The Next Phase of the Process Begins

I have completed 16/17 PhD applications (though I have not confirmed yet that they all have everything they need from me).  I should be able to finish the last one in the next couple weeks, well before the deadline.

Today, I received my first email from a professor who has been referred my application and wants to chat about their program (a marketing program).  This is a professor I named as a potential advisor in my statement of purpose. 

So now my semester is over and it's time for me to gear up and get ready to start interviewing with PhD programs.  They may call it a chat, but in effect, it's a preliminary interview.