Networking Etiquette - Professor & Research

[evaliln]

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There is this professor that I contacted previously, through email, about a student group thing that he's sort of involved with. The email was replied and a meeting scheduled.

I also happened to find out about his research this way and decided I also wanted to do an internship (credit/volunteer) with him. I immediately emailed him without much thought. I asked if we could schedule another meeting or extend our scheduled meeting further to discuss about it. Now I have two questions... :-/

1. Is it bad for me to ask someone for both things at the same time? Now that I think about it, it seemed like I stuck my foot in the door and then ask for his research. Any remedy that I can say at this point? or is it not a big deal what I did?

2. It's been 1 day and 3 hours... probably when you see this, 2 days. Yes, i'm starting to freak out ;-p . But yea, should I call his office to explain #1 or ask him what he thinks directly of the internship decision... or..., is there anything I can say? Is it ever okay to call a professor?


p.s. Today I sent him an update on our club about a meeting with another faculty. (I told him that the faculty today suggested us to meet with someone in his department, so maybe we could all sit together and talk etc)

 

[DoctorFunk]

I would stop worrying about it.

First, though, I would stop e-stalking him. Lord knows how many e-mails this guy must get on a daily basis. I'm sure he'd prefer not to get more spam from you explaining away your previous spam.

 

[evaliln]

e-stalking

lol...
that's true ;-p

 

[jonb12997]

here's what I'd do: if you don't hear from him before the meeting, start out with the discussion about the student organization stuff, IF he seems to be enjoying spending time talking (some professors LOVE to talk), then maybe you can broach the topic, starting out by saying, as you probably saw from my second email, I wanted to ask about your research, is now an all right time, or should I plan to stop back at some point. If he says come back, you've got him right there to make the new appointment... I understand the freaking out, I really do, but (easy for me to say) I wouldn't worry too much about it. If the prof is cool enough to spend time working with, he'll probably be cool enough to not even think twice about this... 🙂

 

[Bertelman]

The fact that you know it has been 1 day and 3 hours says everything. Understand that attendings did not grow up in an era when email was accessible, unless they worked for some govt agency. They don't check it every few hours to see if so-and-so got back about this weekend, or sent pics from her recent vacation. By and large, their email is filled with crap to do, like meetings and such.

I wouldn't send any more emails. Appreciate the time this person has set aside for the first meeting. Don't ask for more. If the subject is broached at your currently scheduled meeting, great. Ask at that time if he happened to get your second message. If not, discuss briefly, and see if another meeting is necessary.


I understand that, in your eyes, this is the key to your future, or whatever. In his eyes, this meeting does not take on quite the same significance. Look at it from his point of view, and calm down.

 

[Law2Doc]

The fact that you know it has been 1 day and 3 hours says everything. Understand that attendings did not grow up in an era when email was accessible, unless they worked for some govt agency. They don't check it every few hours to see if so-and-so got back about this weekend, or sent pics from her recent vacation. By and large, their email is filled with crap to do, like meetings and such.

Agree. Unless you work a desk job, it is not at all unusual not to check your email on a daily basis, let alone hourly. The real world isn't online as frequently as students are.

 

[jonb12997]

The real world isn't online as frequently as students are.

oh man, i'm gonna have to start breaking myself of the I have to check my email every 20 minutes habit before rotations... either that or I'm gonna have to get a smartphone with internet access and be secretly checking my email while doing rounds... "I'm sorry Dr. "Attending", I just CAN'T STOP"... 😀