Is this normal?

[Quester]

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Alright, so about a month ago I got into contact with a professor to volunteer at his research lab during the summer. I sent him my cover letter and resume, but he also asked for my unofficial transcript.

I got into contact with him again to set up an interview time, but he's asking for my transcripts AGAIN. I mean, there are so many reasons for him to reject me. First of all, my GPA is absolute **** (from major freshmen damage). Secondly, I don't even attend the school he works at. Lastly, I'm not even majoring in the field of his expertise-- I just found his work pretty interesting.

Do these reasons seem pretty valid for him to reject me?

Are all other professors this picky in accepting volunteers?

 

[Disinence2]

You gotta show him how you could be of some use to his lab.

Considering you have a bad GPA and don't even attend his school, I can see how he wouldn't want to take you.

Apply to labs at your own institution first... get some experience. Then start harassing PI's at other universities.

 

[Quester]

You gotta show him how you could be of some use to his lab.

Considering you have a bad GPA and don't even attend his school, I can see how he wouldn't want to take you.

Apply to labs at your own institution first... get some experience. Then start harassing PI's at other universities.

But if really didn't want to take me, wouldn't he have rejected me right from the get go?

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Sure, those are valid reasons for refusing to provide your transcript. However, refusing to provide your transcript is a valid reason for him to refuse to interview you. Your choice.

As for pickiness, I can't say. Researchers want people who they think will aid their efforts, not slow them down. So, this particular researcher wants to see your transcripts to see if you've taken classes that could help you be useful and see if you've done well enough to have learned the stuff. Even as a volunteer if you're gonna do more harm than help, he probably won't be interested.

 

[royalewthcheese]

But if really didn't want to take me, wouldn't he have rejected me right from the gecko?

15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance

 

[Quester]

Sure, those are valid reasons for refusing to provide your transcript. However, refusing to provide your transcript is a valid reason for him to refuse to interview you. Your choice.

Well, I'm not refusing to provide my transcript. I already did. But, he's asking me AGAIN. I just find this tad weird...so all I could think why he wants it again is b/c he wants to reject me?

 

[Practitioner]

Sure, those are valid reasons for refusing to provide your transcript. However, refusing to provide your transcript is a valid reason for him to refuse to interview you. Your choice.

This.

He might also be asking for transcripts to get a feeling of the background you have (not just in grades but in courses taken).

My opinion is this: You have nothing to lose providing your transcript. It's not like you have the offer and might lose it. You don't have it and might get it. Send the transcript, if your GPA is especially low in courses that might be of interest to his work maybe try briefly explaining it. I wouldn't do that much though, unless I had a C in a genetics course and was applying on a genomics project or something.

 

[Quester]

15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance

Sorry man...I don't quite get it.

 

[Quester]

Alright, thanks y`all.

 

[Perrotfish]

Well, I'm not refusing to provide my transcript. I already did. But, he's asking me AGAIN. I just find this tad weird...so all I could think why he wants it again is b/c he wants to reject me?

You're overthinking this. He's probably asking for your transcripts again because he lost/deleted/forgot he ever asked for the origional. If he wanted to reject you he would have done so. The fact that he's asking for your transcipts shows that he hasn't gotten around to thinking about you yet. You probably still have about the same chance of being accepted or rejected that you did when you first contacted him.

 

[The Poet Sings]

Sorry man...I don't quite get it.

gecko is the mascot for the car insurance company called geico. the other poster just quoted their tag line thing.

why are you so interested in the work of someone that's not at your own school? there isn't anyone at your school that is doing interesting things you could get involved with? is he aware that you attend another school? maybe he wants you to send it again because it got lost. i don't see any other reason why someone would ask for your transcript twice.

 

[Quester]

why are you so interested in the work of someone that's not at your own school? there isn't anyone at your school that is doing interesting things you could get involved with? is he aware that you attend another school?

I didn't want to stay in the city of my school during the summer, so it just worked out better to find work and take courses at institutions in my home city.

I guess I've been just over thinking this.

 

[The Poet Sings]

I didn't want to stay in the city of my school during the summer, so it just worked out better to find work and take courses at institutions in my home city.

I guess I've been just over thinking this.

that makes sense. i wrongfully assumed that you were at your school, but going to some other school because your school wasn't cool enough 😛. if you're only going to be at home short term (just the summer) though, is it really worth your time or his? training takes time.

 

[Quester]

that makes sense. i wrongfully assumed that you were at your school, but going to some other school because your school wasn't cool enough 😛. if you're only going to be at home short term (just the summer) though, is it really worth your time or his? training takes time.

Well, I'm only gonna be a "volunteer" if everything goes well in the interview. But isn't normal paid summer research position only for 4 months too? I'm just gonna have less hours; that's it.

 

[Slowpoke]

Well, I'm only gonna be a "volunteer" if everything goes well in the interview. But isn't normal paid summer research position only for 4 months too? I'm just gonna have less hours; that's it.

This is my humble opinion but it sounds like you're coming up with the idea that "You are doing him a favor" kind of thing because you are a volunteer. When, in fact, it is a mutual relationship as no PI wants an inexperienced baboon in his lab ruining people's work. For him to show you what he knows, he has to know you're capable of learning/have some passion for it. This is assuming you did not just apply and agree to wash his beakers and petri dishes.

Don't go into it with the attitude that if you're volunteering, you're doing the lab a favor. It's not that easy.

 

[Quester]

This is my humble opinion but it sounds like you're coming up with the idea that "You are doing him a favor" kind of thing because you are a volunteer. When, in fact, it is a mutual relationship as no PI wants an inexperienced baboon in his lab ruining people's work. For him to show you what he knows, he has to know you're capable of learning/have some passion for it. This is assuming you did not just apply and agree to wash his beakers and petri dishes.

Don't go into it with the attitude that if you're volunteering, you're doing the lab a favor. It's not that easy.

Hahaha nah man. I'm not some self-centered douche. I actually consider myself quite lucky to even get a response from the prof. By saying "volunteer" I was trying to imply that even regular paid summer students only work during the summer at the lab; hence, I don't see how it's a big deal (or waste of time) for the PI to spend his time training me.

I don't think I'll be even touching petri dishes, but rather walk outside around the city...I guess he'll tell me more about it next week.

 

[klmnop]

Alright, so about a month ago I got into contact with a professor to volunteer at his research lab during the summer. I sent him my cover letter and resume, but he also asked for my unofficial transcript.

I got into contact with him again to set up an interview time, but he's asking for my transcripts AGAIN. I mean, there are so many reasons for him to reject me. First of all, my GPA is absolute **** (from major freshmen damage). Secondly, I don't even attend the school he works at. Lastly, I'm not even majoring in the field of his expertise-- I just found his work pretty interesting.

Do these reasons seem pretty valid for him to reject me?

Are all other professors this picky in accepting volunteers?

Is this a joke? You don't apply to a law firm without passing the bar in that state, without any knowledge of the law, or without any proof that you would be good at this job... or any job for that matter. so why would you think someone would hire a ******* from a different institution that has no experience? voluntter or not. I have been on several interviews for volunteering and have had to get letters of recommendation for some positions because they don't want just anyone.

In the case of a lab, it is not like your average high-school/summer job where you can learn it in a matter of days. if you have no prior lab experience or lab/science type classes you will a) not know how to do any techniques... which will take you months to learn, b) not understand the scientific reasons behind why you are doing such things... meaning you don't know how to fix it when something goes awry, and c) be a burden in terms of his/her time and money (because the learning process in a lab is very costly as you will waste many materials in trying to perfect techniques).

Personally, I have over a year of research experience and have taken a few lab courses such that I am capable of several techniques. Moreover I have taken a multitude of upper-level biosci courses so i understand the purpose of the techniques and how they work.... and it was still difficult for me to find a job (albeit a paid one) when I came home after graduation. Its great to see you are interested in the topic but an interest in the law doesn't make you a lawyer, an interest in first aid doesn't make you an EMT, an interest in food doesn't make you a cook... these all take a bit of experience first, because the person hiring you doesn't want to be a babysitter all summer.

The PI is obviously interested because like what has been stated before, he would have said no already if he didn't want you. Read his papers, do some background research on the topic, convince him you are a fast learner and are possibly thinking about changing fields (assuming you are... or why else would you apply) and he just may see you as a fresh mind whom he can leave a positive impression. The facts are, researchers are under a lot of pressure to get results quickly, and to publish those results before other, competing labs do... in order to secure more funding. Any time spent teaching an inexperienced student (who will not stay more than a few months) is a waste in their eyes if nothing positive for the lab comes out of it.

 

[Quester]

Is this a joke? You don't apply to a law firm without passing the bar in that state, without any knowledge of the law, or without any proof that you would be good at this job... or any job for that matter. so why would you think someone would hire a ******* from a different institution that has no experience? voluntter or not. I have been on several interviews for volunteering and have had to get letters of recommendation for some positions because they don't want just anyone.

In the case of a lab, it is not like your average high-school/summer job where you can learn it in a matter of days. if you have no prior lab experience or lab/science type classes you will a) not know how to do any techniques... which will take you months to learn, b) not understand the scientific reasons behind why you are doing such things... meaning you don't know how to fix it when something goes awry, and c) be a burden in terms of his/her time and money (because the learning process in a lab is very costly as you will waste many materials in trying to perfect techniques).

Personally, I have over a year of research experience and have taken a few lab courses such that I am capable of several techniques. Moreover I have taken a multitude of upper-level biosci courses so i understand the purpose of the techniques and how they work.... and it was still difficult for me to find a job (albeit a paid one) when I came home after graduation. Its great to see you are interested in the topic but an interest in the law doesn't make you a lawyer, an interest in first aid doesn't make you an EMT, an interest in food doesn't make you a cook... these all take a bit of experience first, because the person hiring you doesn't want to be a babysitter all summer.

The PI is obviously interested because like what has been stated before, he would have said no already if he didn't want you. Read his papers, do some background research on the topic, convince him you are a fast learner and are possibly thinking about changing fields (assuming you are... or why else would you apply) and he just may see you as a fresh mind whom he can leave a positive impression. The facts are, researchers are under a lot of pressure to get results quickly, and to publish those results before other, competing labs do... in order to secure more funding. Any time spent teaching an inexperienced student (who will not stay more than a few months) is a waste in their eyes if nothing positive for the lab comes out of it.

Thanks for the tip. I guess I should really change my perspectives on things. I never realized how this lab hiring process was actually more than just hiring.

 

[The Poet Sings]

the only experience i have with summer research is what my boyfriend did. and what he did was use already gathered data and run statistics on it to figure out whatever he wanted to with the numbers he was given. the research i did was clinical and we had to agree to be there for at least 1 year, because we'd actually be interacting with patients and gathering data. i'm imagining that either he isn't aware that you'd only be there for the summer, or he is going to have you doing something totally menial like washing, if it's benchwork research, or filing or something else that you probably won't get much out of, but it needs to be done and a short term person might be the best one to get it done.

 

[cfx]

Even though you aren't earning a wage, you have to consider that the PI is probably contacted pretty frequently by undergrads at their own institution, who want to work for credit (in potentially very limited spots), are interested in the field, etc. These students are probably going to get priority. Additionally, research materials can be VERY expensive. I think I've gone through hundreds of dollars worth (or more) of assay reagents and equipment in a pretty short timespan. They may not be terribly enthused at the idea of using money on materials, as well as lots of manpower trying to train you, as someone totally foreign to them, with no experience, who will go back to their own school in a few months.

Not trying to dissuade you--I think it's a good sign you two are even talking, and they're willing to consider you--just making the point that, yes, PIs can be (and can afford to be) fairly picky about who they take on, particularly those whose lab spots are in pretty high demand. So don't take it too personally if they aren't jumping up and down.

Regarding the transcipts, I agree that it's most likely that s/he forgot that you already sent a copy. They're likely very busy, so your last transcript just kind of faded into the background. Just send it again, and keep an open mind to do whatever they might need someone for (i.e., don't go in expecting your own project), and show a strong desire to learn and help, and they might surprise you.