Emailing professors before interview?

[carpediem22]

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[Fencer]

I am not sure that it helps you. It might confuse the faculty member and, in some cases, may be presumptuous that you will gain acceptance. However, the PD might see clearly where you may fit within the institution if you matriculate into their program. I believe that that effort is a critical interaction that should happen once you are accepted, and during the decision process of selecting programs.

If your lab has a collaboration with a particular faculty member in that institution, that is a bit different because there is some common ground already.

 

[Jelly Bones]

I thought that programs ask for a list of faculty in the supplemental or post-II to setup faculty interviews based on your interests? I know for sure that WUStL sets up 3-4 interviews based on a list of 10 faculty and I believe UPenn does the same. I wouldn't make any contact directly with PIs at this point since they may be involved in admissions somehow and you don't want to risk being perceived as trying to undercut that process.