Should I bother emailing POIs?

[laura23]

I've decided to throw in an application to a program a week before the deadline. I wasn't planning on applying here, so I haven't contacted anyone. The department website lists the faculty members who are reviewing applications next year, so I already know that they're taking students. Is there any point in emailing now? The application does ask if we've been in contact with any faculty members, but I don't know how I would send an email this late without looking bad. 

[psychsquirrel]

I say don't email them--when I was applying last year, a big shot professor told me that emailing typically doesn't sway their decision either way. And I agree with you that it would seem like an afterthought. Good luck!

[lewin]

23 hours ago, psychsquirrel said:

a big shot professor told me that emailing typically doesn't sway their decision either way.

I get why people email, and it's not going to hurt anyone's chances unless one says something stupid, but I've also heard this sentiment (e.g., "It's bypassing the official process, which is there for a reason.") Coincidentally, I saw the website of a princeton faculty member who has this on her webpage:

"I often receive emails from prospective Ph.D. applicants with requests to talk about my work and what it would be like to do research with me. As of 9-8-13, I decided to refrain from having these personal conversations in advance of reading all applications, because I do not wish to favor students who received advice about how to connect with prospective advisors or who have connections to me through my current colleagues. Before we make final admissions decisions in our department, we fly out our top candidates to visit the campus and to have one-on-one discussions with their desired mentors, graduate students, and researchers in the department. I view this as the time when the candidates and prospective mentors can have these types of conversations, to figure out whether Princeton (and my research group) would be a good fit."

I wonder if this is getting more common... maybe POIs are getting sick of being flooded with emails, hah.

[t_ruth]

At this point it is probably too late. Make sure to mention in your personal statement who you are interested in working with and why (list at least two people).