1st Interview

I got an email from another professor at School F after I replied yesterday. He would like to "discuss my research interest in more detail." I take it as my 1st phone interview and am a bit nervous and excited about it.

Progress

Progress of School C

The professor I have been in contact with asked me for my resume and PS last week. I supposed that he had not reviewed my application, that he had not been on the admissions committee, or that the committee review had not started yet.

After I emailed him the documents, he replied to me, "I sent an email to the head of the PhD program speaking about our correspondence, saying that you were a very strong candidate and that the timing was good. I should have a chance to talk with him before any decision."

A couple of hours later, he sent another email to me, "It would make sense for us to have a conversation on the phone at some point. My home phone is XXXXXXXXX...."

I took his letters as a positive sign but tried not to be over-optimistic. After all, the official decision is made by the admissions committee rather than a single professor.

Progress of School F

I got an email from a professor on the admissions committee. He would like to know the progress of my application to other schools and my interest in the school's program relative to others before the admissions committee makes a "short list" in one or two weeks. I guess that I am already on its "short list." The school is not very famous and renowned by many applicants, and the field I am applying to is not open to application every year. To sum up, I think that my chance of getting into this school is high. After I replied to the professor, he emailed me again, saying that he will contact me again after the admissions committee reconvenes.

Well, I hope that these signs will bring me luck and do get me into these schools, not a dream.

Interviewers

I got an email yesterday from a secretary at the PhD program that granted me an on-campus interview. She is arranging the meetings with the professor who asked me for the interview and two co-Directors of the PhD program. She mentioned that the Senior Associate Dean of Enrollment Management would also like to meet me. I am not surprised at the meeting with the two co-Directors, but I am wondering why meeting with the staff at Enrollment Management. Does this sound sort of like meeting with HR in addition to the future supervisor during a job interview? this reminds me of my job hunting and interviews in the US six years ago.

I will meet another professor I am in touch with the first thing in the morning that day. She is the instructor of my friend who just got his PhD last fall. She has reviewed my PS and CV and gave me a very positive comment. I hope she will give me some advice and even tips about the interview.

The Mistakes I Have Made in My Applications

I made many mistakes in my applications. This article is to summarize them.

Schools at level A:
University W: Application completed
University B: Application completed
University G: Advised by the professor to retake GMAT, but I didn't do so.

Schools at level B:
University R: A minor mistake in the PS; TOEFL is required, which I have scheduled to take in April. Not sure if the school is willing to wait for my score.
University S: Application completed
University C: Informed by the school that the evaluation forms, which I had not attached to my referees, along with the recommendation letters are required.

Schools at level C:
University F: The school's name was misplaced on the recommendation letter for the other school.
University I: Application completed
University D: Application completed

The Timeline of My Application

09/2004
-Began to prepare GMAT

11/2004
-GMAT, 1st take, 600, terrible

10/2005
-Began to review and prepare GMAT

03/2006
-GMAT, 2nd take, 580, horrible

04/2006
-Continued to review and prepare GMAT

07/2006
-GMAT, 3rd take, 690, unexpected and accetable
-Began to contact recommenders, collect transcripts, and draft PS.

08/2006
-Got permissions from 3 recommenders.
-PS ready.

09/2006
-Email touting started.
-Read papers

10/2006
-Submitted the online applications.
-Asked by Professor C to arrange a campus visit in early 2007.
-The luggage including the recommendation letters from the Professor S in the US was lost by the airline.
-Professor S agreed to send a copy to me again.
-The luggage was found and arrived.
-Request GMAT to be sent to the schools.

11/2006
-Sent out all the application packages.

12/2006
-Joined an online chat with the Graduate Admissions at one of the schools that I am applying to and confirmed that the school, the only one, requires that I submit TOEFL.
-Got an email from a Canadian school, asking me whether I can ask my recommenders to send the letters again along with the evaluation forms, which I didn't include into my application package.
-Got an email reply from Professor K at one of the US schools, which I want to get in most, as a late Christmas gift.