To contact POIs or not?

[fenderpete]

Hey all...

I'm currently in two minds about whether to contact POIs at the schools I've applied to for Fall 2012. I have a pretty good idea that the programs are a good fit and have read their work etc. so I don't really feel I'd be emailing them to do much other than make them aware of my existence, which seems a little cheap.

Maybe I'm overthinking this, and it's the price of doing business, but I worry I'd do more harm than good if there's nothing I desperately need to know about the programs. I've also already had a little back and forth with certain professors via Twitter, but not with them knowing I'm applying to their programs.

It's one of those things where if it might improve my chances I feel like I should do it, but by the same token don't want to do it simply because everyone else does...

What are other people's thoughts on this?

Edited October 3, 2011 by fenderpete

[starmaker]

I'd say it's worth talking to the POIs (and their grad students) so that you can get a sense of what they are like. These are potential bosses that you're talking about. Having a bad boss (either someone who's a jerk or someone who's nice but a bad manager) can really make life suck, even if the work that you're doing for them is work that you thought would be your dream work.

Also, you want to know if they are taking on new students, and you want to know what direction their work is going in - maybe that project that you thought looked so great on their website is going to be done within the year, and in the future they're not going to be working much in that subarea.

[surefire]

I'm with starmaker re: the benefits of getting acquainted. When I was applying for my MA, I ended up doing a couple of extra applications to other departments after I met with this potential-supervisor-that-I'd-idealized and realized that they were definitely NOT a good fit!

An added bonus (if you haven't done all school/grant apps yet): you can mention on your applications that you have touched base with potential supervisors that share your research interests and it will (1) show that you've done some homework on that particular department (2) display that you are planning and initiating and (3)help the admissions committee to picture you in the department. HOWEVER, do NOT (1) lie and say that you touched base with a POI if you haven't or (2) overstate the POI's response (don't say that they agreed to supervise you if the did not extend this offer, if you've just been corresponding then just say that). Mentioning this mutual interest/correspondene does not mean that you're committed/obligated to this make this person your supervisor (or even take their class), it just shows good "fit" potential and planning.

Contacting current/past grad students is a good idea too. I did this after I confirmed an offer and this helped me to pick classes and profs that I really enjoyed (as well, I was able to avoid a nightmarish prof who had extended a TA offer to me; after talking to some students who said that she was a great, capable prof, but treacherous to TA for, I took another TA-ship offer).

Edited October 4, 2011 by surefire

[fenderpete]

To contact it is. Sadly I've already submitted all my apps, but the touching base aspect still stands. Already had one very friendly reply already!

Now it'll be down to seeing what they seem like as more than bios on a faculty website...