Got email from PI for an interview.

Security & Privacy

informal interview with PI

Security & Privacy

No GRE, No publications, masters degree from descent university

Security and Privacy

Informal interview

I was hanging out with my wife and her boyfriend when I got the email! I'm really excited, I hope they'll allow me to attend. (They being my wife and her boyfriend)

I spent 15 minutes of our 30-minute Zoom interview talking about Garfield, particularly my extensive knowledge of Garfield lore spanning 10 years of consuming Garfield media, including comics, video games, and films. The professor seemed really confused and tried to redirect the conversation, but I told him he was talking over me and mansplaining, which shut him up for a while. At the end of the interview he said there might have been a misunderstanding and that these topics "weren't appropriate" for a PhD interview. I started screeching into my headset mic and punching my webcam. He hung up and I received a rejection email a few hours later.

Reached out by advisor I listed on SoP.

Well, I did not submit my GRE (The AW section is low). I am from a Top 20 - Top 30 U.S. university and haven't published any papers. I had two research experiences which are interdisciplinary ( not cs focused ) and TA experiences for two High-level CS courses. I guess the professors who wrote me LORs helped a lot in my application. Appreciate their efforts.

103 TOEFL. No internships. Published paper at unknown conference.

Informal interview from POI