<p>So I haven't been contacting professors at my schools like I should have been to ask about their research (in EE, specifically IC).
Would it be a bad idea to send out emails to professors at the schools I already applied at this late in the process?
I'm wondering if it would appear negative toward my application, like "this kid doesn't know what hes applying to and is asking about our program now."
What do you guys think?</p>
<p>I don’t know that emailing to “ask about their research” would be a good idea. When I emailed profs in December, I said something like: This is my research, I think it would be a good fit with yours for reasons x,y, and z, I’d love to speak to you about a possible fit at [insert school here] and get your advice on who I should be speaking to in the EE department. Sending an email just stating “Hey, could you tell me about your research” would not have gone over as well, for the reasons you pointed out–you shouldn’t be asking for basic information on a program you already decided to apply to.</p>
<p>More to the point, pretty much all the EE departments are in application review or just finishing up right now. I’m not sure it’s going to make a huge difference, but if you do it right it can’t hurt.</p>
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<p>Don’t do it. Unless you have some “breaking news” to report (like an external fellowship, for example) it is going to give a bad impression. Either you will be seen as trying to unduly influence the admissions committee (which is a strict no-no), or it will appear you are ignorant of the program to which you have already applied. Neither is good. If they are interested in you (i.e. admit you) then you will have lots of opportunities to learn more about the program before you commit.</p>
<p>I contacted mine all beforehand and told them my interests and how they aligned with theirs. I asked some specifics about lab versus field components about their work. And asked to set up times to talk more about their lab. Some were receptive, some weren’t. Right now, I’m contacting a few programs that had later deadlines which also state they accept late interviews… these are programs that I did not apply to, but am considering sending late applications into.</p>
<p>I have never contacted any professors at my schools to talk about research fits and such. Would it put me at a disadvantage, since a lot of people seem to have done so…?</p>
<p>I never contacted anyone either, johnnylasers. Some professors really don’t like being inundated with prospective grad student emails.</p>
<p>very true. i read some profs’ websites before i started my apps and they explicitly stated they wouldn’t check the emails from prospective grad students during the process. so i just gave up that idea all together.</p>
<p>My daughter was advised by her professors not to contact the profs unless there was a compelling reason, as they are flooded with emails from overseas applicants who don’t know better. But she did contact one because she wanted to know if he personally was accepting grad students before she applied to his school (there was cause to think maybe not), and they had a cordial and useful exchange. She was interested in applying because of a talk he gave at her school. She kept it short and sweet. But this was before applications, not during decisions. That was her only prof contact and she was admitted to 3 programs.</p>