What to say when I contact my future advisor? I haven't officially been accepted to the program yet, but I needed to secure an advisor prior to applying. I was accepted by an advisor and she has been great with helping me fill out the application. However, I have yet to be accepted by the school. The school said they were waiting to hear the results of my funding, which I found out that I got. However, my person of interest then left to go away on a research expedition (and has little access to internet). I suspect she MAY be the reason my application is not moving forward right now. I have to select courses in less than a month. She suggested that we talk over the phone about courses when she comes back in a couple days. 

I would like to send her an email the day she gets back, but what should I say in the email? Also, how should I bring up the fact that my application hasn't moved forward without complaining (or blaming her)?
It's not clear why you need to send an email, if you and her already agreed to talk over the phone. Anyway, I guess you can send an email as a reminder and to set up an agenda for the phone call. 

I would just say something like:


  Dear NAME/TITLE/WHATEVER_IS_APPROPRIATE_IN_YOUR_CULTURE,
  
  I'm looking forward to our phone call on DATE at HOUR. 
  
  Just so that we have a starting point for our conversation, I'd like to please get your advice on the courses I should take (the deadline for course selection is approaching soon). 
  
  Also, I haven't heard any final word about my application from the department since DATE. I know you just got back from your research expedition, but I was wondering whether you have any update about the status of my application. Thank you in advance.
  
  Looking forward to talking to you soon,
  
  NAME