Tips for cold contacting?

[olorin]

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Anyone have tips for cold contacting profs or docs about interning in their labs or shadowing?

 

[yehhhboiii]

try searching

 

[Ismet]

It's not as hard as you're making it out to be. Short and sweet emails, get the point across by being blunt but polite and professional. Don't write a novel about your interest in the specialty, usually people don't scroll down to read long emails. Here are some examples of what you can use, similar to what has worked in the past for me.


Shadowing:

Dear Dr. X,

My name is [your name] and I am a [sophomore/junior/etc] [your major] major at [your university]. I am planning to apply to medical school, and I am very interested in [doctor's specialty]. I would love the opportunity to shadow you at your convenience in the future.

Thank you,
olorin

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Research is a bit more involved...you usually don't just get a research position by email alone, the PI or someone in the lab will most likely want to meet with you/interview you before offering a position. Your best bet is an email expressing interest in the researcher's field, asking to speak with him/her in person about the research, and then they might have a position open.


Dear Dr. X,

My name is [your name] and I am a [sophomore/junior/etc] [your major] major at [your university]. I am interested in gaining research experience, and I would love the opportunity to speak to you about the research you do. [You can add a sentence or two in here talking about how you have read some of the papers the lab has put out recently, but ONLY include that if you have actually read those papers]. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
olorin

 

[SpaceyWacey]

The hardest thing is probably getting the contact info of the doctor directly. Most directories with doctors information direct you to a desk admin instead of directly to the doctor themselves. Also I found the hard way that where I'm from it's difficult to find out a doctors email address, because they don't necessarily want patients to inadvertently send private information through unsecure means. I'm not sure if this is common everywhere. Just my expirence.

-Sent from my phone. Please excuse typos.

 

[Lambda Phage]

Is it more kosher to email doctors as opposed to walking into their clinics and asking them face-to-face?

 

[olorin]

It's not as hard as you're making it out to be. Short and sweet emails, get the point across by being blunt but polite and professional. Don't write a novel about your interest in the specialty, usually people don't scroll down to read long emails. Here are some examples of what you can use, similar to what has worked in the past for me.


Shadowing:

Dear Dr. X,

My name is [your name] and I am a [sophomore/junior/etc] [your major] major at [your university]. I am planning to apply to medical school, and I am very interested in [doctor's specialty]. I would love the opportunity to shadow you at your convenience in the future.

Thank you,
olorin

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Research is a bit more involved...you usually don't just get a research position by email alone, the PI or someone in the lab will most likely want to meet with you/interview you before offering a position. Your best bet is an email expressing interest in the researcher's field, asking to speak with him/her in person about the research, and then they might have a position open.


Dear Dr. X,

My name is [your name] and I am a [sophomore/junior/etc] [your major] major at [your university]. I am interested in gaining research experience, and I would love the opportunity to speak to you about the research you do. [You can add a sentence or two in here talking about how you have read some of the papers the lab has put out recently, but ONLY include that if you have actually read those papers]. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you,
olorin

thanks for the advice! finding the most effective way to go about doing this is always something ive struggled with- you were really helpful

 

[Ismet]

Is it more kosher to email doctors as opposed to walking into their clinics and asking them face-to-face?

Email is usually the way to go. The doctor is doing you a favor by letting you shadow, best to do it when it's most convenient for him.

 

[yehhhboiii]

Is it more kosher to email doctors as opposed to walking into their clinics and asking them face-to-face?

lol how would you feel if you were busy working in the hospital and some random kid comes up to you and asks to watch you all day

 

[Lambda Phage]

lol how would you feel if you were busy working in the hospital and some random kid comes up to you and asks to watch you all day

I thought it'd be more personal if I went to his/her office and asked in person.

Never mind, apparently that was a dumb question... 😕