Freaking out about intinerary

[phyanth]

Little bit of background info: I'm applying to anthropology programs, and have one interview.

This particular school has the anthropology dept through the school of biomedical sciences. They sent an itinerary the other day and when I looked at the scheduled interviews, I noticed that none of the POIs I listed on my application are interviewing me. I e-mailed to clarify if these interviews are with potential future advisors and was told that I have the options of faculty. So there wasn't really any clarification. 

So should I take this to mean that if I am admitted, then I could pick any faculty? Or are these interviews with faculty that are interested in me? I'm concerned because the faculty interviewing me have completely different research interests from my own, so I can't possibly see why they would want to advise me... Please help!

[Bayesian1701]

They are probably on the admission committee or your POIs are unavailable for some reason.  It also may be one the programs where you have a random advisor for the first few years while you are TAing, and then choose an advisor later when you start working on a dissertation. A lot of statistics programs work that way but I have no idea if that is common in anthropology.    Post acceptance maybe see if a skype meeting is possible with the POIs you aren't meeting at the interview.   Some of the POIs may not be taking graduate students,  and that could be another reason they are not meeting you (though that might change in a few years when you actually start on your dissertation).

[fuzzylogician]

Sounds like if accepted you could have anyone on the faculty be your advisor. The people you're talking to are likely involved in the decision-making. You might write whoever is doing your schedule and/or your POIs to see if some of them could be added to your schedule, or you could Skype with them before or after the visit. You should ask these questions about how students pick/are paired with advisors when you visit. Ask both faculty and students. 

[TakeruK]

Agreed with the above about trying to schedule a chat with your POIs either in person or on Skype and finding out more about how students are paired with advisors during these chats or the visits. I think talking to students especially about the advisor selection process is important. It's good to know the policy from the department and how the professors view the process, but ultimately, the ones most impacted are the students and you want to hear how it really works from their perspective. 

[phyanth]

Thank you, this is all great advice! I’ve managed to calm down, and wi definitely make a point to ask the grad students when I get time with them