How to frame interest in a professor/potential advisor?

[flower303]

I'm revising my SOP for an English department in which one of my absolute academic heroes works. Not the biggest of the big or "famous" by any means, but well known across several fields and someone who has honestly influenced the way I think and whose work I have read and nearly underlined/post-it flagged into oblivion

Comments

[roseofjuly]

I just used "XX's work in XX particularly intrigues me, and I am also interested in XX's work in XX" or something similar to that. I think one should avoid getting too flowery with one's language, and I don't think I personally would use the exact words "I would be honored." I think there are many ways to convey that sentiment without saying exactly that.

[circumfession]

You might want to go with something like:

Professor A's work in XXX intrigues me because ....
PRofessor B's recent research on YYYY has informed my work on (something related to YYY)
PRofessor C's seminal research on QQQQ would enable me....
(the key to all of this, of course, is making sure that you characterized their [perferably recent] research accurately).

As amaterasu mentioned, giving specific indicates of fit would be more useful than reiterating how honored you'd be. Unless you KNOW that the professor is looking to take on advisees, you might want to avoid suggesting that you'd expect to be advised by so and so. You never know if someone is retiring, moving, overloaded, or simply sick of grad students :P

[illicit_grace]

How about describing how you came to find this person and their work intriguing? When did you first encounter it, and how did it shape your research interests?
beyond that I totally agree with circumfession

[homericlaughter]

I agree with this. You've found the work meaningful for a reason, so go with that.

[lostreality]

yeah I would avoid saying you would be "honored" because it sounds a little too brown-nosey

[flower303]

Thank you all for the great comments! I'm dropping the "honored" line and letting my honest appreciation and understanding of the prof's work lead the way. Nothing too gushy.