Which of these interview scenarios is the better sign?

[cokohlik]

I was looking at the Grad Cafe Survey page and noticed that some people have been asked for interviews this month. I emailed all my POIs and was lucky enough to speak to all of them last year, in late September/early October. I still keep in touch with them. My husband thinks that the people who were contacted this month have a better chance of getting in, since they probably haven't spoken to their POIs as of yet; their POI simply read their application, was impressed, and sought them out, versus the other way around. I see his point and I even agree with it, but it's unsettling and would like to get the opinion of the wider graduate-hopeful community. Is it better that I've already spoken to my POIs, or are the people who have just recently been asked for interviews the ones in the better position? Or am I, in my delirious and impatient state, just reading too much into this?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

[Sparky]

Interviews/not-interviews are almost *totally* dependent on the program, not on individual professors. I can think of a few examples of depts I know where some subfields do interviews and others don't, but that's as particular as it gets.

Interviews also don't mean a student hadn't contacted their POI previously. I had e-mailed mine and spoken to him on the phone; the dept interviews its finalists, so interview it was.

Perhaps your programs/subfields simply don't conduct interviews. Not all that many humanities depts do.

[cokohlik]

Interviews/not-interviews are almost *totally* dependent on the program, not on individual professors. I can think of a few examples of depts I know where some subfields do interviews and others don't, but that's as particular as it gets.

Interviews also don't mean a student hadn't contacted their POI previously. I had e-mailed mine and spoken to him on the phone; the dept interviews its finalists, so interview it was.

Perhaps your programs/subfields simply don't conduct interviews. Not all that many humanities depts do.

Thank you so much! That helps a lot I suppose I just need to be patient and not assume anything too quickly.

[ANDS!]

I was looking at the Grad Cafe Survey page and noticed that some people have been asked for interviews this month. I emailed all my POIs and was lucky enough to speak to all of them last year, in late September/early October. I still keep in touch with them. My husband thinks that the people who were contacted this month have a better chance of getting in, since they probably haven't spoken to their POIs as of yet; their POI simply read their application, was impressed, and sought them out, versus the other way around. I see his point and I even agree with it, but it's unsettling and would like to get the opinion of the wider graduate-hopeful community. Is it better that I've already spoken to my POIs, or are the people who have just recently been asked for interviews the ones in the better position? Or am I, in my delirious and impatient state, just reading too much into this?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

I didn't contact any of these professors. I don't think that has any particular bearing to be honest; I know some people swears it increased their chances of getting in. Certain admission programs specifically say - unless you have a genuine interest in the research these POI's are doing - that such isn't welcome; in fact its totally transparent.

[Angie854]

I had a question along these lines as well. I had a phone interview last week that went very well and was told that my name would be put in for a university fellowship as well as my POI stating that they wanted me to join their lab. I wonder if I can consider that an unofficial acceptance or if I am jumping the gun here.

[CarlieE]

I think (and was advised by my current profs) that seeking out the POI before applying and during the application process was a good way to go, since you can gauge interest (or lack thereof) from the POI.

The POI at my top choice school emailed me back last year when I was applying and has been in contact with me (I have an interview there this week) and I feel that if I had NOT contacted him, that I might not have gotten this chance to interview.

Interestingly, I emailed 2 POIs at other schools before/during the application process and did not receive responses and I have not been invited to interview at those schools. So... I think it's best to contact the POI and extend your hand first.