Phone interview - weird timing? Advice needed

[NoMoreABD]

Hello there fellow applicants.

So, I'm starting the process (again) for fall 2012. I sent a bunch of short introductory emails with a link to an article I published and my CV. It only stated my specific interest area and some info about me, didn't include any elaborate text on my proposed research.

Anyway, one of the professors I contacted, asking whether he'll be interested in working with me, has replied that he wants to have a phone conversation, and offered two possible dates.

Since it's such an early stage, it seems a little weird - isn't it? I have no idea what we're gonna talk about and how to prepare for this. I guess he'll want to hear what I plan to research, to see if it fits well to what he's working on.

I'd appreciate any advice. I have a few days to get ready and I have no idea what the conversation is going to be about. Also, I've never talked on the phone with a professor from overseas whom I wish to work with, so any advice on "phone etiquette" :-) would be highly appreciated...

Thanks!

and.... I guess this post marks the beginning of the application season for me. Good luck to all of us!

[ktel]

I met in person with most of the POI's I contacted and talked to one on the phone. Just let them blab about their research, basically. They can and will talk about it forever if you let them. I asked a few questions about funding and the admissions process, but usually it was just them doing most of the talking. Some of them asked what I was interested in, but at that point I could really only give them a general idea and they would suggest topics based on that.