Whether or not to contact professors in prospective schools

[aimasiko]

Hello everybody,

I hope this is not an over abused topic, but I do need some clarity on the issue. I am currently a Master's student and planning on applying for PhD programs in the fall. However, I do not know whether or not to contact professors in prospective schools. Especially because I am looking at PhDs in International Relations and its not like I would need to join a lab or something. Most of the samples I am seeing online are for science programs.  I was just wondering how important it is to contact professors and what exactly to say. I can also be quite socially awkward and I am already quite nervous about stuff like that. Please advice. P.S: I would have posted on Government Affairs forum but they are mostly talking about Master's and stuff, not PhDs.

 

Thank you. 

[AuldReekie]

Hello everybody,

I hope this is not an over abused topic, but I do need some clarity on the issue. I am currently a Master's student and planning on applying for PhD programs in the fall. However, I do not know whether or not to contact professors in prospective schools. Especially because I am looking at PhDs in International Relations and its not like I would need to join a lab or something. Most of the samples I am seeing online are for science programs.  I was just wondering how important it is to contact professors and what exactly to say. I can also be quite socially awkward and I am already quite nervous about stuff like that. Please advice. P.S: I would have posted on Government Affairs forum but they are mostly talking about Master's and stuff, not PhDs.

 

Thank you. 

 

If you use the search in this forum you'll see a couple threads on the topic from a Pol Sci perspective.