Advice! Pls! Thanks!

[Jillybean]

Hi everyone!

any help with the following is greatly appreciated (and thank you so so much in advance!)

I recently sent an email to a professor at my dream school asking for my application status. In the email, I reiterated my interest in the school and my desire to conduct research with her.

She responded by telling me that although I am not on her shortlist, she is not yet ready to send out rejections because she needs to go back and reevaluate applicants. She proceeded to say that my chances for admission are slim, but not gone and to ask her if I have any questions.

I'm hoping you can give me advice about the following:

1) Is it ok to suggest sending her additional information (i.e. writing samples, GRE subject test scores[not part of the app- took them after i applied] etc. ) that may strengthen my application?

2) what else can I do to hopefully put myself on the shortlist for this year? Is it ok to ask more questions about her research? (i.e. maybe open a dialogue with her?- we had no previous dialogue- ask what she will be working on next year? etc.?)

I have read so much of her work, our research interests are a great match, but i don't want to be invasive with my emails?

3) any other advice?

I don't want to be overbearing or too pushy as her email clearly mentioned that she is busy...but i reaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllly want to go to this school

Thanks again!! Good luck to all!!

[Psych316]

Hi everyone!

any help with the following is greatly appreciated (and thank you so so much in advance!)

I recently sent an email to a professor at my dream school asking for my application status. In the email, I reiterated my interest in the school and my desire to conduct research with her.

She responded by telling me that although I am not on her shortlist, she is not yet ready to send out rejections because she needs to go back and reevaluate applicants. She proceeded to say that my chances for admission are slim, but not gone and to ask her if I have any questions.

I'm hoping you can give me advice about the following:

1) Is it ok to suggest sending her additional information (i.e. writing samples, GRE subject test scores[not part of the app- took them after i applied] etc. ) that may strengthen my application?

2) what else can I do to hopefully put myself on the shortlist for this year? Is it ok to ask more questions about her research? (i.e. maybe open a dialogue with her?- we had no previous dialogue- ask what she will be working on next year? etc.?)

I have read so much of her work, our research interests are a great match, but i don't want to be invasive with my emails?

3) any other advice?

I don't want to be overbearing or too pushy as her email clearly mentioned that she is busy...but i reaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllly want to go to this school

Thanks again!! Good luck to all!!

If you do really want to respond (I don't think it would hurt) my advice is to thank her for getting back to you and ask her if she has anytime for you to meet with her/talk to her on the phone. This would be like an informal interview. You could say that you understand you may not make it in this year, but you've done extensive research into her work and you'd like to get an idea as to where she's headed in the future. In short, remain interested, but like you said, don't be pushy.

[Jillybean]

Great advice! Thanks!!

Good luck with your schools!

[jordy]

If you do really want to respond (I don't think it would hurt) my advice is to thank her for getting back to you and ask her if she has anytime for you to meet with her/talk to her on the phone. This would be like an informal interview. You could say that you understand you may not make it in this year, but you've done extensive research into her work and you'd like to get an idea as to where she's headed in the future. In short, remain interested, but like you said, don't be pushy.

I don't think this is bad advice, but I would suggest proceeding with a lot of caution. I didn't see the email so I don't know the tone exactly, but if she explicitly told you she is busy (" her email clearly mentioned that she is busy") then I suggest being very brief in any future communications, if you make any at all. At this point, a long email or a hefty request stands a high chance of being ignored or coming across as pushy when it otherwise might not, and you don't want to be viewed as someone who doesn't respect boundaries or her workload. I'm inclined to think your initial contact made it pretty clear that you are interested.

[Jillybean]

I don't think this is bad advice, but I would suggest proceeding with a lot of caution. I didn't see the email so I don't know the tone exactly, but if she explicitly told you she is busy (" her email clearly mentioned that she is busy") then I suggest being very brief in any future communications, if you make any at all. At this point, a long email or a hefty request stands a high chance of being ignored or coming across as pushy when it otherwise might not, and you don't want to be viewed as someone who doesn't respect boundaries or her workload. I'm inclined to think your initial contact made it pretty clear that you are interested.

You make a very good point. I think i'm going to wait until next week to send a second email (she said to wait until next week), which gives me time to think about how exactly i'm going to respond. I've drafted something short and sweet along the lines of thank you. I am interested in working w you because of X, and Y. all the best.

That's it....and then.... I wait....

Congrats on Purdue!

Edited March 5, 2010 by Jillybean

[hamster]

You make a very good point. I think i'm going to wait until next week to send a second email (she said to wait until next week), which gives me time to think about how exactly i'm going to respond. I've drafted something short and sweet along the lines of thank you. I am interested in working w you because of X, and Y. all the best.

That's it....and then.... I wait....

Congrats on Purdue!

any luck?

[Jillybean]

Still waiting...