prepared for that kind of question - I read a lot of papers, and I don't keep a complete list of references in front of me all the time. He probably wanted me to pick up one paper and discuss it, but I couldn't quickly think of any I would remember in sufficient details. I managed to push out some random paper off the top of my head and told about it in a few sentences.

Next, I discussed some ideas for projects again, all in hurry and I really got feeling it was all in vain.

After the interview I've asked what chances of getting admitted are, and got a reply they have ~180 applications from internationals for only two spots, so it's better to have a plan B. However, the interviewer have found my interview "interesting". oh Thanks!

All in all, although the interviewer told me he likes my app, I got a perception of him trying to "catch" or drown me.

Edited March 10, 2011 by ringo-ring

[neuropsych76]

Hi msdostoevsky! I'm happy for your interview went well.

I applied for Neuroscience program, and to be honest I didn't like my interview that much, it had such an arrogant and aggressive tone

In my case, I was asked to elaborate on some points in my SOP - about project ideas rather than previous research experience.

Next, the interviewer started interrogating me in which papers had I read, on the topics of my interest. That was very confusing and I wasn't prepared for that kind of question - I read a lot of papers, and I don't keep a complete list of references in front of me all the time. He probably wanted me to pick up one paper and discuss it, but I couldn't quickly think of any I would remember in sufficient details. I managed to push out some random paper off the top of my head and told about it in a few sentences.

Next, I discussed some ideas for projects again, all in hurry and I really got feeling it was all in vain.

After the interview I've asked what chances of getting admitted are, and got a reply they have ~180 applications from internationals for only two spots, so it's better to have a plan B. However, the interviewer have found my interview "interesting". oh Thanks!

All in all, although the interviewer told me he likes my app, I got a perception of him trying to "catch" or drown me.

I know someone who had an offer from JHU's neuro program a few years ago but turned it down because of the cut throatness of the people there. If you have another good offer, why deal with people you wouldn't like working with?

Congrats on the interviews though!!

[ringo-ring]

msdostoevsky, thanks for the information. In the light of what you and other posters say here it becomes very amusing to read on the program website what they think about themselves:

What makes Neuroscience at JHU great is not the facility or the state of the art equipment. It's the people. Here we take pride in having an unusually friendly and collaborative style.

at the interview, I told the prof that what I like about the program is that they're not competitive, but collaborative instead. He was quick to correct me by noting that, the're collaborative only from the inside.

[phdsucceed]

@msdostoevsky: I'd be extremely careful naming specific names here, especially considering the inter-lab politics you mention. People Google themselves.

Keep in mind that the tone of a program--how competitive or collaborative it is--varies a lot lab by lab and over time with the nature of the people moving through it.

Also be wary of using the term "competitive." Some people might think of a competitive program as one that is really good, rather than one where people sabotage experiments and withhold information.

[msdostoevsky]

Thanks Phdsucceed! I'll take your advice--I deleted my comment and reposted it here for reference without the name

I'm sorry to hear that ringo-ring Initially I was going to apply to JHU's neuroscience program since I was really interesting in a Dr. X's work. I wish I would have known about the program you were applying to before so I could have given you more info. My PI that I've researched with has collaborated for the X lab, but once his lab published a manuscript without letting my lab know even though there was a mutual agreement. I guess that competitiveness and cut-throat nature is really prevalent in the Neuroscience department--it makes me sad, since I decided not to apply to the neuroscience department after that incident. Instead I focused on the Human genetics department which has PIs with Ph.Ds and/or M.D.s, really different approaches to research and were pretty nice. Congrats on your interview though, and I hope everything goes well with the rest of your interviews and decision process--Good luck!