How early is too early to write to a POI? I'm applying for entrance in Fall 2012, and was considering writing to some of the people whose research I am most interested in with relevant questions about their recent publications (without mentioning that I am a prospective student). Is this a good idea? Should I overtly state that I am a future prospective, or wait until I have some rapport?
(I've read Getting What You Came For one too many times. This was something that they suggested, but I've never heard of anyone actually doing it -- on TGC or among other members of my lab, at least.)
