Fall 2015 Interview: St. Cloud State

[NSSLHANerd]

Hi friends!

 

Is anyone interviewing at St. Cloud State University on February 27th? I am so excited but also nervous and was hoping for some insight into what that interview might entail (rumors, myths, facts, etc.)

 

Also, if anyone currently goes there: Do you like the program? Any advice for a prospective grad student?

 

Thanks all and good luck to you!

 

Accepted:0/5

Interview: 1/5 St. Cloud State University

Rejected:0/5

Applied to: UW-Milwaukee,UW- Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater, St. Cloud State, Illinois State University

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

I sent you a message!

[the_bee's_knees]

I have an interview on the 27th as well! Yay! 

 

Any info turn up about this school?

 

Thanks!

[scisl006]

I had a friend interview there last year and she said that they only interviewed 20people. No idea if that is the case again this year but if so your chances are probably really good! Good luck!

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

This year they have fewer spots than usual to fill, but an interview invitation is a VERY good sign. I'm not sure if they cut back on the number of people offered interviews because of this though. Also, they usually admit a majority of the people interviewed.

[NSSLHANerd]

I am looking forward to meeting everyone and am excited about this graduate program's small class size.

 

[ckoz84]

Heya!  I confess to have been a "lurker" for awhile - have seen many posts, but haven't chimed in yet.  I'm also going to be at the interviews on Friday - wondering if anyone would be interested in meeting up for coffee before, maybe peeking around the campus a bit?  I know I'll be getting there early just in case, and it would be nice to chat with some people who are in the same boat - help to calm those nerves!

 

Either way, hope this finds all of you well!

Edited February 24, 2015 by ckoz84

[Spiesie]

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling unsure about what to expect! I'm really excited but also really nervous. Getting an interview is a pretty cool accomplishment though, right? Good luck all, and I hope to meet some of you there!

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

Yes, interviews are a little victory in-and-of themselves! St. Cloud does pretty thorough interviews but it should be a great experience! I am nervous and excited for it. I can't wait to meet all of you on Friday too! 

[ckoz84]

So... should we fill out the agonizing wait by sharing tips from our experience for people who search the forums next year, or should we wait to see how it works out to know what advice is worth taking? 

 

That was so intense!  So many great candidates, seems like a fantastic program...

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

Ah, that was very intense! There wasn't a single "basic" interview question! I am likely going to wait and see what happens. I feel so unconfident now as could be expected. I think the fact that it was all group interviews made me more nervous than I would have been if we had some one-on-ones. It's kind of scary to know how qualified and great the other applicants are! Haha. It is hard not to compare yourself to the others who were really great. I really enjoyed today though! I am so happy to have gotten the chance to interview! 

 

Gosh, I am so nervous waiting and analyzing everything! Oh, the joys of grad school interviews!

[ckoz84]

Looks like you have another interview somewhere else though, right?  So, if you haven't done that one yet, maybe you can take what you learned into the next one? 

Anyway, I'm sure you did great.  Everyone there, at least that I met, seemed really terrific.  I don't know how they'll make those choices!  I know that the people who are accepted should know soon (maybe by Monday....?), but I wonder how long it will take for everyone else. 

Remember that quote from Shawshank Redemption about time drawing out like a blade?

[ckoz84]

Also, that moment when your reading for that night contains the content that would have made a great answer to that question earlier in the day... sigh...

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

Yeah, that's true! That's what the grad students told us too. Monday is likely THE day. I currently go to SCSU and I would love to stay if possible. Yep, I actually had my other interview this week too! It was a nice warm up for today's long interview process.  

 

Isn't that the worst!? I thought of so many things that I could've nailed the questions with after the interview! They definitely have tough decisions. I wouldn't want their jobs at the moment. Everyone seemed more than qualified and deserving of admission!

 

I am going to do my best to abstain from lurking Grad Cafe in search of admission results in the near future. I don't think it will work though. Once you know about this website, there's no going back. 

[NSSLHANerd]

I just want to say a few things that were surprising to me and maybe you all felt that way too:

1: the amount of people there was startling! Immediately I was even more nervous because of just how many other people were interviewing.

2: the group interviews were more nerve wracking than I had anticipated. It was hard to stay confident in my answer because everyone was so eloquent and had such great experiences to talk about

3: I liked the program so much and I did not expect that. I felt like the faculty truly cares about each of their students and the facilities were very nice (that Aud suite though!!).

4: the writing portion was very easy for an in major applicant but I know it would have been tougher to write a good essay as an out of field applicant

5: everyone was incredible. You all were just wonderful and intelligent and passionate. I loved meeting a big group of like minded strangers and now I realize that the faculty has a very hard decision to make.

* I'm so glad it's Saturday because it's one day closer to Monday, THE day.

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

I feel the same way! When we were initially in 118 with everyone at the beginning it really put things into perspective. I didn't expect quite that many. I'd heard in years past they kept it around 30.

 

I also thought the group interview format was more anxiety provoking. It was hard to sell yourself when you're with a group of individuals who have some really great credentials. I guess the saying "ignorance is bliss" would apply here in that not knowing how great everyone is would help the nerves!

 

My nerves were running the highest during the writing portion since it was first on the agenda for my group. I thought the prompt was pretty fair and answerable. It just took a little extra thought on what they may have been looking for. I felt myself doing a lot of erasing and reformulating sentences! I am glad to have gotten that out of the way right away. 

 

I know my tour group didn't get to see the inside of the observation room, which was unfortunate. I think that the observation room is another pretty cool component of SCSU's program. I was impressed the first time I got to go in it. Not all programs have one and it is definitely an awesome resource. My group also did not get to go in the child therapy room which was also unfortunate! The child therapy room is very neat. There's all kinds of things in it!

 

I also enjoyed meeting everyone. It is exciting to meet like-minded people who are so passionate! I had a wonderful time at interviews and learned a lot about what makes the program really great. 

 

What a fun and stressful day! 

[Spiesie]

Those group interviews though. I've never heard of any place conducting interviews like that! My group got to do both of our interviews first, which I was super happy about. It was nerve-wracking, but at least they were over and I didn't have to worry about them after that! The only thing I really liked about the group format was that it gave me a longer amount of time to craft my response haha. I kind of liked hearing about everyone else's experience too. The other 3 in my group had such diverse experiences (which made me feel nervous about my own responses but were interesting nonetheless  ). 

 

I was very surprised about the amount of people and the amount they said they typically accepted. Someone told me that they only interviewed about 20 candidates last year. 

 

I was incredibly impressed with the program and all of the opportunities that were available to work with clients. The faculty seemed very caring and enthusiastic as well. Now I'm even more impatient to know!

 

Well, here's hoping that we find out on Monday! Good Luck all!

[the_bee's_knees]

Wow, reading this is giving me some real curiosity!

 

I interviewed yesterday via Skype, so I did not get a chance to view the facilities or meet anyone. I also have no idea of how many people were there. Sounds like a lot, though. Anyone have an estimate?

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

I would say there was probably ~35. I'm not sure how many Skype interviews they did though. I know they did a few, at least. That's what a grad student told me anyway. There was probably between 35-40 total I would estimate. Don't quote me though.

 

Myself and NSSLHANerd were in the same group which had 5 people in it! We had a "large" group. I agree that it was nice to be able to formulate responses while others were responding. I was interested in everyone's responses but I often found my brain racing 100mph to come up with my responses while they were talking! Yes, I also agree about the faculty. Their passion really was evident at interviews. I have/have had some of them for classes and I really enjoy learning from them as well. They're a great bunch of people. 

 

Monday, Monday....Please come sooner so we can have a little piece of mind!

[AJM24]

Hi there! 

I have been heavily creeping on this thread since the interview day and my creation of a gradcafe profile despite being told it will, "ruin my life". I was wondering if anyone heard anything today? Just curious if I should be crying and eating ice cream because I didn't receive a phone call.

Good luck!! 

[NSSLHANerd]

AJM 24: Have no fear! Nobody received any calls today. I have it on good authority that calls will be made by the end of this week. Likely by tomorrow or Wednesday. I also waited with baited breath by my phone today in a state of constant worry. 

 

What did you think of the interview? I am so hooked on the program now! I am dying to know if I will be accepted.

 

(Fetal position inducing applications 9/9 ) <- that is hilarious

[AJM24]

Thanks for responding so quickly! I will put the ice cream and girl scout cookies down, for now.

 

I thought the interview was really intense! This school is my first choice so the interview really solidified things for me. I definitely feel like I could have done better though so I'm stressing! I think I was actually in a group with you and neuronparty. The big five person group! I hope the cohort this year is a little bigger so more of us have the opportunity to go to such an awesome place! I have gone full on crazy person waiting for all of these decisions. I need to work on my zen. 

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

Hi there!

 

Welcome to the thread of neurotic, overly obsessed SCSU applicants! GradCafe has taken another casualty I see. Anyway, I have word that the admission committee is going to review files again and make a decision very soon. Dr. Crowell is hoping to make phone calls with unofficial acceptances at the beginning of this week yet. Maybe tomorrow or Wednesday possibly. That's my interpretation of what is meant by the "beginning" of the week. Official acceptances will be sent by mail next week. Don't despair just yet!

 

That is what I was told today!

 

Sighhhhhhhhhh.

[ckoz84]

GGGGAAAHHHH this is so intense.  As NSSLAHNerd said earlier, it comes in waves... I'm OK for now again. 

 

Grateful that you, neuronparty, are able (and willing!) to give us the inside scoop.  Sweating it out without knowing that it was taking a little longer this year would have made it a little rougher, I think. 

[SLPosteriorCricoarytenoid]

That's what is nice about going to the school you apply to...You can hear some information about what is going on since you're always around! And so the waiting continues. None of my programs I applied to have made decisions yet. I'm just waiting here like: