2009-2010 Grad School Interview Invite Thread!

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
FYI: ut southwestern will be reviewing apps monday and we should be hearing back some time next week. interviews are scheduled for saturday, 2/20.
 
Ganzheit said:
Anybody have any solid information about when Texas - Austin is doing their interviews? I have reason to believe that (a) the invitation process isn't done yet, and (b) it's going to be a very small cohort next year. But I don't know when the interviews are scheduled.

Am I the only one who spends much more time fretting about my rejections than enjoying my interview offers? I never used to think of myself as a pessimist, but WOW, a rejection is much more painful than an acceptance is joyful. Time to go read some Pema Chodran.
Click to expand...


I am not sure which program you are talking about, but my friend was extended a Counseling invite to UT...and if you are talking about Clinical Ph.D I'm not sure about (a), but I can tell you that unfortunately you are correct about (b).
 
For those also waiting on UIC - heard from someone today!! 🙂xf🙂 and apparently there has been a delay with some POIs and applications because there was a glitch in the online application system. (This has actually happened to a few of my schools :scared:) They retrieved everything (don't worry!!), but versus those paper applications there might be a delay in hearing. So chin up!!
 
ClinPsyc said:
For those also waiting on UIC - heard from someone today!! 🙂xf🙂 and apparently there has been a delay with some POIs and applications because there was a glitch in the online application system. (This has actually happened to a few of my schools :scared:) They retrieved everything (don't worry!!), but versus those paper applications there might be a delay in hearing. So chin up!!
Click to expand...
Do you mind telling me who you POI is or I could also send you a PM with who I applied to work with. I would appreciate any info. Thanks!
 
Whoever got the invite from Howard, do you mind saying how you were contacted (mass email, call from poi, etc)?
 
PsychDepression said:
I am not sure which program you are talking about, but my friend was extended a Counseling invite to UT...and if you are talking about Clinical Ph.D I'm not sure about (a), but I can tell you that unfortunately you are correct about (b).
Click to expand...

Clinical is indeed my program, but I appreciate any news. Thanks.
 
Clin2010 said:
Did anyone else receive phone call for Rutgers Invite????
Click to expand...

Perhaps I'm the only one on here who did??? The phone call was from the grad admissions coordinator, and was immediately followed by an email as well...
 
All but 2 of the schools I applied to are posted on here, so I was wondering if anybody knows anything about UVA or UNCG (clinical PhD for both or developmental PhD for UNCG). Not that I'll have the energy for any more interviews...I would just like to know if I need to expect any more.
 
Last edited:
WantCalm said:
All but 2 of the schools I applied to are posted on here, so I was wondering if anybody knows anything about UVA or UNCG (clinical PhD for both or developmental PhD for UNCG). Not that I'll have the energy for any more interviews...I would just like to know if I need to expect any more.
Click to expand...

regular UVA or Curry?
 
I'm still waiting to hear from Georgia State University's clinical psych Ph.D. program. I got an email on January 14th saying my application was forwarded to the selection committee, but nothing since. Anyone else still waiting?
 
Last edited:
Has anyone heard from Univ. of Louisville - Counseling Psych PhD program? Anyone else here applied there?
 
Has anyone heard anything from Colorado State (Counseling PhD) or the University of Colorado at Denver (Clinical Health Phd)?
 
richzeelv said:
Has anyone heard from Univ. of Louisville - Counseling Psych PhD program? Anyone else here applied there?
Click to expand...


Two of my friends did phone interviews with them around 10 days ago. Invites went out around early/mid Jan.

Good luck!
 
Hey Guys! I see that SUNY Buffalo has sent out rejections, but it doesn't look like anyone has reported interview invites. Does anyone know anything about this. It just seems like it would be odd for them to send out rejections without sending out invites. Any chance this school just didn't get posted? I guess it is possible that no one that looks at this site got an interview there but that seems unlikely!
 
Hi everyone, I found this forum last weekend and have been reading it (and freaking out) ever since. Here's my situation/question...

Is it normal to not have gotten interview invitations to schools where my GRE scores are 150 points higher than their average admitted student when my GPA is about the same or a little higher than their average admitted student and I have psych research experience??? Because this is the predicament I'm in right now and I'm really confused as to why I haven't received invites when my stats are all so good. I'm wondering if I royally screwed something up on my application, if schools don't want students with master degrees (some websites do state they'll only accept X number of people with a master's degree), if schools are still sending invitations even if they started handing them out two or three weeks ago, or if this is all just a random crab shoot? Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
WantCalm said:
All but 2 of the schools I applied to are posted on here, so I was wondering if anybody knows anything about UVA or UNCG (clinical PhD for both or developmental PhD for UNCG). Not that I'll have the energy for any more interviews...I would just like to know if I need to expect any more.
Click to expand...

hi. My POI from UNCG contacted me Friday both by email and phone. Interviews will be either Feb. 19 or 26 depending on availability.
Good luck!
 
ujutu said:
Hi everyone, I found this forum last weekend and have been reading it (and freaking out) ever since. Here's my situation/question...

Is it normal to not have gotten interview invitations to schools where my GRE scores are 150 points higher than their average admitted student when my GPA is about the same or a little higher than their average admitted student and I have psych research experience, I've co-authored psych papers that are being published, and I am currently getting a masters degree (in a different field) at an ivy league school??? Because this is the predicament I'm in right now and I'm really confused as to why I haven't received invites when my stats are all so good. One school did call me this week because I forgot to fill out one form and they said they were "very impressed" with my resume and recommendation letters and would be calling me in a week or two when they're ready to formally extend invitations to interview (at least one person on this site has said he or she already received an invite here though)... I applied to six schools, including safeties where I far exceed their average admitted student's stats, and I have yet to receive a single interview invitation (to schools which have all been on the list of this forum for weeks). I'm wondering if I royally screwed something up on my application, if schools don't want students with master degrees (some websites do state they'll only accept X number of people with a master's degree), if schools are still sending invitations even if they started handing them out two or three weeks ago, or if this is all just a random crab shoot? Thoughts?
Click to expand...

It does happen. Many time if you exceed the schools expectations by too much they *assume* that you will probably get in elsewhere and you would reject their program. Another possibility could be similar to what others have recently experienced is a surge in the number of applications this year some schools received 2x the amount they usually do. There is also a chance that your POI changed their mind on whether or not they would be accepting students this year. There is no true rhyme or reason for not receiving interview invites...hang in there something may pop up soon.
 
ujutu said:
Hi everyone, I found this forum last weekend and have been reading it (and freaking out) ever since. Here's my situation/question...

Is it normal to not have gotten interview invitations to schools where my GRE scores are 150 points higher than their average admitted student when my GPA is about the same or a little higher than their average admitted student and I have psych research experience, I've co-authored psych papers that are being published, and I am currently getting a masters degree (in a different field) at an ivy league school??? Because this is the predicament I'm in right now and I'm really confused as to why I haven't received invites when my stats are all so good. One school did call me this week because I forgot to fill out one form and they said they were "very impressed" with my resume and recommendation letters and would be calling me in a week or two when they're ready to formally extend invitations to interview (at least one person on this site has said he or she already received an invite here though)... I applied to six schools, including safeties where I far exceed their average admitted student's stats, and I have yet to receive a single interview invitation (to schools which have all been on the list of this forum for weeks). I'm wondering if I royally screwed something up on my application, if schools don't want students with master degrees (some websites do state they'll only accept X number of people with a master's degree), if schools are still sending invitations even if they started handing them out two or three weeks ago, or if this is all just a random crab shoot? Thoughts?
Click to expand...

There are a few things that could be going on.

1. The average GRE scores & GPA include people who may be the exception to the rule, not to mention that a lot of schools just want to make sure that these numbers are above a certain threshold, and then they don't matter much. Also, the average GPA is for undergrad, not grad. I don't know which of your GPAs you were referring to. It seems most schools want the graduate GPA to be significantly higher than undergrad for whatever reason.

2. Some schools don't like students with masters, and maybe they are afraid you aren't committed to the field because you are currently in a different field. You never know.

3. You didn't apply to that many schools, which is risky. It seems like the average is 10, maybe a little higher. Also, clinical psych is so competitive that there is no such thing as a true safety.

4. I've heard that schools have been inundated with applications this year. When the economy goes down, a lot of people try to continue in school or go back to school instead of dealing with a difficult job market. That just raises the competition.

5. I don't know much about your situation, but it's possible you weren't a close enough research match with the people you applied to work with. Also, did you contact the people you wanted to work with before applying? If not, it's possible that they aren't taking students this year.

6. I don't know if you took time off between undergrad and getting a master's. If not, schools might be looking for someone with full-time research experience. Part-time research experience, such as the experience one gets in undergrad, isn't the same level as full-time experience. Also, how much research experience do you have? Most schools seem to want 4-5 years of relevant research experience.

7. You have to remember that each year you are competing against a unique pool of applicants that could have a variety of different qualifications and/or connections. These schools might just feel that particular students are a good match for whatever reason, in which case it's not that you did something wrong, it's just that you don't have something unique that makes you appealing to work with someone (e.g., research in on a specific topic, experience working with someone they know, etc.).

This is my 3rd time applying and I feel like I finally got it right (at least based on the number of interview invites I've gotten this year compared to the last 2 times). Throughout the past few years that I've applied, I've gotten a lot of advice from a lot of people who know what they're talking about because they are on the other side of the process. If you have any questions, I can pass along any of the information that I have received (provided I have received relevant information related to your question).

I know this process is frustrating, but it's just really competitive.
 
PsychDepression said:
hi. My POI from UNCG contacted me Friday both by email and phone. Interviews will be either Feb. 19 or 26 depending on availability.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Was this for clinical? Also, why is EVERYBODY doing interviews those days?
 
ujutu said:
Hi everyone, I found this forum last weekend and have been reading it (and freaking out) ever since. Here's my situation/question...

Is it normal to not have gotten interview invitations to schools where my GRE scores are 150 points higher than their average admitted student when my GPA is about the same or a little higher than their average admitted student and I have psych research experience, I've co-authored psych papers that are being published, and I am currently getting a masters degree (in a different field) at an ivy league school??? Because this is the predicament I'm in right now and I'm really confused as to why I haven't received invites when my stats are all so good. One school did call me this week because I forgot to fill out one form and they said they were "very impressed" with my resume and recommendation letters and would be calling me in a week or two when they're ready to formally extend invitations to interview (at least one person on this site has said he or she already received an invite here though)... I applied to six schools, including safeties where I far exceed their average admitted student's stats, and I have yet to receive a single interview invitation (to schools which have all been on the list of this forum for weeks). I'm wondering if I royally screwed something up on my application, if schools don't want students with master degrees (some websites do state they'll only accept X number of people with a master's degree), if schools are still sending invitations even if they started handing them out two or three weeks ago, or if this is all just a random crab shoot? Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I understand where you are coming from. I don't have a master's but I have years of experience and GRE/GPA higher than the average of most every school I applied. Although I have gotten a few invites, many are from not very highly ranked schools. I was passed up by Penn State who I would've been a perfect match for based on research interests and even my POI had agreed. When I wrote to him about invites, he said, nicely and very politely, but in a nutshell that even though my credentials were very good, they had 100 more applicants than usual this year so it is extremely competitive. My regular advisor has said the same thing about the larger number of people applying. Why everyone in the world decided to apply the same year I did, I don't know. Just my freakin' luck I guess. There's places I thought I would've been a top pick at because my credentials were higher than their average and I would've fit well, but yet I heard nothing. I am at a loss for it as well. I just want to yell at them all---what more do you want from me???!!!! :bang: I think it's just that there are SOOOO many people applying this year that having high credentials and experience is no longer enough. I knew how competitive this area was but I figured that since I spent the last several years of my life working hard to be a top applicant, that I'd be somehow make it out on top with good chances at highly ranked schools. I thought wrong. There are now too many people just like us. That's all I've been able to figure. It's incredibly frustrating. Blame the economy I guess because no one can get a job so it's smarter to go back to school. Anyhow, I feel your pain. :cry: BTW, there were several people at my last interview that were in master's programs and I know several students at my current school who came in with a master's so I wouldn't worry about that. Good luck to us all!
 
Psychcat said:
I understand where you are coming from. I don't have a master's but I have years of experience and GRE/GPA higher than the average of most every school I applied. Although I have gotten a few invites, many are from not very highly ranked schools. I was passed up by Penn State who I would've been a perfect match for based on research interests and even my POI had agreed. When I wrote to him about invites, he said, nicely and very politely, but in a nutshell that even though my credentials were very good, they had 100 more applicants than usual this year so it is extremely competitive. My regular advisor has said the same thing about the larger number of people applying. Why everyone in the world decided to apply the same year I did, I don't know. Just my freakin' luck I guess. There's places I thought I would've been a top pick at because my credentials were higher than their average and I would've fit well, but yet I heard nothing. I am at a loss for it as well. I just want to yell at them all---what more do you want from me???!!!! :bang: I think it's just that there are SOOOO many people applying this year that having high credentials and experience is no longer enough. I knew how competitive this area was but I figured that since I spent the last several years of my life working hard to be a top applicant, that I'd be somehow make it out on top with good chances at highly ranked schools. I thought wrong. There are now too many people just like us. That's all I've been able to figure. It's incredibly frustrating. Blame the economy I guess because no one can get a job so it's smarter to go back to school. Anyhow, I feel your pain. :cry: BTW, there were several people at my last interview that were in master's programs and I know several students at my current school who came in with a master's so I wouldn't worry about that. Good luck to us all!
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what rankings you're looking at, but they don't matter NEARLY as much as match rates. If you don't get an internship, you don't get your doctorate, no matter how hard you worked, so you want to go to a program that has a good history of matching people. So take a look a the match rates for the schools you're interviewing at; they might be better programs than you think!
 
ujutu said:
Hi everyone, I found this forum last weekend and have been reading it (and freaking out) ever since. Here's my situation/question...

Is it normal to not have gotten interview invitations to schools where my GRE scores are 150 points higher than their average admitted student when my GPA is about the same or a little higher than their average admitted student and I have psych research experience, I've co-authored psych papers that are being published, and I am currently getting a masters degree (in a different field) at an ivy league school??? Because this is the predicament I'm in right now and I'm really confused as to why I haven't received invites when my stats are all so good. One school did call me this week because I forgot to fill out one form and they said they were "very impressed" with my resume and recommendation letters and would be calling me in a week or two when they're ready to formally extend invitations to interview (at least one person on this site has said he or she already received an invite here though)... I applied to six schools, including safeties where I far exceed their average admitted student's stats, and I have yet to receive a single interview invitation (to schools which have all been on the list of this forum for weeks). I'm wondering if I royally screwed something up on my application, if schools don't want students with master degrees (some websites do state they'll only accept X number of people with a master's degree), if schools are still sending invitations even if they started handing them out two or three weeks ago, or if this is all just a random crab shoot? Thoughts?
Click to expand...


I totally agree with all the other posts about this topic. It is important to have good credentials, but I've heard that matching with the interests of the POI and also especially the program as a whole is more important. It is this that the programs analyze when comparing so many equally credentialed people.
 
I should formally Welcome you TO THIS HORRIBLE CLUB! I think hundreds of us are in the same boat, with excellent stats...unfortunately it's the nature of the clinical psychology beast. I am switching fields...I have a MA in MFT and applying to Clinical PhD programs. My advice is to be patient. I started freaking out a couple weeks ago since I had not gotten any interviews, and now have 2 and in one alternative group for interviews. Best of luck and hopefully you will get some invites! That's why I love this forum...we all understand how awful this process is.

ujutu said:
Hi everyone, I found this forum last weekend and have been reading it (and freaking out) ever since. Here's my situation/question...

Is it normal to not have gotten interview invitations to schools where my GRE scores are 150 points higher than their average admitted student when my GPA is about the same or a little higher than their average admitted student and I have psych research experience, I've co-authored psych papers that are being published, and I am currently getting a masters degree (in a different field) at an ivy league school??? Because this is the predicament I'm in right now and I'm really confused as to why I haven't received invites when my stats are all so good. One school did call me this week because I forgot to fill out one form and they said they were "very impressed" with my resume and recommendation letters and would be calling me in a week or two when they're ready to formally extend invitations to interview (at least one person on this site has said he or she already received an invite here though)... I applied to six schools, including safeties where I far exceed their average admitted student's stats, and I have yet to receive a single interview invitation (to schools which have all been on the list of this forum for weeks). I'm wondering if I royally screwed something up on my application, if schools don't want students with master degrees (some websites do state they'll only accept X number of people with a master's degree), if schools are still sending invitations even if they started handing them out two or three weeks ago, or if this is all just a random crab shoot? Thoughts?
Click to expand...
 
WantCalm said:
Was this for clinical? Also, why is EVERYBODY doing interviews those days?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is for the clinical PhD program. and I don't know why they picked those dates but it seems like quite a few do seem to coincide.
 
Yeah, the sites been slow lately...
 
I received an invitation to interview with the University of Connecticut's School Psychology Program on February 22nd or 26th. I received this via email from the Admissions Coordinator.
 
5. I don't know much about your situation, but it's possible you weren't a close enough research match with the people you applied to work with. Also, did you contact the people you wanted to work with before applying? If not, it's possible that they aren't taking students this year

this. even if you have perfect gre's and gpa i don't think a school would be interested if your research interests and experience don't match what someone there is already studying.

i applied to 10 schools, only got 2 interviews and have 1 school left that hasn't given interviews yet. some of the schools i didn't get interviews to are less competitive than the schools i did get ones too so i have no clue what makes you stand out to one and not another.
 
WantCalm said:
3. You didn't apply to that many schools, which is risky. It seems like the average is 10, maybe a little higher. Also, clinical psych is so competitive that there is no such thing as a true safety.

4. I've heard that schools have been inundated with applications this year. When the economy goes down, a lot of people try to continue in school or go back to school instead of dealing with a difficult job market. That just raises the competition.
Click to expand...

These were my first thoughts as well. Also keep in mind that a bad economy cuts both ways: More applicants and less money to take new students. 🙁
 
WantCalm said:
I'm not sure what rankings you're looking at, but they don't matter NEARLY as much as match rates. If you don't get an internship, you don't get your doctorate, no matter how hard you worked, so you want to go to a program that has a good history of matching people. So take a look a the match rates for the schools you're interviewing at; they might be better programs than you think!
Click to expand...


That's a good point. I've seen internship data listed on the school websites. Is there a website where the data from all schools is compiled?
 
Last edited:
Wildcat06 said:
These were my first thoughts as well. Also keep in mind that a bad economy cuts both ways: More applicants and less money to take new students. 🙁
Click to expand...

On a positive note, it does seem like a lot of people are taking students this year. Hardly anybody did last year, so they're probably making up for that.
 
I'm just wondering who received an invite for St Louis University. I received a mass email from the admissions coordinator saying they were in the process reviewing files and would be finished by Feb 10. Did someone get an actual invite? This seems odd.
 
WantCalm said:
On a positive note, it does seem like a lot of people are taking students this year. Hardly anybody did last year, so they're probably making up for that.
Click to expand...

That hasn't been my experience so far. Two POIs have said that they had their spots yanked at the last minute due to budget cuts. They could have just been being nice (finding a nice way to reject me), but they seemed kind of pissed off.
 
WantCalm said:
On a positive note, it does seem like a lot of people are taking students this year. Hardly anybody did last year, so they're probably making up for that.
Click to expand...


That actually makes me feel better. 🙂 Most people I wanted were taking students so I at least I know I tried everywhere and there wasn't a handful of--"if they only were taking students I could've had a chance!" There were only one or two people I liked that weren't taking this year.
 
Ganzheit said:
That hasn't been my experience so far. Two POIs have said that they had their spots yanked at the last minute due to budget cuts. They could have just been being nice (finding a nice way to reject me), but they seemed kind of pissed off.
Click to expand...


I will admit, I found that when I was applying. Not that spots got yanked (which likely has happened but no one has told me yet; they just reject me move on, and will probably send something in a month), but several faculty said they weren't sure if they were taking because of funding issues, but to apply anyway. Looking back they probably just told me to apply because the school needed the money. :laugh:
 
Not sure if anyone on here has been having this occur to them. I have had 2 schools (clinical psych programs) that I applied to yet have not received a rejection or interview invite...but I received instructions regarding financial aid documents they need? I did fill out the FAFSA and included the schools I applied to so maybe it is just protocol? 😕
 
henri107 said:
I'm just wondering who received an invite for St Louis University. I received a mass email from the admissions coordinator saying they were in the process reviewing files and would be finished by Feb 10. Did someone get an actual invite? This seems odd.
Click to expand...

Ditto.
 
At my first interview: I love it so far!
 
WantCalm said:
Most schools seem to want 4-5 years of relevant research experience.
Click to expand...

WOAH woah woah - where is this information coming from? Scary - I thought that working on research projects for 2 solid years before applying gave me a leg up, but 4-5 years? How many people on here have been able to swing that??
 
Samantha Leigh said:
WOAH woah woah - where is this information coming from? Scary - I thought that working on research projects for 2 solid years before applying gave me a leg up, but 4-5 years? How many people on here have been able to swing that??
Click to expand...

<<< but note that I didnt do a masters and I started research my freshman year of college almost 8 years ago. so I have between 7-8 years of experience.
 
Samantha Leigh said:
WOAH woah woah - where is this information coming from? Scary - I thought that working on research projects for 2 solid years before applying gave me a leg up, but 4-5 years? How many people on here have been able to swing that??
Click to expand...

I think 4-5 years is a bit much unless it includes junior and senior year research in undergrad, in which case it does sound about right. I would say anywhere over 2-3 years research experience is good. 4-5 years is great but I don't know that it is necessary. From the professors i've spoken to, they seem to want at least 2 years, and are very happy with anything over that. this is of course best if the research is relevant to their work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

N
Postdoc Interview Invitation Thread 2025-2026/2027
Replies
8
Views
7K
BendDontBreak
B
A
APPIC 2025-2026 Interview Thread and Sheet
Replies
25
Views
23K
PsychPsychBaby
PsychPsychBaby
J
Deciding where to go to Grad School
Replies
13
Views
2K
MAClinician
M
abouttobeadoctor
  • Locked
Deleting this thread. Thank you.
Replies
29
Views
4K
MCParent
MCParent
abouttobeadoctor
APPIC Internship Phase II Interview & Support Thread (2024)
Replies
7
Views
5K
theSteppenwolf
theSteppenwolf
Top Bottom