Meeting Professors/DGSs

[yatto]

Dear all,

I'm currently a third year undergraduate. Next week is my reading week, and I'm visiting family who just so happen to live very close to my Wonderful Dream School.

One Professor whom I've always wanted to work with and who is the chair of one of my dream departments, and another prof who's the DGS of the other department (combined PhD) but with unrelated research interests to me, very kindly said they would be happy to meet with me when I asked if it would be possible for me to discuss the program and that I was considering applying.

Now, of course, I'm both tremendously excited and tremendously anxious.

I'm sure many of you have had similar experiences—what were some questions that you asked DGSs and chairs about their programs in informal meetings like this? What did they ask you?

Oh I do hope it goes well at Wonderful Dream School.

[ecg1810]

I was in an extremely similar situation several months ago. So exciting, yet frightening, isn't it? *twitters nervously* Some generic advice:

1) When formulating your questions, I would go on to your program's website and make sure that you're asking him/her something that isn't already answered on the web. That way he/she can see you've done your homework, are taking an active interest in the program, and, most importantly, are not wasting his/her time.

2) RELAX. . . or try your best to anyway. One of my biggest regrets after my meeting was how worked up I got beforehand. I ended up having a delightful conversation with the professor, and felt warmly embraced by all others I met in my program. Think positively. . . you will do well!

Hope this helps!

Edited February 11, 2010 by ecg1810