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Posted

Hello,

for a while, I've tried mailing professors who have interests very close to mine, and I'm interested in their current work. lately i got the following responses from two professors

"Please keep me posted of the progress of your application.

I will contact you to discuss research opportunities once you have

Received admission"

"Please apply to the University X, and send me a follow-up email

once you do.

I may not have enough funding to hire another student next year, but I

think there are several research groups here that would be interested

in your work."

from your experience does they mean / promise anything ? any advices are welcome

Thanks,

Posted

I would be very happy to receive such responses. :)

Well done, you.

I would interpret the second e-mail as, perhaps paradoxically, more promising. The professor is being honest with you and genuinely expresses interest as well as provides some insight on inner currents of the department.

The first e-mails sounds great but is somewhat confusing. It can be both well... great (like, almost guaranteed admissions) and vague (once you get admissions = IF you get admissions?)

You asked for opinions. :)

As I've said, I'd be happy to get such responses.

Posted (edited)

"Please keep me posted of the progress of your application.

I will contact you to discuss research opportunities once you have

Received admission"

This is one of the forms of normal responses you're likely to get. By and large, you can interpret it as follows: I have no bearing on the admission process, but if you're admitted I may be interested in working with you or, more harshly, don't bother me until you're admitted.

Please apply to the University X, and send me a follow-up email

once you do.

I may not have enough funding to hire another student next year, but I

think there are several research groups here that would be interested

in your work."

This is more specific, and may imply that the professor will look for the application in the pile during the admission committee meetings. However, this still implies no promises and I would not read very much into it.

Don't get discouraged! Most professors will either never reply or say to not bother them. While this does not promise anything, it's better than the other two options. However, my general opinion is that it's more important to start talking to professors once you are admitted and, more importantly, you'll find they are MUCH more willing to talk to the admitted students.

Edited by timuralp
Posted

thanks for the responses timurlap, Bukharan. i know i won't mostly get straight responses before admissions, but it sometimes happen. i wanted to try esp. i'm afraid to come out empty handed this year, due to university mis-selection, i need to make sure a certain professor has a place and thinks I'm fit.

----

i have a further question, this response

You have a good profile. I am not in a position to make offers for 2011, but I will be happy to talk to you more.

does he mean post-admission talking, or right now (i.e. should i respond now ?).

Thanks,

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