Contacting a POI for the 1st time AFTER application has been submitting

[kce3]

Okay so, I only really made a big effort to contact professors with whom I'd like to work at my top choice school, where I've already been rejected. I am very tempted to contact a professor or two at my second chocie school even though the app was already due/ been submitted. Is it bad form to contact POIs for the first time after you've applied? If not, what is the best way to go about it? Has anyone tried this before?

[Strangefox]

Okay so, I only really made a big effort to contact professors with whom I'd like to work at my top choice school, where I've already been rejected. I am very tempted to contact a professor or two at my second chocie school even though the app was already due/ been submitted. Is it bad form to contact POIs for the first time after you've applied? If not, what is the best way to go about it? Has anyone tried this before?

No, it is not okay, professors may find that annoying. They may not like the fact that you did not contact them before you submitted your app but doing it now... It may also look as if you are really depserate.

[newms]

Agreed with Strangefox. It's bad form. If you mentioned the prof in your SoP then he or she would likely see it and as Strangefox says, you run the risk of annoying them at this time.

[micromajor2011]

I actually had a positive result from doing this, the school I applied to is rather large and I had over 30 people to look through, I narrowed my options down to 3 I really liked but only emailed two of them. I have a meeting with one of them on next friday and he actually iniated the meeting. He was very nice and open. I merely stated my interest,past research, talked about how his work overlaps with my future goals and interest and thats all. So its sometimes worth a shot.

[Strangefox]

I actually had a positive result from doing this, the school I applied to is rather large and I had over 30 people to look through, I narrowed my options down to 3 I really liked but only emailed two of them. I have a meeting with one of them on next friday and he actually iniated the meeting. He was very nice and open. I merely stated my interest,past research, talked about how his work overlaps with my future goals and interest and thats all. So its sometimes worth a shot.

It may be worth a shot, but OP must remember that it is kind of a gamble.

[Purled]

I've heard of this backfiring quite a bit, actually. I wouldn't risk it, but to each his own.

[Guest bubuli]

I actually had a positive result from doing this, the school I applied to is rather large and I had over 30 people to look through, I narrowed my options down to 3 I really liked but only emailed two of them. I have a meeting with one of them on next friday and he actually iniated the meeting. He was very nice and open. I merely stated my interest,past research, talked about how his work overlaps with my future goals and interest and thats all. So its sometimes worth a shot.

Hi micromajor,

How long after you submitted your application did you contact your POI for the first time?

[micromajor2011]

i applied in december about the 1st and contacted him in feb. Around the 7th. I meet him feb 25th. Not sure if he seen my application or not but I have been told im still in the running.

[Guest bubuli]

i applied in december about the 1st and contacted him in feb. Around the 7th. I meet him feb 25th. Not sure if he seen my application or not but I have been told im still in the running.

wow. thanks for sharing. that's interesting. i'm currently deliberating myself whether i should contact my POI for the first time now that i have submitted my application. everybody's saying it's a bad idea but who knows.. i guess it is kind of a gamble