Some of my applications had asked me to list any profs that I've had contact with at the department. I was told by my recommenders that I shouldn't contact profs at other schools about my application/interest in their program, and I didn't. There also seems to be conflicting opinions in previous threads here on the "value" of contacting profs. My question is -- for the applications that asked me to list profs at their department I've contacted or consulted with, how will the adcom use the answer? If I left my answer for that blank, since I didn't contact any profs, will that have put me at a disadvantage (i.e. in showing interest) for those programs? (I'm thinking specifically about the Columbia and Stanford applications.)