<p>@micromacro, interviewed with UPenn last week and was asked this question a few times but I didn’t feel like it was some sort of interrogation technique. When asked by a professor, I tried to mention the specific program I was applying to and the specific professors I’m interested in there. A lot of these professors know each other if you’re keeping within one particular topic so mentioning different schools that are in line with their research interests I think can only help you. </p>
<p>I was not at any point asked if I had any particular preference in mind. If I had been, thankfully UPenn is very high up on my list so it would have been easy to answer. However, I think if I’m asked in the future I’ll say something like, “Well, I’m very interested in this topic and I feel like X, Y and Z are all very strong in this field (obviously listing the school you’re interviewing at amongst them), but I don’t have a particular rank at the moment as I think I need to finish interviewing everywhere before I know what the best fit will be.”</p>
<p>Random question…does anyone know whether UCSF Developmental and Stem Cell Biology is done sending out interview invites? How big is their program…</p>
<p>@pglitchet, The interview at UPenn was VERY laid back. I didn’t feel like I was being grilled at any point during the one-on-one interviews w/ professors. Most of their questions about my prior research were very general and didn’t require detailed descriptions. The main purpose of the interview seemed more to figure out if my current research interests were in alignment with theirs, not so much interrogating me about my current skill/knowledge level. </p>
<p>I can’t say it’ll be the same for other schools, however.</p>
<p>@canttouchrim-- =( i think they are. i think everyone is interviewing on the same weekend of january 26th-29th. I called earlier to see if there were any other weekends available and they said that was the only one and that 25-27 people were being invited.</p>
<p>re: all invites are out, but no rejection letters sent</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to justify the scenario where programs know that they won’t invite anyone else, but they delay rejection letters for 6 weeks or more. I really can’t.</p>
<p>Considering that we pay $75-$125 per application, you’d think someone could whip out a quick mass email. Databases and a quick bit of code make this absolutely trivial. Automatic, even. But even a low tech department could have one person use an excel spreadsheet and email everyone in about an hour, even if they were slow.</p>
<p>Even if they wanted a backup, keep 10 or 15 students on the hook. It would just be considerate to not let us all be hanging.</p>
<p>Am I missing something? Or am I just bitter about a rejectionless rejection or two? :-)</p>
<p>I’m becoming a bit skeptical about the schools who had early December deadlines and insist they are still reviewing applications. I remember someone posted that they contacted UCSF BMS shortly after the first invites were sent out and received information that the second wave of invites would occur after the holidays. From here and gradcafe, I have not seen anymore UCSF BMS invites, only rejections. This mirrors what has happened in previous years, ie all invites were sent on the same day once per application year. </p>
<p>Anybody have anymore news about schools “still reviewing”?</p>
<p>I agree with you. It is just polite to tell the applicants that we are sorry and can’t offer a position. Unfortunately, the applicants have no right</p>
How big is their program…</p>