- Joined
- Dec 25, 2008
- Messages
- 8,123
- Reaction score
- 7,422
Does receiving post-interview rejections bode poorly for internship match?
Last edited:
Post-interview rejections: Why?
- Thread starter futureapppsy2
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2009
- Messages
- 414
- Reaction score
- 401
HAHA! I ask myself that too. The first one is always the hardest. I'm like, "why did you make me come all the way up here if you weren't gonna take me?" 😳
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2010
- Messages
- 17
- Reaction score
- 0
I had an interview at a school where the faculty members were looking for very specific interests. The whole time during my interview, he kept saying "Well, this is what I'm studying and what I'm making my students study, and your research interests are not even close." It really made me wonder why the hell they would waste my time when they already knew what they were looking for, and clearly I wasn't a fit.
At one of the schools I interviewed at the supervisor said outright almost immediately when I walked in the door "I'm not entirely sure why you even applied with me. Enlighten me." I sold my case well, and I genuinely did want to do what she wanted. In fact I got an offer later, but was shocked when the question was initially asked and surprised that I received an interview offer in the first place.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2008
- Messages
- 8,123
- Reaction score
- 7,422
Does receiving post-interview rejections for grad school bode poorly for internship match?
I think to connect the two would be spurious.
You're going to be gaining training and experience in the next several years to prepare yourself for the match.
I think the only connection between the two is that there are more qualified applicants than there are openings.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2010
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 0
What I've heard about post-interview rejections....
From what I've heard from professors-the interview is essentially the portion that weeds out those who don't socially/mentally fit with the program. In a way in a mini MSE. They want to make sure that you can handle the pressures of grad school school, work well with other students, and are mentally healthy enough to get through their program. I've heard all too often (from my MA program) that many very qualified applicants with 1500+ GRE's, etc were not admitted post interview for these exact reasons. Now, I'm not talking about the basic pressures of an interview or having a shy personality-they are literally assessing for mental/social issues. A lot of people may look good on paper-but literally can hold a conversation for 5 min (controlling for interview stress). Now, this is just what I've been told and heard from many professors after interview season. Something to think about!
From what I've heard from professors-the interview is essentially the portion that weeds out those who don't socially/mentally fit with the program. In a way in a mini MSE. They want to make sure that you can handle the pressures of grad school school, work well with other students, and are mentally healthy enough to get through their program. I've heard all too often (from my MA program) that many very qualified applicants with 1500+ GRE's, etc were not admitted post interview for these exact reasons. Now, I'm not talking about the basic pressures of an interview or having a shy personality-they are literally assessing for mental/social issues. A lot of people may look good on paper-but literally can hold a conversation for 5 min (controlling for interview stress). Now, this is just what I've been told and heard from many professors after interview season. Something to think about!
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2010
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 0
By the way, this post is in no way referring to you. Just thought I would offer up what I've heard.
Yeah, since you have three acceptances, I don't think any post-interview rejections are a reflection on your social or mental fitness. : )
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2009
- Messages
- 414
- Reaction score
- 401
Very, very close to what happened to me. Misinformation on the school website led to mismatched interests. They knew that and STILL invited me to interview. As you can imagine, it was very impossible for me to guage where I stood with the program. How do I know how I fit with your school when I don't even have a POI?? Again, why did you ask me here?? (Rather, why did I waste my time going?? Hindsight = 20/20, right?) Definitely thought about modifying my interests to suit what they had to offer but did not exactly feel like spending roughly 6 years of my life building on to a lie so......
Needless to say, it did not end well.
One of my POIs said that picking a student for her is like picking a child for the next 5 years. The relationship needs to be nurtured, a respect for eachother has to develop, there is mentorship, both parties grow through the lengthly process, etc etc. She told me that when there are handful of qualified candidates that are all capable of performing at the graduate level, it often comes down to small differences in how much you actually *like* the person.
From my perspective, I feel like I'm on some twisted version of The Bachelor. But if you happen to find yourself in the situation where you have more than one acceptance, you start weighing things like how much you genuinely liked the person and their students (all other things held equal... assuming they're all good schools, enough funding, etc).
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2009
- Messages
- 414
- Reaction score
- 401
That is the worst to part swallow, IMO. "Oh, you looked so good on paper, we had to meet you." "Ugh, you're disgusting in person, we don't 'like' you anymore." Then you are left searching your soul and existence for the "small differences" part of you that they decided they hate.
Very loosely interpreted of course, (LOL) but one cannot help but take it that way.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,563
- Reaction score
- 58
While this is definitely one reason students receive post-interview rejections, it is far from the only reason. On average, a professor/school will interview 4-8 people for a single spot. Only a small percentage of those who will eventually receive post-interview rejections receive them because they have mental/social issues. In fact, a large percentage will get in elsewhere.
When you go on interviews for advanced clinical training the vast majority of the focus will be on your clinical and other experiences within graduate school. Very little of it will have anything to do with the stuff you are talking about with professors now. Also, you will be different by that point in the process. So, no, I don't think post-interview rejections and internship match have much to do with each other.
Haha, that's what I thought at first too. What about me didn't they like? Can I change it? And so on. But really, even in life you just inherently like some people more than others and it's often not because they're better people, it's just because you are drawn to one person over another.
I found this to be true of my POIs. After each interview I wrote down things I liked and disliked about the school and the POI. At the time I felt silly doing it, but in retrospect it helped a lot when it came time for me to choose between schools. Some people just said things in interviews that threw me off or that I didn't like. For instance one woman described my experience volunteering in South America as a bunch of divas hiding from the rain under an umbrella. I knew she was joking, and in part it's even a little true (at least for the first week, until we got over ourselves), but it threw me off and stuck in my mind when I chose between offers.
I think the dynamic changes a lot when it all of a sudden it becomes you who has the power to accept or dismiss offers. Individual differences count when you have the power.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2010
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 0
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,563
- Reaction score
- 58
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2010
- Messages
- 173
- Reaction score
- 0
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,563
- Reaction score
- 58
I guess for me, they mentioned that they thought my group dynamic with the other applicants was odd. I'm not even sure what that means and most people I've spoken to are kind of surprised by that one, as I've never really had any issues working with other people. I was however informed that I should not apply again to the program. I think I need some further elaboration on that one. The DCT was also VERY surprised that I didn't have any other interviews and did not realize how important their school was to me. I would never apply somewhere where I did not plan to attend if accepted. She did however advise that maybe I should consider medical school, as it's easier to be accepted, and the awards are better. I'm sure that'd be more of a consideration if I could do my research as a psychiatrist. Sometimes, I just feel like I'm being typecast.
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2010
- Messages
- 139
- Reaction score
- 0
Good Luck on your plans for next year! I never heard of a program saying "dont bother reapplying"... I would have thought that they would want it to make their program look more competitive and to get the extra money even though you are on their "blacklist" for some unknown and strange reason. I'm sorry to hear this.
Thats very surprising. I wonder how they got that impression even though the people in your group didnt think so. Im sorry about your experience.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2010
- Messages
- 118
- Reaction score
- 0
Wow, that is a weird situation. I am sorry you had to go through something like that. The fact that the DCT practically suggested that you should switch career does not sit well with me. They are drawing too many conclusions based on limited information about you. If you feel that you really want to be a research psychologist, then continue to fight for your dream. Applying to clinical programs is hard, but that is the nature of the game.
Thanks for the encouragement. This is my second round of applying. The way I see it is that if I can't figure out with my advisers what makes my application so unremarkable, not much will really change about my application within the next few months before applying again. If that truly is the case, I might need to find another path. I would find this easier if I received some negative feedback on my application. This DCT is the second person to tell me that there isn't anything wrong with my paper application in his or her opinion. I suppose I can always hope that half of the applicants might decide to inexplicably join the circus or something. Heaven knows I might.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2009
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 0
So here I am posting in this thread along with everyone else. After a great interview, at what I would say a match school and not so competitive, I get rejected. Not waitlisted, but rejected 🙁
So of course I am asking the same questions as everyone else. I really want feedback on this. Should I email the program director or my POI? The program director has been in touch with me recently so I don't know... How do you word emails like this? 😕
So of course I am asking the same questions as everyone else. I really want feedback on this. Should I email the program director or my POI? The program director has been in touch with me recently so I don't know... How do you word emails like this? 😕
Being rejected hurts. But, often you're not being rejected. It is more that someone else just gets selected. I'm not sure that the director or POI could really offer you much of an explanation other than it was a very competitive year. I'm sure they really did like you. And, maybe the person who was ultimately selected above you accepted the offer immediately. Thus, maybe there was no need for a waitlist.
- Joined
- May 9, 2008
- Messages
- 901
- Reaction score
- 248
I've never heard someone outright say "dont bother reapplying" but the notion doenst seem too far off. Consider this-- if you're scores are good enough to get in, but you dont get in, clearly there was something that didnt fit well with them about how you interviewed. Most likely (not to be offensive, just practical) they werent digging how your personality/work ethic/ play skills/stress skills/etc seemed, so what about that would change in 1 year?
I'll give you two examples:
both these guys interiewed with me, neither got in. The first guy was hanging out with me, seemed cool, but I came to find out later he was ranked below me primarily because the girls in the program felt uneasy about him. One said he hit on her (that's bogus because she's a dirty *****, but I digress..)
The second guy just couldnt handle the stress. You saw it at 8 am and he never recovered. He came into the waiting room where we were "stored" before group interviews. He had some vest thing on, and every other guy was wearing a suit. He walked in, saw that, looked exasperated, and said "well F&^%". Faculty saw him (I confirmed later via my advisor) as not being able to hack it.
Point is: nothing about either of those guys was going to change in the next year. They didnt fit with the program. Doesnt mean that cant go and get into a better program somewhere else, but it does mean that their personality variables didnt line up.
I'll give you two examples:
both these guys interiewed with me, neither got in. The first guy was hanging out with me, seemed cool, but I came to find out later he was ranked below me primarily because the girls in the program felt uneasy about him. One said he hit on her (that's bogus because she's a dirty *****, but I digress..)
The second guy just couldnt handle the stress. You saw it at 8 am and he never recovered. He came into the waiting room where we were "stored" before group interviews. He had some vest thing on, and every other guy was wearing a suit. He walked in, saw that, looked exasperated, and said "well F&^%". Faculty saw him (I confirmed later via my advisor) as not being able to hack it.
Point is: nothing about either of those guys was going to change in the next year. They didnt fit with the program. Doesnt mean that cant go and get into a better program somewhere else, but it does mean that their personality variables didnt line up.
Keep in mind too that you never really know what your situation is when you go in for interviews. When I was doing my applications last year I had a late interview at a university based combined PsyD/School Psych Program where it was clear something wierd was going on. They had been interviewing people there all day, and probably the day before too (though for more then one program). My interview was an hour late and my interviewers were clearly bored and just going through the motions. I talked to 4 other people who interviewed there (not all with the same interviewers) who all reported the same thing. I don't really know what was going on, but I feel like I had no chance from the start. I'm sure that must happen in other cases as well, even when the interviewers are much more friendly/polite in person.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,563
- Reaction score
- 58
I really hate feeling like that poster, but could we please agree to refrain from using such derogatory and gendered phrases. It makes the atmosphere much less professional and more hostile.
Thanks, I definitely understand that was an emotional situation.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Messages
- 841
- Reaction score
- 113
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Messages
- 841
- Reaction score
- 113
Hmm. I really think you should ask the DCT for more information and to clarify her statements about you, especially if you plan to apply again.
Hmm. I really think you should ask the DCT for more information and to clarify her statements about you, especially if you plan to apply again.
I plan to ask for clarification. I kind of wonder if these were comments from other people and not ones which she had herself, as I remember asking her to clarify, and she couldn't really provide examples. Doesn't mean I can't try again.
I get the sense they've already ranked us before having us come for the interview. That interview was not mentor-based. Decisions were made by an admissions committee. I feel really bad for the person who interviewed twice there and missed a major family event for it. That must be really harsh.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2008
- Messages
- 8,123
- Reaction score
- 7,422
Maybe this is just one of those programs that doesn't re-interview people? 😕 (Unless you met someone who had interviewed prior and then was re-invited... couldn't tell from your wording).
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2008
- Messages
- 313
- Reaction score
- 85
I don't particularly agree with this. It can happen, but it is also often the case that if a POI could have accepted 2 people, the person who was rejected may have gotten in. Thus, if there was extra funding, they would have been accepted. I interviewed at a school one year and was rejected after interviewing, and the following year I was accepted.
- Joined
- May 9, 2008
- Messages
- 901
- Reaction score
- 248
Yes, people can often reapply to a program the following year and get accepted. HOWEVER, when told by a program not to reapply, I would say that is a done deal, and it would then be pointless to reapply. Furthermore, some schools, as futureapppsy2 pointed out, do not consider repeat applicants.
They do re-invite some people for interviews as a clarification. I still very much appreciate that the DCT was so open about it.
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2008
- Messages
- 313
- Reaction score
- 85
Yes, definitely if you were told not to reapply I wouldn't bother.
- Joined
- May 9, 2008
- Messages
- 901
- Reaction score
- 248
Perhaps because of the specific nature of my program, they place more emphasis on "fitting with the program" instead of matching in some other way. Honestly, I dont really know, as I am a student and not a faculty. That said, I've gotten the distinct impression before that despite all things that go on the vita, if certain people were to reapply, they would again not gain entrance. Might just be my program, though.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2010
- Messages
- 101
- Reaction score
- 0
Question: How exactly do post-interview notifications work??? Is everyone waitlisted unless the position has already been accepted? Or does 1 person receive the offer, 4 more get waitlisted, and 2 ppl are outright rejected? ???
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2009
- Messages
- 467
- Reaction score
- 3
I've received some waitlists and some rejections.
