School Psychology programs (EdS/PhD)

[iphi]

I had one today and the #1 question I was asked was, "Why School Psych?" I was also asked about my career goals, and why I wanted to pursue a PhD vs EdS. I got to describe my past research, and my future research interests (but was never asked to come up with a specific study). That was pretty much it! They were 3 interviews of 20 minutes each.

[iPsych]

I had one today and the #1 question I was asked was, "Why School Psych?" I was also asked about my career goals, and why I wanted to pursue a PhD vs EdS. I got to describe my past research, and my future research interests (but was never asked to come up with a specific study). That was pretty much it! They were 3 interviews of 20 minutes each.

 

Sounds great!! Don't you feel so much better now that you've gone through one? I know I did after mine

[girbgirl]

For all of you who have had interviews (or those who will be interviewing soon), what kinds of questions have you asked the faculty members/grad students in the interviews? General questions and/or program-specific questions?

[iphi]

For all of you who have had interviews (or those who will be interviewing soon), what kinds of questions have you asked the faculty members/grad students in the interviews? General questions and/or program-specific questions?

 

I started to respond, but realized I didn't know if you meant for PhD or EdS. I'll give you a few and then some more when you tell me which you're going for.

 

Questions for current students:

• What do you like about living/studying/being here?
• What would you say is the biggest weakness of the program?
• What are the mentorship styles of the (or your) professor?
• (Similar) are professors supportive of their students?
• What are the classes like? Which was your favorite? Your least favorite?
• What is the funding situation like? (if PhD)
• Is the department stable?
• Are there opportunities for one to get assistantships or other funding? (EdS)
• Can you live relatively comfortably on your stipend?
• What is the cost of living like here?
• Do I need a car?
• Where is a good place to live/where do other students live/where are the bad neighborhoods?
• How long does it realistically take for people to complete this program? (more PhD)
• Anything you want to know about internships.

 

Questions for professors (mostly PhD related, sorry! Maybe some overlap...)

• Can you describe your current or future research/grant proposals to me? You should have looked this up already, but by the time professors publish their work several years have passed and those interests/studies are outdated.
• How long do students typically take to finish the program (you can usually see the statistics online)? If I am motivated can I take only x (time they say can be completed in) years. (E.g. "I know that the average for this program is 6, but you outline a 5-year plan. If I am motivated, is it realistic for me to think that I can graduate in 5 years?)
• What is your mentorship style (so important!!!)
• Does your program generally train students to enter academia or field positions or both? (PhD question)
• What kind of internships have your students recently completed?
• What are your former students doing now?
• Is it realistic for me to hope to get a paid internship placement? Which locations are common?
• What is your rate of students who have paid internship placements (again, this can usually be found online).
• What do you expect from students in each year of their degree?
• What is your focus when it comes to academic courses/classroom learning?
• What professional affiliations do you expect your students to have? APA, NASP, state-level organizations, etc.
• Do students have the opportunity to publish and/or present their work at academic conferences?

[SchoolPsyched]

Anyone else interviewing at the University Denver tomorrow? What are you expecting? I am interviewing with the EdS, although I wish it were PhD. If you are, good luck and I will look forward to seeing you there! I heard it is COLD, so BUNDLE UP. Oh, and have fun in Colorado! 

[iphi]

Anyone else interviewing at the University Denver tomorrow? What are you expecting? I am interviewing with the EdS, although I wish it were PhD. If you are, good luck and I will look forward to seeing you there! I heard it is COLD, so BUNDLE UP. Oh, and have fun in Colorado! 

 

I was invited, but it was the same day as two other interviews who invited me first! Tell me how it is/what campus is like?

[girbgirl]

Just had a specialist interview yesterday/today. They asked: why school psych, about the labs I worked at, what area of school psych I'm interested in, strength/weakness, and about an internship I had. There was also a group project thing that was a little stressful.

[snakex]

I haven't been able to read this entire thread (again) but I just wanted to say congratulations to those of you who have made it to your interview and acceptance rounds! I just found out today that I've made it to the interview round of the programs I applied to. I am so fortunate and so excited! I have a skype interview in a week! Any suggestions? Also, one school has a written assignment (yikes) have any of you heard of that? Anyway, once again congratulations and good luck!

[iphi]

I haven't been able to read this entire thread (again) but I just wanted to say congratulations to those of you who have made it to your interview and acceptance rounds! I just found out today that I've made it to the interview round of the programs I applied to. I am so fortunate and so excited! I have a skype interview in a week! Any suggestions? Also, one school has a written assignment (yikes) have any of you heard of that? Anyway, once again congratulations and good luck!

Congrats! I know UMass does a writing assignment. They had their interview yesterday (at least for PhD). I wasn't able to attend, but someone on here may have?

[schpsy92]

 

I started to respond, but realized I didn't know if you meant for PhD or EdS. I'll give you a few and then some more when you tell me which you're going for.

 

Questions for current students:

• What do you like about living/studying/being here?
• What would you say is the biggest weakness of the program?
• What are the mentorship styles of the (or your) professor?
• (Similar) are professors supportive of their students?
• What are the classes like? Which was your favorite? Your least favorite?
• What is the funding situation like? (if PhD)
• Is the department stable?
• Are there opportunities for one to get assistantships or other funding? (EdS)
• Can you live relatively comfortably on your stipend?
• What is the cost of living like here?
• Do I need a car?
• Where is a good place to live/where do other students live/where are the bad neighborhoods?
• How long does it realistically take for people to complete this program? (more PhD)
• Anything you want to know about internships.

 

Questions for professors (mostly PhD related, sorry! Maybe some overlap...)

• Can you describe your current or future research/grant proposals to me? You should have looked this up already, but by the time professors publish their work several years have passed and those interests/studies are outdated.
• How long do students typically take to finish the program (you can usually see the statistics online)? If I am motivated can I take only x (time they say can be completed in) years. (E.g. "I know that the average for this program is 6, but you outline a 5-year plan. If I am motivated, is it realistic for me to think that I can graduate in 5 years?)
• What is your mentorship style (so important!!!)
• Does your program generally train students to enter academia or field positions or both? (PhD question)
• What kind of internships have your students recently completed?
• What are your former students doing now?
• Is it realistic for me to hope to get a paid internship placement? Which locations are common?
• What is your rate of students who have paid internship placements (again, this can usually be found online).
• What do you expect from students in each year of their degree?
• What is your focus when it comes to academic courses/classroom learning?
• What professional affiliations do you expect your students to have? APA, NASP, state-level organizations, etc.
• Do students have the opportunity to publish and/or present their work at academic conferences?

 

 

Wow, this is really helpful -- thanks iphi!

[iphi]

Wow, this is really helpful -- thanks iphi!

 

You're welcome! There was a girl in one of my interviews today that kept asking so many of these same questions I was wondering if she had read my list! haha.

[schoolpsycher]

Does anyone know if UMass Boston offered interviews for their EdS program yet? I know they had PhD interviews, so getting nervous that I haven't heard back!

[Bgk2000]

Does anyone know if Tufts specialist level program has sent out invites for interviews yet?

[schoolpsycher]

Does anyone know if Tufts specialist level program has sent out invites for interviews yet?

 

Also applied to Tufts and haven't heard back yet!

[iphi]

Did anyone go to the UMass Boston interview this past week? If so, PM me? I didn't get to go but would love to hear about it!

Edited February 10, 2014 by iphi

[jkakziak]

Does anyone know if UMass Boston offered interviews for their EdS program yet? I know they had PhD interviews, so getting nervous that I haven't heard back!

I half finished my application for UMB before I decided not to apply--but they did email me last week saying that my application materials have not been received. That seems like a good sign that they're working their way through their Ed.s files!

Anyone hear anything from Temple or Ohio State?

[baunlee]

(thanks iphi)

 

I had a question related to masters/advanced certificate interview protocol.

I have gone on a few interviews for MA in school psych and it seemed really informal compared to what a lot of you are talking about with the Phd programs.  This makes sense to me, but it causes a bit of a problem when it comes to the standard follow up.

 

I considered writing thank you notes for the staff that I met with for my interview on campus but then it occurred to me that there was no unique interaction between both staff.  As such, both of my thank you letters would seem the same.  Of course this is problematic given that staff in the department could notice getting the same letter.

 

Do you think this would be acceptable as long as I put information about the school in the letter so that it does not seem like a mass thank you that I send to each school?

 

Any advice is appreciated! 

[jkakziak]

 

 

I considered writing thank you notes for the staff that I met with for my interview on campus but then it occurred to me that there was no unique interaction between both staff.  As such, both of my thank you letters would seem the same.  Of course this is problematic given that staff in the department could notice getting the same letter.

 

 

Could you put something specific about how you're interested in a particular research aspect of theirs? I know with the Ed.s it isn't a huge expectation that you're an expert on their research, but it couldn't hurt, right? Just an idea. Good luck!

[iphi]

(thanks iphi)

 

I had a question related to masters/advanced certificate interview protocol.

I have gone on a few interviews for MA in school psych and it seemed really informal compared to what a lot of you are talking about with the Phd programs.  This makes sense to me, but it causes a bit of a problem when it comes to the standard follow up.

 

I considered writing thank you notes for the staff that I met with for my interview on campus but then it occurred to me that there was no unique interaction between both staff.  As such, both of my thank you letters would seem the same.  Of course this is problematic given that staff in the department could notice getting the same letter.

 

Do you think this would be acceptable as long as I put information about the school in the letter so that it does not seem like a mass thank you that I send to each school?

 

Any advice is appreciated! 

 

Even if you can't mention a specific interaction or research interest, I think you can make them slightly different. The underlying message is aways the same, but the way you say it can be tweaked!

[ceeceeroni]

I just did my interview for MS in school psych...for an hour! on the phone! 

I was really nervous and it was with one professor ( I was supposed to have two interviewers; one professor did not show up) 

 

She asked a lot of questions regarding my research interest and current research experience at a lab which was quite formal. 

I don't think I answered clearly....and I couldn't smile much since i was super duper nervous about her questions. 

I am sure she could notice it...argggg! 

 

In the end she said I am ambitious and motivated student with a lot of experience and also mentioned I am like a dynamite... 

and after the interview she emailed me a list of grad school students I can contact and ask questions if I desire.

Should I take it as a positive sign or just an offering to every interviewees? 

 

This school is one of the schools I really want to attend and I hope to get admitted to the program. 

[iphi]

I just did my interview for MS in school psych...for an hour! on the phone! 

I was really nervous and it was with one professor ( I was supposed to have two interviewers; one professor did not show up) 

 

She asked a lot of questions regarding my research interest and current research experience at a lab which was quite formal. 

I don't think I answered clearly....and I couldn't smile much since i was super duper nervous about her questions. 

I am sure she could notice it...argggg! 

 

In the end she said I am ambitious and motivated student with a lot of experience and also mentioned I am like a dynamite... 

and after the interview she emailed me a list of grad school students I can contact and ask questions if I desire.

Should I take it as a positive sign or just an offering to every interviewees? 

 

This school is one of the schools I really want to attend and I hope to get admitted to the program. 

 

That sounds like a really good sign!

 

I wouldn't worry too much about not smiling - it wasn't in-person. Even if they can hear in your voice that you're not smiling, they know you're nervous.

[HicklePickle]

I just got an email from Fairfield inviting me to a two hour group interview. The thing is, I'm all the way across the country. Should I try to make it for the group interview (take off work and pay for the flight) or ask for a Skype interview? I don't want to miss anything important but such a short event doesn't seem like it's worth the money...

[iphi]

I just got an email from Fairfield inviting me to a two hour group interview. The thing is, I'm all the way across the country. Should I try to make it for the group interview (take off work and pay for the flight) or ask for a Skype interview? I don't want to miss anything important but such a short event doesn't seem like it's worth the money...

 

Ask for Skype! I just went to considerable trouble to attend a 3-hour interview and IMO it wasn't worth it.

 

The group interview I went to (different school) also was awful. I really wish I'd have gotten some time to be interviewed by myself. So Skype would have been really good. I say go for Skype!

[HicklePickle]

Ask for Skype! I just went to considerable trouble to attend a 3-hour interview and IMO it wasn't worth it.

The group interview I went to (different school) also was awful. I really wish I'd have gotten some time to be interviewed by myself. So Skype would have been really good. I say go for Skype!

Thanks! I asked about Skype.

Can you write more about your group interview and why it was awful? That worries me!

[iphi]

Thanks! I asked about Skype.

Can you write more about your group interview and why it was awful? That worries me!

 

I was very disappointed with the format because there were 25 of us and we were only asked one question each by each faculty member because there were so many of us. I didn't feel as though that was an effective way to get an accurate picture of each candidate. How do you possibly narrow it down to 6 applicants from one question?! And sure enough, I was waitlisted. I was frustrated because I feel that if I had had a more "traditional" interview I would have done much better. I think they should have invited fewer people and gotten to know those people better.