Names of people contacted in essays?

[trenttrenttrent]

I've spoken to quite a few people affiliated with each of the schools I"m applying to, including alums and current students. Should I make reference to my conversations with these students in my essays if I gained any important insight from them? It seems a bit brown-nose-y, but I'd like for schools to see that I have done my research.

[TakeruK]

I would not. While those conversations are definitely good to have to get the right feel for the department, they have very little to do with the point of the SOP, which is discuss your own qualifications, interest, and fit with the department.

 

However, some SOP prompts do instruct you to mention any conversations you have had with professors in that department regarding graduate research plans. And doing so even when not asked is normal in some fields.

[bsharpe269]

I agree with this. They care alot more about whether you have done your research on faculty research areas and dont care so much about whether you asked alum about the school. I think it would be a waste of SOP space really that could be used to discuss your fit with faculty research. I am not even mentioning that I spoke with faculty members, I am just discussing how the research of professors matches well with my background and goals.