Should I contact professors in the meantime?

[EngiNerd-12]

So now all we can do is wait.. or is that really true?

I didn't contact professors while applying because I felt like I am simply bothering them and don't really have specific important questions to ask (I can read up on their research and indicate my interest in it in the application and how I can contribute). I have a BS in Biomedical Engineering/Biophysics and MS in Electrical Engineering (signal processing and control) and am applying to PhD programs in Systems/Computational Biology. Since the field of interest is relevant to, but not necessarily the same as, my academic background, I don't see the importance in contacting professors since I haven't been following their work until recently. However, should I reconsider contacting professors while waiting for responses?

 

I appreciate your help! Good luck with the application process!

Edited January 7, 2013 by Amal

[DropTheBase]

If you think a certain professor's work is particularly interesting (which you should since you're applying to a PhD program), then you should definitely contact him/her at any stage of the process.

PI's always have a a specific research 'focus,' usually more than one. I like to ask about the current progress and future plan for projects within that research focus, since it is almost always different than what is written on the group web page.

It is also important to mention that you're applying so that the PI has a vested interest in divulging information to you.

[EngiNerd-12]

Thank you for the advice You make a good point. I was just too worried about bothering them.

[khaled]

In my opinion, if there's someone that you'd like to work with, go ahead and contact him/her. But if you contact a professor for the sake of "contacting a professor", it's going to be clear from the content of your email that you are only seeking a push to your application. 

Edited January 8, 2013 by khaled

[EngiNerd-12]

Thank you Khaled! I truly appreciate the input!

I will contact professors whose line of work specific matches my specific research goal.

[khaled]

Thank you Khaled! I truly appreciate the input!

I will contact professors whose line of work specific matches my specific research goal.

 

Check with your previous professors, you might be surprised by the number of people they personally know. I know someone who got admitted to a top program because of an email from a professor to a professor!  

[sr0304]

i hear that some professors resent being contacted while they make application decisions and it actually hurts their impression of you. truthfully, i wouldn't want to hear from any applicant out of the stack of 190 forms at this time. i would think, "Why now? Why not back in September before they applied to work with me? Clearly, he/she just wants me to remember his/her name." It's difficult to pull off a contact at this time and make it work in your benefit and i don't think it's worth the risk of a bad reception.