The Interview

[__________________________]

Thanks for all the support, friends! The interview, I think, went fairly well. There was a moment when I wish I had more knowledge/reading background to draw from, but I chalked it up to a "this is why I'm pursuing this and why I want to be here" sort of thing. They did say funding could be an issue (I know comp lit people deal with this a lot)...and I can't do it without funding. So we'll see! Waiting to hear back from 10 more schools... so I'm still hopeful, but I would love it if this program could fund me. Fingers and toes crossed. 

 

Best of luck to you -- both on getting in and receiving all the funding/aid you need!  After my skype interview, I thought it went fairly well, and then the more I thought about it the worse I thought I did... then I got accepted.  I don't want to unrealistically raise your hopes, but don't torture yourself over the details when looking back - especially if you're waiting for ten more schools!  Also, I think most of us wish we had more knowledge/reading background when talking to professors -- we're going to grad school because we want to be as erudite as we possibly can!  I kept torturing myself over not being specific enough in my interests, not mentioning this or that author... but your writing speaks to what you've read at least as well as personal presentation.  

[iwontbelyeveit]

You are all so great. I appreciate the encouragement so much. As a seasoned veteran of this process (1 MA round, 2 PhD rounds), I know how exhausting it is. Support from others is such a confidence-booster. 

 

No word yet, but hopefully good news soon! 

[pdh12]

Gah!  This thread is a healing balm.  I have an interview scheduled this Thursday for CUNY's Grad Center Comp Lit program. I'm freaking out. Fortunately, though, I've already been accepted to a Great program (though an MFA in Poetry/Translation instead of a Phd...). But still freaking out. 

 

The email says that FOUR professors want to interview me...is that normal?  You'd think one would be intimidating enough...especially via Skype.

 

I hope they don't expect me to name drop and speak in three languages....

[Katla]

Gah!  This thread is a healing balm.  I have an interview scheduled this Thursday for CUNY's Grad Center Comp Lit program. I'm freaking out. Fortunately, though, I've already been accepted to a Great program (though an MFA in Poetry/Translation instead of a Phd...). But still freaking out. 

 

The email says that FOUR professors want to interview me...is that normal?  You'd think one would be intimidating enough...especially via Skype.

 

I hope they don't expect me to name drop and speak in three languages....

 

Best of luck with your interview!

 

I've only had one interview and it was with the DGS of the programme, so I don't know what the norm is, i guess it varies from institution to institution.

 

I don't think you're expected to name drop or flash your language skills overly (but other people with more experience might be able to tell you more), so long as you seem confident and know your stuff you should be fine. 

[iwontbelyeveit]

Gah!  This thread is a healing balm.  I have an interview scheduled this Thursday for CUNY's Grad Center Comp Lit program. I'm freaking out. Fortunately, though, I've already been accepted to a Great program (though an MFA in Poetry/Translation instead of a Phd...). But still freaking out. 

 

The email says that FOUR professors want to interview me...is that normal?  You'd think one would be intimidating enough...especially via Skype.

 

I hope they don't expect me to name drop and speak in three languages....

 

Congrats! And jealous! I applied to CUNY and, alas, I did not receive an interview!

 

I was pretty nervous for my interview with only two professors, but as everyone else says: stay calm, have some concise responses about your work and goals prepared, know your "project." I would definitely say be prepared to use your language skills. My interviewers "tested" mine. I thought it might be a possibility, so I wasn't too surprised by it. By no means was it very intensive, I think they just wanted to hear me use the language, especially because it's kind of a less-often studied language, but one that is big in that department. 

 

good luck! 

[pdh12]

Oh my effing lord.....HOW did I claim *intermediate*-level proficiency in German, Portuguese, and Urdu?!?!  I'm just reading over my very dusty Comp Lit statement, with an hour to go before the interview, and must somehow become a polyglot in as much time..WHYYYYYYYYYY

[Katla]

Keeping fingers corssed for you! And sending positive vibes! You're probably less rusty than you think (and it's reading abilities that matter anyway). Just get in front of that webcam and knock their socks off!

[pdh12]

*Three minutes after interview's conclusion*

 

Dear God, that was h-e-l-l-i-s-h.     

 

My pits are drenched, and its 0 degrees where I am right now. Seriously....

 

THANK YOU for your inexorably kind words, fellow strangers, fellow humans!

 

Here's a bit of an inside (for what it's worth): They asked me to define what I wanted to do BEYOND what I included in my PS and WS. Pretty much, "how 'bout choose something completely unrelated to everything you've done for the last two years.....starting.....NOW!"  There were three of them in the room, and I'm  pretty sure two of them were texting each other parodies of me featuring little cat videos....the horrrrrrorrrrrr!

 

But, really, thanks, you guys.