I applied in-person. I interviewed at UC Riverside
Interview
Meet with the PI and go through three rotations lab. Normally each student will stay in each lab for a month. She would learn basics all the projects and the science behind them. Then if she likes the lab, she would ask to stay and wait for the fellowships
I applied online. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at UC Riverside in May 2013
Interview
Depends on the program applied for. Mostly determined by choice & funding of professors. Though the first year of funding is provided through a fellowship, a department can only hire number of students that can be afforded by professors on the later stage. So it's better to contact professors first.
I applied online. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at UC Riverside (Riverside, CA) in Apr 2011
Interview
Very nice process and very quick response. Questions are easy and the interviewer is very nice. The interviewer asked me my research interests and expect to work with which professor, no difficult technical questions. It took about half an hour.