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[andagain]

Hello!

I'm sending out applications for graduate programs, and one of the schools happens to be only a half-hour away from where I am now.  I thought that it would make sense to visit this school and introduce myself to the department chair or other professors.  I'm considering sending the department chair a short note, letting her know that I'm nearby and would love to introduce myself if that would work with her schedule.

How would you respond to a request like this?  Should I not be so bold while the applications are still under consideration?  Who else would be good to talk to while I'm at the school?  Any advice would be welcome!

[scheherazade]

I've actually done this, and I highly recommend it.  What I did was shoot my potential advisor a short email, introducing myself and explaining that I was visiting campus on such-and-such a date.  I asked to sit in on his class - helpful because I was able to get a real feel for the professor, and helpful because it provided discussion fodder and a more comfortable opening.  I did ask in the email if he had time to speak to me after class or a different time in the day.  It went very well - I sat in on class, went with him to his office after, and had a great conversation.  I also arranged (also through email) with the grad advisor to meet - I came to his office and discussed the program a bit.  It can't have hurt, because I was offered a spot plus the one assistantship available.

You could also ask to speak to a grad student or two.  Ask the director or prof to recommend one or two that would be willing to perhaps have lunch or coffee to discuss the program.  This isn't an unusual request and can give you quite a bit of insight on the program.

[imawakenow]

I agree.

The one suggestion I would make is to either contact a professor of interest directly (assuming your research interests align) or perhaps the director of graduate studies rather than a department chair. You might find the DGS to be more accommodating, as dealing with grad students is part of his or her job.

Don't be surprised or upset if you don't get a response from a professor, though. Some are very busy; others don't respond to email--especially if they don't already know the student.

Otherwise, contact and good luck with your visit.

[dr_seuss]

By all means contact the grad studies director or the faculty member with whom you want to work.  We regularly arrange visits, including classes and meetings with faculty and grad students, for prospective students, and I don't think it's presumptuous at all to make contacts in this way.  Unless you're annoying or high-maintenance or you seem like you're on the verge of a nervous breakdown (I am speaking of real examples here), it probably will help your application, since the department will be able to put a face with a name.

[msmommy]

I was contacting local grad programs via email to gather more information, I posed a question that was out of the norm for the program.  I was asked to come in and meet w the director to determine if something could be worked out.  I had not made an application yet, nor taken the GRE.

So, I see no problems with wishing to make an inperson contact prior to admission.  Frankly, it should be done before wasting the money on an application fee.  You might find the expectation you had will not be met there.

I'm a gatherer of information first kind of person.

Best luck w your meeting.

[pamplemoose]

That said, I feel bad for professors at departments that get several hundred applications, and likely dozens of emails from perspective applicants, 95% of whom will not be accepted to the program.

I did contact professors, and felt really awkward about it, although was told this is expected.  A main benefit was that I was able to find out about emerging interests some of my potential advisers had in my area of research, which I would never have found out about from the departments' websites or by looking at professors' research records.

The effusiveness and promptness of the replies I received (or not) has so far correlated with which programs have given me offers.

[acrimone]

Quoth the Scavenger Oracle:

Someone here on this very thread,
Through crime made their potential advisor dead.

I tell you this, and what I tell you next,
Because I can quote them out of context.

And the clue that you seek is from this same bloke
And is in another thing they spoke,
They've recommended the clue we need,
Apparently while smoking weed.

The clue is short and hard to miss,
And one more thing I'll tell you, this:
If we heard with our nose, our senses split,
The cipher here would smell like sh*t.

Make thee to the Largest thread on the forums.  The answer there is recent.