Luckily my current advisor was willing to introduce me to my POI at a school I applied to through email.
He replied: "the department does admissions first with interviews with faculty, so we are scheduling those with a subset of the candidates soon. "
But that was 10 days ago and I still haven't heard back from the school.
Would it be reasonable to email POI and ask him whether the interview process has started? or should I just wait patiently...?
It's just very nerve-breaking because I see other applicants reporting their interviews with the same program.
I applied to UCSD cogsci and was invited to the open house after I interviewed with POI over skype...
I am an international student and currently working in South Korea. UCSD covered the expenses for my flights (up to $1200) and all expenses for the three-day visit.
I think that you had 6 informal interviews before the deadline is already a good sign and confirmation of good chances you stand.
And it is indeed still early (although I'm also waiting for most of the schools I applied to and trying to not panic)..
Just give it a bit more time!