<p>Hey everyone</p>
<p>On Monday I was talking to my mentor (a professor emeritus in my department) and he had told me that a couple of the professors I was seeking as a potential advisor for my PhD had emailed him in response to his letter of recommendation. One reply was very positive and the other just told him she'd be sure my application was looked at critically (not sure the exact words of course). Is this normal?</p>
<p>I've never heard of it... but hey, who knows what goes on in the secret world of academia? :)</p>
<p>I think it should be a good thing for you, no doubt.</p>
<p>I've heard of professors calling recommenders to discuss an applicant further.</p>
<p>Quite normal. It's a good sign.</p>
<p>I agree... quite normal... and a good sign... but certainly NO GUARANTEE.
When I applied, my advisor actually called and inquired to professors she was friends with at other institutions... this is one of the advantages of doing research... your research advisor is more likely to get involved with the process rather than some random professor with whom you only had a class.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies everyone. I agree, good sign but not guarenteed, I remain cautiously optimistic. The only weird (but good?) thing I see with the contact is that the potential advisor didn't know my recommender (he may know his work though). Oh...the wait is the hardest part...I wasn't nearly as worried appyling for my BS and MS schools as my PhD ones.... :-/</p>