Keeping in touch with faculty at declined school.

[MakeYourself]

I recently declined an offer from a school, however, during my visit at the school, I met with a faculty member (who was not my POI) that I really got along with. We had many similar research interests and I actually got really excited talking to him about potential projects we could collaborate on.

Would it be out of line for me to contact him to let him know that I accepted an offer at a different school but that I am still interested in possibly collaborating with him in the future? I feel kind of uncomfortable doing this because the POI at that school who I rejected went out of his way to try to get me to come to that school (we met personally on 3 different occasions and had 2 phone conversations, and emailed back and forth constantly for about 2 weeks while I was making decisions). Is it just nonsense for me to feel awkward about this? I just don't want to sound like "hey, I rejected the school cause I didn't want to work with the POI, but I really like you so we should still keep in touch". I feel like if word got out to the POI that he would perceive me as being disrespectful? Or do you think he probably won't care?

Thanks!

[yoshiko]

If you can reasonably see your research being applicable to the POI at the other school, then I recommend keeping in touch or at least sending them a message saying how you hope to meet and work together one day. During this application season, I found that academia is a small world (smaller than I originally thought). A lot of the POIs from various programs had worked together in the past and since (at the PhD level) research is rather specialized, it is likely that I will meet with these professors at conferences (at the very least). These POIs could also be potential employers in the future. All in all, I don't think it would become problematic if you said something like "Even though I have decided to attend another program, I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your willingness to talk with me about X University. I found our conversation very useful and helpful. I hope that one day we can meet each other at X conference and perhaps someday we will be able to work together."

Good luck!

[msafiri]

It would definitely NOT be out of line. Do it and be polite. Then, at conferences, try to have coffee/beer with that person so you can keep in touch with one another and be up to date on research and that sort of thing.

[MakeYourself]

Thank you both!

[rockhopper]

I had the same thing happen to me. I was rejected from a school but I really clicked with one faculty member, and he even helped me write my research proposal for my NSF GFRP application. I emailed him saying that I hoped our paths would cross again in the future and he responded that he very well thinks that they would! I definitely think you should send an email.

[crazypork]

I also think you should send an email.