dukelover50 Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 I know that this has been a question in different topics, but has anyone heard about interviews being conducted anywhere outside of Yale University, American History? Its freaking everyone out, including me.
Loimographia Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 I know Notre Dame holds interviews, but I'd be interested to know any other programs that do as well.
Kelkel Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 I know Notre Dame holds interviews, but I'd be interested to know any other programs that do as well. Are you nervous that we could potentially hear about interviews this week? I am mostly because of the mass amounts of rejections from last cycle. There's not much to go on unless you go back to 2010! Argh!
Loimographia Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Are you nervous that we could potentially hear about interviews this week? I am mostly because of the mass amounts of rejections from last cycle. There's not much to go on unless you go back to 2010! Argh! So nervous! I'm finding that I'm looking at whether I get an interview with Notre Dame as the litmus test for how the rest of my applications will be perceived: If I get an interview, then I'm going to believe that the rest of my applications were 'good enough' and that any rejection will have to do with fit, departmental politics, etc. If I can't even get an interview, I'll probably end up feeling doomed until April rolls around. It looks, though, like they send all the invitations out at once, which is a little reassuring: at least I won't be wondering for the next 2-3 weeks whether I've got an interview or not.
Kelkel Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 So nervous! I'm finding that I'm looking at whether I get an interview with Notre Dame as the litmus test for how the rest of my applications will be perceived: If I get an interview, then I'm going to believe that the rest of my applications were 'good enough' and that any rejection will have to do with fit, departmental politics, etc. If I can't even get an interview, I'll probably end up feeling doomed until April rolls around. It looks, though, like they send all the invitations out at once, which is a little reassuring: at least I won't be wondering for the next 2-3 weeks whether I've got an interview or not. That's such a good idea (the litmus test), but also one that will drive me crazy. Dammit, I know I'm good enough. I just don't want a repeat of last year. I keep swaying between the two extremes, but never in the middle of "Oh, at least I have one decent option."
dukelover50 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Posted January 23, 2012 I don't think that any of the programs I applied to had interviews but after seeing Yale and some othe rhumanities programs having interviews this year (which is relatively new), I'm just getting nervous. It didnt happen last year with humanities like art history and anthropology, or even history at all.
superfluousflo Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 I'd like to add that NYU has a prospective students weekend. It's not exactly an interview but, since it's prior to decisions, you'd need to be on your game.
schadenfreude12 Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 This is the first year Yale's history department is conducting interviews. This January, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences mandated interviews for all top-level applicants in all departments before admission, in order to ensure people wouldn't drop the program two years into it. It has proven very controversial within the GSAS at Yale, and you can read more about it here: http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2012/jan/11/grad-school-divided-over-interviews/ I had my Yale interview for history (modern German) yesterday, and depending on your interviewer, it could be a pretty rough experience (I personally had to attempt to avoid being backed into a corner several times). Good luck to all! runaway 1
dukelover50 Posted January 25, 2012 Author Posted January 25, 2012 This interesting. I guess I have to agree with the Yale dean. I only freaked bc I thought all schools interviewed
Sparky Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 This January, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences mandated interviews for all top-level applicants in all departments before admission, in order to ensure people wouldn't drop the program two years into it. Interesting. My school has a long tradition of on-campus interviews, but apparently its major benefit here has in yield rates. (Our location is a sticking point--Yale may be in New Haven, but it's still Civilization.) Then again, very few people here drop out prior to the ABD stage, so maybe the aforementioned effect is at work, too. My own interview was much more, well, pleasant than schadenfreude describes--they (program chair, POIs) were much more concerned with making sure they pick future colleagues than with testing academic prowess. That is not to say it was not super-duper awkward and nervewracking, of course. Being rejected on the basis of an application feels horrible, but at least it is a rejection of you as a scholar. Being rejected ("waitlisted"...haha) after an interview feels like a rejection of you as a person.
TMP Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 My own interview was much more, well, pleasant than schadenfreude describes--they (program chair, POIs) were much more concerned with making sure they pick future colleagues than with testing academic prowess. That is not to say it was not super-duper awkward and nervewracking, of course. Being rejected on the basis of an application feels horrible, but at least it is a rejection of you as a scholar. Being rejected ("waitlisted"...haha) after an interview feels like a rejection of you as a person. Been in that kind of situation. Makes you want to work harder at convincing them that you won't drop out or leave for another school with better funding/resources/location/faculty, doesn't it?
simone von c Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 I was interviewed and then "waitlisted" by Notre Dame last year. As Sparky says, it was a far more personal rejection than my generic rejection from Yale. However, I met the (only) person admitted to ND in my field, and it was impossible not to frankly admire his fabulousness and fit. I also realized while I was there for two well-orchestrated days that, for a variety of reasons, I would be happier elsewhere. (And I am!) So ... the interview process works both ways, and it's possible to live through rejection, even when it's up close and personal. virmundi 1
superfluousflo Posted January 25, 2012 Posted January 25, 2012 I was interviewed and then "waitlisted" by Notre Dame last year....However, I met the (only) person admitted to ND in my field, and it was impossible not to frankly admire his fabulousness and fit. I feel very much the same about my experience at NYU last year. It hasn't kept me from reapplying. simone von c 1
oseirus Posted January 26, 2012 Posted January 26, 2012 I was told Oxford does some skype interviews but that probably doesn't help you since I don't see you listing them
lureynol Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 I was told Oxford does some skype interviews but that probably doesn't help you since I don't see you listing them I had a phone interview for Cambridge. It was really just a chat with my POI about my past, current, and potential work. Nerve-wracking in its way, but nothing like the Yale interview described here.
oseirus Posted January 27, 2012 Posted January 27, 2012 I had a phone interview for Cambridge. It was really just a chat with my POI about my past, current, and potential work. Nerve-wracking in its way, but nothing like the Yale interview described here. Did they pay the long distance charges?
crater21 Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 I had a phone interview for Cambridge. It was really just a chat with my POI about my past, current, and potential work. Nerve-wracking in its way, but nothing like the Yale interview described here. It seems that there are huge variations in Yale's interviews. Mine (and some of the others I have heard about) were just casual and informal chats with POIs. Others, like the one described here, seem more formal and intense. I think POIs have been given a lot of leeway in how they want to conduct interviews.
lureynol Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) Did they pay the long distance charges? Actually, yes, they called me. It seems that there are huge variations in Yale's interviews. Mine (and some of the others I have heard about) were just casual and informal chats with POIs. Others, like the one described here, seem more formal and intense. I think POIs have been given a lot of leeway in how they want to conduct interviews. This would make sense. Also, considering the leeway POIs have in supervising, it makes even more. Edited January 28, 2012 by lureynol
oseirus Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 Actually, yes, they called me. Well I will def advocate for others to apply to UK schools now that I know they'll call you and not the other way around. Gotta save those pennies
superfluousflo Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 (edited) I had a phone interview for Cambridge. It was really just a chat with my POI about my past, current, and potential work. Nerve-wracking in its way, but nothing like the Yale interview described here. This is interesting. I didn't get a call from Cambridge. Did you have an email correspondence too? Edited January 28, 2012 by superfluousflo
lureynol Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 This is interesting. I didn't get a call from Cambridge. Did you have an email correspondence too? Yes, I started conversing with my POI in August. The invite was very odd, I had emailed him to let him know I was fine with the committee's recommendation that I do a one year MPhil before I try for the PhD, and he replied with something like "I think it's time we talk further, what's a good time for you for a phone conversation?" I'm not complaining, but I have to wonder if I would have had an interview if I hadn't emailed him at that point.
superfluousflo Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 Yes, I started conversing with my POI in August. The invite was very odd, I had emailed him to let him know I was fine with the committee's recommendation that I do a one year MPhil before I try for the PhD, and he replied with something like "I think it's time we talk further, what's a good time for you for a phone conversation?" I'm not complaining, but I have to wonder if I would have had an interview if I hadn't emailed him at that point. did you find it beneficial?
oseirus Posted January 28, 2012 Posted January 28, 2012 I think i missed this, but what spurred the need for a conversation? Wasn't the email sufficient? Did they ask about Skype?
jlk88 Posted February 5, 2012 Posted February 5, 2012 I'm a finalist for admission at Penn State, and I've had a phone call from the Deptartment Grad Director and have been invited on a visit in three weeks. Though neither the phone call nor the visit was/is supposed to be a formal interview, I'm sure they act as an interview.
oseirus Posted February 5, 2012 Posted February 5, 2012 I wish more schools had an interview process!
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