Do POIs interview a lot of candiates?

[oceanlover]

I know getting an interview after submitting your application is a very positive thing, but I was wondering if a professor tends to interview a lot of people?  I'm talking in terms of a school that does phone/skype interviews rather than flying down people for interview recruitment weekends.  Can i be pretty confident that I have a good shot unless I totally mess it up and they want someone else, or do they tend to phone interview a lot of people?

[glm]

Pure speculation, but I think the answer depends on the program, the area of research, and the professor. Some programs interview a lot of students with limited space, some don't. How did you connect with your POIs? Did you personally seek them out, or were they "assigned" in your interview? Does the interview process follow a rigid structure for applicants? Another thing: I think professors more involved in academia (i.e. current publications, active labs and funded projects) would be inclined to interview more students than a faculty advisor primarily working for a government agency.

[Dedi]

I contacted my POI last fall and last month we decided on doing a phone call. He did a informal interview with me and apparently I did fine because he wanted to continue interacting with me (I am volunteering at his lab this summer. If that doesn't say, "Hey, I want you to be in my lab for graduate school" I don't know what does). I haven't even applied to the program yet, but the informal interview is common with the program I plan to apply to, according to the website.

 

It could be that POIs interview a lot of people for a few spots, or just interview people that they know they would have spots for should they do well (I have a feeling that my POI does the latter). It might be worth asking, either in the interview or by e-mail. Whichever you are more comfortable with.