What's the deal with phone interviews? Also, what should I do about this?

[PsychedaboutPsych]

I'm waiting to hear back from Clinical Ph.D. programs, and I'm wondering what should I expect from a phone interview? What does a phone interview typically entail?

For example, are they going to primarily be asking me questions? Should I have questions prepared?

 

 

 

I ask this because I actually just received a call and let it go to voicemail from what sounded like a program.  The problem is I can't understand who the person said they were and who they were calling on behalf of. So I really don't know what to do.  Without knowing what program it is if I call back, I'm going in pretty blind in regards to preparation.  But, if I don't call back, I lose out on a chance I may have had.

What do I do!?!?

[PsychedaboutPsych]

I should also say that they didn't say anything about an interview.  However, they said that they "wanted to move things forward."

[iphi]

It could be a call for an in-person interview. Regardless of the type of interview however, have the following prepared:

• Questions about the program
• Questions for specific profs
• Know what research you want to do and how it relates to the POI
• Why you want to go to that particular school
• And then anything else interview-like that they may ask you (previous research, etc).

ALSO I found it helpful to always ask for a current student's contact info. They are happy to provide it and usually take it as a sign of your interest in the program.

 

Source: had 4 phone/skype interviews last year, got accepted to all of those programs.