Asking for Placement Rate in E-mail Correspondence?

[lordtiandao]

I typically save this question for interviews but seeing as I was given admissions without an interview, I was wondering if it would be appropriate to ask this question to a potential POI in an e-mail. Most of the students studying Chinese history are in the EALC department, which does not have their placements available online. Thanks in advance!

[KLZ]

2 hours ago, lordtiandao said:

I typically save this question for interviews but seeing as I was given admissions without an interview, I was wondering if it would be appropriate to ask this question to a potential POI in an e-mail. Most of the students studying Chinese history are in the EALC department, which does not have their placements available online. Thanks in advance!

It's perfectly appropriate to ask, but I'd probably direct the question to the DGS and copy the grad programs coordinator or assistant. Depending on the POI, she or he may not know. This is, of course, for the department's placement info. If you want to know a specific faculty member's advising record, then certainly direct your question to that person. 

[TMP]

Do you have access to ProQuest Dissertation database?  If so, use your POI's name in the search field (especially under "adviser") and look up the students' names in Google to see where they've ended up.  

I would save that particular question for in-person/telephone conversation as it's direct and you won't want to give your POI time to think. It is true that advisers and departments lose track of their graduates because the graduates are likely too embarrassed to report (change of career direction, adjuncting) or don't care.

[lordtiandao]

1 hour ago, TMP said:

Do you have access to ProQuest Dissertation database?  If so, use your POI's name in the search field (especially under "adviser") and look up the students' names in Google to see where they've ended up.  

I would save that particular question for in-person/telephone conversation as it's direct and you won't want to give your POI time to think. It is true that advisers and departments lose track of their graduates because the graduates are likely too embarrassed to report (change of career direction, adjuncting) or don't care.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'm looking up the dissertations right now and I'm finding quite a lot of information where their graduates currently are.