Strange Situation....

[ma7eb4i]

I was informally offered an invitation to interview at a school, and now I haven't heard anything back for a week when the interview weekend is early February. Calling and e-mailing have not yielded any responses, and now I'm wondering if I've been pocket vetoed. I haven't been offered any other interviews so this is it for this application cycle. Any advice on what I can/should do? Or am I just SoL and being jerked around?

I had pretty much accepted that I'd been denied admission everywhere this year, and this situation is just wreaking havoc on me.

[MarA]

I was informally offered an invitation to interview at a school, and now I haven't heard anything back for a week when the interview weekend is early February. Calling and e-mailing have not yielded any responses, and now I'm wondering if I've been pocket vetoed. I haven't been offered any other interviews so this is it for this application cycle. Any advice on what I can/should do? Or am I just SoL and being jerked around?

I had pretty much accepted that I'd been denied admission everywhere this year, and this situation is just wreaking havoc on me.

Can you give us a little bit more details? What do you mean by informal invitation? Have they given you informations about traveling to the school? And what do you want to ask them about? Some schools are not prompt in responding emails/phone calls, especially at this peak season where everyone is calling... I would say keep calling until they answer if you are really desperate on getting an answer...

Good luck

Edited January 27, 2010 by MarA

[ma7eb4i]

One of my recommendation writers found out that my application was ranked highly at the school. However, for various reasons, I wasn't extended an invitation to interview. My letter writer said that they would offer me an interview if I would pay my own way there (airfare and hotel). I agreed to it, but this was all second hand information. No one from the school has actually made contact with me so I have no official information.

I feel powerless to do anything because my recommender said I should just wait it out and see what happens, and I have mixed feelings about knowing my application was highly ranked at one of the top programs in the nation yet not getting any interviews anywhere.

[MarA]

One of my recommendation writers found out that my application was ranked highly at the school. However, for various reasons, I wasn't extended an invitation to interview. My letter writer said that they would offer me an interview if I would pay my own way there (airfare and hotel). I agreed to it, but this was all second hand information. No one from the school has actually made contact with me so I have no official information.

I feel powerless to do anything because my recommender said I should just wait it out and see what happens, and I have mixed feelings about knowing my application was highly ranked at one of the top programs in the nation yet not getting any interviews anywhere.

Hmm....this is really strange. I wonder how he knows about the application info. Is he a faculty member in the school that you applied to?

Anyway, if you application is really attractive and you are outside US, they will probably give you a phone interview. And international applicants generally will get an invitation at a later time compared to domestic ones. Don't worry about it. I am sure you will get something.

Edited January 28, 2010 by MarA

[ma7eb4i]

I'm domestic, and I think I'm probably just SoL. The interview weekend is a week away, and at this point, even if I get notification, airfare is becoming cost prohibitive for me. *crosses eyes* Ah well, hope the evil hope that next year is better!

[MarA]

I'm domestic, and I think I'm probably just SoL. The interview weekend is a week away, and at this point, even if I get notification, airfare is becoming cost prohibitive for me. *crosses eyes* Ah well, hope the evil hope that next year is better!

I am sorry to hear that. Anyway, good luck to you.

[ma7eb4i]

I received an e-mail yesterday saying that if I could pay all my travel expenses, the school will interview me. It would cost me about $1000 for airfare, hotel, taxi (city doesn't have too public transport), and missed work. I'd have to pull the money out of my rainy day funds which is scary.

Any advice? Would it be better to just forsake this year's applications process and try again next year? Will they perceive me not going as a lack of sufficient interest in their program?

[Sassytune]

I received an e-mail yesterday saying that if I could pay all my travel expenses, the school will interview me. It would cost me about $1000 for airfare, hotel, taxi (city doesn't have too public transport), and missed work. I'd have to pull the money out of my rainy day funds which is scary.

Any advice? Would it be better to just forsake this year's applications process and try again next year? Will they perceive me not going as a lack of sufficient interest in their program?

OoH! Tough call. Any notion about your chances of acceptance? Funding if accepted? Is it one of your top choices? Will it put your rainy day funds to zero? Will you care if they perceive you as not showing sufficient interest in their program, or do you plan to apply there again?

In any case, GOOD LUCK!

[dzk]

I received an e-mail yesterday saying that if I could pay all my travel expenses, the school will interview me. It would cost me about $1000 for airfare, hotel, taxi (city doesn't have too public transport), and missed work. I'd have to pull the money out of my rainy day funds which is scary.

Any advice? Would it be better to just forsake this year's applications process and try again next year? Will they perceive me not going as a lack of sufficient interest in their program?

Do you mind sharing which program this is? You could also PM me. It's very surprising to me that a neuroscience program would not pay your expenses, so my gut feeling that you should not do this. I can give you better advice depending on the school, but I am guessing you're better off taking a year or two to improve your application and try again.

However, it couldn't hurt to ask if you could get some phone interviews instead.

Edited February 27, 2010 by dzk

[ma7eb4i]

Sorry, I don't really feel comfortable saying which program it is. But it looks like I'll be waiting to apply next cycle. The admissions director basically said a phone interview wouldn't suffice and that I have to fly out there.

Thanks for the advice.

[bearsalot_]

Weird. I had a similarly odd instance--I was invited for an interview with about two weeks notice for a recruitment weekend, but it overlapped with one I had scheduled a earlier at another school. I tried to schedule for another date, but the "recruitment team" folks I was corresponding with couldn't figure out who would be in charge of setting up alternative appointments. They had me email several other people myself, who also didn't know who to talk to, but said that they would try. I never heard back.

I'd say, if a school can't or won't make it easy for you to interview with them, it isn't a good sign. They either aren't sufficiently interested in you as an applicant, or they aren't organized enough as a department. Either way, that probably isn't a good fit for you.