How long should I wait for a PhD interview result?

H

I have had a PhD studentship interview from KU Lueven 2 weeks ago. It was a Skype interview that took 45 minutes with just on professor interviewing me. He told me it will take 1 week to us for inform you. We are interviewing 2 other candidates but I think your CV most fit to the position. After around 6 days I sent a thank you message and asked for outcome very sincerely. He replied "we are running some internal eligibility screening and we will come back to you as soon as we have an outcome". After few days I again asked the professor "for any development", but he did not even reply this time (like 3 days ago). What do you think it the condition? My own sense is that they are probably offering the position to someone else and waiting for his/her confirmation!

E

Hello. I think you should have not sent the second email. But anyway let us look forward. If they have chosen someone else, they would have informed you. Maybe your guess about waiting for another candidate acceptance is right. But you do not know. Just wait. The normal procedure is that you wait for an email either with an offer or the normal "unfortunately" stuff. Hope for the best. You still have 33% chance of getting the position. Two weeks is not long in academia. All the best.

H

eng77, Thank you for reply, and I agree that I should have been more patient and should not have shown myself as a hasty person. anyway I just got a reply today as "I I’m still waiting for input from the central office, I will contact you as soon as I hear anything." But he could have provided some more details like they are doing this and that ...., waiting is difficult anyway ...

P

Quote From hbh:
eng77, Thank you for reply, and I agree that I should have been more patient and should not have shown myself as a hasty person. anyway I just got a reply today as "I I’m still waiting for input from the central office, I will contact you as soon as I hear anything." But he could have provided some more details like they are doing this and that ...., waiting is difficult anyway ...


You can ease the pressure on yourself by taking control here and applying elsewhere. I wouldn't sit waiting on just one position being offered.
I certainly wouldn't feel bad about sending that second email. That is not impatience, it is you recognising you have a value and that you are pro-active about protecting your worth. He should be lucky to have you. You should try not to think of it as the other way round. It's a mentality thing and it takes a bit of practice. It's a very good way of standing out from the other applicants though and showing a bit of independence and backbone is a good thing.

H

Nice Comment pm133. I have applied for a couple of other positions but this is the most likely one so far. I had an interview from NTNU as well (actually the professor sent me some 32 tech and personal questions to answer) and then the professor disappeared for 3-4 weeks! after that he emailed me that "he is waiting for the department to rank my CV in the candidates ..." but I knew another professor there and when I asked his advise he suggested that "the professor more likely is lying since he is the guy to rank the CV and decide!" so ... weird stories ...

P

Yes, I'm afraid you are going to be faced with this sort of arrogant nonsense throughout your academic career Actually, it is one of the reasons I left academia after graduating from my PhD last year. I can't imagine anything worse than having these people as my co-workers. The only connection between myself and academia now is this forum which I visit from time to time to offer advice. Other than that I am glad to be away from it.

There are good people out there. You might have to dig to find them though. Just don't be in awe of any of these people. Not one of them deserves it. Believe in your own self-worth. There isn't another person in the world who can offer the package you can. We are all unique and therefore have inherent worth as a default. It's worth remembering that at this time.

Good luck.

H

This University was a disaster and disgrace! they first ask for interview and ask to do some additional tasks like computer programming to prove yourself, then after a while that they disappear, they re-appear and say "Oh, the agent who was responsible for your case was in vacation!!!", at the end they just look in your documents (university transcripts ...) to check the entry requirements!!!! while it is obvious that they need to do this first and then ask for interview!!!!! they are rude and weird! DO NOT APPLY TO KU LEUVEN

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