Contacting POIs

[waterloo715]

With the application process getting underway, I am curious how many of you are contacting POIs? If you are, what are you saying? 

For those of you who have already gone through this process, did you get in contact with anyone before applying? If so, do you think it is valuable to do so?

[Determinedandnervous]

I contacted POIs at three schools I applied to last year. In one instance, i was accepted with a fellowship nomination, in two instances I was rejected. I suspect contacting POIs had a role in the acceptance and one of the rejections, but not the other. I would say that unless you're emailing them to make sure they're taking advisees, don't contact them.