Contacting POIs - subject title?

[foremma]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everybody,

Can anyone suggest what to title a email to a hopeful POI that you know is accepting students? I want to get my name out there and express interest in their research, but don't want to ask if they are accepting students, as they are, so I need a non-redundant or sycophantic way of getting their attention!

Thanks!

 

[voyeurofthemind]

Hi everybody,

Can anyone suggest what to title a email to a hopeful POI that you know is accepting students? I want to get my name out there and express interest in their research, but don't want to ask if they are accepting students, as they are, so I need a non-redundant or sycophantic way of getting their attention!

Thanks!

Really? Not to be a jerk but SDN is a big mess of neuroticism at the beginning of every app cycle.

How about: Research Interests, Mentorship, Application to XXX School....

Professors receive so many emails everyday -- I guarantee you they won't be dissecting the nuances of your subject line.

 

[foremma]

Really? Not to be a jerk but SDN is a big mess of neuroticism at the beginning of every app cycle.

How about: Research Interests, Mentorship, Application to XXX School....

Professors receive so many emails everyday -- I guarantee you they won't be dissecting the nuances of your subject line.

You aren't being a jerk. I just didn't want to get ahead of myself and start e-mailing them about mentoring me when I haven't even applied.

If you know they are accepting students, an email is really not necessary (and can be unwanted). Programs that list who is and who is not accepting students on their websites typically do this in order to cut down on the volume of email that faculty get bombarded with around application time. Thus, emailing anyway can get their attention in a negative way.

I recommend that prospective applicants put their time and energy into making their application (especially their SOP) stellar. Good applications speak for themselves. Extras like trying to email the professor with the sole purpose of hoping they will remember your name later are really not going to do anything extra to secure an interview above and beyond what a good application will do.

Thanks!

 

[G Costanza]

You aren't being a jerk. I just didn't want to get ahead of myself and start e-mailing them about mentoring me when I haven't even applied.



Thanks!

Except you asked what to title the email. It can be a nerve racking process. Don't make it worse by overthinking. Good luck!

 

[MCParent]

"HR report re: sexual harassment complaint." They will definitely not miss that.

You are overthinking this.

 

[futureapppsy2]

"HR report re: sexual harassment complaint." They will definitely not miss that.

You are overthinking this.

Might not leave the best impression, though!

And yes, OP, you are.

 

[deadmau5]

Subject: L@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@K

 

[PhDToBe]

To actually answer your question, I think I put something like, "prospective student," or "interested student." Something simple and to the point.