last-minute prof contact = awesome

[eucalyptus]

I just had an awesome prof-contact experience, which I would like to share:

This afternoon, I made some panicky last-minute changes to my list of schools (whose applications are generally due December 15) based on research fit - removed two schools, added one. For the school I added, I emailed a couple of professors there for the first time (yes, less than a week before the deadline) and within 30 minutes received the most enthusiastic reply ever! It was long, detailed, and mentioned over and over just how much he wants a student with my interests and experience. Plus, I'd asked about the opportunity to work with animals even though I was pretty sure he wouldn't have any; turns out he really wants to collaborate on animal research but didn't have a student to do it, and he could easily send me to the monkey labs at Yale or Duke.

I'm soooo unbelievably excited about this!!!

[ColorlessGreen]

Congrats! It's great that you got such an enthusiastic response!

[modernity]

Congrats! I was wondering if I'm too late to contact some profs (I am still more than a month out... I wasn't going to but not I'm rethinking) and this gives me some confidence.

[eucalyptus]

Congrats! I was wondering if I'm too late to contact some profs (I am still more than a month out... I wasn't going to but not I'm rethinking) and this gives me some confidence.

I really don't think it's too late - I emailed the bulk of my profs about a month before the deadlines and every one of them wrote back. None of them seemed affronted at the short notice.

[captiv8ed]

OOH, maybe this is a sign! I just posted a question about emailing people at this late stage.

[coyabean]

AWESOME!!!

I, too, had a great late game convo that changed things. Let's all take this as a great sign.

[Eyetea]

Great for you! Its great to get such a rapid and enthusiastic response:rolleyes:. I also believe its a good sign.