Mentioning profs you've talked to

[Sparky]

Many of the departments to which I'm applying recommend stating in the SOP the professors in the department with whom you've been in contact. Even when the directions don't specifically state this, it seems like a good idea. How do you go about doing this? It seems ridiculously presumptous to say something like "I have spoken with Dr. Who, and he has agreed to work with me"--I mean, you CAN'T say something like that. How are you all handling this?

[JohnBom]

I introduce my research topic and then I say that my interests in this field have been particularly influenced by professor so and so, whom I also had the opportunity to meet at a conference.

Edited November 21, 2009 by Astronautka

[Maya]

One thing you might want to do is to make sure you ask those professors who you have spoken with, whether it is alright if you do include them in your SOP. It's mostly a formality, but I think it's polite. Also, it's a good way to 'remind' those professors that you are out there. When I did this, one of them even suggested what to put in the SOP regarding our conversation; the source of advice couldn't be better than that!

[LateAntique]

I briefly make mention of a conversation I had with a big name (who has retired) in the field with whom I am on friendly terms. I said that at a particular conference last year (which tells them I attend those sorts of things), I asked Prof. Big Name what schools he thought I should look into considering my interests. He gave me one reply: School X. I don't know Prof. Big Name well enough to have him write me a letter, but if they read my SoP and give him a call, he will certainly remember the advice and probably speak well of me (I think...).

Also, for another school, I discuss a conversation I had with a professor about hitherto untranslated Greek papyri in the university's archives. This showed that the school is right for me in terms of my own interests in paleography and also that I had taken the time to sit and chat with said professor.

[gremot]

How important is it to have been talked to a professor from the school? It seems like you have enlisted it in you SOP as a must... Due to my fulbright funding I'm not allowed to make any contact with the schools myself (all goes through the scholarship office) and therefore I have not contacted anyone - most of my professional contacts from conferences etc are europeans. Is this going to be the sad end of my story?

[mudlark]

Many of the departments to which I'm applying recommend stating in the SOP the professors in the department with whom you've been in contact. Even when the directions don't specifically state this, it seems like a good idea. How do you go about doing this? It seems ridiculously presumptous to say something like "I have spoken with Dr. Who, and he has agreed to work with me"--I mean, you CAN'T say something like that. How are you all handling this?

I don't think it sounds all that presumptuous. It's true, right?

Here are some milder ways of phrasing it, though:

"I have been in contact with Drs. Who and What, whose expertise would make them ideal committee members for this project."

"My work connects to that of Drs. Who and What, who support my application to this program."

"Drs. Who and What have expressed interest in my project."

Any of those work? Or still too forward?

[peppermint.beatnik]

I have a related question. I hope the original poster doesn't mind the slight divergence. I don't know where the thread went about contacting profs since they reorganized the forum.

One of the schools to which I am applying asks on the on-line application if you have "been in contact with anyone concerning your application." I have, but they didn't respond. My only guess as to why Prof X didn't respond is because they are currently chair of the department, and are likely quite busy. I received responses from the other people I contacted, but not Prof X.

Should you indicate on the on-line application that you have been in contact with someone, even if they didn't respond?

Also, what is your general opinion about people who don't respond? I remember on the old thread that some said it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't write ridiculous e-mails to these people, so I know that's not behind it.

[Sparky]

I have a related question. I hope the original poster doesn't mind the slight divergence.

Yes. I mind. I mind totally. Get your own thread. ;o)

One of the schools to which I am applying asks on the on-line application if you have "been in contact with anyone concerning your application." I have, but they didn't respond. My only guess as to why Prof X didn't respond is because they are currently chair of the department, and are likely quite busy. I received responses from the other people I contacted, but not Prof X.

Should you indicate on the on-line application that you have been in contact with someone, even if they didn't respond?

Also, what is your general opinion about people who don't respond? I remember on the old thread that some said it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I don't write ridiculous e-mails to these people, so I know that's not behind it.

I wouldn't mention someone unless I had heard back from them, but I don't think it's a bad thing. E-mails get overlooked in inboxes all the time--either I don't realize it's there, or else I'm meaning to respond and don't get around to it, or I am convinced that I *did* respond when in reality I didn't. So I am in the camp of "it's not a bad thing," but I wouldn't mention their name. Because what if that prof *did* read the app and was like, "Um...I don't know this person..."

Getting caught in a bent truth...not a good thing.

Why not try e-mailing that person again? (Barring a Dec. 1 deadline, of course) I think that thread suggested saying something like, "Hi, I e-mailed you earlier, but evidently communication lines got crossed somehow. My name is Smurglefrod Hefferheim, and..."

@ Everyone else, thanks for the suggestions!

Edited November 24, 2009 by Sparky

[peppermint.beatnik]

Yes. I mind. I mind totally. Get your own thread. ;o)

I wouldn't mention someone unless I had heard back from them, but I don't think it's a bad thing. E-mails get overlooked in inboxes all the time--either I don't realize it's there, or else I'm meaning to respond and don't get around to it, or I am convinced that I *did* respond when in reality I didn't. So I am in the camp of "it's not a bad thing," but I wouldn't mention their name. Because what if that prof *did* read the app and was like, "Um...I don't know this person..."

Getting caught in a bent truth...not a good thing.

Why not try e-mailing that person again? (Barring a Dec. 1 deadline, of course) I think that thread suggested saying something like, "Hi, I e-mailed you earlier, but evidently communication lines got crossed somehow. My name is Smurglefrod Hefferheim, and..."

@ Everyone else, thanks for the suggestions!

Thanks Sparky. I'm really torn about this whole thing, and not sure what I want to do.

I made the effort to contact someone, and I want to be recognized for it.

On the other hand, I want to avoid the scenario you described about them saying they never heard from me, ugh.

The deadline is December 1st.

[Sparky]

How about e-mailing the department's Director of Graduate Studies (or some such title)? That way, you can say something like, "...I have been trying to get in contact with Dr. Who but have not been able to. I do have a couple of questions about the department as a whole, though." You can still say, in your SOP, that you want to work with Dr. Who--after all, the question on the application doesn't say, "Have you talked with someone here who is willing to advise your dissertation," does it? )

I made the effort to contact someone, and I want to be recognized for it.

Ohhh my gosh, I know, I find it emotionally devastating to send cold e-mails to professors (some of whom I happen to believe walk on water)...I feel like, I deserve credit for this dammit! But I think "been in contact with" implies a two-way communication. So yeah, try the graduate studies director--dealing with annoying twits like us at the end of November is part of their job. (My current advisor is our dept's DGS...I hear stories. If a student contacted him a week before the deadline with the statement I suggested in the first paragraph, he would, like, worship your politeness and being-considerate-ness).