Emailing Professors

[Fiona18psych]

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Hi All,

I’ve been emailing POIs I’m interested in working with in clinical programs. However, I haven’t been getting too much useful information from their replies, nonetheless them expressing interests in working with me. I wonder if there’s a better way to approach these emails?

Since many POIs have multiple projects going on, I’ve just been asking them what their main research focuses are in my emails. And most of them told me to look on their websites and at their recent publications, which I did. How to better send these emails?

Thank you so much!!

 

[deleted480308]

Hi All,

I’ve been emailing POIs I’m interested in working with in clinical programs. However, I haven’t been getting too much useful information from their replies, nonetheless them expressing interests in working with me. I wonder if there’s a better way to approach these emails?

Since many POIs have multiple projects going on, I’ve just been asking them what their main research focuses are in my emails. And most of them told me to look on their websites and at their recent publications, which I did. How to better send these emails?

Thank you so much!!

“I am looking to get involved and would be willing to do any project even though my preference would be “c”. Do yu have a project that might have room for me?”

They know you want something, it’s ok to get to the point

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Is this for folks in whose labs you're wanting to volunteer, or POIs at programs to which you'd like to apply for grad school?

Also, what are your emails saying, and what info is it you're wanting them to give you?

 

[Justanothergrad]

If you mean do research in their lab, see above.

If it's to apply, same rule holds. If it's on out website, you dont need to ask us. We want to know you are resourceful enough to answer that yourself. If you have a more specific question that isn't there, ask it directly (see above's message)

 

[MCParent]

You do need to email the prof to make sure they are taking students (if it not listed on their web site). But some book recommendations to try to make an impression are not consistent with my experience. I’m not going to give extra consideration to anyone because they wrote me an email. I don’t remember who wrote emails. I don’t look back over my emails to check at admissions time. Maybe some people do.

 

[psych.meout]

Hi All,

I’ve been emailing POIs I’m interested in working with in clinical programs. However, I haven’t been getting too much useful information from their replies, nonetheless them expressing interests in working with me. I wonder if there’s a better way to approach these emails?

Since many POIs have multiple projects going on, I’ve just been asking them what their main research focuses are in my emails. And most of them told me to look on their websites and at their recent publications, which I did. How to better send these emails?

Thank you so much!!

You're not doing yourself any favors. They expect you to be able to glean what their research foci are by looking at their websites and recent pubs. Bothering them unnecessarily like this isn't putting you in their good graces.

They don't want to admit applicants who need their hands held and can't do basic research like this.

 

[AbnormalPsych]

You're not doing yourself any favors. They expect you to be able to glean what their research foci are by looking at their websites and recent pubs. Bothering them unnecessarily like this isn't putting you in their good graces.

They don't want to admit applicants who need their hands held and can't do basic research like this.

Can confirm.

 

[PsychPsyance]

+ one... thousand 🙂

 

[DailyJoy]

It seems I am the outlier, but I was able to speak to two POIs before interviews by sending emails. If a POI didn't have the information on their site, I would ask about future directions in the lab and offered to email/call/meet. Just know that if anyone says yes, that it will be akin to an interview and to be prepared. It worked out for me with both faculty. At best, you get a conversation, at worst, they ignore your email. But I do want to echo that if the information is on their website, don't ask.

 

[Fiona18psych]

Thank you all so much for your input! I started to ask more direct and personal questions and so far been receiving way more useful responses from POIs. Thanks!