NeuroKat111

I'm in a really similar situation - and I think for the same school! I had already committed to an interview at one school (they already booked my flights) for the exact same weekend the second school asked me to visit. I had to respond and ask for one of the other weekends, and they explained the same thing to me about faculty availability. It's unfortunate, but I didn't have a choice. Better than declining!
I do have two other interviews back to back that are literally across the country. Just make sure if you decide to book back to back, that you try to get as much wiggle room as possible in case there is bad weather/delays/cancellations. I'm a little worried about that myself!

I asked my graduate mentor and she advised me to do back to back interviews to just get them all out of the way with at once, but it's definitely a personal opinion. If the faculty you want are only available at the one then you should do that. 

me too!!

USC has started sending out interviews today! I got one by email  

I just wanted to give an update for anyone else currently applying that I received a couple of encouraging replies from faculty that I contacted. I think emailing someone is dependent on the context of the program and the personality of the person, so it might be worth to take the risk. I'm not sure how much the contact helps in the long run, but at least its gives some support to your app

I just got an email from my POI at MIT for an interview at their neuro program!  

According to last year's thread their first emails also went out December 10th, but they kept sending invites into the new year so I still have hope lol