Is it stupid to?

[scienceisbeauty]

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Hey guys, just wondering...is it stupid to email a potential supervisor to ask if they are taking grad students in Sept 2009? I mean, I dunno. I really want this one professor, have my heart dead set on him, but ...ARUGH.
WHAT TO DO? Should I email or will he be like - girl, how would I know so far in advance, go away! Ask me later.
I mean, I just want to work with him so desperately !! I know he's not accepting students for 2008 year but...2009 might be different...would he know? Should I even ask? What to do? What to do? What to do?

Whadda think?

THANKS,

Scienceisbeauty

 

[RayneeDeigh]

He's probably just on research leave for a semester or a year, profs do that every four years I believe (at least at my UG they did). You could ask him in a VERY non-naggy kinda way, like "I noticed you aren't accepting students for 2008 and was just wondering if you had plans to accept any for 2009." Don't dive into specifics, don't gush about how much you want to work with him, just keep it nice and easy for him to reply to. Then in a year you can re-connect and take care of the important stuff.

 

[KillerDiller]

I don't think this a stupid course of action or anything, but I'm also not sure that you would see any benefit from doing this. I've seen several professors change their mind about whether they will take students in the course only a month. With over a year between now and the time you will be applying, it seems your professor would be as likely to change his or her mind about the issue as to hold to what is said now. I would keep up with the professor's work and stay on top of any new research directions and wait at least until the end of this application cycle to email. But that's just me.

 

[irish80122]

I would tell someone it is a little early for 2008, so it certainly is early for 2009. However, I don't think it can harm you. Watch the board and see if that professor accepts someone in 2008, that will tell you some. One of my top choices accepted a suicide researcher in 2006 and hence didn't accept anyone last year. Then again, if they don't accept a student this year for your research interest, it may be that they are waiting until 2009. Crazy system isn't it? Good luck and know that there are plenty of researchers out there who would make very good advisors.

For what it is worth, I am not going to a school that was in my original top three...but as it turns out I am going to one that is ranked much higher than those three were and is a much better match. Things work out and who you think you want to work with now may not be who you will want to work with when it comes time to make your decision. Just keep an open mind on the process and roll with the punches, but do know that (again, in my experience) about half of the profs you email won't be accepting.

 

[perfektspace]

It’s unnecessary and probably pointless to be emailing professors this early about 09 admissions. Although, if you had some specific question about his research or wanted to request reprints that were relevant to your ongoing research that would make sense.

Worry about grades/research/GRE-prep and other things you can do now. All the emailing and application preparation can wait until the summer of 08… or you can start obsessing over it now and drive yourself crazy.

 

[blindblonde]

I would agree--a lot can happen in two years. Even in a few months, actually. A friend of mine had a professor switch schools (even though she had said she was taking students upon first contact). I had a PoI at one school that I had written down for months and he left as well. It is great that you're starting early, but you'll just have to sit tight for now. ;D

Good luck!