<p>Hey there! I have received half a dozen rejection letters, but then suddenly received two emails within a 24 hour period for two phone "interviews" with potential mentors at two programs (one masters and one phd). The first interview, MA in Psychology Research, was very focused on my skills, research, and interests... went very well, said they would be in touch within a couple weeks (usually this programs accepts approx. 50% ofapplicants) and the potential mentor seemed very similar to me, and noted that I was a great fit... He even emailed me the names of some of his current students to email them if I had any questions about the program.</p>
<p>The second interview (PhD in Health Behavior Research) was totally different - very specific detail orienty about the program and very little direct questions about me or my experience, interests etc... much less so than the first interview. The potential mentor from the second interview (at more prestigious school) also talked SPECIFICs about the stipend, assistantships, grant $ he just received, and A LOT of detail about his NEW research lab he is opening...</p>
<p>My instincts tell me that the second interview went very well.. and I almost feel like he was going through the formalities of an interview... but that his decision has been made already. He just said, "the other faculty and I were very impressed with your application. Your GPA is excellent (3.95), Letters of recommendation were stellar, and he pointed out specific parts of my personal essay that he really liked and appreciated in a graduate student. It went so well, I was in shock with all the compliments really!</p>
<p>Just curious if anyone else has experienced this type of an interview, where they share this much - are they just teasing me about all the cool research and awesome financial aid or am I really one of their "top applicants" (their verbage!)? What are my chances of getting in here? Will I be invited for an in person interview before an official decision is made? It is almost April, so I am anxious to know if I will be traveling!</p>
<p>Thanks,</p>
<p>Congrats, it sounds like you had a couple of good interviews. All of my interviews have gone the way you describe where the faculty share as much as they can with me. It is a bit strange that the faculty discussed stipend, benefits and assistantship info with you, usually that is the role of the director of the graduate program. However, it's great that they told you about their funding, facilities and whatnot. They wouldn't say you were among their top applicants to flatter you (why would they?), I think you are almost assured of an acceptance. If they did a phone interview, I can't imagine that they would also demand an in person interview as well.</p>
<p>I have had some professors address funding directly, rather than through the department - it all depends on who controls that money. If the prof's name is on the grant, they generally get to decide who they spend it on.</p>
<p>The interviews sound pretty good. Remember that every interview (or series of interviews) has two objectives: (1) determine if you are the right person for the spot and (2) convince you that it is the right place to be. Since (2) almost always happens before (1), I think you are in a good place - it sounded like they were really trying to sell you on their schools!</p>
<p>I think this is one of those issues that differs between biomedical sciences and all other graduate programs. The department always controls the funding before a lab takes you on, at which point the PI takes on the funding committment. It sounds like Health behavior fits more into the non-biomedical science category for this.</p>
<p>Thanks for your opinions... In regard to the difference between non-biomedical and bio-medical... this is a primary preventive medicine program, focused on applied research. The grant was for the PI specifically (800K), my "potential mentor" who will be head of the new lab he described to me. And he also said he will most likely receive a second grant from the same agency for another study he will run in the lab... and plans to take two maybe three grad students. He even mentioned that he could use grant money to pay for travel to conferences or presentations for grad students. </p>
<p>So am I right to assume that he is the one who gets to decide which grad student he wants in his lab? He is also a first semester professor opening this new lab - so will that have any impact on his credibility to the department or overall admissions committee if he does support my application?</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>I got into the PhD Program! and I was notified just two days after the interview! Yeehaw!</p>
<p>Congrats mollanc! :)</p>