<p>After the acceptance, I've received emails from a couple of PI of interest, congratulating and checking whether I have questions that will help me reach the decision. But now i'm waiting to hear from the other schools and do not think I'm well prepared for a constructive discussion on my future rotation. So I'm thinking to reply them only when I've made up my mind or have some real questions, which I currently don't. But will they think "this guy is so rude/ inefficient in replying/ arrogant"? I really don't want to leave a bad first impression.</p>
<p>You should definitely reply. They understand that you haven’t made a commitment yet; they just want to know whether they can help you make up your mind by discussing the program and their research.</p>
<p>I would get back to them with a short thank-you note, but don’t waste their time if you don’t have any real questions at this point. </p>
<p>I just came back from an Open House where I met with a professor who had contacted me after I got admitted. Turned out that the grad school gave him a list of about a dozen admitted students to contact (whose expressed interests overlapped vaguely with his, though most of them were more interested in other research groups). He seemed a bit annoyed by the recruitment strategy and felt like he was being “demoted to telemarketing.” After meeting with him, I was so glad that I had resisted the urge to keep up a conversation just for the sake of making a good impression (which would have probably accomplished the opposite).</p>
<p>Agree with #2 and #3. Reply with a thank-you note and keep it brief. Say you are very happy to have this opportunity and will be in touch soon.</p>