Has anyone ever felt that it's harder to ask professors for research opportunities/outside help if you are not a white male? This isn't meant to offend anyone I just feel really awkward and scared (as thought I'm going to be judged harshly when I ask older, white male professors for these types of things, and am usually turned down) Does anyone have any tips about combating these fears/discomforts? Thank you!
Scared of professors?
- Thread starter duke12
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No, and honestly, I doubt they really care if you're black, white, yellow, teal, or peach. This research stuff is them getting free labor out of you. So get out there and start emailing people. You might want to work on your confidence cause that'll be a negative when you have, gasp, white male interviewers.
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i think your fears are overblown...
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I have a hard time talking to professors and I AM a white male. Profs want to help students (most of the time) or get research done.
I think most of the fear is actually a feeling of helplessness/weakness. You're going to another person and saying, in one way or another, "I need you to do this for me and I will be unable to give back to you". I think this is natural;who wants to be indebted to someone else like this?
I think most of the fear is actually a feeling of helplessness/weakness. You're going to another person and saying, in one way or another, "I need you to do this for me and I will be unable to give back to you". I think this is natural;who wants to be indebted to someone else like this?
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I'm pretty much the only white person in my lab, and that seems to be the way research is a lot of times. A white male teacher will not be shocked by someone non-white and/or non-male wanting to do research. As long as you act confident in your abilities and have two hands with which to pipet, I don't see what objection your prof could possibly have about you.
Your school might have an undergrad research service, where you list your interests and they match you with faculty that are looking for free labor. That might be more comfortable for you if your school has one.
Your school might have an undergrad research service, where you list your interests and they match you with faculty that are looking for free labor. That might be more comfortable for you if your school has one.
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hear hear
Our lab used to joke that we had the right number and racial/gender diversity to make our own power rangers team. Only it doesn't work any more because our postdoc ranger left.
Well the white ranger wasn't around all the time in the show anyway.
He used to tell us stories that in one of his labs he was the ONLY white male and native english speaker. Since his accent was the only one that was universaly understood, he'd act as an english to english translator between parties.
I wouldn't worry about being a different race. The reason you're being turned down may be bad luck. I know many white males who sent out 20 different emails to get one yes back. Just keep trying and you'll find someone who has an opening for an undergrad.
Well the white ranger wasn't around all the time in the show anyway.
He used to tell us stories that in one of his labs he was the ONLY white male and native english speaker. Since his accent was the only one that was universaly understood, he'd act as an english to english translator between parties.
I wouldn't worry about being a different race. The reason you're being turned down may be bad luck. I know many white males who sent out 20 different emails to get one yes back. Just keep trying and you'll find someone who has an opening for an undergrad.
I mustve sent out over 100 personalized emails to get one, count it, one response. It was negative. I tried again, this time, on the remaining ones. I got two responses. Both positive. I chose. I won. I rejoiced. Don't give up. It's not the end of the world.
