Contacting Professors at Potential Programs

[snappysorbet]

Hi all,

I've tried to search this forum for this type of topic, and although I think people have asked this question before, I don't know if anyone has covered the basics, which is what I need at this point. If I should be looking somewhere else, please, point me in the right direction.

I've been lucky enough to have been accepted to a few grad programs, and as I think about what would be the best fit for me and consider all the awesome advice that this site has to offer, one thing stands out: will I be able to work with professors I want/need to work with in order to get my career going the way I want it to? And I know that people say, "Contact those professors, send them emails and see if they are taking on new graduate students, and if so, how many, etc etc," but my question is, how, exactly, does one go about doing that?? Do I just literally send these professors emails out of the blue asking them point-blank questions like that? Or is there a more subtle / appropriate way of phrasing this stuff? Any help/guidance would be awesome.

[moralresearcher]

Hi all,

I've tried to search this forum for this type of topic, and although I think people have asked this question before, I don't know if anyone has covered the basics, which is what I need at this point. If I should be looking somewhere else, please, point me in the right direction.

I've been lucky enough to have been accepted to a few grad programs, and as I think about what would be the best fit for me and consider all the awesome advice that this site has to offer, one thing stands out: will I be able to work with professors I want/need to work with in order to get my career going the way I want it to? And I know that people say, "Contact those professors, send them emails and see if they are taking on new graduate students, and if so, how many, etc etc," but my question is, how, exactly, does one go about doing that?? Do I just literally send these professors emails out of the blue asking them point-blank questions like that? Or is there a more subtle / appropriate way of phrasing this stuff? Any help/guidance would be awesome.

Typically, one does this BEFORE applying. But what I said was

"Dear Dr. X,

My name is [moralresearcher]. I am an honors undergraduate at [undergrad institution] and I am applying to graduate programs this fall. My research experience and interests lie in XXXX. I am very interested in your work on XXXX and am wondering if you are planning to accept graduate students next year.

Thank you,

moralresearcher

email

phone number

[fall-11]

Can you go on campus visits? That might be a good way to get a feel for the profs and see if you click with them. Also, that way you can email the profs and say you'll be visiting the campus and would like to make an appointment to meet them. Good luck!

[snappysorbet]

Can you go on campus visits? That might be a good way to get a feel for the profs and see if you click with them. Also, that way you can email the profs and say you'll be visiting the campus and would like to make an appointment to meet them. Good luck!

Thanks!

[LJK]

I totally agree that a physical visit would be best - if you get encouragement from your meeting request, see if you could get the contact of a current student who works with that professor to set up a meeting with when you visit as well. You will want to know what its like to work with this professor.

If there are any schools that you are unable to visit, I don't think an email out of the blue identifying yourself as an admitted student who is interested in there work is at all strange. There is a very limited number of people who will be admitted into their program this year, and if they are thinking they want to take on another student, they will want to get to know you and see how your interests mesh.

[tragicomix]

Anyone have any advice on what the next step is after receiving a reply from the POI?

My POI has indicated that he'd be willing to do a semester long independent study with me, and if that goes well he'll advise me. After this, I asked him a few questions about his style of work, and expectations from grad students etc. and got reasonable answers. I don't want to commit to joining the program just yet, but it's definitely something I'm considering, so I'm not sure how I should word my reply to the prof.

Did I make a mistake by talking to prof before I was sure of going to the university?

Edited March 8, 2011 by tragicomix

[LJK]

Anyone have any advice on what the next step is after receiving a reply from the POI?

My POI has indicated that he'd be willing to do a semester long independent study with me, and if that goes well he'll advise me. After this, I asked him a few questions about his style of work, and expectations from grad answers and got reasonable answers. I don't want to commit to joining the program just yet, but it's definitely something I'm considering, so I'm not sure how I should word my reply to the prof.

Did I make a mistake by talking to prof before I was sure of going to the university?

I think that it was perfectly fine for you to talk to the prof - you now know who you would be working with should you choose to go there and it will factor into your decision. This prof knows that you are admitted, not in attendance and have not made any promises... thats how the admissions dance goes.

I would reply by saying that you are seriously considering attending the program and that you will let him know what your decision is once it is made. If you have any other questions about the program or his research feel free to ask them - this prof is interested in you and presumably would want you to choose his school so asking questions that will affect your decision should not be too much of an imposition.