I realize that for those interested in PhD. programs, establishing connections with potential advisors is a given. However, as a prospective master's student, is this also expected? I'm looking to apply to around seven programs and wasn't sure if I should attempt to establish correspondence with a faculty member from each university. Any input is much appreciated.
No, it is not expected; however, I found it useful when applying to speak to professors beforehand as it helped me to understand better the program, the concentration I was considering, what I could do post-graduation, etc. All of that helped craft/tailor my personal statement
Gotcha. Thanks for the info.
The more you can target your emails at certain professors, the better. For example, if you are a current or recently graduated undergrad, then try contacting your college's professors first to see if they can recommend talking to someone they know (professors in the planning and related fields all share the same network). That way, you have a lead in and they are more likely to respond to you. I actually found out that some of my old/undergrad professors had actually worked or were graduates from some of the schools I was looking at! It also depends on how many schools you want to apply to.
But no, I wouldn't say it's really necessary for every school. Often times there is turnaround with professors as well, so they are gone by the time you actually start school.
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