Mailing professors after acceptance for TA/RA.

[Inka dreams]

So here is the case...

 

I have an admit for a masters program from a top uni - no funding. No funding = I cant attend. So I decided to reject the offer so someone in the waitlist can get an acceptance.

 

But a few of my friends insist that I should not give up easily and that I should mail professors/faculty interested in my field and offer them my services as an RA or TA.

 

While this sounds OK, I am still highly skeptical whether I should do it at all. My question is, if the ad comm thought I was RA/TA material, wouldnt they have already offered me such a position???

 

 

[Quantum Buckyball]

Some schools require students to apply to RA/TAship separately after they got admitted. It's usually harder for a Masters student to get funding if the program is predominately for PhD students. You should definitely ask first before you reject their offer. 

[Inka dreams]

Some schools require students to apply to RA/TAship separately after they got admitted. It's usually harder for a Masters student to get funding if the program is predominately for PhD students. You should definitely ask first before you reject their offer. 

The program is not Phd focused i think. Their flagship program is the masters. But I havent seen or heard anyone getting an RA or TA... But guess I should indeed ask around until I am sure its a no.

[phdcandidate022014]

The program is not Phd focused i think. Their flagship program is the masters. But I havent seen or heard anyone getting an RA or TA... But guess I should indeed ask around until I am sure its a no.

I'd recommend going an extra step - rather than blindly e-mailing profs and asking for a TA/RA, make a direct pitch and mention specific skills or experience you have and how that would be an asset to them in their lab/group.  You may even browse the prof's CV or google around to see if you can figure out what funding they currently have.  That way, when you do make contact, you can impress them with the little bit of legwork you did and they may look upon you more favorably.  Make the contact short and sweet, don't write a paper for them in your e-mail.

 

If I'm a professor, I'm much more likely to look at someone for an RA that says "Hey, I saw you have NSF-GRP-1000420 Grant, I wanted to let you know I've been offered admission and am strongly considering. My decision is contingent on securing an RA or TA. Based on my background with XXX, I feel like I can contribute XX, YY, or ZZ to the referenced research project.  My experience in these areas would be more broadly applicable to your other work in XX."  than "Do you have any RA or TA available, here is my resume".

[Inka dreams]

I'd recommend going an extra step - rather than blindly e-mailing profs and asking for a TA/RA, make a direct pitch and mention specific skills or experience you have and how that would be an asset to them in their lab/group.  You may even browse the prof's CV or google around to see if you can figure out what funding they currently have.  That way, when you do make contact, you can impress them with the little bit of legwork you did and they may look upon you more favorably.  Make the contact short and sweet, don't write a paper for them in your e-mail.

 

If I'm a professor, I'm much more likely to look at someone for an RA that says "Hey, I saw you have NSF-GRP-1000420 Grant, I wanted to let you know I've been offered admission and am strongly considering. My decision is contingent on securing an RA or TA. Based on my background with XXX, I feel like I can contribute XX, YY, or ZZ to the referenced research project.  My experience in these areas would be more broadly applicable to your other work in XX."  than "Do you have any RA or TA available, here is my resume".

Wow Thanks guys! I did indeed write on similar lines just now... Though I didn't mention or attach my resume... The professor (who is also the asst. dean of the program) teaches courses that I have worked on for close to 4 years... Hoping this works. Though I have another question... I saw 2 more professors having similar interests to mine... should I mail them too???  Would it be wrong to mail say 3 professors in the same school??