Contacting POIs

[amlobo]

Ok, what does everyone think about whether to contact POIs? I know people have been successful with contacting POIs and without, and I just wonder whether it really makes any difference. I feel like, with most schools, I picked them specifically because I could fit with multiple people and my research interests fit well with the program as a whole. Of course, there are a couple where I am specifically interested in one or two people, and I can see the possible benefit of contacting those professors directly.

But, in general, what are your thoughts on contacting POIs? If anyone has insight into specific programs' guidelines or preferences, please feel free to include that information, as well. I know some programs may specifically encourage or discourage interaction with professors.

[msafiri]

Honestly, I would make contact with the person you most want to be your supervisor to confirm they are accepting students. If they aren't, that could doom your application without you even knowing it. In that sense, it definitely makes a difference. I wouldn't contact more than two professors in any one department.

[iowaguy]

In some PhD programs, at least in the sciences, you can't get admitted without a professor "sponsoring" you. Several schools I'm applying to are set up this way...

[mandarin.orange]

Ok, what does everyone think about whether to contact POIs? I know people have been successful with contacting POIs and without, and I just wonder whether it really makes any difference.

YES it can make a huge difference.

If you have an enthusiastic reply from a prof and seem a good match, they can really be an advocate for you on the inside when the adcom convenes, and push to get you admitted.

Developing correspondence may also reveal things not reflected on departmental webpages - such as who is on sabbatical, not taking students, or perhaps has moved in a completely different research trajectory.

I replied to a similar thread this week, where I discussed this further. I also included a few links I'd found helpful:

[Darth.Vegan]

At the top programs I think this is largely a waste of time. I've gotten feedback directly from top 10 programs saying that this is a waste of time and will make no difference in admissions. ScienceGirl also commented on this last year, she didn't write any faculty and got multiple offers from top 20 programs. If there is only one potential advisor at a program of interest I would recommend it only to make sure they can take students next year and aren't retiring or something. While some disciplines suggest a faculty "sponsor," in soc it is generally not needed.

[faculty]

Sociology is quite different from other sciences in this respect. Most mainstream sociology departments follow the accept and then assign to an assistantship/faculty member model, with little input from faculty (who aren't on the committee) in initial decisions. In fact, to put someone down who you want to work with only increases the chances that the committee will think to themselves that the particular professor already has too many students, etc. (related to what msafiri says above).

In the two departments - and 10 years - that I have served on grad recruitment committees, I can't think of a single person who was admitted because a faculty member initiated an invitation (particularly one that wouldn't have otherwise been made just based on their file) because a student contacted them. Having an advisor contact the faculty is a different story entirely. That can make a difference (although not always).

For what it's worth, as a faculty member who is an accept and assign department and who isn't currently on the committee making such decisions, I find contact from POIs more of an inconvenience than anything else.

[Willows]

I have thought about this a lot, and I've decided to contact very few, if any, POIs. I know some probably view that as risky, but I'm only applying to schools that have multiple people in the department researching in my interests. I think in that case, it is less likely that none of them are accepting students, although it is certainly possible.

[mandarin.orange]

Sociology is quite different from other sciences in this respect. Most mainstream sociology departments follow the accept and then assign to an assistantship/faculty member model, with little input from faculty (who aren't on the committee) in initial decisions.

This is very interesting. I'm in a department that falls under the "Social Sciences" umbrella at a top university, and admit discussions of who you work with and assigning an advisor is expected from the get-go. Another example of how YMMV in different departments and subfields.

[Darth.Vegan]

Ya I definitely think it varies across departments and disciplines. The geography department at UNC specifically says you should find a faculty sponsor.

[AaronM]

FWIW some of my apps have asked if you have contacted any professors in the department and to provide a summary of the interaction. Not sure how they use the data, but have seen the question come up

[jacib]

I think this is one of those things that varies. It probably won't help you, but it also probably won't hurt you either. For me, I had a somewhat obscure topic so I emailed lots of people to ask, "Do you think you could advise a thesis like this, do you think I'd be a fine fit for the department?" Some were very excited and said, "Yes, you are exactly the kind of student we're looking for," (those are places I didn't end up getting in, incidentally) some said, "Actually, your idea sounds awesome, but I don't think I could advise you. Sorry, bro." (I didn't bother to apply to those places, but there were several like that). I didn't email place where I already knew I'd fit in. The place I did get in, however, which was a good fit for me, my then-future, now-current adviser ended up scolding me for not emailing first. When I got admitted by phone, they said, "Well, I read your application and thought, 'This boyis perfect for me... why didn't he email me first?'" And I giggled a little and they said again, "Well, why didn't you?" and I managed to stammer something out about "already knowing that I'd be a good match that I didn't think I needed to check" or something.

Long story short, I'd guess many professors won't care, some might care (and, like with my adviser, even in those cases it might not make a difference), and some may just tell you they're not taking students (another professor told me not to apply to his program because he was retiring in three years... but I should apply to his friend's program if these were my interests) or not actually taking students like you (some people list "sociology of x" as a subfield they're interested in, but really don't ever work with students in that subfield).

[jacib]

As for AaronM's thing, I think in some (probably rare) cases the Ad Comm might reach out to a prospective adviser and say "What do you think of this kid? You want him?" (I suspect this is the case especially if they're doing something where there could be the only one to adviser: there's only one ethnographer in the department, or there's only one professor who does computational sociology, or only one who has technical skills in social network analysis, something like that--but I don't know, that's just a guess). Also, it can give them an idea of yield.

And as for xdarthveganx's thing and madarin.orange's thing, at most sociology programs I know of, you're expected to want to work with someone specific from the get-go. People are usually admitted with the adcom knowing who their adviser will be or suspecting that their adviser will be one of two or so faculty members. No matter what, everyone must make it clear who they would be interested in working with and where they fit in with the school in their statement of purpose. That's a must, but I don't think emailing the person or people who you want to work with is strictly necessary in sociology (though I'd encourage it).

Oh and I totally agree with faculty's statement that the emails are a straight up inconvenience for faculty members. Be aware of that. As a grad student, I get some emails from eager students--and even though they often seem like students who aren't the type of students who get in to this department, but I feel duty bound to respond to them thoughtfully regardless. Some of them are loooong, too. These things, if you do send them, should be very short, and the professor should be able to answer all the questions you ask in a line or two. Your email should probably be one paragraph, two might be pushing it unless it's just "short bio/introduction paragraph, short research paragraph". And never ever ask anything that can be found on the website. Sometimes it makes sense, when you're worried about something, to email the DGS and not a specific faculty member.

[Ladril]

Actually, I have reasons to believe that emailing POIs was a large factor in determining my eventual admission. I wouldn't want people to miss a chance of admission because of a misguided perception that it is useless to try contacting professors first.

[Ladril]

Developing correspondence may also reveal things not reflected on departmental webpages - such as who is on sabbatical, not taking students, or perhaps has moved in a completely different research trajectory.

This last thing also cannot be emphasized enough, When applying, I was hoping to work with a particular brilliant researcher. By corresponding with him, however, I learned he was close to retirement and not planning to take any more students. I'm grateful I took the time to contact him. Otherwise I think would have wasted my time in applying to that university.

[faculty]

When applying, I was hoping to work with a particular brilliant researcher. By corresponding with him, however, I learned he was close to retirement and not planning to take any more students. I'm grateful I took the time to contact him. Otherwise I think would have wasted my time in applying to that university.

I have seen so many students disappointed by the loss of *the* faculty member that they want to work with. For students who are currently applying to schools, I recommend not applying to a school where you aren't also excited about the program in general.

People leave, even people who aren't close to retirement and even people who told you - whether in an email, over the phone, or at the recruitment weekend or another visit - that they were going to stay in that school forever. People end up on sabbatical or busy or have other students who they take a larger interest in. The best programs aren't necessarily programs with a superstar who fits your specific interests, they are programs that train you well and have a wide variety of active faculty members who are invested in their students, regardless of their own - or those students' - area of interest.

Edited October 3, 2012 by faculty

[Ladril]

I have seen so many students disappointed by the loss of *the* faculty member that they want to work with. For students who are currently applying to schools, I recommend not applying to a school where you aren't also excited about the program in general.

People leave, even people who aren't close to retirement and even people who told you - whether in an email, over the phone, or at the recruitment weekend or another visit - that they were going to stay in that school forever. People end up on sabbatical or busy or have other students who they take a larger interest in. The best programs aren't necessarily programs with a superstar who fits your specific interests, they are programs that train you well and have a wide variety of active faculty members who are invested in their students, regardless of their own - or those students' - area of interest.

Yes. I fully agree with you. I did not mean to say that my outlook would work for everyone. In my case, though, I think I made the correct choice.

[faculty]

I'm sorry if I came off as critical, Ladril. I didn't assume you'd disagree with me. Your post simply reminded me of a piece of advice that I would share with someone in person, so thought it was worth posting here.

[amlobo]

I thought I'd add a quick update to my original post. I contacted a professor at one of my top choices, since she is one of the only professors I could work with at the small program, and I got what I think is a positive response. I simply asked if she was taking students and a little bit about her research, and I attached my CV. She said she was taking students and would encourage me to apply and gave me info on her research "team". So, at least it confirms my desire to apply to that school, and I know I'm not wasting my time in putting her name in my SOP. I think that is what I want to "get" out of my POI contact, so I feel like it was worth contacting her. Not sure if that will "help" me in the admissions process, but I felt good to get a positive response, nonetheless.