University of Virginia Curry School of Education
Charlottesville, VA
Psychology Schools | Public Non-Profit
Going on an interview at UVACURRY? Add your feedback to help others!
⭐ Overall Impressions ▼
How did the interview impress you?
Most respondents felt positively about their interview.
What was the stress level of the interview?
Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.
How you think you did?
Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.
How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?
Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.
How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?
Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions ▼
What is one of the specific questions they asked you?
Commonly asked interview questions at medical schools include inquiries about research experience, future goals post-graduation, reasons for program interest, research interests and fit with current work, potential contributions to a lab, interest in clinical work, mentor preferences, and envisioning research with unlimited resources. Some respondents mentioned an MMI format, implying a nondisclosure agreement could have been in place during the interview process.
-
Tell me about your research experience.
-
Where do you picture yourself 5 years after graduation?
-
Why Curry?
-
What are your research interests?
-
What would you want to study in my lab? How could you contribute to the research done in this lab?
What was the most interesting question?
Students said most interesting question asked at University of Virginia Curry School of Education discussed family background strengths and weaknesses, preference for working with children over adults, and handling human rights abuses in the prison system. These questions reflect a focus on personal experiences, motivations, and ethical reasoning in the interview process.
-
What about your family background has been a strength and weakness for graduate school?
-
To explain my family dynamics and give background in how I grew up, what my parents do, etc.
-
Why do you want to work with children and not adults
-
With your background in human rights, how would you handle the abuses that occur in the prison system, assuming there is nothing you could do to change them?
What was the most difficult question?
Students said most difficult question asked at University of Virginia Curry School of Education discussed how to embrace diversity and the challenge of articulating one's self. The interviews were conversational, focusing on fit within the close-knit program, with no particularly difficult questions mentioned.
-
The dreaded "so tell me about yourself" (why is this so hard?!?!)... but I expected it so it wasn't bad. Basically none of the questions were hard... just really trying to see if you were a good fit (this program is small and seemingly very bonded, fit was a MAJOR priority).
-
How do you embrace diversity
-
Same as above, but the interview was very conversational, no ''difficult'' questions, per se.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics ▼
How long was the interview?
Most respondents had an interview of more than 50 minutes.
How many people interviewed you?
Most respondents were interviewed by 4 people.
What was the style of the interview?
Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.
What type of interview was it?
Most respondents had an open file interview.
Was this interview in-person or virtual?
Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.
No responses
Where did the interview take place?
Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience ▼
Who was the tour given by?
Tours were most commonly given by a Faculty member
How did the tour guide seem?
Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.
How do you rank the facilities?
Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.
What is your in-state status?
Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.
What were your total hours spent traveling?
Most respondents spent 4-6 hours traveling to the interview.
What was your primary mode of travel?
Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.
About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?
Most respondents spent less than $100.
What airport did you fly into?
Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Des Moines International Airport (DSM)
No responses
Where did you stay?
Most respondents stayed either With students at the school or with students at the school.
What is the name of the hotel you stayed in?
-
Cavalier - only a few blocks from campus
How would you rate the hotel?
Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
Would you recommend the hotel?
Most respondents would recommend their hotel.
What is your ranking of this school's location?
Most respondents rate the school location as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?
Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great
What are your comments on where you stayed?
No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions ▼
How is the friendliness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.
How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?
Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.
How did you prepare for the interview?
Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by extensively researching their potential advisors' publications and CVs, reviewing their own materials, and thinking of insightful questions to ask during the interview. Many also focused on understanding the research direction of the labs and practicing responses to typical interview questions.
-
Reading POI's publications and CV, reading student handbook
-
Read POIs past articles/research and CVs, reviewed my SOP and my previous research, read program info from the web site, thought of questions to ask (VERY important)
-
Read over POI's research and previous work. Found out the direction that each of their labs were headed in the coming years. Went over questions to ask that weren't answered online or during the orientation presentation earlier in the morning.
-
Read articles by my POI, practiced answering typical interview questions
-
Read the articles of my POIs, read about the program, read over my own information.
What impressed you positively?
Applicants were highly impressed by the friendliness and tight-knit community of both faculty and students, the strong emphasis on a blend of clinical and research training, the efficient 5-year graduation structure, the comprehensive curriculum covering various assessments and populations, and the program's support for gaining licensure in school psychology. Additionally, the positive environment, facilities, and location were highlighted as factors that left a favorable impression on applicants.
-
Extremely friendly students/faculty, strong in both clinical and research training, strong track record for APA internships
-
structure of the program (everyone generally graduates in 5 years), mix of clinical and research, enthusiasm and friendliness of the faculty and students...everything, really!
-
Facilities, location.
-
Surprisingly a lot. It was apparent how tight-knit the entire team was (professors and students). The current students genuinely loved the program and spoke highly of it. Also, they are a TRUE blend of research and practice that firmly believes in finishing the program in 5 years flat. The program also teaches a great breadth of information - to include all assessments (including Rorschach), across all populations (incarcerated, adult, juvenile, etc), and experience in various settings (clinical, school, correctional, etc). To top it off, you only take 3 additional classes and you will get licensed in school psychology (which you can't beat in this hard economic time).
-
How down to earth and friendly the faculty and current students were
What impressed you negatively?
Applicants generally expressed negative impressions around limited funding compared to other programs, specifically mentioning concerns about the stipend amount. Some felt the program was too clinical or child-focused, while others emphasized that despite funding concerns, the quality of teaching and preparedness for internships were superior. Suggestions include increasing stipend amounts to be more competitive and possibly diversifying program focus beyond clinical and child-centric approaches.
-
Not amazing funding, but full tuition waiver plus stipend, higher than plenty of PhD programs
-
nothing!
-
Too clinical, too child focused.
-
The lack of funding. They do give you a full tuition waiver, but the stipend is around 1/3 of other competitive programs. Many students said that the cost was minimal in exchange for the superior teaching they received (i.e. when they went for internship interviews they commented on how OVER qualified they were in comparison to the competition).
-
Nothing.
What did you wish you had known ahead of time?
Applicants commonly wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews were low-stress and enjoyable, that the program was more clinical in nature, and that the funding provided was not very good.
-
Nothing, I was only pleasantly surprised.
-
How low-stress the interviews were. Before I arrived I was really "freaking out" over the entire process, but it was the most enjoyable interview I have ever been a part of.
-
That it's more clinical.
-
The low stipend amount.
-
That their funding isn't very good
What are your general comments?
Applicants commonly praised the program's organized and welcoming interview process, which included social events, group interactions, and conversational interviews with faculty. Many mentioned that the laid-back atmosphere helped ease nerves and allowed for genuine conversations with faculty and current students.
-
Amazing program!
-
You had a "social" the night before at a current students home - VERY beneficial to go! On the day of the interview, you had an opening presentation and then met with 2 POIs (that you mentioned in your statement) and 2 of their current students from their lab staggered through the day. When you weren't in interviews, you all sat in one room pretty much chit-chatting with the other nervous interviewees. You also had lunch provided in a group and with a professor that wasn't in your interest section (just to cross check). I have to say that after visiting the program, it moved significantly higher on my "I-REALLY-Want-to-Get-In" list!
-
Very laid back and it seemed like you were having a conversation with each faculty member rather than being interviewed
-
Group introductions, faculty presentation/brief explaination of program, individual interviews with faculty members and students, lunch, tour, more interviews. In between interviews, all the prospective students sat together in a fairly small room, but were encouraged to walk around and explore.
What are your suggestions for the admissions office?
Applicants did not provide any specific suggestions for the admissions office.
-
none
Success!
School has been added to your favorites.