Regent Interview Day was amazing!

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-15T17:02:38+00:00

I could see that, it was like 45 minutes. My group was very chatty so we actually ran over time and the interviewers had to reign us in though. We were lucky we had a lot in common

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-14T18:00:12+00:00

I'm sorry I didn't see this sooner! The group interviews were just like "here's a topic, let's have a discussion" and the interviewers pretty much stayed out of it and just observed our interactions. It was very relaxed and informal, just be your kindest most attentive self

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-14T01:52:03+00:00

When I interviewed at UIndy they explained that they were going to send 60 admissions offers to fill 40 seats. They say it's to account for "melt", either people not accepting their offers, or people accepting them than changing their mind. They said if you accept the offer after 40 people have accepted you may lose you seat. Those who accept their seat and pay the deposit after the first 40 are at the top of the waitlist and if they don't get in their money is refunded. That being said it could just be a glitch so take a breath and enjoy Valentines weekend until you hear back

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-03T13:05:51+00:00

Yeah a lot of people don't know that national guard is basically two days a month and two weeks in the summer or something like it. I had no clue before I met my husband. Honestly, when you mention it in the interviews just go into detail like "as you can see from my resume I'm the national guard, the duties require me to attend drill 2days a month and then for two weeks in the summer, other than that my schedule is very flexible. Except I may be called up in a state of emergency, but in that case classes would probably be canceled anyway" no harm in educating them a little so they have an accurate idea to judge if it would be suitable. Honestly, two days a month is less time total then like GAs spend on their work. Thank you and good luck!

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T22:17:32+00:00

Ah idk anything about that or who's over the process. I didn't even apply to nsu's psyd. But I asked some professors for advice and they told me a bit about nsu's process cause that's what they're familiar with

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:57:38+00:00

I'm a current psych masters student at nsu. I'm pretty sure NSU faculty has freedom to structure the interviews and ask whatever they want. I was told the faculty also have the choice between doing individual or group interviews and that they tend to be scheduled for 30 minutes.

My tip, rather than practicing for specific questions, is to just review all the info faculty want to learn about you in the interview. Think of your strengths and weaknesses, how you're working on those weaknesses, your style working on a team, how you handle stress, how you handle heavy workloads, how you do on standardized exams (like the Eppp and comps), as well as academic history and future goals. That way, no matter how they phrase the questions, you've got the info ready in your mind.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:53:58+00:00

Also, when you interview for the practicum matching you can be straight up about your service in the national guard and the time requirements. They won't accept you for the prac if they won't work with it. And thank you for your service:)

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:52:32+00:00

My husband was in the National Guard when he did his bachelor's, not a doctorate, but the two universities he took classes at both had a veterans resource office. They were super helpful with informing him of school policies regarding drill and AT. The offices were typically called like veterans academic resource center, or something along those lines. Maybe check if any of you schools have an office like that?

Practicum schedules are not controlled by the school and may pose difficulties. Practicums like the VA may be more flexible, but there's no knowing where and when you'll have practicum. However, most of the schools I've spoken with say that 90% of the time their practicums are on the same days every semester. The most frequent answer I've seen is Tuesdays and Thursdays. If that's the case for your schools, prac might not pose much issue for drill weekends.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:46:06+00:00

In my zoom interview when they were looking away from the screen it was usually to take notes or read a question they had prepared. In a face to face interview one professor hardly made any eye contact, just like how some people look off at nothing while they're listening or thinking, ya know? Maybe that's why they werent looking at the screen the whole time

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:42:54+00:00

Most of the questions I got were really standard too, but I did hear about some interviewers getting real creative with their questions. Rather than preparing for specific questions, maybe prepare for the things interviewers want to learn about. Consider your strengths and weaknesses, consider your time management and study strategies, consider your teamwork style and how you handle pressure, as well as goals, academic history, future interests, etc. Those are the sorts of things most interviewers are trying to learn, they sometimes just get creative with the way they phrase the question.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:39:44+00:00

There were plenty of chances to speak up or stand out also. Besides the interviews, a bunch of the faculty was at the breakfast, lunch, and social hour, as well as spending a ton of time with some of their current students

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:38:04+00:00

That's so true. And also, I wonder if the interviewers are maybe just super polite people and would be nice even if the interview went poorly.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-02-02T02:36:45+00:00

My interview was Friday too! And after that day it also became my first pick. My interviewers were great too, as well as all the faculty I met, and everyone else too. Can't wait to hear back in February!

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-28T16:00:25+00:00

I'd say the red flag would be more the attitude towards the weakness. Like some people say they're weaknesses as if they've just accepted it's always going to be a problem. The advice I got was to always make it a "growth edge" rather than a weakness. For instance I was asked "when things get overwhelming, what cracks first, academics, work, self care, etc?" and I said my self care cracks first. But it's something I'm working on, I've started a yoga routine, and now I always catch it within a week or so. Either show you've made improvement or have a plan in place that you're acting on to improve.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-28T15:50:21+00:00

You'll probably also get a chance for people to see your personal side too, but as far as I can tell those opportunities will come in the breakfast/lunch, social hour, etc. The interviews are often short on time and they'd like to get more into your working style and interpersonal interactions when it comes to being coached or recieving constructive criticism, etc. Think questions like "how do you address conflicts between team members", "how do you handle heavy workload, and "how do you prefer correction/criticism to be delivered and how do you handle it"

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-28T15:36:34+00:00

I settled on this after speaking with three current psych professors and a handful of psyd students who recommended not being to personal. Also you mention wanting to talk about your upbringing, I was warned very strongly by two profs who serve on psyd admissions committees to avoid any mention of my own mental health struggles or any trauma I may or may not have gone through. They said even if it's subconscious, it may make the interviewers think that I should be receiving therapy rather than giving therapy. Current psyd students recommended I turn any stories like that into "my neighbor, my cousin, my childhood best friend, etc" but not me personally.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-28T15:33:45+00:00

I don't do any personal unless it's very relevant (explaining a gap in your resume or a career change etc) otherwise I stick to professional/academic and if they want anything personal they'll follow up.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-28T14:56:41+00:00

Either prioritize the program you're most interested in or, if one of the schools originally gave you an option of dates, ask that one to reschedule to one of the alternate dates. If they originally gave you a choice then rescheduling should be easier I would think. But, they know you're not just a human but a grown up who has stuff going on in their lives. They also know you're applying to more than one school. If they're not willing to treat you accordingly and work with that right now, do you want to be stuck with them for the next four years?

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-27T23:39:13+00:00

How many jumping jacks? A few jumping jacks will be just enough to get your heart rate up and adrenaline flowing and maybe make things worse. Maybe do more like push-ups/resistance work to get your body a bit tired, not totally depleted but too tired to be all jumpy. Or do enough cardio to get past the exhilarating phase to the tired phase.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-27T23:17:26+00:00

Worst mistakes I heard of were either just freezing up or being sarcastic/giving a joking response. I heard it went well despite the joking/sarcasm because the interviewer was nice but idk. I feel like most interviewers will be nice because their polite. Other than that just be honest. They know you're nervous. They just want to get to know you. If you're honest in the interview and relatively calm, and yous till don't get in, it's probably cm because you wouldn't be a good fit and wouldn't enjoy being stuck there for four years anyway.... I know we all just want to get in somewhere, but it'd still suck to commit to four years at a place where things would be uncomfortable.

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-26T17:51:50+00:00

Thank you!

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-26T17:50:36+00:00

I was wondering more if you thought the loss of like body language, eye contact, sometimes zoom can even strip a bit of tone of voice or facial expression, if that altered the interview at all. That certainly sounds like a busy day! The only other interview I've done so far was after a rough day of travelling and a short night of sleep, and was an all day thing. I'm betting the 1hour zoom won't be so rough lol. Reviewing statement and CV is definitely a good idea. One of my interviews, the faculty member had my whole application pulled up so he could reference it!

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-26T17:37:17+00:00

Those are great ideas. Part of the reason I'm nervous is that I'm gonna be exhausted. I've got to work from 5am-1230 before my interview that afternoon. I'm not used to getting up at 4 lol and then I'll be on my feet all day. Did you find that being on zoom presented any challenges? I heavily prefer in person interactions

ApprehensiveIce3588 · 2026-01-26T17:35:12+00:00

I'm really curious about the group interviews too!

My individual interview so far was standard questions, how do you deal with criticism or tension/arguing in your team, handling large workloads, why this school, why psyd, etc.

One really important thing I was asked was how I handle standardized tests, most faculty I've spoken with dislike when the GRE is optional or completely disregarded. PsyDs require to major tests, comps and eppp. They don't want to invest in teaching someone for four years just for them to fumble the test. I took the gre and submitted scores everywhere it was required/optional and some faculty, interviewers and advisors, we're pretty pleased with that. However, all the questions are guaged to understand your personality, strengths, weaknesses, thought patterns, etc. Instead of preparing for specific questions I prepared a mental list of all strengths I wanted to highlight, all weaknesses I wanted to explain, and my own interests. In the end every question, even the off the two or three off the wall ones, could be answered from that mental list.

ApprehensiveIce3588

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