interview for phd-program

[gp4100]

Hey guys,

I recently got an email that my application was viewed very favorably and that I have been invited for an interview at UW-Madison.

I am really excited about that interview but not sure what it exactly means in terms of getting into the program?!

Has anyone had interviews and got rejected?

Thankful for any help!

[frankdux]

i had a telephone interview which resulted in a rejection. i felt 'ok' about the interview when i hung up the phone, but looking back at it i feel even worse and realize some things i just did wrong. i did not present myself how i hoped to. i have learned, and hopefully i have the chance to correct myself this time around.

if i were you, i'd write down a whole bunch of questions you think the professor may ask you. then prepare responses. although do not memorize written responses. you don't want to sound like a tape recorder or like you are reciting a speech. just have a general idea of how you'd answer questions about yourself academically and personally.

[latenight]

i'm curious about this too. i'd like to think that if they're flying me all the way there, it's just as much to convince me that i want them as the other way. it'd be pretty horrible to spend the whole interview weekend with them and then find out a week later that they didn't like me. so i don't know exactly how an in-person interview invitation differs from a telephone interview...

[Astaroth]

i had a telephone interview which resulted in a rejection. i felt 'ok' about the interview when i hung up the phone, but looking back at it i feel even worse and realize some things i just did wrong. i did not present myself how i hoped to. i have learned, and hopefully i have the chance to correct myself this time around.

if i were you, i'd write down a whole bunch of questions you think the professor may ask you. then prepare responses. although do not memorize written responses. you don't want to sound like a tape recorder or like you are reciting a speech. just have a general idea of how you'd answer questions about yourself academically and personally.

Could you mention specific things you think you did wrong (and how they can be avoided)?

[gp4100]

same for me as for latenight:

its a 5 day interview-program with 3 official dinners, meeting with faculty members and a city and appartment tour. Looks like a big effort, time- and money-wise, so that makes me a little more confident. But still there is gonna be a whole day reserved for interviews, so that should provide enough opportunity to screw up :-)