If I am interested in the research projects of a professor, do I put the professor’s name on my essay?
I don’t want to seem like I am just name-dropping, but I also want to be specific in my essays.
Can I just say: " I am interested in XXX’s research project as it directly relates to my experiences in YYY", or should I just describe the project that the professor is doing.
I would NOT make it the major focus of my essay. What if he retires, or moves on to another job, between now and the time you enroll?
While I agree that you should not make it the major focus of your essay, I would recommend that you still drop the name. Saying that you want to do research is one thing, having a specific topic and professor who you’d like to work with shows admission that you are serious.
I put in a couple sentences about the professor I would have worked with at a school where I was competing for their top scholarship. In the interview later in the year, the dean of admissions brought up the professor specifically and we talked some about his work - so I think it helped.