Questions about contacting professors

[Derfasciti]

Hey guys!

I've recently submitted pretty much all the applications I will be submitting for a MA program in history. I'm trying to do research in late 19th and early 20th century Russia. I met one professor at WVU when I was taking my GRE's there but I fear that he might have been underwhelmed by the conversation. I'd like to contact my other potential advisors at other schools but I'm not really sure how or what I should say. Should I send an e-mail to them? And/or should I visit them? If I e-mail them what exactly should I say? Should I just say something to the extent of "Hey, this is me. I applied to your program and asked for you to be my advisor. Hope you consider me!" Or should I be more specific? If so, how?

Does a visit to the school matter or is an e-mail just as good? Some of the places I'm looking at are quite a ways away and I'm pretty strapped for cash.

Thanks for any feedback. As you can probably tell, I'm a little worried about how to proceed from here.

[qbtacoma]

Hey guys!

I've recently submitted pretty much all the applications I will be submitting for a MA program in history. I'm trying to do research in late 19th and early 20th century Russia. I met one professor at WVU when I was taking my GRE's there but I fear that he might have been underwhelmed by the conversation. I'd like to contact my other potential advisors at other schools but I'm not really sure how or what I should say. Should I send an e-mail to them? And/or should I visit them? If I e-mail them what exactly should I say? Should I just say something to the extent of "Hey, this is me. I applied to your program and asked for you to be my advisor. Hope you consider me!" Or should I be more specific? If so, how?

Does a visit to the school matter or is an e-mail just as good? Some of the places I'm looking at are quite a ways away and I'm pretty strapped for cash.

Thanks for any feedback. As you can probably tell, I'm a little worried about how to proceed from here.

Well, unfortunately, I think the time to contact professors has passed. The applications are in and you can't do anything to change that, and they are really busy people. Contacting them now, especially with nothing more specific to say than "hi, please remember me" isn't going to come off as very considerate. At this point you need to wait for them to contact you, and you certainly shouldn't expect to visit with them. Don't worry too much about it: plenty of people get in to grad school without contacting anyone first.

[StrangeLight]

you absolutely CAN visit with a professor now if you like.

they're busy, but they were busy in september when all the keeners rolled in. some people show up early and then are forgotten. some people show up after the admissions are in, to make their decision. and some people show up in between, not to influence admission, but just to get a feel for a place before they hear the news. AND only schools that receive 200+ applications a year are beginning the process of sorting through them now. smaller departments haven't even begun, i promise.

it's not too late at all.

[TMP]

This is for the MA program, not a PhD. So I doubt that they've really started the admissions process for MA applicants. Just make sure you say that you're applying for the MA program. The decisions will come out much later than PhD applications, usually. Just do it soon.