Question about Contacting Professors

[frozendry]

I'm currently pursuing a Masters in Comparative Lit & Cultural Studies and planning to apply to phd. programs in the same area (well, in Literature, English, Lit Theory and Cultural Studies). I've been advised by a couple of people to write to the professors at the schools in which I'm interested

Comments

[freddie]

I'll just echo circumfession in saying that this is a topic for which there are no strict rules. It varies quite a bit. People seem to get emotional about it, too.

Me, I'm in English, I got into my number one program, and I did, according to my advisor, largely because I got in touch outside of my app. (Spoiler alert: the academy is filled by patronage.) That's just my idiosyncratic experience, and it certainly seems to be unusual in English. Go with caution, whatever you do; but also disregard anyone who seems to speak with more authority than they should, because there can be and are exceptions.

edited, thrice, for clarity. sorry, I'm neurotic

[freddie]

Definitely, the consensus in English is to err on the side of not doing. I would (as usual) talk to professors from your undergrad who you trust and are close with.

[frozendry]

circumfession, _theplague and freddie - Thank you all again for your inputs.

I'm looking at those links now and the argument for not writing to professors certainly makes sense. (I am applying to phd programs in English, like I said - specifically to departments that house a Comp. Lit.-style program.)

I'm going to think this through a bit more and I might decide not to contact any profs at all.

Also, circumfession, thanks for the links. I'm looking through them now.