Etiquette for reapplying to PhD programs

[Psych Student]

Hello!

Last year, I applied to a few social psych PhD programs (four) and didn't get accepted into any of them.

Since then, I have been taking some master's classes at the school I received my B.S. from. I am seeking to leave this school and go into a PhD program.

I have a few questions.

One, what is the etiquette for contacting POIs? There are one or two schools that I applied to last year that I really want to apply to again, and who last year, when I contacted them, stated that they weren't looking for new students. One said that she wasn't looking for students for a year or two (well, a year's passed!)

Should I mention to those I'll be contacting again that I applied earlier? If so, what should I say? Is it even appropriate apply to programs that rejected me once before?

In letters to other POIs, should I mention that I'm currently taking master's classes?

Edited November 15, 2012 by Psych Student

[Quant_Liz_Lemon]

Well, I'd suggest applying to more than 4 programs this time around. Did you ask those POI last year about why you were rejected?

[Psych Student]

I do plan on applying to more than four programs this time around.

I didn't ask why I wasn't rejected. For one, there was a huge gap between the time I contacted them and the time I was rejected - for all but one program, I didn't receive a rejection notice until late April. Additionally, for several programs, I applied to them despite the POIs I contacted reporting that there weren't looking for students, in the off chance that some other faculty member might see me and like me. Silly, I know (now, anyway).

[watson]

I do plan on applying to more than four programs this time around.

I didn't ask why I wasn't rejected. For one, there was a huge gap between the time I contacted them and the time I was rejected - for all but one program, I didn't receive a rejection notice until late April. Additionally, for several programs, I applied to them despite the POIs I contacted reporting that there weren't looking for students, in the off chance that some other faculty member might see me and like me. Silly, I know (now, anyway).

It sounds like you did not receive any interviews last round. If true, go ahead and apply again, they are extremely unlikely (sorry!) to remember who you are from last time. Do not remind them you previously got rejected. Why would you? I just can't see anything to be gained from that. It would likely bias them, even unintentionally.

If a faculty member says they are not taking students do not apply to work with them! Apply to another faculty member's lab as primary and say the other person as a secondary.

[psychdork]

I agree with watson. I didn't get in anywhere last year and I'm applying to work with some of the same POIs this year (I was waitlisted at these schools last year). When I emailed my POIs, I never mentioned that I'm reapplying, I just stated that I was interested in their work on "blah blah blah" and asked if they were planning on taking students. Like watson said, I didn't want the knowledge that I had applied there in the past to potentially bias my current application (not to mention that it would have been awkward to write).

As far as mentioning that you are taking master's classes, if you are only taking classes and don't intend to get the degree, then I wouldn't mention it in your email. You can mention it in your SOP later on, but in your email I would just keep it simple and to the point. However, if you do almost have your degree, you could mention it very quickly. I basically said, "hi my name is psychdork, I'm currently finishing my master's degree in psych and am interested in your work...". I don't know what other people think but my reasoning is if you are just taking classes then that might come across as indecisive...which you can explain in your SOP but would take up too much room in your email.

[stereopticons]

When I emailed POIs this time around, I only mentioned that I applied previously to those who I had actually met and had interviews with. Everyone else I just pretended I had never contacted them before. A few remembered me but most didn't. So I would say unless you have met the person and spoken extensively (in which case it would be weird to pretend you hadn't met them), I would not mention that you applied before.