Advice on Contacting Potential PhD Advisors

[atl1017]

Hello, 

     I am hoping that some of you can maybe give me some advice on this topic. I will provide you with some context so hopefully it gives you an idea of where I stand.

I have applied for the Kinesiology PhD program at Georgia State University for Fall semester 2017. This is my second time applying but my first time I applied right before the deadline and didn't have any academic advisors on my application plus I was a few points below on what they wanted on GRE (program wants 155 V and 151 Q/ I got 150 V and 158 Q). One of the professors in the program was gracious enough to reply to an email and told me that next time I should try and contact a professor in the program for potential advisement and retake GRE to attempt higher score.

So I have applied again and retook GRE. I had both a professor in my program and advisor as recommendations. I also met with the professor who emailed me about my application right before Thanksgiving. During the meeting we talked about why I wanted to be in the program and experience in lab which is limited. I did a lot work in labs while in undergrad but my master's program was online thus I didn't have opportunity to work in lab or do a thesis. I did mention to him that I have had a article published recently in a professional journal which seemed to help my case a little bit. I mentioned to him my GRE scores (after taking second time top scores: 153V 158Q) which he seemed to be okay with. I asked whether or not there was potential for him to advise me for my PhD. He told me something along the lines of "There is potential but funding may be an issue" which he proceeded to tell me about other opportunities such as teaching assistantships. Then he took me around to show me the labs, introduced me to some other professors and talked about some of the work he did.

Now to my question. Although I felt like the meeting went well with this potential advisor I feel like I didn't get that hard "Yes" answer I was looking for. I emailed him a few days later thanking him but never got a response. I figured it be good to give him some space so I haven't reached out since then. I feel like I should try to schedule a second meeting to ensure he will support my application, right? If so, what would be the best way to go about this? I tried to schedule meetings with different professors in this program via email but got a limited response. The way I scheduled this meeting was just by calling his office and luckily he answered. Like I stated, I felt like the meeting went well. I think he really understood that I was serious and willing to work hard to obtain my PhD and understood my passion for academics and kinesiology/physiology. I just want to put myself in the best position to get accepted.

Any advice would help me tremendously. Thank you so much!

[Forest Owlet]

I would suggest not emailing him again at this stage. I think he has already done all that he could have, at this stage of the process. There's no way you can ensure that he can support your application, and further contact might seem (imo) as badgering and might actually harm your case.

I've had a few email exchanges with profs this year, followed by what seemed like fairly positive skype chats. Yet, there's no way you can really be sure - a lot depends on other factors, including the admissions committee. You'll see many cases here where people who've had excellent, really positive conversations haven't got through.

Just apply and hope for the best!

Disclaimer: This is my first application cycle, and I have interacted with a limited number of profs!

[Black Beauty]

7 minutes ago, Forest Owlet said:

 

I would suggest not emailing him again at this stage. I think he has already done all that he could have, at this stage of the process. There's no way you can ensure that he can support your application, and further contact might seem (imo) as badgering and might actually harm your case.

 

I agree with this statement. At this point, you just have to wait until the committee makes a decision on your application.

21 minutes ago, atl1017 said:

I mentioned to him my GRE scores (after taking second time top scores: 153V 158Q) which he seemed to be okay with.

@atl1017 You stated that the program asks for 155V. Is this a minimum or an average score? Having an average score of 155V is different from a minimum score of 155V.

[atl1017]

@Black Beauty The quote on the website says this: "While it is important to note that GRE scores are used along with other criteria established by departments and programs when determining admission, a score of 155 or higher on the verbal section and 151 or higher on the quantitative section will make the application more competitive." So there doesn't seem to be a clear minimum.

I understand what you both are saying. It's just difficult to sit back and just let it happen I suppose especially when he told me that the biggest part about getting accepted was "contingent upon a faculty member willing to advise you." An old professor I had in undergrad gave me the advice to be persistent because the effort could really show how willing I am to work in the program. I am just nervous that if I don't get in this time around I would have to do something drastic like redo my master's or something. I feel that I  put myself at a disadvantage or something by getting my master's through an out of state school online. Although it is a brick and mortar accredited university, I just don't know if they look at it as a cop-out or something. It just sucks because I spent too much money going about it that route but figured it was the most convenient while I worked full-time.

I suppose my anxiousness is what many applying students feel and I am just trying to take the steps possible to make my name stick out. I may just ask some of my old professors their opinion on the matter. I do appreciate both of your inputs.