What are your chances of acceptance after in person interview?

[FeelTheBern]

Does anyone have rough numbers or any idea about this?

I have seen other people on this forum say that approx. 2-5 students for every POI are invited to recruitment/interview day. Does that mean each student's chances are 20%-50%? Please feel free to chime in as I am interested in hearing different views.

[ejs813]

each professor usually just takes 1 student so just divide 1 by however many people are interviewing. 

The odds seem like they'd be in your favor but remember that these people who get interviews are super qualified also and you don't know what kind of relationship they have with the faculty member already. For instance, could already be working in their lab, currently work with one of that faculty members old students, just a lot of factors can come into play which make it still so competitive. Don't even think about your odds just do the best you can and you can't be upset with yourself

[artsy16]

It depends on the program as well. One place I applied to doesn't accept students into one professor's lab, because all the professors work in collaborative labs. You're expected to jump around and find your interests, and you won't necessarily do research with your advisor. So students are just accepted based on the faculty's collective preferences. We weren't even asked to identify a professor in our SOP. They said we could, but it was more important to state your research interests clearly. 

Edited January 7, 2016 by artsy16

[vislabgirlx]

I don't know anything about it in terms of probability, but I have heard different things from different people. I think it depends on the program. A lady from one of the UTs told me that, in her program, if you're invited it means you're in. That's not the case at all schools, though. I've heard that some PIs will rank the applicants they invite, and if one is their first choice and continues to be their first choice after the interview weekend, the other two don't stand much of a chance (unless, of course, the first choice chooses to go elsewhere). 

Because of this, I don't think that thinking of it in terms of probability/chances is wise unless you know for certain that the PI likes each interviewee equally and the interview is to try and become "first choice," as opposed to a situation where a first choice is already pretty much chosen and the interview is just the PI's way to confirm his/her choice. 

Edited January 7, 2016 by vislabgirlx

[homonculus]

Others are right that your chance is 1 divided by the number of students interviewing, and that everyone interviewing is well qualified for the position. Obviously that assumes all the interviewees are seen as equally deserving and there is a lot of variation between schools.

However, remember that top students often get multiple interviews. So if there are, say, 4 students interviewing for a similar POI across institutions, that doesn't mean 4 unique students at each institution--there will be some overlap. One of the books I read about grad admissions basically said you shouldn't freak out if you get an interview, because even if you aren't offered the position, most people who get an interview end up getting another interview and an offer somewhere. 

I know you should just do your best regardless, but I'm like you and like to think about my chances in one of the most important decisions of my life. Good luck!

[Applicant38]

I was wondering about this as well. I heard from a counseling psych faculty at my undergrad institution that an interview invite is nearly an acceptance. I was also wondering if anyone knows whether this is more or less true if the program is providing a hotel and helping out with airfare? Does the investment of financial resources mean anything? Great advice already posted by the way! Regardless of your chances, I would just prepare the best you can!

[Gvh]

Another question I am interested in is the difference between interviewing at an umbrella program where you do rotations (like most neuro programs) versus interviewing for a lab (like most psych programs). In the latter, you obviously need to click and fit well with your prospective advisor. But in umbrella programs, is the goal in the interview to generally fit well with the department? With 2-3 PIs you see yourself rotating with? I feel like it would be harder to distinguish yourself in this case....