Contacting Professors: Success Stories!

[KieBelle]

Responses to my queries have ranged from extremely enthusiastic to nonexistent.

I am inclined to agree with the above posters who have warned against putting too much stock into these responses, but in general, being outright ignored can't be a good sign. It's especially disconcerting because I am actually trying to get an idea of where my somewhat unique approach to my discipline will be supported and well-received. I would much rather be directly informed that X Department would not be a fitting place to pursue my line of work than left wondering without a response. And, of course, I wouldn't mind saving myself the application fee. At the same time, I don't want to make an erroneous assumption based on an ignored email and not apply to a school that would have actually been a good fit! Sorry, not sure anyone can actually shed light on this issue... just really had to vent.

I've been advised by a few people (including professors) that if you don't receive a response in about a week to send one more "to make sure they received your original email", because your first one was most likely just lost in the shuffle. If they still don't respond, try contacting a different professor in the department.

[ultraviolet]

The responses I received were generally warm and helpful. One professor at a large state university warned me though that due to budget cuts their entire department accepted only TWO grad students last year, and the admission rate this year is likely to be in this neighborhood. Anyone else hearing things like this? Now I'm terrified, even though I consider myself to be a strong applicant.

[LateAntique]

The responses I received were generally warm and helpful. One professor at a large state university warned me though that due to budget cuts their entire department accepted only TWO grad students last year, and the admission rate this year is likely to be in this neighborhood. Anyone else hearing things like this? Now I'm terrified, even though I consider myself to be a strong applicant.

I was going to apply to a large public university's program in Classics but was told by a professor that, due to budget restrictions, they only have two fellowships to give out next year and they're both going to Archaeologists. At least it saved me the 70 dollar application fee.

[rogue]

I feel like even sending the email counts as a success story.

Me too!

[rising_star]

The responses I received were generally warm and helpful. One professor at a large state university warned me though that due to budget cuts their entire department accepted only TWO grad students last year, and the admission rate this year is likely to be in this neighborhood. Anyone else hearing things like this? Now I'm terrified, even though I consider myself to be a strong applicant.

Yep, my program will likely admit only 7 or so students this year, instead of the usual 15 (MA and PhD), due to funding constraints. I'm at a flagship state university and I imagine other universities have the same budgetary troubles.

[cheesethunder]

The responses I received were generally warm and helpful. One professor at a large state university warned me though that due to budget cuts their entire department accepted only TWO grad students last year, and the admission rate this year is likely to be in this neighborhood. Anyone else hearing things like this? Now I'm terrified, even though I consider myself to be a strong applicant.

i actually thought it was normally like this? i heard cornell psyc program only accepts 3 a year and the PNP program at Washington accepts 2-3 as well.

[ultraviolet]

i actually thought it was normally like this? i heard cornell psyc program only accepts 3 a year and the PNP program at Washington accepts 2-3 as well.

I think it differs a lot from program to program, the school I was referring to generally admits about 7 to 8 art history grad students a year, so reducing that to 2 is a pretty big change. Other programs I'm applying to admit somewhere between 7 and 20 students every year, and hopefully won't be making such drastic cuts. Fingers crossed!

Side note - anyone heard anecdotal evidence as to if applications are going to be way up this year? Or down? In this economy, who knows.

[ristastic]

I think it differs a lot from program to program, the school I was referring to generally admits about 7 to 8 art history grad students a year, so reducing that to 2 is a pretty big change. Other programs I'm applying to admit somewhere between 7 and 20 students every year, and hopefully won't be making such drastic cuts. Fingers crossed!

Side note - anyone heard anecdotal evidence as to if applications are going to be way up this year? Or down? In this economy, who knows.

I'm applying for an art history PhD also, my current MA adviser warned me that admissions last year was "a disaster," meaning they received a ton more applications than usual, but obviously for budgetary reasons won't also increase the amount of students they admit. She thinks it will probably be a similar situation this year. sigh.

[KieBelle]

I emailed the director (and potential future advisor) of one of the schools I'm applying to a couple weeks ago and didn't receive a response. So I emailed her again today and got a response within a half hour. She said: "I am glad you are applying to our school. Your interests seem to be a very good fit for our program." and then went on to give me a bit more info on why it's a good fit for my interests and said she was copying the Director of Graduate Admissions with my email and her response! Yipee! :D

[twocosmicfish]

Side note - anyone heard anecdotal evidence as to if applications are going to be way up this year? Or down? In this economy, who knows.

I have been told by several professors at different schools that applications are up, but the number of "quality" applicants has not changed. Undergrad gpa's and preparation are not shifting much, so you get the same number of 3.5+gpa grads as before, and the ones who want to go into industry generally can - it is the 3.0 or 2.5 gpa grads who are struggling for jobs and swamping grad admissions - but since they have lower gpas and less grad preparation they usually wash out early in the process.

[Kfranklin]

Hi everyone-

I was wondering if people wouldn't mind posting some examples of the emails that they have sent to professors (possibly for sociology programs or another social science?). Thanks!

[Ziz]

Aaaah I just sent my first one. I'm so nervous. I emailed him a couple of years ago about something unrelated (he's an expert in the field) and he responded so I think he probably will this time too. Fingers crossed for a positive response!!

[ridgey]

Hi everyone-

I was wondering if people wouldn't mind posting some examples of the emails that they have sent to professors (possibly for sociology programs or another social science?). Thanks!

My emails have been along the lines of:

Dear Dr Coolness

My name is Ridgey, I'm a student at [place] and am interested in the PhD at Cooltown U.

My interests are <two sentence summary. One sentence broad and general"I like chocolate and caramel", the second somewhat more specific to show I'm serious "how chocolate and caramel interact differently in different baked goods and whether the type of chocolate used affects caramel">.

Your work in <specific project/publication/theme> is neat-o, and relevant to my interests because <describe overlap>.

Do you think Cooltown U a good place to do this type of research? (Because I'm way too much of a chicken to actually say "Are you taking students? Will you be my advisor?")

Peace-out,

Ridgey

[psycholinguist]

Dear Professor Awesome,

I'm a prospective student in Field for Autumn 2010. I've been very interested in That University of Yours for some time now, and in your lab in particular. This is how I heard of you, this is how I decided to specialise in Specialty Area, this is what I wrote my honours thesis on, and these are a few projects I'm thinking about undertaking.

Are you accepting graduate students for next autumn? And I happen to be living in Nearby City this year and would be eager to visit; would you recommend that I do so?

Thanks!

- psycholinguist

[ridgey]

Dear Professor Awesome,

I'm a prospective student in Field for Autumn 2010. I've been very interested in That University of Yours for some time now, and in your lab in particular. This is how I heard of you, this is how I decided to specialise in Specialty Area, this is what I wrote my honours thesis on, and these are a few projects I'm thinking about undertaking.

Are you accepting graduate students for next autumn? And I happen to be living in Nearby City this year and would be eager to visit; would you recommend that I do so?

Thanks!

- psycholinguist

I'm in awe of your bravery - are you taking students AND can I visit you!