Is it alright to contact lab members of a lab you interviewed at for an update on your PhD application? I am international applicant for a PhD program in Molecular Biology. I have interviewed with a professor and have had a chat with all of the members of the lab I am extremely interested in working in. It has been over 4 months since I first got in touch with the lab as of now. I am trying to be patient, but is it okay to get in touch with a current PhD student in the lab to get an update on what impression I had left on them and if the professor is going to be considering me.
This is for a graduate program in Molecular Biology in Canada.
Thank you.
Contact the person who interviewed you, not a student. I doubt a PhD student will know anything about who is going to be made an offer.
It's perfectly fine (especially after four months) to send a short, polite email to your interviewer asking when you can expect to hear from them.