Applying with a different POI this year?

[kbean]

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I applied to a school last year and loved the clinical psych program, but was unfortunately not accepted. I was planning to reapply this year, but I just got a message from my original POI saying that she's not taking any students this coming year but she encourages me to apply to work with one of her colleagues.

Unfortunately, no one else at the school is doing any work like hers. There's another prof I'd love to work with, but he's doing completely different work (stuff that I'd be happy studying). If I reapply this year and express an interest in working with him, will they question this change? I mean, I basically wrote an essay last year saying, "I'd really like to study subject A with professor A" and I assume they'll have that on hand somewhere when I write "I'd really like to study subject B with professor B" this year.

Professor B, by the way, does research much more along the lines of what I'm doing right now, in case that matters at all.

Any advice?

 

[kbean]

Bumping this, because you guys have been so helpful with all my other questions!

 

[KillerDiller]

Wait, is the colleague your POI suggested at the same school? If so, are you sure they don't do similar research? It seems odd that your POI would suggest someone doing very different research. Maybe you could look into it more and email this new person to find out if his or her research has recently shifted, etc.

If there is definitely not a research match in the original area at that school, I would email your original POI and explain that there is a match in your secondary area of interest that you would like to apply to. It's best to be open and up front about why you are applying and why you are still a good fit, because if you make it to the interview stage, the faculty will talk about you. You definitely want the support of your first POI in the process.

 

[Chenelsea3]

I'm doing this with two schools that I applied to last year...mostly because back then I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I've since gained some clarity. My application last year was pretty unremarkable, so I'm pretty much banking on no one remembering me :0)

 

[kbean]

My original POI didn't suggest a specific person; she just basically said "I'm glad to hear you liked our program, I'm not taking any students this year, but I encourage you to apply with one of the other faculty members."

The other person I'd like to apply to does completely different research; I picked him on my own. No one else is doing research like hers.

I'd like to bank on people not remembering me, but I did actually interview there, and now I've had contact with my original POI, so I don't think I can just slide in under the radar.

 

[KillerDiller]

My original POI didn't suggest a specific person; she just basically said "I'm glad to hear you liked our program, I'm not taking any students this year, but I encourage you to apply with one of the other faculty members."

The other person I'd like to apply to does completely different research; I picked him on my own. No one else is doing research like hers.

I'd like to bank on people not remembering me, but I did actually interview there, and now I've had contact with my original POI, so I don't think I can just slide in under the radar.

Then she gave you the opening to go ahead and apply with somebody else. I'd let her know who your choice is, explain why it is a match, and thank her for the suggestion.