Contacting faculty pre admission

[Malsc]

Hello everyone! I am an upcoming senior trying to apply Econ PhD programs this fall.

I have some doubt regarding contacting professors prior to application:

 

1) I know from old threads that it's frowned upon especially in the US, not so much in UK/Europe;

2) Would only write to professors whose research interests are really linked to mine (eg: professor whose work I replicated in assignment paper/ whose work I know really well)

3) Have noticed that certain US universities really stress the importance of the "fit" and indirectly encourage contact: UMinnesota states "Current students and alumni can be great sources of information, and staff or faculty are sometimes available to answer your questions."

 

So: should I do it? Is it too risky?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Zubrus]

Don't.

[tutonic]

Read through point 3 again.

 

UMinnesota says to contact current/past student to ask your questions, not the professors. They even caveat the whole contacting faculty portion.