Thanks,

Yer I'm not expecting the decision to be changed, but I really do not feel that the interview process was fair at all. I mean 2 candidates being interviewed by one panel and 4 others being interviewed by another? I just feel as if I should relay my annoyance to someone, even if it falls on deaf ears! :-S

Ian

Hi, I've just enabled it!

Yer, I was unsuccessful. :-(

I recently had an interview for a PhD that I think I was very suitable for. The position for competitively funded so 5 supervisors were offering projects in which 1 set of funding was available. I met with the prospective supervisor in the morning of the interview and he said that he thought I stood a very high chance of securing the funding, with my background in the topic in which i was applying and a MRes using the majority of the techniques in which I'd be using on the PhD. The supervisor told me (though he said that he shouldn't be) that the candidates (6 of us) were being interviewed by 2 different panels (2 of us by one, the remaining 4 by another). I personally dont think this is fair at all! To make the situation worse, the academics I was interviewed by were totally unrelated to my field (neuroscience and neurodegeneration research), them being structural chemists! They therefore picked me up on my lack of knowledge of structural chemistry (given that not actually being at all related to my degree or MRes!!!) and did not know the significance of half of my CV attributes (them not actually knowing what neurodegeneration was!!!!) I came out of the interview fuming, and hence found out that I was not successful.

My question, do I relay my views onto the administrator of the project as I really dont think the panal who interviewed me were at all appropriate for the program they were interviewing for. Also, I think it was extremely unfair that 2 of us were interviewed by them, the other 4 candidates being interviewed by others! Though should I say this, given that the prospective supervisor I met in the morning said that he should not be showing me the interview schedule. I dont afterall what to get him in trouble with the department. I know me relaying my views will not change the outcome of the interview, I just feel my annoyance should be heard!!!!

Advice would be greatly appreciated!

Yer i know. I've just emailed the person in charge of the funding to make sure that I have to sit the masters, to make sure my impression from the interview was right. It just seems a bit of a waste of the funders money to be honest, to pay for me to do another MRes when I've already got one! I'll see what her reply is! Thanks for your advice!

Thanks! No, unfortunately the 4-year funding comes on the condition on completing the MRes in the first year so if I accepted, I'd have to do it. I just dont want to leave it too late really, as if I decline soon, then hopefully they will be able to offer the project to someone else.

I'm currently at Imperial doing an MRes, and I was interviewed and offered a place on a 4-year PhD program here, last month.

Try not to be nervous. My advice, go in with some really good questions to ask the panel at the end of the interview that would impress them, like "is there any opportunity to be involved in BSc lab demonstrations during the PhD?". It shows that you're keen and that you've prepared well. Also, come up with answers to a few basic questions, i.e. "so why do you want to do a PhD?", "so why imperial?" or "so what do you think sets you apart from other candidates?".

Also another thing, be confident, yet not arrogant. You've been short listed so you're obviously a worthy candidate! You just need to prove to them that you are the one for the position, and that you will do well!

Good luck!

I'm currently studying for a MRes at Imperial College and have been offered 4 year PhD funding also at imperial. The funding however includes the study in the first year on another MRes that really doesn't interest me that much, yet it does hold the flexibility to be able to complete the actual PhD in a topic of my choice. I'm still looking around and applying for PhDs of more interest to me, yet if I'm offered something better how should I go about turning down the offer? And do I then run the risk of alienating the funders if I decline and complete my PhD at another university?