First vs. second round of interviews

[psyched_outt]

Does anyone know how priority falls on Ph.D. candidates that are invited to the first vs. the second round of interviews? Are candidates selected from both "groups" without bias after that point, or do candidates that are offered the early date have priority?
 

Just curious if anyone had insight.

[agalaapple]

Does anyone know how priority falls on Ph.D. candidates that are invited to the first vs. the second round of interviews? Are candidates selected from both "groups" without bias after that point, or do candidates that are offered the early date have priority?

 

Just curious if anyone had insight.

 

The candidates from the first round of interviews have a slight advantage seeing as how they are at the top of the applicant pool; however, this does not mean that candidates from the second round of interviews do not have a significant chance of admission (they do!). 

 

In fact, candidates in the second round of interviews may have previously been overlooked, and if they interview well, then they can easily leapfrog someone in the first round of interviews who did not interview nearly as well.