Mentioning professors/mentors in statement

[thisisphysics]

Hi all!

In my statement, I will be mentioning several professors I am interested in working with at the university. Is it wise to say in the statement that I've contacted them? Or is it best to just describe their research very briefly and say I am interested in working with them?

 

[boneh3ad]

I don't honestly think it could hurt you in any way to mention you've contacted them. Whether you gain much depends on who is reading it. At the very least, mentioning it likely means that your application gets run by that faculty member to solicit their opinion.