Interview trouble!...no POI

[suisho]

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So I've snagged the interview. Thats fantastic. 🙂🙂
Now, I don't have a professor of interest. 😱I wrote my essay and my plans in a way that could literally fall under almost ANYTHING depending on the angle of research, because the core revolves around presentation of symptoms. I can guess, but I really have no idea.
I don't know who is interviewing me. I don't know which professor wants to take me under their wing, and will be watching me.
So, what do I do? I already e-mailed the director and asked if I'd know who my interview team was before hand...just to maybe limit it down for research purposes.
But, even though its a small department, I can't fesably research all of them in 20 days, AND, the faculty page is worthless. It has a picture and says very general things like one of the professors it says she studies, Infant & Childhood Psychology, Eating Disorders, Success of Blind Adults. And thats it. There is nothing else. Like- OK that doesn't HELP ME.

What should I do? Obviously, whoever wants me at the interview liked what I said in my essays, my writing sample and my resume. Should I just be me? What can I do so I'm not winging it?

So nervous...

 

[clearcolor]

Although most schools recruit students to work with a specific professor, there are some that don't. Does this school's website say anything about their policy on that?

 

[psych08]

So I've snagged the interview. Thats fantastic. 🙂🙂
Now, I don't have a professor of interest. 😱I wrote my essay and my plans in a way that could literally fall under almost ANYTHING depending on the angle of research, because the core revolves around presentation of symptoms. I can guess, but I really have no idea.
I don't know who is interviewing me. I don't know which professor wants to take me under their wing, and will be watching me.
So, what do I do? I already e-mailed the director and asked if I'd know who my interview team was before hand...just to maybe limit it down for research purposes.
But, even though its a small department, I can't fesably research all of them in 20 days, AND, the faculty page is worthless. It has a picture and says very general things like one of the professors it says she studies, Infant & Childhood Psychology, Eating Disorders, Success of Blind Adults. And thats it. There is nothing else. Like- OK that doesn't HELP ME.

What should I do? Obviously, whoever wants me at the interview liked what I said in my essays, my writing sample and my resume. Should I just be me? What can I do so I'm not winging it?

So nervous...

thats rough, but if you are leaning towards a specific POI and want to find out more about their reseach than Google Scholar is a great source! You can just type in the professors last name and all of their published research will pop up. I used Google Scholar to make my PS more concrete by naming specific articles that interested me and really helped me pinpoint the research and where the professors are coming from! Hope that helps...

 

[edieb]

When I interviewed, I used a psychology professor to help me (he does consulting to students trying to get into grad school on the side) name John Carlsen, Psy.D. He does consulting on the side and he really helped. Just google the name on the internet if you want his #

 

[psychanon]

You'll have to do the research. This is very important. If you show up and they ask you who you're most interested in working with, and you say "oh, anyone is fine," it will look really bad, like you don't have clearly defined interests (and it sounds like you do, but they are amenable to different types of research). Eliminate a few people based on obvious non-match (like maybe the blind one) and read abstracts galore. You don't have to know their research inside and out, you just need to know the general gist. Figure out a few people who you are the best match for (it's OK to have more than one, but not an indordinate amount) and figure out how your interest mesh with theirs (and how to explain it in a coherent way). 20 days is plenty of time to read a bunch of abstracts (and if you think not...wait until you start grad school!!🙂)

 

[deleted176373]

So I've snagged the interview. Thats fantastic. 🙂🙂
Now, I don't have a professor of interest. 😱I wrote my essay and my plans in a way that could literally fall under almost ANYTHING depending on the angle of research, because the core revolves around presentation of symptoms. I can guess, but I really have no idea.

So nervous...

Google scholar is your friend.

Ok, here let me help you out... You said something or did something that caught their interest, and most likely you had either astronomical scores or skills that they desire. Remember, they are wanting applicants that provide them "value".

So let your hair down and be honest. Have a general idea of where their research is going and specifically what YOU are interested in. Undoubtedly you expressed an interest in SOMETHING in your application essay.... run with this and ideas how it can dovetail into their research.

What you don't want to do is try to appear too willing to simply bend to their desires. They selected you, they selected you for a reason, you need to determine what that reason was and then exploit it! It would be the first question out of my mouth in the interview. Something like, "I'm so glad I was selected for the interview and I know why I feel that I am a good match for the program, but would you be willing to share with me why you feel I might be a strong match for this program?"

There is nothing wrong with that question. Although it will sometimes catch professors off guard because it is an assertive question that takes command of the interview. Listen attentively. Listening can buy you a LOT. Also the pre-interview dinner the night before is the time to extract EVERYTHING you can from the current graduate students. Learn about what the labs are currently focused on and read something from the lab you are most interested in the night before.

It's likely that you will be matched with a graduate student from your prospective lab if you stay with a graduate student (but not always.) These students can tell you what you need to know about the program and you should milk them dry of every bit of information possible!

Think of it as Survivor, Clinical Psychology Edition.

Mark

 

[suisho]

Does this school's website say anything about their policy on that?

*sigh* Nope. They have the most incredibly vague website ever.

Oh, yeah abstracts. hehehe. Google Scholar rocks.

So let your hair down and be honest. Have a general idea of where their research is going and specifically what YOU are interested in. Undoubtedly you expressed an interest in SOMETHING in your application essay.... run with this and ideas how it can dovetail into their research.

This is the most information I can find in their departmental website:

Faculty research areas of interest currently include: career development, psychological reactance, gender issues, student development and adjustment, multi-cultural counseling, counselor training and supervision, quality of life, rehabilitation and prevention, stress management, adaptability, family issues, group process and outcome, attachment theory, and lesbian/gay/bisexual issues.

GAH!. And, I figured it was under multicultural counseling - and so I searched around and found nothing on there site about things they are doing with it. I could scream. I guess going through one by one and reading and eliminating is what I'm going to have to do.

Something like, "I'm so glad I was selected for the interview and I know why I feel that I am a go match for the program, but would you be willing to share with me why you feel I might be a strong match for this program?"

OOooh ! I like that question, I'm going to write that down.