Anyone else rejected from the same university after interview for two consecutive years?

[HBKss]

It feels terrible...

Edited January 28, 2015 by HBKss

[c m]

This is my first application cycle, so I don't.  Not yet, anyways.  But a mentor of mine did tell me about a friend of hers who applied to the same program five years in a row.  So, four rejections and then one final acceptance!

 

Sorry, though

[HBKss]

The sad part is that I was short-listed for the interview both times...

[foreignstudent]

was the interview that tough??? which dept did you apply to...even I have a interview in a couple of days time....

[c m]

Well, remember, rejections are for many, many more factors that being qualified.  There are funding factors, research interests, department balance, etc.  They are selecting candidates at that point, not necessarily bagging people as "bad" or "unqualified."  

 

I think being short-listed for an interview twice shows a consistent interest in you as a candidate, which while hard to swallow now is definitely something.  I am hoping for interviews at least from a few more programs! Maybe you could contact a POI to see how you could improve and that you are very interested in their program?

 

Are you still looking at other programs?

[lm2014]

No, but I've been interviewed for the same job twice and was rejected twice because I "look too young", despite having the experience. I know it sucks, but you'll get accepted somewhere. Just be patient and keep applying to different schools. I was fortunate in that my masters program didn't do interviews the year I was accepted. I'm terrible at interviews.

[HBKss]

@foreignstudent. I applied to Information School. The interview was with the committee. The questions were not really tough; they just focused more on what exact projects would I do when I join the PhD program. Despite having a strong research background and a few publications,  having hailed from an under developed country, my exposure towards the broad range of research questions and projects is limited. Also they told in the interview that they were just going to extend admission offer to approx 40% of the students short-listed for interview...

 

@c m: Yes I have applied to other places as well.

 

The thing is that I am not sure who to get mad on more. a) myself, for not performing well in the interview twice, b ) the university for raising my hopes for two consecutive years before  shutting me down each time.

P.S: Like lm2014 said, I too am terrible at interviews. I get too nervous and start having panic attacks and screw up the interviews. And once the interview is over, all the right answers start coming to my mind... 

Edited January 29, 2015 by HBKss

[foreignstudent]

@HBKss...

Whoa with a strong research background you felt it tough... that is something then...I have no research experience to speak of and I keep wondering how was I considered for the talk!!!! Did you feel your lack of research exposure hurt you in your chances.. but with your publications and research background I thought hey would only judge your capacity to do research.. This is really tough luck for you.... I will post my experience as soon as it gets over...

[HBKss]

@foreignstudent...

 

Best of luck with the interview... hope you get in... Just try to be calm and take your time before answering the questions and answer the questions logically rather than on your instinct...

 

Now that I analyze my interviews, it is just about if you are the person whose application they short-listed. In my interview I was far away from that person.

[foreignstudent]

@HBKss

The interview hardly went the way I expected.. it was more sort of  a semi guidance talk about what program I had to take and I could sense that there was no way I would be offered a place.. I am applying for a PhD and interview was about taking up a masters.. Its time for me to pack my bags and I have to think of starting new with my career and move on from this disappointment of failing to secure a graduate study..

[HBKss]

@foreignstudent

 

Don't get disappointed. I can understand the feeling of disappointment. The thing is that I am not going to give you any false hopes even though there are good chances that you might get in. The point I am going to stress is that despite going through bad interviews for two straight years from the same place, I didnt give up hope. And that is exactly what you should be doing. If you have a dream of pursuing a graduate degree, dont give up on it just because you had one disappointing interview. You dont want to get into your forties and realize it then, that had you tried a little harder, maybe given another year to your dream, things might have turned out different and better for you. 

[foreignstudent]

@HBKss

 

Yes I may try next year but age is surely catching up.... I guess I need to give some time off to deal with the rejections and see if I can still motivate myself for another round of applications next year as a lot can happen over a year and the motivation becomes a little weakened when you have failed already. How do you motivate yourself as I am so off the course that I no longer even check my mails as it sort of triggers my sense of disappointment more...

 

And you were exactly right about the interview: I was far away from the person they had short-listed

[HBKss]

@foreignstudent

 

Yes the first week after rejection after an interview is tough. The point here to motivate yourself is not try to motivate yourself for something you get rejected from, but rather motivate yourself for something that you love. If you look at PhD admissions as something you got rejected from then it is hard to motivate yourself for it, instead if you look at PhD admissions as something you have passion for then it is easy to motivate yourself. 

 

And about the age thing, it is really not a big deal. What do think is better? a) To give up on your dream career forever, or to join your dream career, but probably a couple of years older... 

 

And next time do apply to more than a few places. An acceptance from a lower ranked university is always good as opposed to no acceptance at all. There is no harm in applying to your fourth, fifth or sixth choice university. There is nothing to loose. And given your limited experience, it might as well be that a lower ranked university actually turns out far better than your top choice for you...