Too late to get research for Fall semester?

[U23527]

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I'm going to be a sophomore when the Fall semester starts, and I'm really worried about not getting research experience. I started emailing a bunch of professors (over 20 of them) when summer started (in May) and so far I haven't received any positive responses. Most either didn't reply or simply said their lab was full. A couple of them said I still have until the end of August to keep sending more emails, but I was wondering if it were too late at this point. It seems like all of the labs I'm interested in don't have any room for more undergrads. Should I continue to email people for research? And if I don't get anything for the Fall semester, what should I divert my time and energy to? Volunteering? Shadowing? Thanks!

 

[Robin-jay]

If you can't get anything for fall, try spring.

 

[kamakazi5]

Just devote your time to volunteering and maybe a little shadowing if you don't already have 50 or so hours.

 

[trobinsonmd]

It's been a while since I was in undergrad, but this is not how you approach getting a research position... this is what we call the shotgun approach. What worked for me and a lot of my friends in undergrad was going to office hours, building a connection with the professor, learning about their research and showing genuine interest, and then trying to get a position in their lab. If you email 20 randoms that do not know you, it is so easy for them not to reply. If you build a connection with someone and ask in person, it is a lot harder for them to say no. I went to UCLA for undergrad, so I know that office hours can get really hectic sometimes and it is hard to talk to the professor, just email them, ask them when they are free for coffee, and have some stuff to talk about when they meet with you. Preferably read some papers and have questions prepared, that is always a good premise to get coffee with a prof and they would almost always agree to that

 

[Valtun]

I was in the same boat as you, emailed a ton of professors and no luck. Took a class the winter semester of my sophomore year with a professor that did research I was interested in. Literally went up to her the first day of class and asked if she had any room in her lab and she said yes and I've been doing research with her since January and will continue doing so until I graduate. In person is a lot different especially if you you're taking the course offered by them.

Keep in mind that I've emailed her months before asking and said she was full, so maybe I just got lucky. I know people who do get research through emails but doing it in person worked out for me. Don't stress out, try sending out another batch of emails in August before the school year starts and if not, begin the search to talk to some in person. Good luck!