Emailing professors?

[nu_wildcat]

Hi,

I'm applying to grad school for fall 2012 in developmental psychology. I've heard that I should email professors to ask if they are accepting students. When should I email them? Is June ok, or should I wait until August or September?

Also, how much detail should I give in the initial email? If anyone could offer suggestions or a generic template of what kinds of things I should address when I email professors I'd like to work with that would be great. I'm just not sure how formal the emails should be....and how much detail about my interests I should give.

I have already narrowed my grad school list based on research interests, so all the professors I would be contacted are looking at topics I'd like to study.

Thank you!

[Bukharan]

I would wait until the end of the summer, at the very least.

There is definitely no harm e-mailing professors now. The risk is that by the time they look at all submitted applications (around December-January), they may forget your name. Besides, on their mind will be the names of those whose e-mails they have just read. It is awful to break down admissions strategies to such crude practical considerations but ... c'est la vie.

The very best to you!