how to write to a professor?

[oryantin]

hi,

since the question i am asking differentiates a bit from the earlier posts regarding e-mailing to professors, i wanted to start a new topic. there are three professors whom i want to work with. i have read their books and articles. my research interests coincide with their interests. now, i think it is time to contact. my field (medieval and early modern islamic mysticism) is not a popular one and i don't think they will forget me until the time is right for applications. do you think i should lay it out straight and tip my hand. or should i first try to establish a relationship by talking about both my own and their works? actually considering i have an ultimate purpose i don't find the latter approach sincere

what do you think? i trust my research topic and am searching for the best way to approach the professors.

any comments will be appreciated.

orient

Edited May 20, 2011 by orient

[Henry Hudson]

I would broach the subject as seeking advice for grad school apps. describe your interests and goals, and seek their input as to what schools to even look at.

you certainly could mention that their work as put them on your radar and that you are currently thinking of them as potential supervisors.

your inquiry could be worded in such a way to let them off the hook, too - by asking if they are not taking on students for any reason, if they have recommendations for alternatives. This gives them the opportunity to show what they know and think of their field, if they are taking on students, or what their own department's prospects are these days.

[natsteel]

hi,

since the question i am asking differentiates a bit from the earlier posts regarding e-mailing to professors, i wanted to start a new topic. there are three professors whom i want to work with. i have read their books and articles. my research interests coincide with their interests. now, i think it is time to contact. my field (medieval and early modern islamic mysticism) is not a popular one and i don't think they will forget me until the time is right for applications. do you think i should lay it out straight and tip my hand. or should i first try to establish a relationship by talking about both my own and their works? actually considering i have an ultimate purpose i don't find the latter approach sincere

what do you think? i trust my research topic and am searching for the best way to approach the professors.

any comments will be appreciated.

orient

Orient, if you are applying this fall, it is far too early to contact prospective advisors. Wait until the fall semester begins, around the first week or two of September, at the earliest.

Then send them a very brief email with one sentence each introducing yourself, your school and advisor(s), your field and subfield, and your previous research topic. Use one sentence to tie it in to their previous work and ask if they are accepting new students in the fall.

Don't attach anything to the email and just use "re: Prospective Student" as your subject line. A long email will be seen as presumptive. Just one short paragraph with the information above is fine.

I contacted 11 professors during my cycle this past fall and all but 1 got back to me. The majority were very kind and we ended up trading a number of emails and I had phone conversations with a few.