Hey all,

After my PhD interview last week the panel set me up to speak with a current PhD student, and I met with her online a few days ago. During the conversation the PhD student mentioned to me that since they offered me the opportunity to speak with her that they are probably going to offer me the position, and then said ''don't tell them I said that''.. I just assumed that they offer all of the interviewees an opportunity to speak with a current PhD student as part of the process, prior to making a decision. I just received an email from the HR person at the department and she told me that the board intend to make a decision 'in the very near future'. How does this sound? Does anyone have any experience with this?

Hi,

Thanks for the advice and feedback, I really appreciate it. It's hard not obsess over something that you want so badly :) - We will see what happens! Here's hoping. Thanks again.

Hi all,

Just seeking some advice as to my interview I hd recently for a funded PhD in Sweden in the subject area of Anthropology. There were 65 applicants, which they reduced to 24, and then offered interviews, to I'm guessing 3-8 candidates.

I think it went ok, and the head of doctoral studies at the department interviewed me with another professor from the department and the human resources coordinator. It was a Skype interview as I am in Canada and this position is in Sweden. At the end tof the interview they told me that they would be seeking references (I had given two references) and they contacted ONE of my references, asking for a reference, and she has until April 19th to give a reference to them. At the end of the interview they told me that there would be a ranking system in place and they would offer the person at the top of the list the position and then down the list if the person at the top refuses and so on. The next day after my interview I got an email from a current doctoral student who told me she has been asked to contact me and offer me the chance to speak with her about life as a PhD student at this University, which I obviously accepted. Apparently this part is not part of the assessment process, I was told.

So how does this all sound to people? Does it sound like I'm in with a shot? I imagine if they really wanted to grab me they would offer sooner than later, right? General thoughts and feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks guys.