Teresa Gomez shared that they are really "backed up" with processing the recommendation forms right now with a backlog of at least 50. I asked how this affects the selection of interviewees, and she said the references don't matter very much since they're not even required to return the forms in the first place. I guess they see any recommendation forms they receive (and process) as useful but not required information in accesssing an applicant. I inquired when she thought they'd make it through the stack (thinking she'd say a few days), and she suggested that I call back in "a few months" and ask again.
Obviously, I'm concerned because perfectly good recommendations might go unused while the selection panel chooses the interviewees based on incomplete information. Recently, several fellow applicants have discussed the matter of references on the AsHos board. I think my conversation with Ms. Gomez today clears up the question whether an application is in limbo until all references are turn in (No). This explains why some people have been asked to interview without reference contacts.
Ms. Gomez confirmed the interview group dates for all 120 interviewees, which I've listed in the table below. She added that all slots in December are already full and that interviewees could be contacted with as little as one week's notice before being asked to come to Houston for an interview. However, one can request a later interview date if the first available one is not a good time (which is why some slots in January are already taken). In past years, NASA has issued press releases announcing each interview group, but that doesn't seem to be happening during this selection cycle.
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Note that at least two other applicants with earth science backgrounds have already been asked to interview (1, 2). I'll just have to be patient a while longer to see if I get to join them.
11 comments:
Brian, I really enjoy your site. I don't know how you find the time with a 1 yr old and work to post such quality writings. But what I particularly appreciate is your postings regarding your journey to be hired by NASA. I too have applied and find solace in your updates. Thank you for sharing! Good luck!!! Christie
Brian, I want to echo what Christie said. Thank you for keeping us up to date through this long, crazy process! As a follow-up : it is true, then, that not all invites have been made (there are still some people yet to be invited)?
Thanks for the kind words (and, yes, it is difficult to do *anything* when there's a 1-year-old in your life :).
Yes, my understanding is that not all interviewees have been invited. My best guess is that perhaps 40% of the slots remain open.
I hope that part about not all interviewees getting the call yet's true - finally took care of my prescreen yesterday (been out of town/country for work)...
From what I've heard, not only have not all interviewees been contacted, but neither have all highly qualified applicants. Good luck everyone.
I heard from AHX that ALL the Highly Qualified Applicants have been contacted and that all the reference forms and the medical requests were posted the week of November 17 and that if we had not heard by the end of November then we were not in the HQ group. Today is December 9th. Is there any information to believe that not ALL HQ candidates have NOT yet been contacted. Is there still hope?
My understanding is also that all High Qualified applicants were notified by the end of November. However, there's always hope someone could have fallen through the cracks and be notified later.
They sent the first forms out in October.
Brian, have you heard anything regarding the exact dates of the second (finalist) interviews?
No, I haven't. All I know is that NASA plans to select the finalists in February following the first round of interviews and will invite about 40 people for the second interviews after that in late February or March.
As a 56 yo Ph.D. radiation biophysicist, I see an extremely faint glimmer of hope. (Perhaps magnitude -12) This is the third time that I have applied to this program. I appreciate your clear information.
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