PhD/PsyD Help! Interview invites scheduling conflicts!

[cch0113]

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I am running into some scheduling conflicts for clinical psychology PhD interviews and I'm hoping someone can help me! I eventually want to be a clinical neuropsychologist and I am specifically interested in using NP testing and neuroimaging techniques to study TBI, AD and other neurological diseases. The following 3 schools interviews are in conflict (even with alternate dates) and I have to turn down 1 interview out of these:

*University of Florida
*University of Utah
*University of Illinois Chicago

Based off of the program reputation and my goals to work in neuropsychology does anyone have any advice as to which interview to decline? (I will request a phone interview but assume these are not usually very successful). I am already leaning towards one due to research match but I want some feedback based on the programs. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! 🙂

 

[WisNeuro]

Do not decline UF.

 

[cch0113]

Thanks for the response 🙂 that's the feedback I have gotten from coworkers and mentors. But no one has given me solid advice on which one to decline.

 

[QAsPsych]

Personally I would probably decline UIC despite loving Chicago, but that is for their comparative reputation for my research area (not bad, just not at the level of Utah); I don't know anything about neuropsych. It seems like a personal decision since apparently nobody can tell you which between Utah and UIC is better. I will say I have talked to one of the schools on this list and they seem amenable to an alternate interview situation (not phone, but finding another day to visit) because I have interviews on their main day and alternate day, but that may just be my POI. I think it's reasonable to contact Utah and UIC and see if either is willing to work with you. I honestly don't understand schools being unwilling to set up alternatives given how many schools do interviews across just a few dates (but yeah, some will not).

Good luck.

 

[cch0113]

Thanks for the advice! Yeah even with alternate dates offered I can't make all 3 work. The alternate dates are still on other interview days :/ thanks for the input 🙂

 

[QAsPsych]

Yeah, I understand that, I just mean that when I explained that I couldn't do the main dates OR alternates, I was offered a "maybe we can work something out to come on another day," but hard to say how that will actually play out. Looking forward to a month and a half from now and hopefully all of this being done.

 

[cch0113]

Does anyone know which school between UIC or Utah would have a better shot at getting a neuropsych internship?

 

[EmotRegulation]

I can't speak to Utah, but I can say that there is *great* neuropsych practicum training in the UIC Psychiatry department and clinical students often do rotations there. Historically UIC hasn't had much focus on neuropsych research with psychology department faculty (that could have changed, I don't actually know for sure) but there are several students from UIC who have matched at neuropsych specific internships (both child and adult) in the not-so-distant past.

 

[fallen625]

Are you sure you have to decline one? I had conflicts with some schools even with alternate days but ended up explaining it to the POIs and they were able to accommodate me (even though my interview will consist of lunch and coffee with my POI and one of her grad students at one school, and I will not be able to meet all faculty at one school).

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Phone interview, Skype, alt date for a site visit, etc. the only times someone should outright decline an invite (assuming there is a good fit):

1. Have an offer from a place you'd rather go.
2. Lost funding/acred.

 

[cch0113]

Alright, I didn't realize a POI would possibly allow you to come on a date other than the alternate or original date. I'll see if I can fly in for a lunch or dinner interview and then worst case do an Skype interview for one 🙂 Is there a good way to handle changing your interview date or requesting a Skype after you already agreed to an interview date? I feel bad going back on a date I already confirmed.

 

[QAsPsych]

Yeah, that is what I was trying to say and encourage you to look into. Don't know what to do about the rest of that situation, though....

 

[fallen625]

Alright, I didn't realize a POI would possibly allow you to come on a date other than the alternate or original date. I'll see if I can fly in for a lunch or dinner interview and then worst case do an Skype interview for one 🙂 Is there a good way to handle changing your interview date or requesting a Skype after you already agreed to an interview date? I feel bad going back on a date I already confirmed.

I heard that some people have contacted a previously accepted site and said something along the lines of "I have received another interview that conflicts with the interview for this school. Unfortunately, my second school is not being flexible in rescheduling the interview. Do you happen to have any alternate interview dates for students with conflicting interviews? You are one of my top choices and I plan to attend the actual interview date if there are no other options, but I thought I would ask." Obviously all of this would be phrased professionally and written with a little more tact.

 

[cch0113]

Ok thanks! That is very helpful.