Contacting a POI before you apply--email vs. phone vs. visiting

[attackemu]

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Hey everyone,

So I'll be applying to some super competitive Clinical PhD programs this fall, and I was hoping to get some advice on the efficacy of contacting your various POIs. I know it's generally good to send an email stating your interest in their work, and demonstrating briefly that you have research experience etc. What I'm curious about is how beneficial it could be to say in the email something to the effect of "I'll be in the ________ area from September whatever to whatever, and I was hoping if you had even 10 minutes that we could talk about what you're doing".

If you have the means, should you attempt to meet in person with your POIs? Is an email the most appropriate way to make first contact, or would a phone call suffice as well? I know profs are super busy, but I want to do anything I can to get my foot in the door before they get all their applications! Basically, what is appropriate to say/include in your first contact? I have 4 undergrad theses that I've done, 2 of which are honours theses and one of which became a published paper that i was 4th author on. Would it make sense to send one or two of those along as well, just to show that they've been done? (obviously they're not going to go through each of them).

Thanks for any advice 🙂

 

[KillerDiller]

I think that professors will likely vary in their opinions on this issue. Personally, if I were you, I wouldn't include the line about meeting in person. They won't have had the opportunity to look over your application yet, so they won't have a very good idea of where you rank compared to other applicants. Plus, as you pointed out, they are very busy. Asking to meet in person could come off as being ignorant of the realities of their work load.

Do you happen to have a mutual contact who can facilitate a meeting (e.g. do you work in the lab of their former student)? If so, I think that could be an exception, and you could ask for help in setting up a meeting. Otherwise, I wouldn't press the issue. That's just me, though.

 

[cara susanna]

I'm really cynical about contacting POIs before applying. Unless you have some amazing in or you need to know that they're accepting students, I wouldn't even do it.

Of course, YMMV.

 

[PsychApps2009]

I agree with what the other posters have said (esp. Cara).

I also wouldn't send your theses along just yet. I doubt a professor would review them so early on for various reasons. (I sent mine in with my application materials as writing samples and I don't think any profs I interviewed with asked me anything about it.) A basic (short) e-mail inquiry to see if they are accepting student (if you need to know) should suffice.

 

[krisrox]

Some profs will offer to chat on the phone; others won't even respond to your emails asking if they're accepting students. Some are more helpful than others and some are busier than others. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't get too discouraged if your prof isn't eager to talk about their program.

 

[PsychPhDone]

I would say that 90% of the profs who I emailed wrote back, and several remembered me when I searched them out at conferences that fall. I think a short email asking if they are taking students (if applicable) is fine.

 

[deadmau5]

I agree with emailing. Some websites don't explicably state who's looking for students (which is totally wrong in my opinion, but whatever).

Last year I emailed around the end of September, just to let them know that I was going to be applying and attaching a CV, saying where I worked, name-dropped, etc. I found it was a good foot-in-the-door. Definitely did not expect a response from half of them and I didn't really reply if I got a reply. I just think it's a good way to get your name in there, because not all people email.

Some state explicably that they don't meet people beforehand.

 

[deleted176373]

My POI contact "tactic":

Email POI, express interest in their work and tell them that you are intending to apply to their program. Then ask them if they will be presenting at APA or other regional conference, I like APA because it has a large draw but so do other conferences especially ones focused on your particular research focus... like Quad S for instance for sexuality research.

Then as the date rolls near email and ask them if they might have some time at said conference, perhaps after they present. This is when you are most likely going to get some good one on one time. Go to their presentation, be attentive and show interest in the topic, check out the posters of their students, etc.

I have also done visits to schools, informal "campus visits" where I signed up to tour the campus and during which I got to speak with program directors. I even have called to set up an appt to meet professors while I was visiting friends in other states. I found out this way that I didn't even have a shot at one program in particular, which was valuable. I wasn't a good fit and it was an ultra hard core research program.

There is no one right way to do it, but always be polite, show an interest, and get them when the are most likely to be receptive to your visit. During the middle of the fall semester IS NOT that time. You need to plan to do this the summer before you apply, that is the time to strike out and make connections. Ideally you will have been doing this throughout your undergrad by going to conventions and building rapport with potential matches long before you are ready to apply.

Mark

 

[LM02]

Some websites don't explicably state who's looking for students (which is totally wrong in my opinion, but whatever).

To be fair, a lot of times these decisions are budget dependent, and faculty may not know that they will (or can) take a student until way into the application cycle. It's not to be cagey, but rather conservative.

 

[deadmau5]

^ Oh yeah... you are right.

 

[O Gurl]

Just my two cents: I would certainly avoid sending along a thesis or asking for a personal meeting right out of the gate. As others have already pointed out, you want to remain respectful of the professor's time. Personally, I really don't think prior contact at all is especially helpful. In my (admittedly limited) experience, one faculty member's "pull" is limited considering that there are often committees that make these decisions and faculty who do go to bat for an applicant tend to do so for students they have substantial experience with. I think the best time to impress a POI is if and when you interview. Jockeying beforehand may run the risk of coming off as too political or schmoozey.

 

[TheOverachiever]

I emailed my number one POI about a week to ask if she would be accepting students and so far no response so I'm not sure of the effectiveness...

 

[deadmau5]

You won't get a response from all of them.
If you don't get a definitive answer from the prof themselves, try the graduate studies secretary who should be able to answer if they are looking at applications or not.

 

[GNC]

I emailed my number one POI about a week to ask if she would be accepting students and so far no response so I'm not sure of the effectiveness...

+1, i wouldn't say it is my number 1 POI, but one that i am highly interested in. I got nothing back 🙁

 

[PsychPhDone]

+1, i wouldn't say it is my number 1 POI, but one that i am highly interested in. I got nothing back 🙁

I wouldn't be discouraged. It is either the very start of the academic year, or the last weeks of summer, depending on where the program is. Thus, faculty (and students) are super busy or on vacation. Increase your patience level and try not to take it personally. 🙂