Grad school interview invite "season"?

[futureapppsy2]

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From looking at the past interview invite threads, it seems like interview "season" is generally 5-6 weeks (February through early/mid-March). So, does that mean the max number of interviews an applicant can realistically go on during one application cycle is about 6 or so? (Not that I hope to get that many invites--not that delusional! 😉--but I'm curious from a logistical stand point).

Thanks!

 

[deleted176373]

From looking at the past interview invite threads, it seems like interview "season" is generally 5-6 weeks (February through early/mid-March). So, does that mean the max number of interviews an applicant can realistically go on during one application cycle is about 6 or so? (Not that I hope to get that many invites--not that delusional! 😉--but I'm curious from a logistical stand point).

Thanks!

I was able to pull off about 8 in person and 2 phone interviews. I was very busy as a result. It's a matter of not having everyone schedule at the same time, which you'll find happens more often than not. I had 14 interview offers my second time around (only 2 my first time around.)

Mark

 

[eirelass]

14 interview offers? WOW! Have you considered writing a book about how you did it? I'd buy it! 🙂 Out of those, how many offers did you get, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Wildcat06]

Yeah, I did 8 in 8 states (from Massachusetts to to Colorado) in 5 weeks. I would NOT recommend it.

But then again, I didn't know how things would turn out so I hedged my bets.

 

[Wildcat06]

Oh, and two really fun side effects: I developed motion sickness for the first time and had to pop Dramamine before the flights and my shoulder is still messed up from carrying around a briefcase for that long.

But other fun side effect, I'm at the program of my dreams, so on second thought, go for the crazy interview schedule if it presents itself 🙂

 

[hamsterpants]

One more question: I looked at last years interview thread and it seemed like lot of interviews were on Mondays or Fridays. Is this generally the case?

This is another reason why I am bit worried about working full time as it may be hard to get significant time off with little notice. and my dept. at work has these very important mandatory meetings in February - luckily they tend to be Tues-Thurs. Tho before I worry about this, I guess I should just be hoping I get interviews! 😉 Just want to make sure I have a plan to actually attend interviews w/o losing my job.

 

[Wildcat06]

i took off a substantial amount of time during the month of february, but i was lucky to have a flexible ra job. i maxed out my vacation and flex time and had to work extra hours on days i was there (for one friday interview i worked a half day on thursday and had to fly out that afternoon. bag in car.)

if you're like me and have to fly to every interview, you will miss a LOT of work and as always it's better to broach the subject with your employer earlier rather than later.

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

At my program, our interview day is always a Friday in February or early March. BUT we are quite understanding of people who can't make it to the scheduled interview day. In the last 5 years, my adviser has scheduled alternative interview days every single year for people he was interested in.

Also, and there may be variation on this opinion from others on the forum, but if you have the opportunity to stay the night with a current clinical student, do it. Yes, you'll be sleeping on a random couch instead of a nice hotel bed. But in my program, we always offer to have visiting students stay with us, and I feel like the process is really helpful. I've got to bat for applicants who stayed overnight in a way I wouldn't have just meeting them during the day or at a party.

The opposite is true too, of course. If you're obnoxious (even in a good way, like Rachel from Glee), don't let the current students know that during application season. 😉 I've had people stay with me who I thought were poor fits for the program, and I've said so. But for those I've liked, I've advocated for them strongly. And most of them are here and happy!

 

[cara susanna]

It's pretty tight--I had three interviews, and they were all three weeks in a row.

 

[deleted176373]

14 interview offers? WOW! Have you considered writing a book about how you did it? I'd buy it! 🙂 Out of those, how many offers did you get, if you don't mind me asking?

I have, it's in bits and pieces on here. I applied to 27 programs, had a very refined personal statement, and had good stats.

Out of the 8 actual interviews, I had 3 great offers.

I interviewed at:

University of Kansas
Texas A&M (Counseling Ph.D.)
Arizona State University (Counseling Ph.D.)
USUHS
University of Alabama
Baylor (Clinical Psy.D.)
Michigan State University
Our Lady of the Lake University (Counseling Psy.D.)

Telephone Interviews with:

Oklahoma State University (Counseling Ph.D.)
University of Southern Ill.
University of Houston
University of Maine


I ended up at USUHS, great program with an interesting medical psychology twist to a very balanced program. Perfect for me.

Mark

 

[PsychPhDone]

attended 9, I lived to talk about it

 

[futureapppsy2]

Also, and there may be variation on this opinion from others on the forum, but if you have the opportunity to stay the night with a current clinical student, do it. Yes, you'll be sleeping on a random couch instead of a nice hotel bed. But in my program, we always offer to have visiting students stay with us, and I feel like the process is really helpful. I've got to bat for applicants who stayed overnight in a way I wouldn't have just meeting them during the day or at a party.

Would it be a serious disadvantage if an applicant physically CAN'T stay with a grad student? In my experiences, not many houses and apartments are handicapped accessible.

 

[deleted176373]

Would it be a serious disadvantage if an applicant physically CAN'T stay with a grad student? In my experiences, not many houses and apartments are handicapped accessible.

Actually there are good and bad aspects of staying with a graduate student. I would consider it a wash.

Mark

 

[buzzworm]

Actually there are good and bad aspects of staying with a graduate student. I would consider it a wash.

Mark

What do you consider the bad aspects?

 

[Wildcat06]

in my completely unscientific (N=1) experience, staying with a grad student increased my odds. i got offers from all three places where I stayed with a student. i also left them each a (very small) box of chocolates. i'm sure that didn't hurt 😉

futureapp, maybe you can modify my system and just give chocolates to random people?

 

[hamsterpants]

What if you tend to snore 😉 ?

 

[SingingCow]

Opinions from current grad students can help or hurt. If their mentor are on the fence about one or two applicants, grad students' opinions count. If you have a remarkably horrible personality that you fail to hide in front of the grad students, even if you look great during the interview and on paper, you may not get in. Some of us may enjoy studying individuals with personality disorders but we have no intention of being classmates or labmates with them.

 

[cara susanna]

It depends on the program. One student at a place I interviewed told me they've expressed very negative opinions about applicants in the past but they've still gotten admitted.

 

[Wildcat06]

It depends on the program. One student at a place I interviewed told me they've expressed very negative opinions about applicants in the past but they've still gotten admitted.

Wow, that seems... inappropriate to tell an applicant.

 

[cara susanna]

It didn't surprise me, and I'm sure it's true for a lot of schools. Even so, I still wasn't about to take any chances. 😉

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

Would it be a serious disadvantage if an applicant physically CAN'T stay with a grad student? In my experiences, not many houses and apartments are handicapped accessible.

Well, yes, most of the dwellings myself and my friends live in are not handicapped accessible. However, if someone with need of such amenities were to apply, we'd be able to accommodate. I live in a city where plenty of grad students live in elevator buildings, so there would certainly be a place to stay here.

That wasn't your question, though. I don't think it's a serious disadvantage, no. I agree there are pros and cons to every choice but I think you're able to impress current students and learn more about a program by staying the night with a grad student. But there are other ways of doing this. Last year I was really impressed with an applicant who'd taken the time to read *my* website and ask me questions about my research. I also try to talk to applicants at the interview day party. Basically my perspective is that talking to students outside the department, either at a dinner or a party or on an overnight stay, can help you connect with the current students. And/or help you figure out if these people look miserable. Remember we're supposed to be on good behavior during interview day, too!

 

[ClinicalTrainee]

Wow, that seems... inappropriate to tell an applicant.

I dunno...it's inappropriate if the student admits who, but...that certainly does say something relevant about the faculty at that program, right? If an applicant the students hated was admitted anyway? I'd sure be pissed if I disliked someone, told the faculty I don't think I could work with that person, and my opinion was completely ignored.

 

[Wildcat06]

I'd sure be pissed if I disliked someone, told the faculty I don't think I could work with that person, and my opinion was completely ignored.

I agree that it's unacceptable to ignore the opinions of the grad students and I'd be pissed. BUT, I wouldn't go tell that to an applicant the next year. It both makes the program look disjointed and makes that person sound vindictive. If I were the applicant staying with this person I'd feel very uncomfortable.

 

[deleted176373]

What do you consider the bad aspects?

Bad aspects are that if you somehow provide pejorative data to the graduate student while you are living with them for a day or two. While I am sure that it's unusual that one would interview well and then blow it by their actions at a local graduate students house, it's possible... plus I snore like a chainsaw.

That said, I only got accepted at schools where I did not stay with a graduate student. Did that have anything to do with it, I doubt it. I think that the upsides generally out weight the downsides, but they are still there.

Mark