Various levels of communication with POIs prior to applying

[StatsNerd]

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Are profs in some disciplines just as a whole more into one-on-one interactions with applicants prior to admissions? I ask because I have a friend who is applying to Public Health PhD programs and she keeps telling me about all these "phone chats" and "phone interviews" she's having with all these POIs she's contacted. Most of them have been (apparently) initiated by the POIs themselves, not her. It makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong because none of the profs I've contacted (Clinical Psych PhD) have come even close to suggesting we chat on the phone. 😕

Also, I've noticed that several of the schools I'm applying to actually say on the website NOT to contact profs. These are schools that have been good about updating their faculty page as to which are and aren't taking new students. This actually takes some pressure off because in general I don't feel there's much reason for me to email POIs who have already publicized that they'll be taking a new student. That's pretty much my only reason for contacting them at this point. So in general I have NOT been emailing my POIs who have already stated in their web bios that they are taking new students... I know they're busy and I think the whole "getting to know you" thing usually comes during the interview stage, not before they even read your application.

I know there's been lots of talk about the ins and outs of contacting profs on this forum, and I know people have had a range of experiences and I'm probably "fine" in this area, but I can't help but get nervous when I hear my friend talk about how she's becoming BFFs with all these profs! 😛

 

[JustNoticing]

Yea, I haven't heard of that in our field, but good for your friend! Even if profs send nice, long emails back and forth, they will likely have completely forgotten by the time interview rolls around. Oh, and I'm now at a program where my original POI didn't respond at all to my email, whereas nearly everyone else did.

 

[ndlek21]

I never had phone conversations with professors prior to interview and I do not believe this is a normal experience...I'd guess your friend is doing much of the initiating, but I could be wrong, or her programs might just be very different. Professors (IME) don't have time to woo every applicant who drops them an email.

I can't speak to every POI in every instance, but I think many times it comes across as pushy and entitled. For instance, in my lab, a student has been emailing our advisor a ton and wants to come in to visit the lab and meet us. My advisor is actually allowing this because he's a nice guy -- but I can tell you that us grad students in the lab find it a little off-putting. It's understandable to want to determine "fit," but at least wait until the interview process.

In other programs/labs it might be viewed differently (just a super-motivated person who takes initiative?), but why take the chance?

If the prof's website doesn't indicate whether he/she is taking a student, send a very brief email introducing yourself and asking, and thank them if they respond. I think that's a good rule in general...and if they initiate further contact, then great. If not, just wait until interview invites are sent out!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I never had phone conversations with professors prior to interview and I do not believe this is a normal experience...I'd guess your friend is doing much of the initiating, but I could be wrong, or her programs might just be very different. Professors (IME) don't have time to woo every applicant who drops them an email.

I can't speak to every POI in every instance, but I think many times it comes across as pushy and entitled. For instance, in my lab, a student has been emailing our advisor a ton and wants to come in to visit the lab and meet us. My advisor is actually allowing this because he's a nice guy -- but I can tell you that us grad students in the lab find it a little off-putting. It's understandable to want to determine "fit," but at least wait until the interview process.

In other programs/labs it might be viewed differently (just a super-motivated person who takes initiative?), but why take the chance?

If the prof's website doesn't indicate whether he/she is taking a student, send a very brief email introducing yourself and asking, and thank them if they respond. I think that's a good rule in general...and if they initiate further contact, then great. If not, just wait until interview invites are sent out!

I think the bolded portion might explain a good bit of why this happens/doesn't happen in various fields. For programs and areas of study with literally hundreds of applicants (e.g., clinical psych), POIs may not interact very frequently with potential students. Conversely, in areas where the number of applications is smaller, more in-depth interactions may be common.

This may hold true for other portions of the application process as well. I know for a friend of mine (doctoral student in math), his trips were often paid for in part or whole by the departments where he interviewed. Conversely, I know of very few clinical and counseling programs that pay to fly in applicants.

 

[cara susanna]

I actually only got interviews with the POIs I *didn't* contact via email 😉 And I don't think my email contained anything off-putting...