Contacting Profs During The Decision Making Process

<p>Annoying? Bad idea? Good idea? I know there is no right answer, but what do you guys think? This especially goes out to the professors that read this board.</p>

<p>I ask because I had a few e-mail exchanges with some profs in Fall and I didn't want to seem overbearing so I didn't keep it up after my questions were answered and the prof told me more about their current research. Now I'm deliberating whether or not to re-contact the profs at my top 2 universities to make sure they remember me...</p>

<p>I wouldn't contact them at this point in the process unless you had a very important question. If my advisor (chair of her department) is any indicator, professors are overwhelmed right now with work, teaching, faculty hires, and reading applications and are more likely to be annoyed than pleased with an email.</p>

<p>I second this response. I only contacted a professor to ask when a class would be offered again in the future so I could mention it w/out looking like a fool in my SOP.</p>

<p>not a prof, haven't seen any posting here either, possibly excepting one. my daughter was told by people in her department not to do it as they are completely overwhelmed with emails from everyone who wants the profs to remember them, they said especially international student are bad about this. </p>

<p>However, she was really keen on one professor she has met, and wanted to be sure he was accepting students before applying to his school. Got a nice response, so sent a short update recently to relay current research info.</p>

<p>Big fat no-no. If you have an important question, even related to their research, wait until the decisions are out. It can wait a month.</p>

<p>Everyone's advice makes sense and it's pretty much what I was thinking. Turned out not be an issue anyway since evidently my current supervisor subtly mentioned me when talking to one of the profs I applied to work with...best of all I had nothing to do with it so I don't have to come across as an annoying and overbearing applicant!</p>

<p>I have been emailing thank you notes to professors that I have met at the interviews and that has been great. I usually thank them, remind them of what we talked about and offer some optimistic words (true ones) about their lab or program. I have gotten several emails back including one that included a list of projects for rotations. This is a good exercise and you should strongly consider doing this.</p>