<p>i have some contacts with scientists at a lab i worked at last summer. i emailed them about where i should apply to grad school in the life sciences (bioinformatics, systems bio, biophysics), and they gave me a list of profs i should contact.</p>
<p>i contacted these profs and one sent me the following reply: "[...] please let me know when you submit your application so i can provide my input"</p>
<p>is this a good sign?</p>
<p>Nope, but it isn’t a bad sign either. Many professors are too busy or just plain self involved to offer mentoring advice to non students. Heck, some are too busy or self involved to offer mentoring advice to students in their own labs.</p>
<p>ah, he meant to say “input to the admission committee” (he is on it).</p>
<p>One never knows what the input will be from individuals you don’t know directly! Just focus on whether you are a good fit with the program.</p>