Advice for POI interaction

[psych-grad]

Hi

I was invited for interview.  My POI and I have informally interviewed via skype.  I will be driving six hours to informally tour the uni by myself.  Do you think that I could offer to meet with the POI during my time there?  It would be next week, and I think that might be short notice? Plus he might not accept the invitation, which would be awkward when I see him for the actual interview.

[butwhyisallthecoffeegone]

I would shoot him an email -- at the very least he might have office hours, and even if you don't end up touching base, you still look interested. 

[rising_star]

Why are you driving out there for an informal visit separate from a formal visit/interview?

[psych-grad]

1 hour ago, rising_star said:

Why are you driving out there for an informal visit separate from a formal visit/interview?

This is my main reservation.  Others suggested the idea, and I was thinking it may demonstrate an interest as the OP suggested, but I decided against it because the entire visit begs the question. 

[rising_star]

3 hours ago, psych-grad said:

This is my main reservation.  Others suggested the idea, and I was thinking it may demonstrate an interest as the OP suggested, but I decided against it because the entire visit begs the question. 

Yes, it demonstrates interest but it also has a hint of desperation to it. That seems like a ridiculously long drive to make without having any formal contact with the department, the professors, and the current graduate students. What are you going to learn by showing up unannounced?