Skimming current scientific journals, magazines and books is one good way to find out who is active in different areas of research. Books such as The Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs, usually available in college libraries, can also help. For aspiring marine biologists, taking summer courses at marine research laboratories is an excellent way to meet graduate faculty from many different institutions. See the appendix at the end of this hand-out for addresses of selected marine laboratories where such summer courses are offered. This is common practice and students do not need to feel self-conscious about it.
Most students apply to three to five graduate programs.
One courteous way to go about contacting professors is to write to them, and then to follow up the letters with phone calls about two weeks later. Formal transcripts and GRE score reports are NOT necessary at this point, however. It is also appropriate to ask whether there are funds available for support. It is a chance for the student to talk with the professor, and also with graduate students who are already enrolled there. A reasonable fit between personalities, as well as intellectual interests, is important for the student-advisor relationship to be as productive as possible.