The programs will usually tell you with whom you’ll be interviewing as soon as they can. Sometimes this is actually in advance, and sometimes you’ll get the list of PIs the day you show up for the interview.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it’s unnecessary to read papers by the PI if your goal is to memorize information and show how much you know about his/her work. The PI will always tell you about his/her work during the interview – a typical interview consists of you telling the PI what you do, the PI telling you what he does, and then you asking any questions you have about the program. If you don’t think quickly on your feet, and you’re worried that you won’t be able to come up with questions for the PI on the spot, then by all means read papers and be prepared to ask questions about a specific project. But there will never be a quiz on the PI’s work as you walk in for the interview. </p>
<p>Personally, I’m an on-my-feet thinker, so I didn’t prep for any of my interviews. But I’m also the kind of person who doesn’t read the paper for paper discussion seminars until I’m actually in the seminar discussing it, also. So YMMV, depending on how much you like flying by the seat of your pants.</p>
<p>I’m only going to read papers of people I’m really excited about and prob contacted before. But 1-2 most. I know NYU seems to have a lot of interviews lined up. I will re-read the work of people I mentioned in my SOP, of course… but that’s it. I know what I did, and I am not about to go learn a ****load more about past projects. I was in 2nd year when I did one that I spent the most time on, I don’t think it is realistic to expect me to know as much as the grad student working on it. I’ve never met PI’s that quizzed me on the research or anything. They always seem all to eager to tell you everything they are excited about.</p>
<p>I meant a lot of time for interviews during the weekend. I could be wrong, that was my impression from glancing at the rough itinerary. But it is the only one I have so far, so maybe other programs have as much/more.</p>
<p>Good luck to everyone out there on the upcoming interviews and congrats to those who have received more invites. I’m leaving the country Tuesday for a little trip, so best of luck to everyone in January! And to those of you who will be at GSK on the 19th, see you then!</p>
<p>I’ve spoken with the coordinator Maria about hotel and flight arrangements, but I also indicated that I would be out of the country. Maybe they got to me first? Anyway, she said they will be emailing us itineraries and such over this week.</p>
<p>Awesome! Thanks! I’ve been fighting back the urge to walk up to their office and demand my itinerary
It’s terrible when you work two floors below the graduate school…lol!</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all of that detailed information, Momwaitingfornew and Molliebatmit. I really appreciate it. You both are unbelievably helpful.</p>
<p>Hello,
I’m sure you all have gotten this question a thousand times, but I couldn’t find a previous post that really got to my question. I would consider myself a very strong applicant. I applied to: Stanford, U Mich, GTown, Yale, Columbia, Duke, U Chicago, U Penn, NYU, N Western, U Wisc., U Minn, and Vanderbilt. All my applications were put in very late in the process - a couple of days prior to, or the day of, the school’s due date. I have only heard back from Vanderbilt, probably a week after I submitted. I am somewhat worried. I know that in many places there are rounds of interviews, but I was expecting to be part of the first. Should I be worried? Should I expect that my application has already been given the same kind of consideration that an earlier applicant had received or should I just be sitting tight and expect that I would hear back later than others since my applications were on the late side.
Thank you for any help you could be.</p>
<p>RDWRER: I was worried and then someone posted a link to thegradcafe.com (search “results” for last year’s interview cycles for the schools you applied to.) I found that most of the places where I applied didn’t start sending out invites until January 10th-January 31st but it also seemed to depend on the track and the program (Princeton already sent me a rejection for neuro and I got two other interviews for the Open Programs). What concentration did you apply for mainly? Momwaitingfornew and Molliebatmit may be able to help (maybe you could post your stats).</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. I should have mentioned that I am applying to neuroscience tracks at these schools. I also checked out grad cafe, which made me less worried in some cases, but then more worried in others (notably n’western and U penn). What programs did you hear back from and when did you put in your application?</p>
<p>RDWRER: The only one I can remember off the top of my head that may have sent interviews for neuro in your list is U Penn. I know that Georgetown doesn’t look at applications until mid-January or so (didn’t end up applying there but they are really cool in admissions). Also, I don’t think NYU’s Center for Neural Science has invited anyone yet (could be wrong) but I did get an invite for NYU Sackler’s Open Program (most of my apps went out close to the deadline too.) Hope that helps a tad.</p>
<p>here are my stats.
3.6 GPA at top 10 college
3.5 yrs research experience, 2.5 years of which were spent on my own project that I designed, acquired funding for, and executed. The project involved creating a new methodology as well (a new mechanism for extracellular recording in behaving rats)
2 first authored poster presentations, the latter was selected by f1000 as a particularly imp. development in the field.
1 first authored in press (J neuro)
1 first authored in prep.
790Q/650V
My recs are also very strong, and include a rec from a nationally regarded PI in the L+M field (a couple of his post docs and I collaborated on some projects)</p>
<p>Thanks neurohopes, my application was for CNS. I guess I’ll just sit tight on U penn and N’Western. My major fear is that they are somehow barometers for what I have to expect. Thanks for the info on Georgetown. and Congrats on Sackler.</p>
<p>Do you, or anyone else, have any knowledge of what mt. sinai’s neuro program is like?</p>
<p>hamster09, I have not. I received an unofficial e-mail from the program’s administrator stating that I would receive the official e-mail in January. Were you also accepted there?</p>
