"I hope they like me": Surviving PhD interviews
A few weeks ago, I happened upon the book Academic Outsider by Dr. Victoria Reyes. I was hooked by the end of the first page. I’d now like to share this important book with other prospective and current PhD students. If you are a current or prospective PhD student located in the United States, I welcome you to indicate your interest in receiving a copy of this book via this survey. Three recipients will be chosen and books will be mailed some time in February. Note that the geographic restriction reflects shipping costs. It is simply too costly for me to mail outside the US at the moment. If you are in a position to absorb some of the costs associated with my hidden curriculum efforts, please check out my Ko-fi link at the end of this post. Now, onto interview stuff!
Two weeks ago, I was joined by 13 volunteer panelists/mentors and almost 50 prospective PhD students for a 3-hour workshop on navigating PhD interviews. Because far more students than could be accommodated indicated interest in attending, I’m providing an overview of our discussions to more broadly disseminate the information and expertise shared. However, before jumping into the workshop specifics, consider checking out my earlier post on PhD interviews via this link.
The workshop was subdivided into four panels and one small group session for interview practice (hence, the space restriction). Below, I walk through information shared during each of the panels. For a (non-exhaustive) list of potential interview questions, check out my prior post on PhD interviews via this link (this is the same post as mentioned above).
Preparing for interviews (the stuff before you visit a program)
After hitting submit, it’s an open question how long you’ll have to wait to hear anything about any potential interviews. Here’s some information we learned from our panelists who shared their experiences preparing for PhD interviews, noting that some completed their interviews in-person (pre-pandemic) and virtually (early pandemic).
How were you notified that you received an interview with a program? With whom did you coordinate? All panelists were notified via email that they were being invited to interview in some capacity (in-person, virtually) with a program. Note that some applicants may even receive telephone calls. Panelists often coordinated with an administrator dedicated to working with students to prepare for their visits.
What financial commitments were you required to make to visit a program, if any? Were you required to buy your own plane ticket and then seek reimbursement? Did you receive a stipend for your visit? Responses to these questions varied. Although some programs handled travel arrangements themselves (e.g., purchasing plane tickets for applicants); the panelists were typically required to pay for transportation costs out-of-pocket and then seek reimbursement. It was rarely the case that travel costs were completely covered (keep in mind that traveling often requires buying meals, paying for travel to/from airports). Thus, the financial burden often rests with applicants even in cases where reimbursement is possible.
How did you prepare for your interview(s)? What sort of mentorship did you seek out? The panelists noted that they often turned to lab mates and advisors for help. Some were even able to take advantage of newer resources available to help students navigate the hidden curriculum (e.g., Psychin’ Out). Importantly, all panelists agreed that people in their networks were happy to help (so, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!).
What should applicants pack for interviews? Comfortable shoes and snacks!! It’s important to feel like you look your best and feel like you’re your physical best. Schedules may be packed, so it’s a good idea travel with snacks and a water bottle to help you stay feeling full and hydrated. The same goes for virtual interviews. Keep snacks and water handy. Dress professionally, but comfortably. For virtual interviews, this may mean wearing a businesslike top with pajama bottoms! Just be sure you won’t have to get up mid-interview (this happened to me once during virtual job market interviews and I never wore pajama bottoms again!). In short, do what you need to do to be comfortable and, when in doubt, ask a program’s point person (and/or your potential advisor) for recommendations on dress and travel needs.
What to expect when visiting a program
Ok, it’s time to visit a program! It’s not always obvious what to expect, even when schedules and plans are shared ahead of time. I’m thankful that our panelists provided helpful insight into what these visits can look like from both faculty and student perspectives.
Walk us through one of your visits. How did you get to where you needed to be? With whom did you stay? Which meals were provided? How many meetings did you have? With whom did you meet? In general, visits—both in-person and virtual—lasted about two days. When physically visiting a program, panelists’ responses again varied. Some programs required that students secure their own transportation to/from central meeting places (e.g., hotel, campus building), others provided transportation (e.g., current students picked up prospective students at the airport). Experiences with lodging also differed across programs with some programs housing applicants at hotels and others housing applicants with current students. All meals were generally provided for; however, whether those meals met the dietary requirements of applicants was mixed. I recommend that students get a sense of what to expect ahead of time so that they can prepare. It can be very uncomfortable to stay at another grad student’s home, particularly when that grad student’s space may not easily accommodate an extra person. It can also be very uncomfortable to share a hotel room with a stranger. It is completely appropriate for applicants to advocate for themselves and voice their needs (though, not all accommodations may be possible).
Interview/visit days were often full of meetings with very few breaks (this is why packing snacks and a water bottle can be so helpful!). Following formal meetings, panelists were often encouraged to attend informal social events with graduate students. The structure and nature of these events varied—from house parties to evenings out somewhere in town. These sorts of events can be very helpful toward getting a better sense of the department and its culture; they can also be difficult to navigate given feelings of exhaustion and/or anxiety.
Whether in-person or online, panelists shared that applicants met with their primary advisor(s) of interest and usually other faculty with related interests. Most also reported meeting with faculty whose interests did not overlap with their own but who were able to provide additional insight into the program and its processes. So, it’s important to prepare to meet with a range of faculty—not just those who share your interests. Opportunities to meet with students are also very important. If a program does not create space for applicants to meet with current students, consider that a red flag (note that you should be looking for both “green” and “red” flags when visiting programs!). Finally, keep in mind that virtual visits can be just as exhausting as in-person visits.
What are things you wish you had asked or learned more about during your visits but didn’t? What are things you wished students asked or learned more about during their visits? The panelists agreed that applicants are on fact-finding missions. No question is really too big or too small. The student panelists noted wanting to have learned more about what it was actually like living in a particular area. What is it like to leave campus? Where do people go? Where might I (as an applicant) find a sense of community? Answers to these questions may not be immediately obvious, especially for applicants carrying marginalized identities. The faculty panelist encouraged applicants to ask potential advisors why they study what they study. In her case, she wants students to understand why, as a White woman ,she studies the impacts of racism on the health of Black young adults.
Navigating tricky situations (including how to ask hard questions)
Tricky situations can range from managing feelings of awkwardness during social events to protecting oneself following a racist act (note that these two things are not two ends of the same spectrum and this is not a call to construe racist acts as simply “tricky”). With that said, our panelists were adamant that applicants understand the appropriateness and importance of advocating for oneself. As an applicant, how those around you (e.g., current students, faculty, prospective students) introduce and respond to tricky situations is important information. Are you being asked to engage in a behavior (e.g., drinking) that you don’t want to partake in? Are you receiving a line of questioning you’ve attempted to avoid? Is there a disconnect between how a program sees itself and how its members behave in practice?
I recognize that this topic (and the next) deserves its own post, so I will be returning to it. The main takeaway here is to actively note what is and is not working for you. Is a program responsive to your needs? Are current students open to detailing the extent to which a program and its community members are responsive to their needs? What does it feel like to walk the halls of the building? Listen to your gut and make no apologies for asking “hard” questions.
Managing feelings of imposter syndrome
I’m so thankful to the panelists who drew from their own experiences to discuss how they manage feelings of imposter syndrome. Although these feelings are very real, know that no matter what anyone says (including your own brain), you belong, you’re smart enough, accomplished enough, and have every right to interview at a program regardless of your background and circumstances. With all this said, these feelings persist and they need to be managed. Our panelists identified some things we can all do to quash feeling like an imposter.
Track wins. Note when you’ve put yourself out there and have experienced success, doing so for “big” and “small” things. It’s easy to remember when things go wrong. Having a list of things that have gone right can go a long way toward boosting confidence.
Celebrate others. When you see someone shining, tell them. In turn, others are likely to let you know when you’re shining as well.
Lean on your community. Although only one person’s name is printed on a diploma, the PhD is a community effort. Finding a local community is so important. This is why it’s imperative that applicants connect with current graduate students and ask the questions necessary to determine whether community building is possible. Are you going to be able to thrive, not just survive?
Until next time!
How to reach me: You are always welcome to email me (letstalkgradschool@gmail.com). You can also find me on Twitter @tweetsbymidge and Instagram @letstalkgradschool.
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Until next time!
Margaret