Emailing sociology faculty

[aginggrad]

I've emailed eight or nine professors in the last few weeks, and two have replied. One of three is from my own department. Do sociology professors lag on their email during the summer? JW.

[rogue]

I think professors in any discipline do, since there are plenty of reasons to be away from your email during the summer (vacation, research trips, etc.). Of the profs who are writing my recommendations, most mentioned that their replies might be delayed throughout the summer because of this. And not everyone will bother writing back to you anyway, though so far almost everyone I've contacted has.

[lastdazeman]

I've emailed eight or nine professors in the last few weeks, and two have replied. One of three is from my own department. Do sociology professors lag on their email during the summer? JW.

With a name like "aginggrad" you and I might have something in common. I finished my Sociology undergrad work in 1979.

I am overly anxious and have been checking my email every hour expecting someone to respond to my requests for permission to take a course or two as a non-degree seeking student (for now).

I have talked to the Graduate Program Associated and copied him and the Director of Graduate Studies on the emails I have sent to the professors. I even blind copied the graduate student I had recruited to my cause. I haven't got any responses from anyone.

I didn't have an ulcer when I started this process...

LDM

[Jang]

I don't see too much merit in emailing faculty, since unlike science and engeneer programme, art and social science admission is decided by commitee, sole intention from a professor is not that helpful. Unless you are so intimate, or have been known deeply, don't account on faculty, I have to say./

[liszt85]

I don't see too much merit in emailing faculty, since unlike science and engeneer programme, art and social science admission is decided by commitee, sole intention from a professor is not that helpful. Unless you are so intimate, or have been known deeply, don't account on faculty, I have to say./

I'm in Psychology. I was rejected at the first instance by the university. I even have a rejection letter from them. I was later contacted by a professor whom I'd contacted earlier and who'd seen my application. He knew what my interests were through email exchanges even before I applied. He got me back in after interviewing me through skype and I'm attending (I rejected a slightly higher ranked school because of other factors).

[rising_star]

I don't see too much merit in emailing faculty, since unlike science and engeneer programme, art and social science admission is decided by commitee, sole intention from a professor is not that helpful. Unless you are so intimate, or have been known deeply, don't account on faculty, I have to say./

Not the case in many programs. I know about both my current and former institutions (though not in sociology), the general committee decides whether or not to pass the file onto faculty. And then the faculty members decide whether or not they would take that person as a student. If no faculty member wants to take you, you don't get in. If the person you want to work with isn't taking any more students, you've wasted about $100 and you don't get in. So there's definitely a reason to contact them since you want to make sure that person is accepting students before you apply.

I've emailed eight or nine professors in the last few weeks, and two have replied. One of three is from my own department. Do sociology professors lag on their email during the summer? JW.

Keep in mind that professors aren't paid to work in the summer. If they have to do fieldwork, summer is often the only time they can do it. So yes, many professors, not just in sociology but throughout a university, lag on email in the summer. Honestly, I wouldn't even bother harassing or following up now. I'd wait until August or, preferably, September.

I am overly anxious and have been checking my email every hour expecting someone to respond to my requests for permission to take a course or two as a non-degree seeking student (for now).

I have talked to the Graduate Program Associated and copied him and the Director of Graduate Studies on the emails I have sent to the professors. I even blind copied the graduate student I had recruited to my cause. I haven't got any responses from anyone.

Stop stressing out about this! Summer is not when professors get paid. They work 9-10 months out of the year. Now, this is going to seem silly but replying to your emails is something that's part of their job, for which they aren't being paid in the summer. If this is giving you an ulcer, I hate to think what waiting for acceptance/rejection/waitlist letters will do to you.

Also, stop copying people on your emails. It makes you seem annoying/high-maintenance, even if you aren't. The professors will or will not reply when they want to and copying the program associate and DGS won't change that.

[ewurgler]

Don't email during summer. I would be annoyed. Wait til september or october.

Do email. It will never hurt, and will help you figure out if these are people you want to spend 6 years working with. All of the people I emailed responded. Some much kinder than others.

[spaulding]

I agree with the statement above, and would only add, when you email, make sure its CLEAR.

Remember, those you email now, will remember you........