Hey! Just got back from my interview at UPitt. Here's what I have to say about that.
I'd like to start by saying that the first thing I noticed about the interview was the batch of applicants were a little different than my previous interviews. Most everyone (with the exception of three of us) was still in college, but everyone was from top-notch schools. It was all Harvard, MIT, UPenn, Stanford, CMU, etc. Compared to my other interviews, I felt like I was playing in the big leagues.
Everybody was of course super nice, and the interviews were very relaxed. The student interview was relatively informal, and for the faculty interview you have to hunt him or her down in their office, somewhere in the med complex, with the final effect being that it feels like you're just meeting your PI for a chat.
Both interviewers really were just trying to gauge what you're like as a person. The student interviewer doesn't know anything about you except your name, and the faculty interviewer was blinded to your academics.
About the area:
The med complex they have there is MASSIVE and super impressive. It's obvious why this school is so highly ranked, the resources available are fantastic.
I immediately fell in love with the Oakland area. It's very walkable, which is something I've been looking for. There are lots of local restaurants and shops wherever you look, and I ate SO much when I was in town just because the food was so good! Highlights of my food tourism include the Fuel and Fuddle and the "O."
In short, if UPitt wasn't my top choice before, it is now, and I can't wait to hear back (they said late Nov, early Dec).
