Contacting POI/DGS?

[edost]

I'm thinking of sending e-mails to some of the programs I haven't heard from yet, not to ask when I'll hear their decisions, but rather to show my interest and remind them that I exist. Should I e-mail the POIs (the ones I already e-mailed before submitting the application) or the heads of graduate programs?

[modernity]

What do you mean by "show my interest/remind them I exist"? Do you have real questions or things to discuss with them or are you just fishing? If they are in the middle of midterms/finals (depending on quarter/semester) and theyre trying to make decisions on the new group, any sort of email that isn't important is likely to be looked over or seen as fishing. The heads of the graduate programs are probably even more busy cause they are orchestrating all of this. If you have real things of substance to contribute/ask - I would contact the POIs - they are the ones who can argue for you getting in or not more than anything.