Contacting a professor for research opportunity

[Sylvie1988]

This is my first time posting here since I usually prefer to read other posts instead. I'm not sure how to phrase this question, so I'll explain my situation first.

I've applied for a graduate school and currently waiting for the result, though I have absolutely no confidence in getting accepted; the thing is, there's one professor from that school I like to do research with, though I haven't contact him yet. I like to do research with him, and is planning on emailing him asking whether he has any position open or not. Is it all right for me to do that even though I'm not yet a student at that school? I don't mind waiting another semester or another year to apply again. And plus, if I can't work with him or work on similar research project at that university, I can look at other place and apply for next year.

Would most professors accept student to research with them even though they're not enroll in that school? How should I approach that professor? Should I tell him that I think I'll get rejected but still interested in doing research with him and like to apply again next year? Or should I just omit that and only let him know after he asked?

Thanks

[BioBio]

You should definitely contact him. In many fields it is the professor agreeing to work with you that is the determining factor in your acceptance.

[ringo-ring]

Should I tell him that I think I'll get rejected but still interested in doing research with him and like to apply again next year? Or should I just omit that and only let him know after he asked?

That's my opinion but I think it won't be good if you show up yourself as a looser in advance. Just mention you've applied and now waiting for the result.

[nessa]

I'm not sure what field you're in, but if this person has full time research assistants or something similar, it would be perfectly okay to email him to see if he has any positions. You could go either way on mentioning this year's application, but I would say mention it and get it out of the way. If you do that, phrase it like you realized while applying that more experience would be beneficial, that you are very interested in his research, etc.

good luck!

[Sylvie1988]

Thanks. I'll do that then. My field is Chemical Engineering.