Contacting professors and "name dropping" on the PS

[allhandsonthebadone]

Right now I am fretting about how to strike the right balance between contacting professors and building report and coming across as pretentious and pushy.

So far for all the schools that I have found to be a reasonable fit I sent a brief introduction email (who I am, what I am interested in, are we a good fit?, any helpful books or articles?) To my delight I have received several positive responses and some references of people to contact. As I prepare my personal statement and tailor it to each individual schools I have had no problem tailoring it to schools in which I haven't heard a response but feel is a good fit anyway by stressing facets of the program that fit my interests and inexplicitly referring to research areas certain professors are known for without name dropping.

The trouble I have is oddly enough from the schools which have had a positive reaction to my emails. I read some professor articles and mentally associated with what hope to do and work in graduate school. I would like to start and/or continue dialogue but I can't help but feel that jumping right into theory would come across as pretentious and the agenda (wanting to get in the program) would be way too transparent. I'm hesitant to name drop on the personal statement for the same reasons.

Any advice on how to achieve the right balance?

Thanks ahead of time!

[mandarin.orange]

Why the aversion to name-dropping? Many adcoms' strategy is to distribute their pile of applications to potential advisors as a first step. Seeing that you've clearly identified someone makes that task easier for them.

I would be concerned about schools you haven't heard from. Either their funding is uncertain, they do not have spots open, or this is an indication of what to expect as a grad student there (e.g. poor communication, lack of effort to value potential students). I'd push for contact again before spending your ~ $80 to apply. Be more forward about finding out if a potential advisor is even looking for students for the coming year or not.

I really like the SOP available for download here. She is very specific about her goals, what she wants to do, and who she wants to work for.

You can try to continue dialogue, and I'd recommend a short-and-sweet approach. A mention of where you are in the application process, questions of clarification about their work or possible future ideas, and reminders that this is your top-choice program, etc. all seem appropriate. But some may only provide limited response, just due to the uncertainty of the decisions (and funds available) at this point, and they are juggling a staggering number responsibilities on a day-to-day basis anyway.

[allhandsonthebadone]

I can think of several reasons for my aversion for name dropping. The main is that really no one in the sociological field is doing exactly what I am interested in (the evolving face of stigma and how the advent of the internet and other social networking technologies have allowed for an unprecedented number of highly stigmatized groups to be more socially mobile). The people who are fits are more or less obliquely related (internet based research, stigma in terms of race and gender stratification, etc). I doubt that I am the only one with this problem. For all I know this could be as a cliche as a teenager trying to find his or her identity.

Also there isn't one professor I feel I "must" work with I just want to know more or less whether my interests would gel as well as get my name a little known before they get my application.

As for those I haven't heard of I chalked it up to more a matter of the professor being busy or just missing the email for one reason or another. Even the professors I closely worked with at undergrad don't respond do every email I send. I am applying to top flight programs which bascially guarantee funding so I doubt that is the issue.

Thank you for your advice about ways to initiate and continue dialogue.

Edited September 25, 2011 by allhandsonthebadone