Finding an advisor? (MS student)

[shortstop]

My program admits all MS students as non-thesis with the option to move to the thesis track once they find a thesis adviser. From what I understand, students moving to the thesis track typically find their adviser within the first semester. I hope to continue on to a PhD after my MS, so doing a thesis is important to me. I have already read some of the papers of the professors that I am most interested in working with (I've identified a few potential advisers). I guess I am asking about the best way to make contact. Should I:

 

1. Email them over the summer and ask if they are taking MS students as advisees (i.e. try to secure an adviser before I get to campus)?

2. Email them over the summer and ask if they have a lab position open (that way we could get to know each other during the first semester)?

3. Wait until I get to campus and then speak to potential advisers in person?

4. Do some combination of the above?

5. Do something totally different?

 

I want to be proactive about getting into a project early, but I don't want to be that annoying student that bugs professors prematurely. 

 

I am at ASU Fulton, if anyone is familiar with the MS programs there.

 

 

[bsharpe269]

To find my advisor, I just emailed him once the semester started and asked to meet to discuss research. Keep in mind, it is often hard to find an advisor who has funding for MS students so depending on the situation, I wouldnt necesarily expect to be compensated for your work. I got funding after volunteering for a few months to prove my ability.

[shortstop]

Thanks for the suggestion! So it might be better to wait until the semester starts and I can meet in the prof in person? And I have no problem with doing some volunteer work to prove to them that I'm worth having around