Re-applying after getting an MA; re-contacting POI

[lotuspetal7]

Hello all, thank you in advance for your help.

 

I put in my first graduate school applications two years ago, mostly to master's programs. I visited First-Choice School and spoke with Professor POI. I asked him whether I should apply to the PhD program at that time as my interest was very serious but my experience was somewhat limited. He told me that I might as well go ahead and put in an application but with my limited experience would likely only be admitted to the (unfunded and very expensive) MA program, and might need to go get a master's from a less expensive school and apply to the PhD program again later. He was very positive in the general tone of his interaction with me--he told me after talking to me for ten minutes that the MA program accepts about 10% of applicants but that he thought I would get in; and when I met some current students of his later on and asked them whether they thought I really should apply now if he said I probably wouldn't get into the PhD program at this time, their eyes opened and wide and they said "If he told you you should apply, then you should apply!"

 

So I did apply, and just as he said I was accepted only into the unfunded MA program, thus I basically applied for the mere purpose of showing my seriousness when I should reapply a couple years later.

 

I got a few different good MA offers and was utterly stuck between the two best, so I contacted Professor POI to ask him which program he recommended as preparation for reapplying to First-Choice School in a couple of years. He answered my email within a few minutes, with a substantial response considering my particular needs and interests and recommending one school over the other for me and my particular circumstances. I thanked him and went to the school he recommended, and that was the last contact we have had since spring 2012.

 

So now I am finishing up my MA and putting in my re-application, the real one this time, and I would like to contact Professor POI to say hello and remind him of myself. I thought about asking to meet in person again to discuss my interests as they've developed while I was in my master's program, but I won't have the time or money to travel there in the next couple of months and I hate talking on the phone, so email it is. 

 

I really just want to say hello and let him know I am back. Should I manufacture a question (I remember all his answers to my questions back two years ago and don't really have any new ones), discuss my interests (starting to chatter out of the blue with no real question to ask seems weird), or just leave off extraneous emails and trust that he will remember me when he receives my application?

 

Thank you for your help!

[rising_star]

Send an email even if it's only to ask if he's taking on new students. That alone is information you need to know before you apply.

[lotuspetal7]

Thanks for the reply! I know he's taking new students though so I don't really need to ask that.

[IRToni]

Why not just be honest? Send an email stating what you've done in the meantime, thanking him again for your help, and telling him that you'll be applying to his school, and you'd be really interested in working with him.

 

Don't expect a response, but that makes sure that he will remember you, and if he thought you were a good candidate back then, and you performed well in your M.A., he might put in a good word for you. Of course, that doesn't mean you'll actually get accepted, but it's worth a shot, I would think!

[lotuspetal7]

I think you're right, that's really probably best. I just couldn't think how to begin and end it, but that sounds pretty good. Thanks so much for the help!