If the purpose of contacting a professor is to get a better insight into the college and specifically the area that the professor specializes in to help you with your “why XYZ college” type essay questions, it is worth the attempt. If this is to gain a recommendation letter or some other perceived in, it is likely a waste of time. I highly doubt a professor of the colleges you named would write a letter of recommendation for a random applicant that reached out them. They might for someone who took a class with them or did research for them but not for someone with whom the only contact is a few email exchanges.
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