Informal interviews, is this normal?

[ms123456]

I have had a few professors reach out to me after initially inquiring about their research and lab availability. I attached my CV, and if they requested I sent them my transcript.

One of the professors responded with his research proposals and a bunch of information. He requested I read the information then we could Skype. I didn't know what to expect, but I was prepared for an interview. The session lasted two hours. A lot of it was just chatting. It seemed to go really well. The next morning he sent me a few articles about topics we discussed. I don't want to get overly excited, because from the start he has been my first choice professor. He talked about meeting me on campus for the invitation only weekend (one I haven't been invited to formally).

The next interview lasted 30 minutes. It was awkward, and the conversation didn't flow well. I only loosened up when we started talking about the pure science. I felt really bad after. Then a few days later, the professor contacted me telling me he was going to forward my application to be considered for a new fellowship the department got funding for regarding the topic I am interested in. Reminder my application isn't fully submitted. I am waiting on one professor to send in a LOR. 

I have an in person meeting that was requested by another professor at a school that I haven't even paid for the application yet.

I am applying for Biological science PhD programs. Is this a normal application process? Should I take these interactions with a grain of salt?

[TakeruK]

Every program does things differently so there is no single "normal" application process. What you describe is definitely one of the possible processes that happen.

I am not quite sure what you mean by asking if it's normal, though.

If you are asking if you should be concerned or if the professor is doing something abnormal, then my answer is "no".

If you are asking if this process happens with every applicant, the answer is also probably "no", for the same reason above: there are multiple ways that professors and departments handle applications.

You mention something about not paying the application fees yet---that doesn't matter. The faculty have no idea whether you have paid your fee or not. That's a completely different system.

If you ask what does this mean, I would say that it sounds like this prof saw your email/CV and was interested in working with you, so they started some communication. It seems like these informal interviews went well so they are interested in having you come to work with them. So that's a good sign. But unless they have said otherwise, you cannot assume that their support of your application has any real weight in the admission decision. In addition, until you have a written offer, you can't assume that you will get one. That is, you should continue pursuing all the other schools, do interviews etc. until you have an offer and made a decision.

[ms123456]

For any wondering the outcome of this minor confusion I went through, the in person interview was an all day event. I sat through a talk, had coffee with the professor, and went out to eat with a few professors and grad students. I was told that the position is mine if I want it. 

 

After officially submitting the applications, I have been contacted for more interviews, I assume some professors just prefer to make contact at different times. These professors were from a hand full of universities and even between each department I was contacted before and after completion of the application process. It seems it depends on the professor’s preference and availability, and the program’s flexibility.