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<p>Yes and no. Many programs have an “adcom” of faculty members within the program. They do the initial screening of applications, and then may bring them to the entire department to determine who gets offered admission. If you apply to a program that interviews, then you not only get interviewed by faculty in your area but also several members of the admissions committee, who may or may not work within your specialty. You do need to impress the “adcom” to make that first cut.</p>
<p>Some programs/fields are so small that applicants are admitted to work with a single, funded faculty member. In this case, only one person need be impressed.</p>